Review of Passive Energy Dissipation Systems

Abstrsct: Failure of conventional design approaches during high seismic loading

imparts a need to develop alternate seismic resistance systems. One such way is to
dissipate the input energy of high seismic loading by means of energy dissipation
systems. This review article presents a detailed summary of the passive energy dissi-
pation systems used in the seismic resistant design of buildings. This article reviews
different dampers, their mechanical behaviour and components. Comparison of var-
ious dampers on the aspects of force displacement relationship and mathematical
model shown. A simplified procedure for the design of damping devices has also
been illustrated in this article.

INTRODUCTION

Every structure has its own capacity to dissipate energy in some amount. But Earthquake/wind
induces high energy which structure will not be able to dissipate in proper manner leading to its
failure either in serviceability or strength. Hence there is need of additional systems to dissipate
excess energy. There are two main categories of such systems 1) Passive energy dissipation
system 2) Active energy dissipation system. In passive energy dissipation systems, a major
portion of input seismic energy is dissipated by means of mechanical devices which may works
on different principles like friction, shear deformations, metallic yielding, fluid orificing and so
on. In active control systems, an algorithm-based control unit along with actuators and sensors
is used to reduce the response of the structure. In hybrid and semi active control systems passive
energy dissipation devices are embedded with active control systems to get desired structural
control[5]. This article emphasises on passive energy dissipation systems.

PASSIVE ENERGY DISSIPATION SYSTEMS

These systems compose of materials and devices, which enhances damping, stiffness and strength.
The different types of passive energy dissipating devices along with their working principles are
described below.

1
1. VISCOUS FLUID DAMPERS:

This damper works on the principle of fluid orificing. Major components of viscous fluid
damper are piston and chamber filled with viscous fluid as shown in Figure 1[2]. This fluid
is made of silicone oil which has kinematic viscosity on the of 0.001m2 /s at 20o C[1]. Piston
head contains no of small orifices. During earthquake vibrations are induced in the structure
which causes piston to move, which inturn causes the viscous fluid to move from one chamber
to other through small orifices. This moment of fluid with high velocity induce friction between
fluid and piston wall thereby dissipates a large amount of energy.

Figure 1. Viscous Fluid Damper

Advantages of this damper are that it can be modelled easily and activated at lower displace-
ments. Leakage of fluid seal can be problematic for effective functioning of damper.

2. VISCO ELASTIC SOLID DAMPER:

Visco elastic dampers work on the principle of large shear deformations. It consists of thin steel
plates and visco elastic material sheets which are laminated alternatively as shown in Figure
2[2]. Here visco elastic material can be elastomer etc. Due to vibration relative displacements
occurs between the outer plates and centre plate, due to which a shear deformation occurs in
the visco elastic materials and hence the energy is dissipated in terms of heat. The visco elastic
materials are sensitive to temperature and other environmental factors[1]. To overcome this
high damping rubbers should be used.

2
 Figure 2. Visco elastic Damper

This type of damper is advantageous compared to viscous fluid damper because they offer
restoring force. But they have limited deformation capacity and properties of damper are tem-
perature and frequency dependent[1].

3. METALLIC DAMPER:

It works on the principle of dissipation of energy by inelastic deformations of metals. Which

are classified in two types as: 1) buckling restrained brace and 2) added damping and stiffness
system.

3.1 Buckling Restrained Brace:

It consists of steel core of cruciform cross section, inserted in a steel tube filled with concrete as
shown in Figure 3[2]. Unbonding material is applied between steel core and concrete to allow
relative displacement between them. The core brace provides energy dissipation by yielding un-
der alternate loading of tension and compression due to earthquake. The surrounding concrete

3
filled steel tube resists compression buckling of core brace[1].

Figure 3. Buckling Restrained Brace

3.2 Added Damping and Stiffness System

It is made up of mild steel plates of triangular or X shape. This shapes ensures uniform yielding
throughout the material. They are placed at intersection of bracing and connected beam as
shown in Figure 4[4]. When vibrations are induced in the structure due to an earthquake, the
provided metallic yield damper yields first, dissipating a major portion of seismic energy and
hence reduces the energy input into the structure and safeguards it.

