Optimal distribution of steel plate slit dampers for seismic retrofit of structures

In this study a seismic retrofit scheme for a building structure was presented using steel plate slit dampers. The energy dissipation capacity of the slit damper used in the retrofit was verified by cyclic loading test. Genetic algorithm was applied to find out the optimum locations of the slit dampers satisfying the target displacement. The seismic retrofit of the model structure using the slit dampers was compared with the retrofit with enlarging shear walls. A simple damper distribution method was proposed using the capacity spectrum method along with the damper distribution pattern proportional to the inter-story drifts. The validity of the simple story-wise damper distribution procedure was verified by comparing the results of genetic algorithm. It was observed that the capacity-spectrum method combined with the simple damper distribution pattern leaded to satisfactory story-wise distribution of dampers compatible with the optimum solution obtained from genetic algorithm.