Structural Pounding Response Mitigation by Liquid Dampers

The trend in construction leans toward maximizing land usage by constructing buildings as close to each other as possible. Without serious and careful consideration this could lead to damage due to structural pounding. The objective of this research therefore is to investigate by stimulation the pounding effect between two adjacent buildings caused by three levels of ground acceleration, as well as the utilization of liquid dampers to mitigate the effect of structural pounding. The two investigated buildings stand, respectively, 171 meters and 45 stories high, and 155.5 meters and 42 stories high. First, the pounding forces, displacements, and accelerations at the 40^th story of the two buildings were investigated. The results show that maximum displacement increased, and abrupt pulse accelerations occurred intermittently, due to the pounding effect. The dampers and gap elements were then simulated at three locations per floor in two cases. In Case-1, 63 liquid dampers were simulated, three on each even floor from the 2^nd to the 40^th floor. In Case-2, 33 dampers were simulated at the same locations on each even floor from the 30^th to 40^th floor. In both cases, due to the dampers, the maximum displacements of one of the buildings under three levels of ground acceleration were reduced by approximately 80%, 60%, and 90%, respectively. Moreover, pulse accelerations were eliminated, which in turn reduced the impact forces on the structures.