Viscous damper response analysis in building frames with a simplified method

Abstract

Use of viscous dampers in seismic applications for drift control as well as for reduction of base shear in building frames is studied using a simplified method. This study reports the results of a parametric study performed using the finite element method for multi-story building frames with a range of viscous damping values and the results are compared with a simplified analytical model developed for a single degree of freedom system for a bridge model. The results obtained from the approximation agreed very well with the finite element results. This method may be useful for designers of buildings for earthquake applications.