A Study of Fundamental Performance of Friction Damper with Variable Resistances

Abstract

A new type of shear friction damper was proposed as an energy-absorption device. The new device can applies two levels of shear resistance just by controlling the bolts tension force in two sides of the damper. The side where the lower bolts tension is applied can absorb the seismic energy by a moderate earthquake, the other side where the higher bolts tension is applied can absorb the seismic energy by strong earthquake respectively. In order to investigate and clarify the characteristics of the new damper, a total of three dynamic loading tests were conducted. Experimental results have indicated that the damper can absorb seismic energy effectively in both levels of shear resistance, and an analysis model of the damper was also proposed.