ABSTRACT
During the past decade damage avoidance initiatives have attracted considerable attention among researchers and earthquake engineers. The paper proposes a Disc Spring Damage Avoidance Device which can practically be implemented in slotted beam connections. It comprises two distinct components for self-centering and energy dissipation. The components are tested under cyclic loading and the device performance in slotted concrete joints is validated using previous experimental and analytical results. Variation in system parameters is investigated using an improved analytical model. The results show that the device can mitigate the residual displacements down to zero while maintaining a reasonable level of energy dissipation.
Acknowledgments
This study was financially supported by Urmia University. The experimental works were carried out in the Center for Crisis Management in Urmia University and the authors would like to acknowledge the technical support provided by the members of staff in this Center.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).