A New Modeling Approach for Viscous Dampers Using an Extended Kelvin–Voigt Rheological Model Based on the Identification of the Constitutive Law’s Parameters

Abstract

In addition to elastomeric devices, viscous fluid dampers can reduce the vibration transmitted to dynamic systems. Usually, these fluid dampers are rate-independent and used in conjunction with elastomeric isolators to insulate the base of buildings (buildings, bridges, etc.) to reduce the shocks caused by earthquakes by increasing the damping capability. According to the EN 15129 standard, the velocity-dependent anti-seismic devices are Fluid Viscous Dampers (FVDs) and Fluid Spring Dampers (FSDs). Based on experimental data from a dynamic regime of a fluid viscous damper of small dimensions, for which not all the design details are known, to determine the law of behavior for the viscous damper, the characteristics of the damper are identified, including the nonlinear parameter α (exponent of velocity V) of the constitutive law. Note that the magnitude of the fluid damper force depends on both velocity (where the maximum value is 0.52 m/s) and amplitude displacement (±25 mm). Using the Kelvin–Voigt rheological models, the dynamic response of a structure fixed with a fluid viscous device is analyzed, presenting the reaction force and displacement during the parameterized application of an external shock. This new approach for FVDs/FSDs was validated using the standard deviation between the experimental data and the numerical results of the extended Kelvin–Voigt model offering researchers in the field of seismic devices a reliable method to obtain a constitutive law for such devices.