A design methodology for hysteretic dampers in buildings under extreme earthquakes

Abstract

This research proposes a design methodology for hysteretic dampers in buildings under high levels of seismic hazard. Developments in structural materials have led to designs that satisfy strength requirements but are often very flexible. This trend, along with increasingly stringent building performance criteria, suggests a philosophy of controlling structural motion as opposed to merely designing for strength, particularly when related to earthquake design. Included in this thesis is a design algorithm that calibrates stiffness and yield force level, two controlling parameters in the implementation of hysteretic dampers, in order to obtain optimal structural response under two levels of earthquake severity. In addition, a parametric study illustrates the merits and drawbacks of various stiffness and yield force allocations.