4
 Figure 4. Added Damping and Stiffness System

4. FRICTION DAMPERS:

Friction damper works on the principle of dissipating energy through sliding friction between
two solid objects[5]. It consists of series of steel plates which are clamped together with high
strength steel bolts as shown in Figure 5 [5]which will dissipate energy through friction. These
friction dampers are designed not to slip during moderate earthquake. During a major earth-
quake sliding force is greater than predetermined limiting load which causes sliding of plates
and dissipate energy by friction. The friction dampers are inexpensive and not affected by en-
vironmental factors like temperature, stiffness degradation due to ageing etc. In some cases, it
can perform multiple times and no need for replacement even after the earthquake.

5
 Figure 5. Friction Dampers

5. DYNAMIC VIBRATION ABSORBERS:

5.1 Tuned mass Dampers

Tuned mass damper is tuned to a natural frequency of structure so that when that structure is
excited, the damper will resonate out of phase with the structure. This will reduce amplitude
of vibration in structure[5]. A tuned mass damper (TMD) usually consists of a mass, spring
and damper as shown in Figure 6. Energy is dissipated by the damper inertia force acting on
the structure. Drawback of passive tuned mass damper (TMD) is that it can only be tuned into
a single frequency of the structure.Also,large mass is to be attached at the top of structure and
structure has to be designed properly for increased loading.

Source:BSB Group Article

Figure 6. Building with TMD

6
5.2 Tuned Liquid Dampers

This works on the similar principles of Tuned Mass Dampers (TMD). However, a mass in the
form of a liquid is introduced into the structural system as shown in Figure 7 instead of solid
mass. The response of the tuned liquid dampers is non linear due to liquid sloshing. Because of
this inherent non linearity it is difficult to mathematically model such damper. They have their
primary applications in controlling wind induced vibrations[5].

Source : Science Direct

Figure 7. Tuned Liquid Damper

7
 COMPARISON OF FORCE DISPLACEMENT RELATIONSHIP AND
MATHEMATICAL MODEL

Table 1. Comparison of force displacement relation and mathematical model of various dampers

SIMPLIFIED DESIGN PROCEDURE

The following is the proposed simple procedure proposed by Liu et al. for the damper and
distribution in the preliminary design of buildings. The structures are simplified into lumped
mass models with concentrated mass on each story[3].

1. Estimate the mass of each story. (DL + some percentage of LL)

8
 2. Estimate the stiffness of each story. (Summation of stiffness of all columns)

3. Calculate fundamental time period and the mode shapes()φ of the building.

4. Perform linear static analysis and get maximum base shear force and maximum drift.
Estimate drift reduction factor(γ), ratio of max drift to drift to be allowed.
max(drif t)
γ= (1)
drif t level

5. Estimated drift reduction factor is used to find damping coefficients (βef f , β) from Table
1-6 in FEMA 356 document.

6. Determine damping coefficient C on each story under the assumption that each story has
the same amount of damping, and the device is inclined at the same angle.

4πΣ Wg i φ2i
C= (βef f − β) (2)
T cos2 θΣφ2rj

C = Damping coefficient
Wi = Weight of storey
φ = Mode shape of structure
T = Time period
θ = Inclination of damper
βef f , β = Damping coefficients from FEMA-356

7. Calculate maximum damping force which is the product of damping coefficient in the
storey and maximum velocity.

8. Estimate cost of damping system comprises of damper, supporting devices and installa-
tion charge.

Remarks: From the above discussion energy dissipation systems tend to be more effective for
structural damage control. For important buildings like hospitals, communication centres etc.
functionality immediate after earthquake is major requirement and these systems ensures it.
Further proper analytical models and design procedure have to be followed to ensure effective
functioning of these devices.

9
 REFERENCES

[1] MD Symans, FA Charney, AS Whittaker, MC Constantinou, CA Kircher, MW Johnson, and RJ Mc-

Namara. Energy dissipation systems for seismic applications: current practice and recent develop-
ments. Journal of structural engineering, 134(1):3–21, 2008.
[2] Michael Constantinou, Tsu T Soong, and Gary F Dargush. Passive energy dissipation systems for
structural design and retrofit, monograph no. 1. 01 1998.
[3] Wei Liu, Mai Tong, and George C Lee. Simple procedure for preliminary design of structural
damper. In Proc. 13th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 2004.
[4] Seyed Masoud Sajjadi Alehashem, Ali Keyhani, and Hassan Pourmohammad. Behavior and per-
formance of structures equipped with adas & tadas dampers (a comparison with conventional struc-
tures). In The 14th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 2008.
[5] GS Adithya, Shankarling S Mandewali, and H Narendra. Seismic energy dissipation: Art of the
scenario. 2016.

10