Simulation of the cyclic behavior of J-shaped steel hysteresis devices and study on the efficiency for reducing earthquake responses of space structures

This paper discusses the availability of a nonlinear finite element program to predict the nonlinear cyclic behavior of a new steel hysteresis device, called a J-damper, which experiences large deformation under severe earthquakes. The validity of this in-house program is confirmed by comparison of the simulated results with the corresponding experimental ones of a J-damper. In addition, it is shown that these devices interposed between an upper structure and its substructure can reduce the earthquake-induced forces through dynamic analysis of a mass-spring model assumed approximately equivalent to a spatial structure.