Abstract:
The present invention provides a viscoelastic wall panel damping device ( 100 ) that provides damping against multidirectional reacting dynamic loads that include in-plane shear force resistance and out of plane force resistance. The viscoelastic wall panel damping device ( 100 ) of the present invention, including an assembly ( 100   a ) having a pair of symmetrically opposing surfaces formed by a pair of damping element planar members ( 36   a,    38   b ) that sandwiches a rigid planar member ( 34 ), The assembly ( 100   a ) being over-laid by a pair of face plates ( 28, 32 ), a proximal face plate ( 28 ) and a distal face plate ( 32 ). Aforementioned pair of face plates ( 28, 32 ) and the rigid planar member ( 34 ) of the assembly ( 100   a ) having a plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members ( 33 ) comprising of vertically oriented welded strips ( 33   a ) of steel disposed with stiffener elements ( 33   b ) at spatial intervals along the length of said welded strips of steel ( 33   a ). Aforementioned pair of face plates ( 28, 32 ) further being disposed at respective outer surfaces ( 28   a,    32   a ) with a plurality of horizontal stiffener members ( 22 ).

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to the broad field of vibration damping. More particularly, the present invention relates to a damping device for use in structures such as steel and reinforced concrete buildings that are subjected to dynamic loads. Most particularly, the present invention relates to a wall panel damping device. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is known that increasing the damping in a structure will result in the improvement in the response and performance of a structure under earthquake vibrations, wind forces or any structural stability hazard of similar nature. All structures have inherent damping which causes them to stop vibrating. This damping is the result of internal factors such as damping of the material of the structure, the movement in the connections or external factors such as air resistance. Typically damping in a structure can approximately vary between 2% to 7%. With the use supplemental dampers, damping can be increased substantially to a desirable value of 15% to 25% or more. With the use of supplemental dampers, the damping of vibrations due to any structural stability hazard such as undesirable vibrations caused by an earthquake can be further mitigated. More particularly, with the use of supplemental dampers, damping can be increased substantially to a desirable value of 15% to 25% or more. 
         [0003]    Among the different kinds of structural damping systems, solid viscoelastic dampers due to their inherent advantages, have been extensively studied for uses in relation to the protection of buildings against vibration and lateral movement (Housener, 1997). Rubber is usually the solid viscoelastic material employed in damper systems used for base isolation in buildings to protect superstructures against ground shaking (Islam, A. 2013, Gueguen, P. 2012) or in machine foundations to diminish in exemplary cases, engine vibrations (Chehab, 2003). Rubber has also been known to be utilized in seismic isolation pads that provide for the decoupling between a building and a foundation. 
         [0004]    As mentioned before, rubber materials are mostly used as base isolations in foundations of buildings, but in recent research studies, new kinds of viscoelastic dampers have been proposed which are used as wall dampers. Ibrahim et. al. (2007) investigated a new viscoelastic damping device which consists of a block of a high damping rubber sandwiched between steel plates which provided additional energy dissipation. Cho and Kwon (2004) proposed a system to improve the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures under earthquake loads. The wall-type damper has an advantage in the retro-fit of RC structures. The system consists of a Teflon slider and a RC wall (i.e. a friction type damper). The damper is also designed to control normal pressures acting on a frictional slider. The damper as proposed by Cho and Kwon (2004) appears to be effective in mitigating seismic responses of RC frame structures and reducing damage to RC structural members. Experimental results suggests that use of friction type dampers as proposed by Cho and Kwon (2004), can not only reduce structural seismic responses but can also prevent stress concentrations which usually take place at the connection between brace-type dampers and its joining RC members. However, owing to the inherent characteristics of friction dampers, the friction wall damper is not suitable for alleviating wind-induced or low intensity earthquake excited structural responses. 
         [0005]    Studies on viscoelastic wall type dampers appear to suggest that similar to ordinary viscoelastic dampers, the performance of viscoelastic wall type dampers are also affected by factors that include variance in environmental temperature and strain amplitude of the viscoelastic material layer. Accordingly, thus far, an efficient control effect cannot always be achieved. In contrast, viscous wall type dampers, appear to provide a better option when taking into consideration wind and seismic response control of building structures. 
         [0006]    In accordance to the state of the art, it appears that a lot of research has focused on the development of viscous wall dampers as opposed to viscoelastic wall damper devices. Due to a readily available supply of rubber, it may be advantageous to develop a viscoelastic wall panel damping device that utilizes rubber as the viscoelastic damping element. It may further be advantageous to develop a viscoelastic wall panel damping device that exhibits appreciable wind and seismic response control. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems described above. 
         [0008]    This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0009]    It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a viscoelastic damping device that utilizes damping elements comprising rubber. 
         [0010]    It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a viscoelastic damping device that provides damping against multidirectional reacting loads that include in-plane shear force resistance and out of plane force resistance. 
         [0011]    It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a viscoelastic damping device that can further serve as a wall panel in steel and/or reinforced concrete structures. 
         [0012]    In one aspect, the present invention provides a viscoelastic wall panel damping device that provides damping against multidirectional reacting loads that include in-plane shear force resistance and out of plane force resistance; the viscoelastic wall panel damping device comprises of:
       an assembly having a pair of symmetrically opposing surfaces, the assembly comprising of a plurality of alternating layers of viscoelastic damping element planar members and rigid planar members; each of the plurality of viscoelastic damping element, planar members and each of the plurality of rigid planar members having a first surface and a second symmetrically opposing surface;   a pair of face plates, a proximal face plate and a distal face plate that overlay the assembly formed by the plurality of alternating layers of viscoelastic damping element planar members and rigid planar members at the symmetrically opposing surfaces; the pair of face plates having an inner surface and an outer surface;   the inner surface of the pair of face plates and the first and second surfaces of the plurality of rigid planar members being disposed with a plurality of vertically oriented stiffeners comprising of vertically oriented welded strips of steel disposed with stiffener elements at spatial intervals along the length of the welded strips of steel.       
 
         [0016]    In accordance with the abovementioned preferable embodiment of the present invention, the viscoelastic wall panel damping device further includes;
       a pair of connecting members, a first connecting member and a second connecting member that cooperate to enable the interconnection of the assembly overlaid by the pair of face plates at the symmetrically opposing surfaces of the assembly to a preexisting frame structure of a building; the first connecting member being interconnected to the pair of face plates overlaying the assembly formed by the plurality of alternating layers of viscoelastic damping element planar members and rigid planar members, and the second connecting member being interconnected to the plurality of rigid planar members of the assembly; and   a pair of edge members, a first edge member and a second edge member that serve to maintain axial or longitudinal compression of the assembly formed by the plurality of alternating layers of viscoelastic damping element planar members and plurality of rigid planar members;       
 
         [0019]    In accordance with yet another preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device of the present invention, said viscoelastic wall-panel damping device including:
       an assembly having a pair of symmetrically opposing surfaces, the assembly comprising of a pair of damping element planar members sandwiching a rigid planar member; each of said pair of damping element planar members and said rigid planar member having a first surface and a second symmetrically opposing surface; and   a pair of face plates, a proximal face plate and distal face plate that respectively overlay the assembly at the symmetrically opposing surfaces of the assembly; the proximal face plate and distal face plate each having an inner surface and an outer surface;   the inner surface of the pair of face plates and the first and second surfaces of the rigid planar member being disposed with a plurality of vertically oriented stiffeners comprising of vertically oriented welded strips of steel disposed with stiffener elements at spatial intervals along the length of the welded strips of steel.       
