Variable Grooved Gusset Plate Damper for Seismic Resilience in Cross-Braced Frames

This study presents an innovative Variable Grooved Gusset Plate Damper (VGGPD) system for cross-braced frames, specifically engineered to improve cyclic performance in such structural systems. The system under investigation consists of a frame integrated with a damper featuring variable length. To achieve this, the damper plate is segmented into four distinct sections. The upper and lower sections are designed with a uniform length, while the middle section is assigned a different length. The lengths of these sections are carefully calibrated to ensure that horizontal and vertical drifts remain approximately equal. Experimental findings demonstrate that the VGGPD system functions as an adjustable fuse, exhibiting substantial strength and consistent performance under both tensile and compressive forces. The hysteresis loops show broad and stable patterns. The results further reveal that the VGGPD system can endure significant drift, with values surpassing ۴% and achieving a ductility factor of up to ۸. This level of drift is comparable to that observed in special moment frames and greater than that of special braced frames.

Keywords:

Cross-braced frame , variable grooved gusset plate damper , cyclic loading , ductility