Influence of shear damper arrangement on seismic performance of multi-story steel framed buildings

This study investigates the influence of shear damper arrangement on the seismic performance of multi-story steel buildings by evaluating the effectiveness of stainless-steel longitudinally stiffened vertical shear links (LVSLs). A ten-story steel frame was designed in four distinct configurations: a benchmark moment-resisting frame (MRF) and three eccentrically braced frames (EBFs) with varying LVSL placements in the lower stories. The seismic response of each configuration was assessed using nonlinear static pushover and dynamic time history analyses, the latter employing five ground motions matched to the EN 1998-1 design spectrum. The results demonstrate that all EBF configurations exhibit superior performance over the MRF, showing higher lateral stiffness, strength, and ductility. The specific arrangement of LVSLs proved critical to improving structural behavior. A configuration that concentrated two LVSLs in each of the first three stories displayed the most favorable response, yielding significant reductions in interstory drifts and superior energy dissipation under both design-basis (DBE) and maximum considered earthquake (MCE) scenarios. Although EBF systems required greater steel weight due to bracing, this optimal arrangement achieved its performance gains with the lowest weight of stainless-steel dampers, highlighting the importance of strategic placement for achieving seismic resilience with material efficiency.