Seismic Response Control of Bridges by Variable Dampers
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 120, Issue 9
Abstract
This paper discusses a variable damper proposed to control bridge response against an earthquake. The variable damper changes its damping coefficient depending on the structural response so that it functions as a passive energy dissipator, a damper stopper at small deck displacements, and a stopper with shock absorber for excessive deck displacements. The effectiveness of variable dampers is studied first by analytical simulations. It is demonstrated that the peak deck displacement and acceleration are reduced to 26% and 44%, respectively, of the bridge response without control. A prototype variable damper with a maximum damping force of 200 kN is developed, and its effectiveness is studied by a series of dynamic loading tests. A series of shake‐table tests is also performed using a model bridge with a deck weight of 390 kN. It is found that providing the prototype variable damper reduces the deck response acceleration and displacement from 376 cm/s2 and 9.2 cm to 203 cm/s2 and 1.3 cm, respectively. Analytical simulation of the experimental results is made. The predicted deck responses are quite close to the measured ones.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 120 • Issue 9 • September 1994
Pages: 2583 - 2601
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 13, 1993
Published online: Sep 1, 1994
Published in print: Sep 1994
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