The dynamic behavior of wood-framed shear walls with passive energy dissipation devices

The objective of this investigation was to test and evaluate methods for increasing the energy dissipation capacity of wood-framed shear walls using viscoelastic passive energy dissipation devices.;Static and dynamic tests were conducted on conventional wood-framed shear walls sheathed with plywood and oriented strand board. It was concluded that the static test over predicts the load capacity and wall ductility of a shear wall subjected to an earthquake. The energy dissipation capacity of the wall decreases by 15 to 20% with the first cycle at any amplitude, then decreases slightly with continued constant amplitude cycling.;Dynamic tests were conducted on passively damped wood-framed shear walls sheathed with plywood to examine the wall performance under dynamic loading. A comparison of conventional and damped test results demonstrated that addition of viscoelastic dampers significantly enhanced the dynamic performance of the walls by increasing the energy dissipation and providing constant energy dissipation.;A discrete three-degree-of-freedom model of a wood-framed shear wall was developed that is capable of capturing the salient features of the wall response. A method was developed for determining the connection properties from the measured effective stiffness and energy dissipation of full-scale conventional walls. Consequently, the model can be used in conjunction with connection tests to predict the full-scale behavior of wood-framed shear walls. The model accurately predicts the hysteresis behavior of conventional shear-walls for levels of displacement consistent with those experienced during an earthquake. The model conservatively predicts the stiffness of damped walls within 6%, and the energy dissipation capacity within 20%.;The dampers allow for flexibility in design and can easily be applied to new wood-framed construction or in retrofitting existing structures. The use of dampers in wood-framed structures will improve the dynamic performance and reduce the damage on the structure. This reduction in damage translates directly to economic savings.