 
         [0023]    In accordance with the abovementioned preferred embodiment of the present invention, the viscoelastic damping device further includes
       a pair of connecting members, a first connecting member and a second connecting member that serve to enable the interconnection of the assembly overlaid at its symmetrically opposing surfaces by the pair of face plates, to a pre-existing frame structure of a building; the first connecting member being interconnected to the pair of face plates overlaying the assembly formed by the pair of viscoelastic damping element planar members sandwiching the rigid planar member; the second connecting member being interconnected to the rigid planar member of the assembly; and   a pair of edge members, a first edge member and a second edge member that serve to maintain axial or longitudinal compression of the assembly formed by the sandwiching of the rigid planar member by the pair of viscoelastic damping element planar members;       
 
         [0026]    In accordance with a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device of the present invention, the pair of face plates, i.e. the proximal and distal face plates further include a plurality of horizontally oriented stiffener bars disposed on the outer surface. 
         [0027]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device of the present invention, the inner surface of the proximal face plate and the inner surface of the distal plate is disposed at spatial intervals with three vertically oriented stiffeners; each of the vertically oriented stiffeners comprising of a welded strip of steel and a pair of stiffener elements. 
         [0028]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device of the present invention, the first and second symmetrically opposing surfaces of the rigid planar member are respectively disposed with a pair of vertically oriented stiffeners; each of the vertically oriented stiffeners comprising of a welded strip of steel and a pair of stiffener elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a vertical cross sectional view along line A-A as indicated in  FIG. 1  of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a horizontal cross sectional view along line B-B in  FIG. 1  of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4 a    is a diagram illustrating horizontal cross sectional view of a bottom portion of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention in which an exploded plan view of the first connecting member that is interconnected to an edge member is provided; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4 b    is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of the first connecting member of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a side elevation view of a proximal face plate of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention in which an inner surface of the proximal face plate is shown; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a rigid member interconnected to a second connecting member of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second connecting member of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an edge member of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0039]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of an exemplary embodiment and is not intended to represent the only form in which the embodiment may be constructed and/or utilized, The description sets forth the functions and the sequence for constructing the exemplary embodiment. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0040]    With reference to the appended  FIGS. 1 to 8 , a preferable embodiment of the wall panel damping device of the present invention will now be described. With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a side elevation view of a viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2 , as mentioned in a preceding section of this document illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of the preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention and  FIG. 3  depicts another cross-sectional view taken along lines B-B of the preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention. More particularly, with reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, in accordance with a preferable embodiment, comprises an assembly  100   a  having a pair of symmetrically opposing surfaces formed by a pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b;  the assembly  100   a  comprising of a pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  sandwiching a rigid planar member  34 ; each of said pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  and said rigid planar member  34  having a first surface  36   aa,    36   ba,    34   a  and a second symmetrically opposing surface  36   ab,    36   bb,    34   b.    
         [0041]    The viscoelastic damping device  100  of the present invention further including a pair of face plates  28 ,  32 ; a proximal face plate  28  and a distal face plate  32  that respectively overlay the assembly  100   a  at the symmetrically opposing surfaces formed by the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  of the assembly  100   a.  The pair of face plates  28 ,  32  overlaying and being in surface communication with the symmetrically opposing surfaces of the assembly  100   a  formed by the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b.  The proximal face plate  28  and distal face plate  32  each having an inner surface  28   b,    32   b  and an outer surface  28   a,    32   a,  with the inner surface  28   b,    32   b  of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  and the first  34   a  and second surfaces  34   b  of the rigid planar member  34  being disposed with a plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33 . In accordance with a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the pair of face plates  28 ,  32 , i.e. the proximal  28  and distal  32  face plates further include a plurality of horizontally oriented stiffener members  22  disposed on the outer surface  28   a,    32   a.    
         [0042]    With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6  and the preceding paragraphs of this detailed description, each of the plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33  comprising of a vertically oriented welded strip of steel  33   a  disposed with stiffener elements  33   b  at spatial intervals along the vertical length of the welded strip of steel  33   b.  Said stiffener elements  33   b,  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic damping device  100  of the present invention comprising of a pair of triangular steel elements  33   c  welded to symmetrically opposing sides of the welded strip of steel  33   a  of the plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33 . 
