A Design Methodology for Hysteretic Dampers

This research proposes a design methodology for hysteretic dampers in buildings under high levels of seismic hazard. Developments in structural materials have led to designs that satisfy strength requirements but are often very flexible. This trend, along with increasingly stringent building performance criteria, suggests a philosophy of controlling structural motion as opposed to merely designing for strength, particularly when related to earthquake design. Included in this thesis is a design algorithm that calibrates stiffness and yield force level, two controlling parameters in the implementation of hysteretic dampers, in order to obtain optimal structural response under two levels of earthquake severity. In addition, a parametric study illustrates the merits and drawbacks of various stiffness and yield force allocations. Thesis Supervisor: Jerome J. Connor Title: Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Acknowledgments Special thanks to my advisor for his guidance and for showing me that you should always try to be a forward thinker-if one does NOT want to find ways to innovate, be creative, or try to extend his or her intellectual capacity, then do not study under Professor Connor. To Dr. Adams, the faculty, and the administration at the department for letting me study here for a while. It was tough, but I learned quite a bit and it really is not that bad (it might have even been fun at times, too). To Hope College, even though nobody has ever heard of you I think I got a pretty good education and I would not change it for anything. To Team Carlsberg: Sam, Andrea, Chris, and Evan, you guys really know how to have a good time once you get away from the lab. Speaking of the lab, to all of you who spent countless hours there with me, it could have been brutal but we were all just a big family. To LLUA: yeah, we are not the most honest intramural basketball team in the history of MIT, but we had a good time. To Raj and all my friends back home, the support and conversation was much needed and highly appreciated. To my family, thanks for loving me no matter what and for encouraging me to be adventurous. And to Drealvly, for making me feel like I can do anything. Cheers, Cody