Shake table tests on a reinforced concrete waffle?flat plate structure with new hybrid energy dissipation devices

This paper presents a new hybrid energy dissipation device and investigates experimentally its capability to improve the seismic response of an inherently very flexible structural system: reinforced concrete waffle-flat plate structure. The combines in parallel within single low-cost viscoelastic (VE) component metallic yielding (MY) component. has gap that prevents deformations on MY range displacements caused by wind or low intensity earthquakes, avoid high-cycle fatigue damage. is expected activate under design maximum credible earthquake, providing main structure with lateral stiffness, reliable large source capacity. Six devices (energy system) were installed scaled two-story portion prototype RC (main structure) designed only for gravity loads, without considering special ductility detailing capacity rules columns. VE reduced translational periods largest effective modal mass along horizontal directions X Y 60%, increased fraction damping about 12%. system was subjected bidirectional shake table tests represented frequent, earthquakes. In tests, remained basically undamaged frequent whereas it suffered minor (reparable) damage earthquake. undeformed