Modeling the Multi-Phased Hysteretic Friction Behavior of Aluminum Foam/Polyurethane Interpenetrating Phase Composites Damper

Abstract

Aluminum foam/polyurethane (AF/PU) interpenetrating phase composites damper is a multi-phased hysteretic friction damper, which has a high potential for application to mitigating the seismic responses of building structures. In this paper, the hysteretic responses of the AF/PU composites damper subjected to different loading displacement amplitudes and loading cycles were experimentally investigated, and the main characteristics of the multi-phased hysteretic friction responses are assessed. According to the hysteretic responses of the AF/PU composites damper, a new model that is featured by a hysteresis mechanism, a nonlinear spring and a damping dashpot in parallel is constructed. Through the sensitivity analysis of relevant parameters, the optimum model is obtained and its main basic parameters ([Formula: see text]) are identified using the Universal Global Algorithm of the First Optimization software. The relationships of the main basic parameters with the loading displacement amplitude and loading cycle are then established. By the comparisons with the experimental results, it is validated that the proposed optimum model has an adequate capacity to capture and predict the important features of the multi-phased hysteretic friction characteristics under the various loading displacement amplitudes and loading cycles.