Viscoelastic dampers for protection of structures against seismic actions

Abstract

Over the past decades, many vibration control devices have been invented to enhance the integrity of structures and improve their safety when subjected to seismic actions. A review of viscoelastic dampers (VD) has been presented in this paper. These dampers are considered to be one of the most effective and economic passive damping devices that have been widely used in the vibration control of many structures. The review provides detailed information and references regarding viscoelastic materials and their essential mechanical parameters. Different types of VD are presented, and studies on the optimal design of VDs are discussed. The numerical models for simulating the dynamic response of VDs are explained. The paper also includes different configurations, used for the installation of VDs, and discusses the areas in which VDs need further development.