Shake table tests of RCC frame building with passive energy dissipation devices

Abstract

Open ground storey is a typical feature in the modern multi storey constructions in urban India. These buildings are normally not designed as per the earthquake resistant design proposed in the BIS codes. In order to control the vibration response of high rise buildings during seismic events, passive damping devices are most commonly used for energy absorption. Half scale model of two-bays in X-direction, single bay in Y-direction and three storey reinforced concrete frames has been constructed and tested in the shake table up to failure. The seismically damaged RC frame building is locally retrofitted with geopolymer concrete and then it is globally retrofitted using passive energy dissipation device at the ground storey. It is important to study and understand the response of such buildings and make such buildings earthquake resistant based on the study to prevent their collapse. An elasto-plastic device basically a yielding type device that functions on the energy dissipation achieved by way of deforming a metal plate of uniform thickness beyond its yield displacement in the post-elastic region. The natural frequencies of the model with and without dampers are found. Furthermore, seismic responses of the structure with metallic damper are evaluated with different earthquake excitations. This paper discusses about the construction of test specimen, experimental setup, instrumentation and testing. From experimental studies it has been demonstrated that the X-plate yielding type elasto-plastic damper system are effective in improving the seismic performance of the structure.