         [0043]    Reference is again made to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , in accordance to a preferable embodiment, the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100 , further comprises a pair of connecting members  24 ,  26 . A first connecting member  24  and a second connecting member  26  that respectively serve to enable the interconnection of the assemblage formed by the assembly  100   a  overlaid at its symmetrically opposing surfaces by the pair of face plates  28 ,  32 , to a pre-existing frame structure  10   a,    10   b  of a building, i.e. an elevated or base horizontal frame structure  10   a  and/or a pair of vertical frame structures  10   b.  The first connecting member  24  being interconnected to the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  overlaying the assembly  100   a  formed by the pair of viscoelastic damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  sandwiching the rigid planar member  34 ; the second connecting member  26  being interconnected to the rigid planar member  34  of the assembly  100   a.  The aforementioned preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic damping device  100  of the present invention, yet further including a pair edge members  30   a,    30   b,  a first edge member  30   a  and a second edge member  30   b,  that each respectively serve to maintain axial or longitudinal compression of the assembly  100   a  formed by the sandwiching of the rigid planar member  34  by the pair of viscoelastic damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b.  As may be evident in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and  FIG. 4 , the pair of the first edge member  30   a  and the second edge member  30   b,  are in surface communication with the assembly  100   a  formed by the sandwiching of the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  of the planar rigid member  34 ; and the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  that overlay said assembly  100   a.  Aforementioned pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  serving to maintain axial or longitudinal compression of the assembly  100   a  formed by the sandwiching of the rigid planar member  34  by the pair of viscoelastic damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  in cooperation with a plurality of threaded tie rod members  20 , as may be evident from aforementioned  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 . 
         [0044]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the damping device  100  of the present invention, the pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  each respectively comprising of a steel plate member  30   ad,    30   bd,  disposed with a projecting member  30   ac,    30   bc.  The projecting member  30   ac,    30   bc  of each edge member  30   a,    30   b  of the pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  being oriented vertically with respect to the orientation of the steel plate member  30   ad,    30   bd  and is further in surface communication with the projecting member  30   ac,    30   bc.  More particularly, aforementioned first edge member  30   a,  comprises of a steel plate member  30   ad  disposed with a projecting member  30   ac.  Aforementioned projecting member  30   ac  of the first edge member  30   a  being oriented vertically with respect to the orientation of the steel plate member  30   ad  and further being in surface communication with said steel plate member  30   ad.  Similarly, aforementioned second edge member  30   b,  comprises of a steel plate member  30   bd  disposed with a projecting member  30   bc.  Aforementioned projecting member  30   bc  of the second edge member  30   b  being oriented vertically with respect to the orientation of the steel plate member  30   bd  of said second edge member  30   b  and further being in surface communication with said steel plate member  30   bd.  The resulting structure of the pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  respectively, appear to be formed such that each edge member  30   a,    30   b  has a pair of flanges  30   aa,    30   ab  and  30   ba,    30   bb.  More particularly, edge member  30   a  appears to have a pair of flanges  30   aa,    30   ab  and edge member  30   b  appears to have a pair of flanges  30   ba,    30   bb.  The pair of flanges  30   aa,    30   ab  of the first edge member  30   a  being disposed with threaded perforations distributed at spatial intervals along the vertical length of said flanges  30   aa,    30   ab  of the first edge member  30   a  and, similarly the pair of flanges  30   ba,    30   bb  of the second edge member  30   b  being disposed with threaded perforations distributed at spatial intervals along the vertical length of said flanges  30   ba,    30   bb.    
