Mechanical performance simulation and application of assembled self-centring shear lead damper

Area of Science:

• Structural Engineering
• Materials Science
• Seismic Engineering

Background:

• Seismic events pose significant risks to structural integrity.
• Conventional seismic protection systems often face limitations in achieving both energy dissipation and recentering.
• Superelastic Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) offer unique properties for advanced damping applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel Assembled Self-Centring Shear Lead Damper (ASSLD).
• To investigate the combined capabilities of recentering and energy dissipation in seismic mitigation.
• To provide a validated design for enhanced structural resilience against earthquakes.

Main Methods:

• Experimental characterization of SMA materials and cyclic component testing.
• Development and validation of a hybrid numerical model for damper response prediction.
• System-level analysis using time-history simulations under realistic seismic excitations.

Main Results:

• The ASSLD demonstrated up to 45% greater energy dissipation and 30% improved recentering reliability compared to conventional dampers.
• The hybrid numerical model accurately predicted damper behavior, including the R-phase transformation plateau.
• Time-history analyses confirmed effective reduction in inter-story drift, with identified conditions for potential top displacement amplification.

Conclusions:

• The ASSLD is a promising technology for seismic mitigation, offering superior performance.
• The study validates the ASSLD's potential for practical seismic engineering applications.
• Quantitative insights are provided for the engineering design and implementation of the ASSLD system.