Theoretical model and laboratory testing of a variable friction damper

摘要

Incorporating supplemental dampers in a base isolation system or a bracing system is a known way of enhancing structural response to earthquakes. Further improvement in structural seismic response can be obtained by using a variable friction damper. The present study focuses on theoretical and experimental investigations of a variable friction damper with a novel configuration. A basic theoretical model of the damper is proposed and used to predict the damper's force-displacement characteristic. To verify the theoretically obtained properties, a laboratory model was constructed and tested on a small-scale shaking table. It was shown that the proposed damper provides the desired variable hysteretic behaviour. The dynamic test also demonstrated that the experimentally obtained force-displacement characteristic of the damper is in good agreement with the theoretical one.