Experimental Study on a Steel-Tube Damper

The steel-tube damper is composed of two parts: the inner component inside the tube and the outer seamless steel-tube with the energy dissipation steel strips. The two parts are connected by plug welding and fillet welding. The yield bearing capacity of the steel strips is lower than the stability bearing capacity of both inner I-section component and outer seamless steel-tube. As the load increases, the steel strips will yield first and dissipate the input energy withholding the buckling of the inner I-section component and the seamless steel-tube. In order to further determine its mechanical property, three groups of specimens with steel strips of different aspect ratio were designed, and the hysteretic loading tests were carried out. It was found from the tests that: 1) The hysteresis curves of the damper were full and the energy dissipation capacity was good; 2) Specimens with steel strips of small aspect ratio had larger stiffness, yield bearing capacity and energy dissipation capability per cycle. 3) Specimens with steel strips of small aspect ratio had worse low cycle fatigue performance compared with the ones with steel strips of larger aspect ratio. This study provides a foundation for further research and application of such dampers. © 2018 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland.