2 of 17 ZHOU ET AL.

supplemental damping for both seismic and wind applications.[3] Although viscous
dampers add only damping to structure, the VE dampers increase both damping and
structural stiffness. However, the increment in stiffness is somewhat low, which
avoids an increase in acceleration response. Compared with metallic yielding
dampers that require replacement after a large event, the VE dampers exhibit no
permanent deformations and can undergo a high number of cyclic loading. On the
other hand, the mechanical properties of VE dampers are influenced by amplitude,
frequency, and temperature; therefore, these effects need to be considered during
design of structures with VE dampers. A large number of studies have been conducted
experimentally characterize mechanical response of VE dampers
under different loading conditions. However, most of these studies have been on
small capacity dampers, which had a rubber thickness of 5,[4–8] 10,[9–12] or
between 12 and 15 mm[13–20] and a shear area of less than 15,000 mm2. Larger
displacement and force capacity dampers are needed to control dynamic response of
buildings especially under seismic loadings. Moreover, it was shown that the VE
dampers with various sizes exhibit significantly different mechanical properties
even though they employ the same elastomeric material.[18] Therefore, while
studying vibration control of civil structures with VE damper, the size effects
should be taken into account on the basis of related experimental tests. In
addition, as the mechanical properties of VE dampers are based on the particular
elastomeric material used in the
device, it is important to employ an optimum material in the device. Traditional VE
materials made of natural or syn- thetic rubber have the standard elliptical
hysteretic loops with a loss factor ranging from 0.1 to 1.4 under various loading
conditions[4,11–15,17] and equivalent stiffness changes significantly with the
loading frequency.[9,12,14,15] A number of researchers have made attempts to
improve the damping and stiffness properties of VE dampers by changing rubber
interpenetrating polymer network,[21] polymeric material,[22] and rubber matrix.
[23] Although various viscoelastic mate- rials have been considered, it is still a
challenge to balance the damping and stiffness contributions of a full‐scale VE
damper. However, the use of high‐damping rubber in VE dampers can provide a new
path to resolve this. High‐ damping rubbers are widely used in seismic isolation
system and reinforced with various fillers to provide increased damping.[24–26]
However, there have been few experimental studies where high‐damping rubber
materials were used in energy dissipation devices.[27–29] This study explores the
use of a high‐damping rubber material to develop a large‐capacity viscoelastic
damper with
large damping capacity. The damper, called high‐damping rubber damper (HRD),
employs synthetic isoprene rubber reinforced by carbon black as viscoelastic
material. Isoprene rubber is an important material used in synthetic rubber
industry and is produced worldwide. It has the same basic chemical formula as
natural rubber while possessing better mechanical properties.[30] The carbon black,
blended in synthetic isoprene rubber in this study, is a common filler used to
reinforce rubber materials. One of the main effects of the carbon black addition in
rubber properties is the improved energy dissipation capacity as a result of the
filler network disruption and the friction between the carbon black parti- cles.
[31,32] Four large‐scale HRD specimens were fabricated, and an experimental testing
program was conducted to characterize the damper behavior. In particular, shear
tests under harmonic loading were performed to study the strain and frequency
dependency of the damper response. In addition, the effects of large deformations
and cyclic loading on the mechanical properties of the damper were examined. An
analytical model was also proposed to capture amplitude‐ and frequency‐dependent
response of HRDs2 of 17 ZHOU ET AL.
supplemental damping for both seismic and wind applications.[3] Although viscous
dampers add only damping to structure, the VE dampers increase both damping and
structural stiffness. However, the increment in stiffness is somewhat low, which
avoids an increase in acceleration response. Compared with metallic yielding
dampers that require replacement after a large event, the VE dampers exhibit no
permanent deformations and can undergo a high number of cyclic loading. On the
other hand, the mechanical properties of VE dampers are influenced by amplitude,
frequency, and temperature; therefore, these effects need to be considered during
design of structures with VE dampers. A large number of studies have been conducted
experimentally characterize mechanical response of VE dampers
under different loading conditions. However, most of these studies have been on
small capacity dampers, which had a rubber thickness of 5,[4–8] 10,[9–12] or
between 12 and 15 mm[13–20] and a shear area of less than 15,000 mm2. Larger
displacement and force capacity dampers are needed to control dynamic response of
buildings especially under seismic loadings. Moreover, it was shown that the VE
dampers with various sizes exhibit significantly different mechanical properties
even though they employ the same elastomeric material.[18] Therefore, while
studying vibration control of civil structures with VE damper, the size effects
should be taken into account on the basis of related experimental tests. In
addition, as the mechanical properties of VE dampers are based on the particular
elastomeric material used in the
device, it is important to employ an optimum material in the device. Traditional VE
materials made of natural or syn- thetic rubber have the standard elliptical
hysteretic loops with a loss factor ranging from 0.1 to 1.4 under various loading
conditions[4,11–15,17] and equivalent stiffness changes significantly with the
loading frequency.[9,12,14,15] A number of researchers have made attempts to
improve the damping and stiffness properties of VE dampers by changing rubber
interpenetrating polymer network,[21] polymeric material,[22] and rubber matrix.
[23] Although various viscoelastic mate- rials have been considered, it is still a
challenge to balance the damping and stiffness contributions of a full‐scale VE
damper. However, the use of high‐damping rubber in VE dampers can provide a new
path to resolve this. High‐ damping rubbers are widely used in seismic isolation
system and reinforced with various fillers to provide increased damping.[24–26]
However, there have been few experimental studies where high‐damping rubber
materials were used in energy dissipation devices.[27–29] This study explores the
use of a high‐damping rubber material to develop a large‐capacity viscoelastic
damper with
large damping capacity. The damper, called high‐damping rubber damper (HRD),
employs synthetic isoprene rubber reinforced by carbon black as viscoelastic
material. Isoprene rubber is an important material used in synthetic rubber
industry and is produced worldwide. It has the same basic chemical formula as
natural rubber while possessing better mechanical properties.[30] The carbon black,
blended in synthetic isoprene rubber in this study, is a common filler used to
reinforce rubber materials. One of the main effects of the carbon black addition in
rubber properties is the improved energy dissipation capacity as a result of the
filler network disruption and the friction between the carbon black parti- cles.
[31,32] Four large‐scale HRD specimens were fabricated, and an experimental testing
program was conducted to characterize the damper behavior. In particular, shear
tests under harmonic loading were performed to study the strain and frequency
dependency of the damper response. In addition, the effects of large deformations
and cyclic loading on the mechanical properties of the damper were examined. An
analytical model was also proposed to capture amplitude‐ and frequency‐dependent
response of HRDs2 of 17 ZHOU ET AL.
supplemental damping for both seismic and wind applications.[3] Although viscous
dampers add only damping to structure, the VE dampers increase both damping and
structural stiffness. However, the increment in stiffness is somewhat low, which
avoids an increase in acceleration response. Compared with metallic yielding
dampers that require replacement after a large event, the VE dampers exhibit no
permanent deformations and can undergo a high number of cyclic loading. On the
other hand, the mechanical properties of VE dampers are influenced by amplitude,
frequency, and temperature; therefore, these effects need to be considered during
design of structures with VE dampers. A large number of studies have been conducted
experimentally characterize mechanical response of VE dampers
under different loading conditions. However, most of these studies have been on
small capacity dampers, which had a rubber thickness of 5,[4–8] 10,[9–12] or
between 12 and 15 mm[13–20] and a shear area of less than 15,000 mm2. Larger
displacement and force capacity dampers are needed to control dynamic response of
buildings especially under seismic loadings. Moreover, it was shown that the VE
dampers with various sizes exhibit significantly different mechanical properties
even though they employ the same elastomeric material.[18] Therefore, while
studying vibration control of civil structures with VE damper, the size effects
should be taken into account on the basis of related experimental tests. In
addition, as the mechanical properties of VE dampers are based on the particular
elastomeric material used in the
device, it is important to employ an optimum material in the device. Traditional VE
materials made of natural or syn- thetic rubber have the standard elliptical
hysteretic loops with a loss factor ranging from 0.1 to 1.4 under various loading
conditions[4,11–15,17] and equivalent stiffness changes significantly with the
loading frequency.[9,12,14,15] A number of researchers have made attempts to
improve the damping and stiffness properties of VE dampers by changing rubber
interpenetrating polymer network,[21] polymeric material,[22] and rubber matrix.
[23] Although various viscoelastic mate- rials have been considered, it is still a
challenge to balance the damping and stiffness contributions of a full‐scale VE
damper. However, the use of high‐damping rubber in VE dampers can provide a new
path to resolve this. High‐ damping rubbers are widely used in seismic isolation
system and reinforced with various fillers to provide increased damping.[24–26]
However, there have been few experimental studies where high‐damping rubber
materials were used in energy dissipation devices.[27–29] This study explores the
use of a high‐damping rubber material to develop a large‐capacity viscoelastic
damper with
large damping capacity. The damper, called high‐damping rubber damper (HRD),
employs synthetic isoprene rubber reinforced by carbon black as viscoelastic
material. Isoprene rubber is an important material used in synthetic rubber
industry and is produced worldwide. It has the same basic chemical formula as
natural rubber while possessing better mechanical properties.[30] The carbon black,
blended in synthetic isoprene rubber in this study, is a common filler used to
reinforce rubber materials. One of the main effects of the carbon black addition in
rubber properties is the improved energy dissipation capacity as a result of the
filler network disruption and the friction between the carbon black parti- cles.
[31,32] Four large‐scale HRD specimens were fabricated, and an experimental testing
program was conducted to characterize the damper behavior. In particular, shear
tests under harmonic loading were performed to study the strain and frequency
dependency of the damper response. In addition, the effects of large deformations
and cyclic loading on the mechanical properties of the damper were examined. An
analytical model was also proposed to capture amplitude‐ and frequency‐dependent
response of HRDs