Experimental evaluation of the seismic performance of steel MRFs with compressed elastomer dampers using large-scale real-time hybrid simulation

Real-time hybrid simulation combines experimental testing and numerical simulation, and thus is a viable experimental technique for evaluating the effectiveness of supplemental damping devices for seismic hazard mitigation. This paper presents an experimental program based on the use of the real-time hybrid simulation method to verify the performance-based seismic design of a two story, four-bay steel moment resisting frame (MRF) equipped with compressed elastomer dampers. The laboratory specimens, referred to as experimental substructures, are two individual compressed elastomer dampers with the remainder of the building modeled as an analytical substructure. The proposed experimental technique enables an ensemble of ground motions to be applied to the building, resulting in various levels of damage, without the need to repair the experimental substructures, since the damage will be within the analytical substructure. Statistical experimental response results incorporating the ground motion variability show that a steel MRF with compressed elastomer dampers can be designed to perform better than conventional steel special moment resisting frames (SMRFs), even when the MRF with dampers is significantly lighter in weight than the conventional MRF.