Influence of Shear Damper Arrangement on Seismic Performance of Mid-Rise Steel Framed Buildings

Abstract

Strategic damper placement is critical for optimizing the seismic performance of steel buildings, yet the optimal arrangement for eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) remains a key research question. This study investigates this issue by evaluating the effectiveness of stainless-steel longitudinally stiffened vertical shear links (LVSLs). A ten-story steel frame was designed in four distinct configurations: a benchmark moment-resisting frame (MRF) and three EBFs with distinct LVSL arrangements, where the primary variations were concentrated in the lower stories. The seismic response of each configuration was assessed using nonlinear static pushover and dynamic time history analyses. The results demonstrate that all EBF configurations exhibit superior performance over the MRF in terms of lateral stiffness, strength, and ductility. A configuration that concentrated two smaller LVSLs in each of the first three stories displayed the most favorable response, yielding significant reductions in interstory drift and superior energy dissipation under both design-basis (DBE) and maximum considered earthquake (MCE) scenarios. While EBF systems require more structural steel than MRF systems, the proposed optimal configuration achieved this enhanced performance while utilizing the lowest total mass of stainless-steel dampers. This outcome demonstrates that for EBF systems, a concentrated damper arrangement tailored to the distribution of seismic demand provides a more resilient and materially efficient solution than generalized distributed placement strategies.‎