         [0045]    With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 8 , said plurality of threaded perforations along the vertical lengths of the flanges  30   aa,    30   ab,    30   ba,    30   bb  of the pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  serving to enable securing of the pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  to the assemblage formed by the surface communication overlaying of the proximal and distal face plates  28 ,  32  of the assembly  100   a  comprising of the pair of planar damping elements  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34 , at symmetrically opposing edge ends  103 ,  104  with the aid of a plurality of threaded tie rod members  20  and plurality of bolts and nuts to consequently form the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention. The securing of the pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  at symmetrically opposing edge ends  103 ,  104  of the assemblage formed by the surface communication overlaying of the proximal and distal face plates  28 ,  32  of the assembly  100   a  comprising of the pair of planar damping elements  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34 , with the aid of a plurality of threaded tie rod members  20  and a plurality of bolts and nuts enable the pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  to maintain axial or longitudinal compression of the assemblage (i.e. the assemblage formed by the overlaying of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  of the assembly comprising of the pair of damping element members  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34 ). 
         [0046]    With reference to  FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b   , the first connecting member  24  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, includes a pair of flanges  24   a,    24   b  that flank a projecting element  24   c  which in accordance to a preferable embodiment, of the present invention, is a hollow longitudinally extending square tubular projecting element  24   c.  The pair of flanges  24   a,    24   b  being disposed with threaded perforations distributed along the longitudinal length of said flanges  24   a,    24   b  to enable the securing of said first connecting member  24  on to a pre-existing frame structure  10   a,    10   b  of a building via the use of a plurality of bolts and nuts. 
         [0047]    With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the second connecting member  26 , similar to the first connecting member  24  includes a pair of flanges  26   a,    26   b  that flank a projecting element  26   c,  which in accordance with a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention is a projecting sheet  26   c  that extends longitudinally throughout the longitudinal length of the pair of flanges  26   a,    26   b.  In accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, the pair of flanges  26   a,    26   b  being disposed with threaded perforations distributed along a horizontal length of said flanges  26   a,    26   b  to enable the securing of said second connecting member  26  on to a pre-existing frame structure  10   a,    10   b  of a building via the use of a plurality of bolts and nuts. In addition to the threaded perforations of the pair of flanges  26   a,    26   b,  the projecting sheet  26   c  is also disposed with threaded perforations at spatial intervals throughout its longitudinal length to hence enable the securing of said second connecting member  26  onto the rigid planar member  34  of the assembly  101   a  comprising of the pair of planar damping element members  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34 . 
         [0048]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the rigid planar member  34  of the assembly  100   a  that is overlaid by the pair of face plates  28 ,  32 , i.e. the proximal face plate  28  and the distal face plate  32 ; comprises of a pair of symmetrically opposing surfaces  34   a,    34   b,  a first surface  34   a  and a second symmetrically opposing surface  34   b.  Said first surface  34   a  and second symmetrically opposing surface  34   b  of the rigid planar member  34  being disposed with a plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33 . The rigid planar member  34  being further disposed with a plurality of perforations (not explicitly shown) located at the top periphery (i.e. top side  101 ) of said rigid planar member  34  that correspond to the plurality of threaded perforations disposed on the projecting sheet  26   c  of the second connecting member  26  to enable the second connecting member  26  to be secured to the top side  101  of said rigid planar member  34 . 
         [0049]    In accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, the rigid planar member  34  is disposed with a pair of vertically oriented stiffener members  33  at both its first surface  34   a  and its symmetrically opposing second surface  34   b.  The pair of vertically oriented stiffener members  33  being displaced by a predetermined spatial interval along the longitudinal length of said rigid planar member  34  at both its symmetrically opposing surfaces  34   a,    34   b.    
         [0050]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , there is shown an elevation side view of a face plate  28 ,  32 . It should be noted that in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, the pair of face plates  28 ,  32 , i.e. the proximal face plate  28  and the distal face plate  32  are identical in construction. Each of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  having a first inner surface  28   b , 32   b  and a second symmetrically opposing outer surface  28   a,    32   a.  Both aforementioned inner  28   b,    32   b  and outer  28   a,    32   a  surfaces including a plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33 . Each vertically oriented stiffener member  33  as may have been mentioned in a preceding paragraph of this description, comprising of a vertically oriented welded strip of steel  33   a  disposed with stiffener elements  33   b  at spatial intervals along the vertical length of the welded strip of steel  33   b.  Said stiffener elements  33   b,  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic damping device  100  of the present invention comprising of a pair of triangular steel elements  33   c  welded to symmetrically opposing sides of the welded strip of steel  33   a  of an individual vertically oriented stiffener member  33 . Each of the face plates  28 ,  32  being further disposed with a plurality of threaded perforations adapted to receive a plurality of bolts, at symmetrically opposing side edges  28   c,    32   c  and  28   d,    32   d.    
         [0051]    In accordance with a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, each of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32 , i.e. the proximal face plate  28  and the distal face plate  32  include three vertically oriented stiffener members  33  that are displaced by spatial intervals along the longitudinal direction disposed at the inner surfaces  28   b,    32   b.    
         [0052]    With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 , it would be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, that the plurality of threaded perforations at the symmetrically opposing side edges  28   c,    32   c  and  28   d,    32   d  of each of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  are in spatial alignment with corresponding perforations (not shown) disposed on each of the plurality of horizontal stiffener members  22  disposed on the outer surfaces  28   a,    32   a  respectively of the proximal face plate  28  and distal face plate  32 . The plurality of perforations disposed on the symmetrically opposing side edges  28   c,    32   c  and  28   d,    32   d  of each of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  are distributed at spatial intervals along the vertical length of said pair of face plates  28 ,  32 . In yet another preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, the plurality of horizontal stiffener members  22  are weldably secured to the respective outer faces  28   a,    32   a  of said proximal  28  and distal  32  face plates. 
         [0053]    In accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, the plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33  disposed on the inner surfaces  28   b,    32   b  of the proximal face plate  28  and the distal face plate  32  respectively; and the plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33  disposed on the first and second surfaces  34   a,    34   b  of the rigid planar member  34 ; are disposed such that said plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33  of the pair face plates  28 ,  32  and said plurality of vertically oriented stiffener members  33  of the rigid planar member  34  are not in latitudinal spatial alignment. 
         [0054]    The formation or assembly of the viscoelastic wall-panel damping device  100  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the present invention, will now be described with reference to the appended  FIGS. 1 to 10 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  of the present invention, comprises of an assembly  100   a  that is formed by the sandwiching of the pair of planar damping element members  36   a,    36   b  of a rigid planar member  34 . Aforementioned rigid planar member  34  and aforementioned pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  having the same length and width dimensions, as may be apparent by the views presented in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Said assembly  100   a  being overlaid by the pair of face plates  28 ,  32 , i.e. the proximal face plate  28  and the distal face plate  32  such that said proximal face plate  28  and said distal face plate  32  are respectively in surface communication with the symmetrically opposing sides of the assembly  100   a  formed by the pair damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b.  Said pair of face plates  28 ,  32  i.e. the proximal face plate  28  and the distal face plate  32  extending to a length in the longitudinal direction that is slightly greater on either end  103 ,  104  than the length in the longitudinal direction of the assembly  100   a  formed by the sandwiching by the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  of the rigid planar member  34  as is evident in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0055]    Prior to sandwiching of the rigid planar member  34  with the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b;  aforementioned rigid planar member  34  is connected to the second connecting member  26  with the aid of a plurality of bolts and nuts in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100 , that are threaded through the plurality of threaded perforations disposed along the longitudinal length of the projecting sheet  26   c  of said second connecting member  26  and the plurality of perforations (not shown) disposed on the top side  101  of the planar rigid member  34  and when the plurality of perforations (not shown) of the rigid planar member  34  and the plurality of threaded perforations disposed on the projecting sheet  26   c  of the second connecting member  26  are in alignment. The plurality of bolts are secured in position by way of a plurality of nuts, thus forming the assemblage that appears on  FIG. 6 . 
