The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive

Dynamic response of two viscoelastic dampers: report to Santa Clara County

Blondet, J. Marcial

UCB/SEMM-1994/01, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 1994, 115 pages (500/C23/94/01)

This report summarizes the results of a test program on the dynamic response of two structural dampers. These devices are based on Polymer 109, a viscoelastic material manufactured by 3M Corporation. The test specimens, which were manufactured by 3M, are reduced-scale models of dampers to be installed in a building in Santa Clara County, California. The test program had two objectives. The first objective was to determine whether the dampers could be subjected to the strain levels expected to occur under extreme earthquake conditions without experiencing any damage. The second objective was to verify the mechanical properties of the material used in their design.

Available online: http://nisee.berkeley.edu/documents/SEMM/SEMM-94-01.pdf (4 MB)