Theoretical analysis and experimental research on toggle-brace-damper system considering different installation modes

Abstract

The toggle-brace-damper system has been proven to be the most effective system for the energy dissipation of stiff structures. However, the expected effect of the toggle-brace-damper system depends largely on its configuration, the use of steel braces and the installation mode. The existing design methods of toggle-brace-damper systems may be further improved. The analysis of different installation modes and experiments involving toggle-brace-damper systems are conducted to improve understanding of the influence of key factors and to provide design guidance. For toggle-brace-damper system tests, a vertical brace is installed in a steel frame to prevent out-of-plane instability. The calculation formulas for an upper toggle-brace-damper system and other configuration systems with consideration of the influence of brace deformation are studied in the paper. Test results show that the upper toggle-brace-damper system has the largest magnification factor, which is consistent with the theoretical analyses. The brace deformation and installation error cannot be ignored in the design of a toggle-brace-damper system. Installation error can also lead to out-of-plane instability of a toggle-brace-damper system. Moreover, the experimental results show that the magnification factor changes with loading and is different when force is applied in the push and pull directions.