Development and modelling of new friction damped self-centring link for coupled wall systems

Abstract Coupling two or more shear walls can improve the hysteretic responses compared to the individual walls. This study developed a new friction damped self-centring (FDSC) link for coupled walls by conducting analytical and numerical investigations. The mechanics of this coupled system are explained and the equations governing its global behaviour are provided. A three-dimensional finite element model including the relative motions at the wall-to-wall interface was developed to examine the cyclic response of the FDSC link. Using this computational model, a parametric study was conducted to explore the contributions of four key design variables of the FDSC link. The results showed that the load–displacement relation of the FDSC link is mainly dependent on the behaviour of the post-tensioning tendons and the frictional mechanism. The proposed connection not only has a full re-centring capacity and good energy dissipation within the self-centring limit but also accommodates the gap opening without causing wall expansion.