Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: ETABS
REVISION NO.: 0
Example 11
Three-Story Plane Frame with Viscous Damper Elements - Nonlinear Time History
Analysis
Problem Description
The El Centro 1940 (N-S) record is used in the nonlinear time history analysis. Three viscous
damper elements of the type described in Hanson (1993) are used to connect the chevron
braces to the frame. Two models are investigated. In the first model, the damper elements are
intended to produce about 5% damping in the fundamental mode. In the second model, damp-
ing is increased to 25%.
The ETABS viscous damper element (DAMPER) is a uniaxial damping device with a linear
or nonlinear force-velocity relationship given by F = CV.
The damper elements are modeled in ETABS by assigning a panel zone with a nonlinear link
property to the mid-span point object where the chevrons intersect the beams at each story.
The link properties use the uniaxial damper property (DAMPER) and provide beam-brace
connectivity with nonlinear behavior in the U2 (shear in the 1-2 plane) direction. Under this
arrangement, displacements are transferred between the chevrons and the frame via the link
elements (dampers) undergoing shear deformation.
The time increment for output sampling is specified as 0.02 second.
Geometry, Properties and Loads
This is a single-bay, three-story plane frame subjected to ground motion, as shown in Figure
11-1. The frame is modeled as a two-column line, one-bay system. Kip-inch-second units are
used. The modulus of elasticity is taken as 29000 ksi. Column, beam and brace section prop-
erties are user defined.
A single rigid diaphragm is allocated to each story level and connects all three point objects
(two column points and one mid-span point) at each story. Because of the rigid diaphragms,
no axial force will occur in the beam members. All members are assigned a rigid zone factor
of 1.
Three-Story Plane Frame with Viscous Damper Elements - Nonlinear Time History Analysis 11 - 1
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: ETABS
REVISION NO.: 0
Figure 11-1 Planar Frame with Damper Elements
Technical Features of ETABS Tested
Two-dimensional frame analysis
Use of panel zones
Use of uniaxial damper elements
Point assignments
Nonlinear time history analysis
Ritz vectors
Results Comparison
Sample results for = 1 are compared in Table 11-1 with results from the nonlinear analy-
sis program DRAIN-2DX (Prakash, et al. 1993) for both 5% and 25% damping cases.
Three-Story Plane Frame with Viscous Damper Elements - Nonlinear Time History Analysis 11 - 2
Software Verification
PROGRAM NAME: ETABS
REVISION NO.: 0
Table 11-1 Results Comparison
5% Damping 25% Damping
Level ETABS DRAIN-2DX ETABS DRAIN-2DX
Comparison of Maximum Story Deflections
3rd 4.09 4.11 2.26 2.24
2nd 3.13 3.14 1.75 1.71
1st 1.63 1.63 0.89 0.87
Comparison of Maximum Link Shear Force
3rd 6.16 5.98 14.75 14.75
2nd 10.79 10.80 32.82 32.84
1st 15.15 15.02 44.90 44.97
Comparison of Maximum Brace Axial Force
3rd 4.36 4.23 10.43 10.43
2nd 7.63 7.63 23.21 23.22
1st 10.71 10.62 31.75 31.80
Computer File
The input data files for this example are Example [Link] (5% damping) and Example
[Link] (25% damping). The time history file is ELCN-THE. These files are provided
as part of the ETABS installation.
Conclusions
The comparison of results shows acceptable agreement between ETABS and DRAIN-2DX.
Three-Story Plane Frame with Viscous Damper Elements - Nonlinear Time History Analysis 11 - 3