Experimental Investigation and Structural Response Analysis of Self-Centering Composite Viscoelastic Dampers

This study proposes a novel self-centering composite viscoelastic damper (SCVD) to enhance structural seismic resilience and post-earthquake recovery. Integrating viscoelastic material, steel, and shape memory alloy (SMA), the SCVD delivers staged energy dissipation and reliable self-centering. Cyclic tests and numerical simulations compared three composite viscoelastic dampers (CVDs): lead-core (LCVD), Q235 steel-core (QCVD), and SMA-core (SCVD). Their hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation, self-centering, and stiffness degradation were systematically evaluated. Results show the SCVD activates early—responding sensitively at small displacements—and sustains stable energy dissipation under large deformations, with markedly reduced residual deformation versus conventional dampers. QCVD achieves peak energy dissipation at moderate displacements; LCVD engages rapidly at small drifts, yielding stable parallelogram loops and high initial efficiency—but its damping force is limited by lead core strength. ABAQUS simulations of SCVD-equipped shear walls confirm reduced damage concentration, improved ductility, and strong recentering. ETABS-based nonlinear time-history analysis of an SCVD-integrated frame–shear wall shows up to 27.5% lower inter-story drift under moderate earthquakes and significantly suppressed plastic hinge formation during rare events. Overall, the SCVD offers substantial gains in seismic resilience and post-event recovery—making it highly suitable for high-hazard region design.