         [0056]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4   b,  the first connecting member  24  is disposed at the bottom side  102  of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, aforementioned first connecting member  24  is disposed at the bottom side of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  such that the symmetrically opposing faces of the projecting member  24   c  of said first connecting member  24  is in surface communication, at the bottom side  102 , with the inner surfaces  28   b,    32   b  of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  that overlay the assembly  100   a  comprising of the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34 . Further said first connecting member  24  is disposed at the bottom side  102  of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  such that the flanges  24   a,    24   b  of said first connecting member  24  is in surface communication with the bottom edges of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  that overlay the assembly  100   a.  In view of the above, said first connecting member  24  is snugly fit at the bottom side  102  to the assemblage comprising of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  overlaying in surface communication the assembly  100   a  comprising of the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34 . 
         [0057]    Again, by way of reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4   a  and  FIG. 8 , the entire assemblage formed by the surface communication overlaying of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  at symmetrically opposing sides of the assembly  100   a  formed by the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  sandwiching the rigid planar member  34  is maintained in axial or longitudinal compression by a pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  acting in cooperation with a plurality of threaded tie rod members  20 , More particularly, aforementioned pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  are disposed on the symmetrically opposing edge ends  103 ,  104  of the assemblage formed by the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  and the assembly  100   a,  such that the opposing faces of the of the projecting member  30   ac,    30   bc  of each edge member  30   a,    30   b  are in surface communication with the inner surfaces  28   b,    32   b  of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  that overlay the assembly  100   a,  and the flanges  30   aa,    30   ab  and  30   ba  and  30   bb  of each edge member  30   a,    30   b  is in surface communication with the edges of said pair of face plates  28 ,  32 . 
         [0058]    The pair of edge members  30   a,    30   b  being secured to the assemblage formed by the surface communication overlaying of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  at symmetrically opposing surfaces of the assembly  100   a  formed by the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34  by threading a plurality of threaded tie rod members  20  through perforations disposed at spatial intervals along the vertical length of the each of the flanges  30   aa,    30   ab  and  30   bb,    30   ba  of the first edge member  30   a  and the second edge member  30   b.  Said plurality of threaded tie rod members  20  threaded through the aforementioned perforations disposed on the flanges  30   aa,    30   ab  and  30   ba,    30   bb  of the first and second edge members  30   a,    30   b  respectively, such that said plurality of tie rod members  20  extend through the entire longitudinal length of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  that overlay the assembly  100   a.  Said plurality of threaded tie rod members  20  being secured in position with the aid of a plurality of nuts. 
         [0059]    Finally, to complete the assembly or the formation of the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of horizontal stiffener members  22  are secured on both the outer surfaces  28   a,    32   a  of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  with the aid of a plurality of bolts and nuts. The bolts are threaded through the corresponding perforations disposed on the side edges  28   c,    32   c  and  28   d,    32   d  of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32  which are in alignment with the perforations disposed on each horizontal stiffener member  22 . 
         [0060]    In view of the fact that, said pair of face plates  28 ,  32  i.e. the proximal face plate  28  and the distal face plate  32  extending to a length in the longitudinal direction that is slightly greater on either end  103 , 104  than the length in the longitudinal direction of the assembly  100   a  formed by the sandwiching of the pair of damping element planar members  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34  as is evident in  FIG. 3 , a common bolt is threaded through the perforations of a pair of corresponding horizontal stiffener members  33  disposed respectively on the outer surface  28   a  of the proximal face plate  28  and the outer surface  32   a  of the distal face plate  32 , the perforations of the horizontal stiffener member  33  being in alignment with corresponding perforations disposed on the corresponding side edges  28   c,    32   c  and  28   d,    32   d  of the pair of face plates  28 ,  32 , thus enabling the securing of a pair of horizontal stiffener members  22  with the aid nuts on the assemblage formed by the surface communication overlaying of the pair face plates  28 ,  32  of the assembly  100   a  comprising of the pair damping element planar member  36   a,    36   b  and the rigid planar member  34 . 
         [0061]    The resulting assemblage being the viscoelastic wall panel damping device  100  in accordance to a preferable embodiment of the present invention.