Seismic Response of Soft Storied Building and Secondary System Installed with Semi-Active Dampers

Secondary systems are defined as the elements that are attached to, or installed on, the main structural system. The secondary systems do not support the main system; however, they are significant to ensure the normal operation and safety of the building. Structural vibration produced during an earthquake can be a threat to systems inside the structure, and it can damage the systems, partially or totally. To preserve systems installed in a building, semi-active variable dampers, which use a 2-step viscous damping force, are used to dissipate seismic forces and minimize vibrations of the building to reduce the risk of damaging the secondary systems. The reduction of seismic vibration in secondary systems mounted on a five-storied building with semi-active dampers is analysed in this study. The displacement and acceleration parameters are determined analytically by formulating and solving equations of motion using the state-space representation. Optimal configuration of semi-active dampers identified through numerical simulations. A comparative evaluation of the controlled seismic responses and their uncontrolled counterparts is executed to evaluate the efficiency of semi-active dampers within the structural framework. The study shows that using semi-active dampers, along with proper structural design, can greatly reduce earthquake-induced deformations in secondary systems as well as primary structures.