Seismic response of adjacent structures connected by linear, passive devices

Abstract

The objective of this study is to comprehensively examine the seismic response of a pair of multistory building structures linked to one another at floor levels by two types of passive devices: linear viscous dampers and linear springs. All possible combinations of type and location of the connecting devices (except combinations in series) were analyzed for wide ranges of values of their characteristic constants. Two response quantities were considered: interstory drift and absolute (or total) floor acceleration. It was found that it is possible to reduce both response quantities in both buildings if the structures are linked to one another with viscous dampers or combinations of viscous dampers and springs, being the former approach more efficient. It was
also found that the coupling control approach may be more effective than the addition of the supplemental dampers to each structure without coupling them to one another.