Generalized friction panel: An innovative passive energy dissipation device for structures subjected to seismic loading

Abstract

Passive energy dissipation devices are frequently used in structures subjected to seismic action because they do not require an external source of energy. Recent research on this field has focused on passive dissipation panels. A novel type of passive panel called generalized friction panel (GFP) is proposed in this paper. GFP consists of an external metallic frame with horizontal girders placed at different heights. Parallelepiped solid lead blocks having the ability to slide in the horizontal direction within the panel's plane are positioned on the girders. Energy is dissipated by means of the work done by the friction force on the sliding blocks. Experimental and numerical studies were carried out to test the panel's ability to dissipate energy. Firstly, a real scale prototype of a GFP was built and tested on a shaking table. Acceleration and displacement histories of the prototype were measured at certain points. Tests with fixed blocks were carried out to assess the device's capacity to reduce displacements. Experimental results show that GFPs with sliding blocks exhibit lower displacements than GFPs with fixed blocks. Additionally, a simplified frame-based model of a GFP including discrete elements to consider stick-slip motion with Coulomb friction was developed. Good agreement between numerical and test results was observed.