ABSTRACT
This paper proposes use of viscoelastic (VE) dampers to a dome structure as one of possible passive control schemes for a space frame, and clarifies the relationship between the response characteristics and seismic input. The space frame with rectangular grids is adopted and VE dampers are installed. Good control performance is demonstrated via time-history analysis of a member-by-member model, using an accurate ractional derivative constitutive rule that simulates frequency-sensitivity of the dampers. For a detailed and mode-based analysis of the response characteristics, a so-called global damping model of the frame is also introduced. Effects of damping ratio and natural frequency of each mode are discussed by referring to the modal time histories and spectral responses. By the application of the dampers, the modes with high damping are obtained and they are in-phase with the modes with very short period and the applied earthquake.
