MODELING OF VISCOELASTIC DAMPERS FOR STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS

This paper presents an analytical model for predicting the hysteretic behavior of viscoelastic dampers based on the Boltzmann's superpositio n principle and the method of reduced variables. The model parameters have physical meaning and they can be determined from simple time-doma in and frequency-domain tests. The presented model is checked against damper tests performed under different strain inputs and shows good re sults. Test procedure and determination of model parameters are also d iscussed. Under certain conditions, it is shown that a significant sim plification results in determining the frequency and temperature depen dency of the shear storage and shear loss moduli of the viscoelastic m aterial, leading to useful applications to viscoelastic damper design and structural applications. Finally, the presented model is compared with the ones based on the concept of fractional derivatives.