Dynamic mechanical analysis of Norsorex/acrylonitrile butadiene rubber blends and their application in vibration control of steel frames

Abstract

The damping properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/Norsorex® blends were investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis. The effects of Norsorex on the damping properties of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/Norsorex blends were also studied. The results showed that 30-phr Norsorex could dramatically improve the damping of 70-phr acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. Compared with acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, the LA value of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/Norsorex = 70/30 increased to 7.3 × 108 from 3.0 × 108 Pa K and the TA value increased from 26.6 to 28.4 K. To test the new high-damping-performance blends, shaking table tests on a four-story steel frame with viscoelastic damping wall were designed and the simulations were provided for verification. The experimental results indicated that the viscoelastic damping wall controlled the inter-story displacement well under apg = 7 m/s2, which exceeded the specified limit under uncontrolled conditions. The viscoelastic damping wall showed a better control effect on the displacement response than on the acceleration response subjected to El Centro ground motion for the second to fourth stories. The simulation results of SAP2000 structural analysis software showed good agreement with the experimental results. The differences between the acceleration and displacement time-history responses of the steel frame with acrylonitrile butadiene rubber and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/Norsorex (70/30) were simulated by SAP2000.