Optimisation of Visco-Elastic, Elasto-Plastic and Viscous Dampers, Shock Transmitters and Rolling-Ball Systems in the Framework of the EC-Funded REEDS Project

The development and evaluation of anti-seismic devices carried out under the EC-funded REEDS project are described. The devices included three types of damper (namely, viscoelastic (VED), elastoplastic (EPD) and viscous (VD)), hydraulic couplers (HC), and rolling-ball rubber layer isolator (RBRL). For the novel RBRL device, prototypes, in which the horizontal restoring force is provided by cylindrical elastomeric bearings and the damping by a layer of high damping robber, were designed and manufactured. Results of test data on the prototypes are presented. In addition, the performance of the devices in seismically vulnerable structures has been assessed through experimental tets or numerical analysis. The results of the evaluations showed in all casesthat the anti-seisrnic device developed was able to increase substantially the seismic resistance of the vulnerable structure.