E-defense shaking table tests on a steel high-rise building retrofitted by steel dampers against long-period ground motions

Abstract

A series of shaking table tests on a high-rise building are conducted in order to assess effects of retrofit using steel dampers. The specimen consists of a four-story steel frame and an upper substitute layers made of concrete slabs and rubber bearings. Steel brace dampers are attached to the steel frame, and modeled steel dampers are utilized for the substitute layers.Long-period ground motions and a design ground motion are used for the tests. Total input energies of the specimen reasonably correspond to the estimations of energy spectra. The deformations of specimen are reduced especially in the portion having dampers. In the steel frame, the energy is mostly dissipated in the steel brace dampers. The capacities of the steel brace dampers are estimated about ten times larger than the seismic demand in a strong long-period ground motion.