Usage of Friction-damped Braced Frames for Seismic Vibration Control

Abstract

This study presents the results of experimental work that examines the functionality of friction-damped braced frames during seismic events. The simplicity and efficacy of this friction device as a means of passive vibration control suggest that it may have notable implications in the field of structural engineering. Little scholarship has been devoted to this issue in recent years, and further research to advance our understanding of its possible implementations is necessary. To measure the functionality of this type of frame, this study first examines and compares virtual models of a building modeling the effect of friction damping versus that same building without such damping. It then corroborates these findings by presenting the results of physical experimentation on a scale model of the building, both with and without damping. The validation of the virtual models by the physical model provides credence to the usage of friction-damped braced frames as a seismic energy dissipating system.