Experimental and numerical analysis of steel pipe-rubber friction damper

A steel pipe-rubber friction damper (FRD) is proposed for the purpose of achieving greater cost-efficiency. The theoretical calculation formula of yield load was deduced based on generalized Hooke's law, and in order to investigate the behaviour of the proposed damper quasi-static cyclic tests were carried out on 7 specimens. Besides, a numerical finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out on ten dampers. Furthermore the mechanical property of FRD was proposed. Tests and finite element analysis results show that: Hysteretic curve of the steel pipe-rubber friction damper is slippery. The seismic energy dissipation capability is stable which related to load amplitude rather than loading rate. The results of finite element analysis fit well with the test curve. The differences of yield load between the theoretical value, FEA value and experimental data are small. The simulating hysteretic curve with ideal elastoplastic model is identical to the test data, and it is feasible to adopt the ideal elastoplastic model to simulate the damper element in the analysis of a structure with the steel pipe-rubber friction damper.