Collaborative Product Realization of an Innovative Structural Damper and Application

This paper describes an ongoing applied research project directed at producing a marketable viscoelastic structural damper system designed to protect buildings from seismic and wind events. The project is a collaborative effort involving Penn State Erie, Lehigh University, and Corry Rubber Corporation. This paper provides details of the damper realization steps which include product conceptual design and evolution, prototype manufacture and test results, application testing and evaluation plans, and the results of initial product market and commercialization studies. The collaborative efforts of this project demonstrate how the applied research capabilities of a mechanical engineering technology program can complement the pure research capabilities of a leading institution in their field.Copyright © 2006 by ASME