The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Experimental behavior of a spatial piping system with steel energy absorbers subjected to a simulated differential seismic input

Stiemer, Siegfried F.; Godden, William G.; Kelly, James M.

UCB/EERC-81/09, Earthquake Engineering Research Center, University of California, Berkeley, 1981-07, 68 pages (530/S75/1981)

This report presents the results of experimental investigations of a complex piping system with energy absorbing devices in a spatial frame subjected to simulated seismic loadings. The test results are prepared for correlation studies with the results of computer analysis using various methods. The experimental investigations performed during the research project consist of two parts: examination of simple and complex piping systems. This report addresses the complex system. Shaking table tests were carried out on a scaled-down (1/3) model of a complex single line pipe in a three-story steel frame subjected to sinusoidal and seismic shaking. Several different earthquake time histories were used as input for the motion of the shaking table. A new type of replaceable, small, ductile restrainer was placed in three locations as a connection between the frame and the pipe. Stiffness of the restrainers, geometry of the pipe, and location of hangers were varied and a total of 108 different test runs were recorded. Test results confirmed that the energy dissipated by ductile action, even in the small restrainers used in these tests, is extremely effective in reducing pipe stresses in regions of ductile support.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/EERC/EERC-81-09.pdf (3 MB)