Mechanical properties and displacement capacity of welded-plate flexural yielding dampers


DURSUN S. E., TOPKAYA C., BOZKURT M. B.

JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH, cilt.236, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 236
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jcsr.2025.109953
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Replaceable hysteretic steel dampers can be installed at the ends of diagonal braces to provide passive energy dissipation in frame-type structures. These dampers must satisfy both strength and displacement requirements. Previous studies have primarily focused on small-scale component testing, with limited investigation into the performance of large-scale dampers, particularly through sub-assemblage testing. This paper presents the findings of a combined experimental and numerical study on the mechanical properties and displacement capacity of welded-plate flexural yielding dampers. The experimental program was carried out in two phases: the first involved component testing of five specimens, while the second involved sub-assemblage testing of two specimens. Key variables included the number of yielding plates, plate length, plate thickness, and steel grade. Results from the first phase demonstrated that welded-plate flexural yielding dampers can achieve yield and ultimate resistances of 626 kN and 891 kN, respectively, with deformation capacities exceeding 40 mm. In the second phase, sub-assemblage tests showed that braces equipped with welded-plate flexural yielding dampers could accommodate story drifts of 2.63 % with single dampers and 5.5 % with dual dampers. Finite element analysis was used to simulate the behavior of the specimens and to develop a failure criterion for damper design. An expression was developed to calculate displacement capacity based on geometric variables. Both experimental and numerical results confirm the suitability of welded-plate flexural yielding dampers for seismic applications, offering a reliable and efficient energy dissipation mechanism for braced frame structures.