Development of high deformation capacity low yield strength steel shear panel damper

Low yield strength steel 100 is widely applied to design shear panel damper for its high ductility. The practical shear strain of low yield strength steel shear panel damper at present is around 12% while the elongation of the LYS100 tends to go around 60%, which indicates that the ductility of LYS100 has not been fully utilized. To develop function separate damper with LYS100, links of the frame fixture, rib shape and panel shape that affect the deformation capacity of the damper were investigated experimentally. The test results show that the deformation capacity can be improved greatly by alleviating the stress concentration locating at the panel corners. The largest shear strain of 70% is achieved by the optimization on the parameters. The large deformation capacity provides a compact, low-cost alternative to structural designers.

► A function separate shear panel damper was developed by low yield strength steel 100. ► The developed damper possesses the maximum shear strain 70% by shape optimization. ► The damper has good seismic performance and large energy absorption. ► It provides a compact, low-cost alternative damper to structural designers.