AN APPLICATION OF AN ELASTOPLASTIC DAMPER UTILIZING CONTINUOUS PLASTIC BENDING OF THIN METAL RODS TO EQUIPMENT IN A BUILDING

Abstract

An elastoplastic damper utilizing continuous plastic bending of thin metal rods, which are made of aluminum, copper, or steel, is developed. This new type of the damper is composed of two racks, four pinions, some thin metal rods, two rollers which wind the rods around, and guide rollers. The resisting force characteristics and fatigue strength of the damper were measured using a shaking table. And the elastoplastic damper is applied to the equipment in a building on purpose to decrease seismic responses. The application range of this damper by using floor response spectra is discussed.