Mitigation of Seismic Pounding Between Adjacent Buildings Using Coupling Shear Dampers
Creators: name: Elgammal, Ahmed
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023

description: This research proposal addresses the persistent challenge of seismic pounding between adjacent buildings, a phenomenon that arises from inadequate separation distance and can result in significant structural damage and compromised safety. The overarching goal is to develop and validate an innovative coupling system designed to mitigate pounding-induced forces by leveraging metallic shear dampers in combination with rigid link beams at each story level. The study is organized into three distinct phases, each building upon the insights and findings of the previous phase to form a comprehensive investigation.

In Phase I, an analytical prediction model will be established to capture the hysteretic behavior of a novel metallic shear damper configuration. This damper is enhanced with longitudinal stiffeners, which have been shown in recent literature to offer superior cyclic performance relative to traditional dampers. The analytical model will incorporate both geometric and material nonlinearities to accurately represent key parameters, such as energy dissipation capacity and post-yield stiffness. Parametric studies will be conducted to validate the model against experimental data reported in prior studies, ensuring that the predicted force-displacement responses align with real-world performance. These analytical insights will form the foundation for subsequent simulation-based evaluations, providing a clear understanding of how design modifications influence the damper’s overall seismic resilience.

In Phase II, a comprehensive finite element analysis (FEA) will be carried out using the OpenSees platform to investigate three scenarios for adjacent buildings under seismic loading: (1) bare buildings, (2) buildings equipped with metallic shear dampers and eccentric chevron braces, and (3) buildings interconnected by the proposed coupling system featuring metallic shear dampers and rigid link beams. A wide range of building heights, layouts, and structural configurations will be considered to reflect the diverse conditions found in urban environments. Ground motion records representing varying intensities and frequency contents will be employed to simulate realistic seismic events. Key response parameters—such as inter-story drift, pounding force, and global energy dissipation—will be extracted to quantify the effectiveness of each scenario. A primary outcome of this phase will be the derivation of a pounding force spectrum, a practical tool that enables engineers to estimate the expected pounding force between adjacent buildings equipped with the novel coupling system without resorting to computationally expensive, high-fidelity FEA. By systematically comparing the performance of the three scenarios, this phase aims to highlight the potential advantages of the new coupling approach over conventional mitigation strategies.

In Phase III, the proposed coupling system will be applied to a real-world case study to assess its retrofit potential for existing adjacent buildings. This phase will involve selecting two existing buildings of varying heights and structural configurations, reflecting typical older construction practices that often lack sufficient seismic detailing. The metallic shear dampers with longitudinal stiffeners will be installed at each floor level, connected by rigid link beams to unify the lateral load path and redistribute pounding forces across the shared interface. Detailed nonlinear time-history analyses will be performed to evaluate the system’s performance under multiple seismic excitations, focusing on damage distribution, residual drifts, and overall structural stability. Additionally, a cost-benefit assessment will be undertaken, considering factors such as fabrication complexity, installation labor, and projected reductions in damage-related expenses. The findings from this phase will yield valuable insights into the practicality, durability, and long-term resilience of the coupling system in real-scale applications.

Overall, this research proposal aims to address the urgent need for effective seismic pounding mitigation strategies in densely built environments. By integrating advanced metallic shear dampers with rigid link beams, the project seeks to offer a first-of-its-kind coupling solution that not only reduces the risk of structural collisions but also enhances global energy dissipation. The multi-phase approach—encompassing analytical modeling, extensive finite element simulations, and real-world case studies—ensures a robust and comprehensive evaluation of the proposed system. Ultimately, the project aspires to advance the state of the art in earthquake engineering by providing a new framework for designing and retrofitting adjacent buildings, thereby contributing to safer, more resilient urban infrastructure in seismically active regions.