A hybrid friction-yielding damper to equip concentrically braced steel frames

This paper introduces the design of a new combination of friction/hysteretic damper installed in the middle of cross bracing for dissipating seismic energy. Due to its relative simplicity and easy application, with no need for any special material or technology, this high-performance system has gained more attention than any other energy dissipation devices. Choosing appropriate slip load and maximum sliding movement values in this system, in comparison with its counterpart i.e. circular ring yielding dissipator, this combined system may inherit the advantages of both friction and steel yielding damper. In weak-to-moderate ground motions, it dissipates energy by friction and in strong ground motions, it absorbs energy by yielding These circular damper systems can be used to rehabilitate existing buildings whose slender braces are only designed based on resistance of tension forces. Also because of failure localization in this simple-type system, a distorted and damaged damper can be promptly replaced with a new one after a strong earthquake.