Uni-axial behavior of energy dissipative steel cushions

Seismic excitations may impart a significant amount of energy into structures. Modern structural design attitudes tend to absorb some part of this energy through special dissipaters instead of heavy plastic deformations on the structural members. Different types of dissipater have been generated and utilized in various types of structures in last few decades. The expected earthquake damage is mainly concentrated on these devices and they may be replaced after earthquakes. In this study, a low-cost device called energy dissipative steel cushion (EDSC) made of flat mild steel was developed and tested in the Structural and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory (STEELab) of Istanbul Technical University (ITU). The monotonic and cyclic tests of EDSC were performed in transversal and longitudinal directions discretely. Very large deformation capability and stable hysteretic behavior are some response properties observed from the tests. Load vs. displacement relations, hysteretic energy dissipation properties as well as the closed form equations to predict the behavior parameters are presented in this paper.The research presented herein was conducted in the framework of the FP7 project "SAFECLADDING: Improved Fastening Systems of Cladding Wall Panels of Precast Buildings in Seismic Zones" research for SME associations, grant agreement number 314122, which was coordinated by Mr. Alessio Rimoldi from BIBM. The financial support provided by the Commission of the European Communities through this project is greatly appreciated. The study was conducted at the Structural and Earthquake Engineering Laboratory (STEELab) of Istanbul Technical University. The support of the laboratory staff and graduate students is gratefully acknowledgedPublisher's Versio