Dear All,
The Institution of Structural Engineers, wish to invite you to the following presentation:
Dr. Christopoulos will discuss high-performance solid damping systems, which can be used to improve the wind, seismic and overall vibration response of buildings and civil structures. Solid viscoelastic damping materials are layered in-between steel plates which are then anchored to structural elements in a multitude of configurations. As the structure undergoes vibrations, the steel plates shear the viscoelastic material which causes polymer chains to deform. As the polymer chains deform they exhibit both an elastic, deformation dependent, and a viscous, velocity-dependent response. They offer advantages over other damping systems as the solid nature of the damping eliminates device compliance issues found in fluid dampers, allowing them to be effective over a larger range of deformations without having to be tuned to a specific displacement range. Because they provide damping as well as an elastic restoring force, they can be used to couple the response of structural members increasing their overall global lateral stiffness and strength while also providing supplemental damping. Solid damping materials (generally viscoelastic in nature), were the first damping systems used in civil applications and have been implemented in 500+ buildings for earthquake and wind damping. More recently developments in advanced damping polymer materials in the areas of automotive and aerospace damping have resulted in further enhanced polymers for structural damping. In addition, recent innovations in the layering of the polymers to achieve larger forces and stiffness as well as novel ways to position them in common structural systems have greatly enhanced their effectiveness in buildings.
Professor Christopoulos will first discuss the fundamentals of advanced viscoelastic materials that have the most desirable properties for structural engineering applications. He will then discuss layering techniques developed to achieve large damping forces and stiffness properties that can be used to couple structural elements and enhance the overall performance of the damped structures. Sample structural configurations ranging from high-rise buildings to lower-rise frame structures where these systems can be implemented for both wind and earthquake damping will be presented. The presentation will include results and insights from more than twenty years of solid-state damping system development and testing at the University of Toronto. Finally, practical aspects on the implementation of these systems in real structures, including design strategies, modeling, specifications and quality control will also be discussed.
Location and Date:
Room 2.09
Heriot-Watt University Dubai
(Live streamed on Zoom / YouTube)
Tuesday 20 May 2025 at 19:00 GST
About the Speaker
Dr. Constantin Christopoulos is the chief technical advisor to Kinetica (www.kineticadynamics.com), who are the world leaders in solid dampers for structural vibrations. He is also a Professor and the Director of Structures Testing Facility at the University of Toronto. He has been working in the area of high-performing damping and isolation systems for over 30 years. He has authored over 250 technical papers, reports and articles and co-authored two textbooks used in graduate courses around the world: “Principles of Supplemental Damping and Seismic Isolation” and “Elements of Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics”. He has been a key member of several international high-profile consulting projects involving the implementation and testing of isolation and damping systems.
_________________________________________
Kindly note that you will receive another email, after registration, with the link to view and join the virtual session on Zoom.
Also be noted that seats are limited, but the Lecture will also be live on our YouTube Channel.
"Subscribe to channel"
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzmcLd1n84tQ1wKJbzMvHHA/
Thank you,
