Current - Issue

Earthquakes induce significant lateral forces in buildings, often resulting in structural damage and loss of functionality. To improve seismic performance, supplemental damping devices are increasingly incorporated into building systems. These devices absorb and dissipate a portion of the earthquake energy, thereby reducing structural response. This paper presents an overview of various seismic dampers used in multi-storeyed reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, including friction dampers, viscous dampers, metallic dampers, lead extrusion dampers, and tuned mass dampers. The study discusses their operating principles, advantages, and applications in seismic design. Based on available research, fluid viscous dampers generally provide greater reduction in displacement and acceleration compared to conventional friction dampers, making them effective for seismic protection of high-rise structures.