Design procedure and seismic performance assessment of structures equipped with bar-fuse dampers

The application of metallic yielding dampers (MYDs) to enhance the seismic performance of a structure has been a focus of attention in recent years. One recently introduced MYD is the bar-fuse damper (BFD). Its advantages include ease of installation, simple construction method, cost effectiveness (including replacement and repair costs) and shorter required repair time after strong seismic events. However, the most important benefits of the BFD are its high energy dissipation capacity, which can improve collapse safety and enhance the seismic performance of a structure. Despites its benefits, BFDs have been less studied than other types of MYDs. The present research provides a simple and efficient method for designing structures equipped with BFDs. Moreover, the mechanical characteristics of differently shaped BFDs made with different types of steel has been investigated using finite element analysis. Finally, the seismic performance of three model structures was evaluated using nonlinear time-history analysis. The results indicate that structures equipped with BFDs experience less inter-story drift and are less likely to undergo severe damage compared to similar bare moment-frame buildings.