Experimental study of a viscous damped portal frame

Abstract

The prototype analysed is based on the structure of a gantry made to scale for didactic purposes, relating its dimensions to large structures used in buildings. The present work contributes substantially in the vibrational analysis of structures, simulating in a practical way the behaviour of the portal against the action of external loads. Additionally, the contribution provided by the incorporation of a viscous damper in the structure is observed. The structure includes a mechanism that generates dynamic loads inducing horizontal movement in the system exactly as it happens during a telluric movement. The graphs that characterize the movement of the system are obtained, showing the notable reduction of the acceleration when including a viscous shock absorber. The behavior of a building that incorporates a viscous dampening system in its gantry presents ideal characteristics during a seismic movement reducing the damage generated to the structure during the event.