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Application of computational fluid dynamics in design of viscous dampers - CFD modeling and full-scale dynamic testing

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Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) provides a powerful tool for investigating complicated fluid flows. This paper aims to study the applicability of CFD in the preliminary design of linear and nonlinear fluid viscous dampers. Two fluid viscous dampers were designed based on CFD models. The first device was a linear viscous damper with straight orifices. The second was a nonlinear viscous damper containing a one-way pressure-responsive valve inside its orifices. Both dampers were detailed based on CFD simulations, and their internal fluid flows were investigated. Full-scale specimens of both dampers were manufactured and tested under dynamic loads. According to the tests results, both dampers demonstrate stable cyclic behaviors, and as expected, the nonlinear damper generally tends to dissipate more energy compared to its linear counterpart. Good compatibility was achieved between the experimentally measured damper force-velocity curves and those estimated from CFD analyses. Using a thermography camera, a rise in temperature of the dampers was measured during the tests. It was found that output force of the manufactured devices was virtually independent of temperature even during long duration loadings. Accordingly, temperature dependence can be ignored in CFD models, because a reliable temperature compensator mechanism was used (or intended to be used) by the damper manufacturer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Collage of Engineering, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, 3836119131, Iran

    Hassan Lak, Seyed Mohammad Mirhosseini & Ehsanollah Zeighami

  2. School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1417935840, Iran

    Seyed Mehdi Zahrai

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  1. Hassan Lak
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  2. Seyed Mehdi Zahrai
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  3. Seyed Mohammad Mirhosseini
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  4. Ehsanollah Zeighami
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Correspondence to Seyed Mehdi Zahrai.

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Lak, H., Zahrai, S.M., Mirhosseini, S.M. et al. Application of computational fluid dynamics in design of viscous dampers - CFD modeling and full-scale dynamic testing. Earthq. Eng. Eng. Vib. 22, 1065–1080 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-023-2209-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11803-023-2209-5

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