Feasibility of the evaluation of the deformation capacity of the shear panel damper by FEM

Abstract Taking advantage of large plastic deformation of low yield strength steel is beneficial for improving the seismic performance of the shear panel damper (SPD). To pre-evaluate the seismic performance of the SPD by simulations is very important for rapid design. However, the deformation capacity of the SPDs cannot be effectively judged by the finite element method (FEM). Here, SPDs which are designed based on different methods are analyzed and compared by simulations and experiment simultaneously. The stress/strain distribution and the stress/strain concentration factor of all specimens are first analyzed and compared based on simulation results. Furthermore, the deformation capacity of some SPDs is verified by experimental results. The relationship between the stress, or stress concentration factor, and deformation capacity of SPDs are obtained and discussed according to the simulation and test results. Not only is the relationship between the stress concentration factor and deformation capacity established quantitatively, but the optimization design method, which is most favorable for large deformation of the SPD, is also qualitatively analyzed in this research. The research results show that it is helpful for the rational pre-evaluation of the limit performance of the SPD based solely on FEM.