Seismic Analysis of RC Building Employed with Fluid Viscous Damper

Abstract

In this thesis we are concentrating on finding the effect of fluid viscous dampers on Multi-storey Using Etabs. A G+12 building was analyzed and from the results it was concluded that Employment of Fluid viscous dampers increase stiffness by 9 to 90 % in X- direction and 23 to 180% in Y-direction. Employment of Fluid viscous dampers reduces storey shear 36 to 73 % in X- direction and 27 to 71% in Y-direction.

Introduction

The study focuses on improving the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures through VFD/FVD retrofitting, providing practical insights for similar seismic retrofitting projects. Modern Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) prioritizes controlling structural displacements and defining damage states, offering better reliability than traditional strength-based design. Incorporating external vibration control systems, like FVDs, is emerging as a highly effective solution for enhancing multi-storey building stability during earthquakes.

Key Findings from Literature Review

• Displacement and Drift Reduction:

  • FVDs can reduce top-storey displacement by 20–65% and inter-story drift by similar percentages.

  • Optimal damper placement and type (e.g., diagonal corner vs. mid-chevron) significantly influence effectiveness.

• Base Shear and Force Reduction:

  • Studies report base shear reduction of 25–70% with FVD installation, redistributing seismic forces efficiently.

• Energy Dissipation:

  • FVDs dissipate 40–74% of seismic energy, mitigating plastic hinge formation and delaying structural damage.

• Velocity Exponent and Damping Coefficient:

  • Lower velocity exponents increase damping efficiency; overly high damping coefficients can rigidize structures, increasing base forces.

• Damper Configuration and Symmetry:

  • Symmetric buildings with perimeter-based or optimized damper arrangements show better seismic performance.

  • Different damper patterns result in varying reductions in displacement, with certain configurations minimizing top-floor sway by ~20%.

• Practical Implications:

  • FVDs provide cost-effective retrofitting, higher lifespan than other dampers, and are suitable for high-rise and critical infrastructure like schools and hospitals.

Case Study: 13-Storey RC Building

• Models:

  • Model 1: Without FVD

  • Model 2: With FVD

• Parameters:

  • Earthquake Zone III, medium stiff soil, live load 2–4 kN/m², damping ratio 5%, building height 13 storeys.

• Results – Storey Stiffness (X-Direction):

  • Installation of FVD increased stiffness in key storeys, particularly the lower levels:

    • Ground floor stiffness increased from 280 kN/m → 530 kN/m

    • 2nd floor stiffness increased from 150 kN/m → 545 kN/m

  • This indicates improved structural rigidity and better energy dissipation under seismic loads.

Conclusion

1) Employment of Fluid viscous dampers increase stiffness by 9 to 90 % in X- direction and 23 to 180% in Y-direction 2) Employment of Fluid viscous dampers reduces storey shear 36 to 73 % in X- direction and 27 to 71% in Y-direction.

References

[1] Analysis of RCC Structure with Viscous Damper under Seismic Loading Pranav S. Brahmankar1, Dr. S. B. Mulay2 International Journal of Technical Innovation in Modern Engineering & Science (IJTIMES) Impact Factor: 5.22 (SJIF-2017), e-ISSN: 2455-2585 Volume 5, Issue 06, June-2019 [2] Seismic Retrofitting of RC Frames Using Viscous Dampers: Numerical Simulation and Nonlinear Response Analysis Pengfei Ma and Shangke Yuan * Infrastructures 2025, 10, 235 https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures10090235 [3] Seismic Performance of Reinforced Concrete Frame Building with Fluid Viscous Damper Mani Kant Sah a, Radha Krishna Mallik b, Gokarna Bahadur Motra c Proceedings of 10th IOE Graduate Conference ISSN: 2350-8914 (Online), 2350-8906 (Print) Year: 2021 Month: October Volume: 10 [4] Seismic Effect of RCC Building Control by Viscous Damper Kishan shrimali1, Arjun butala2, Nirmal Mehta3, Chandresh Patel4 International Research Journal on Advanced Engineering Hub (IRJAEH) e ISSN: 2584-2137 Vol. 02 Issue: 08 August 2024 Page No: 2133- 2140 [5] Seismic Evaluation Of Multi-Storied Rc Building With Fluid Viscous Damper Using Response Spectrum Analysis Prafful S M1, Naveen Kumar S2 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 05 Issue: 05 | May-2018 [6] Reduction in Seismic Response of Structure using Fluid Viscous Damper Over Static and Dynamic Analysis 1Bhavik Patel, 2Swati Agrawal International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 07 Issue: 08 | Aug 2020 [7] Seismic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Building Using Fluid Viscous Damper Ansh Jindal1, Farhaan Majied2, Gaurav Singh3, Hrishikesh Dubey4 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 09 Issue: 05 | May 2022 [8] Study of Viscous Fluid Damper 6 Different Pattern on 12 Story Structure And Comparing Most, Mid and Least Effective Pattern on 17 Story Structure. Shaikh Jawwaad1, Pankaj Autade2 International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) e-ISSN: 2395-0056 Volume: 10 Issue: 05 | May 2023 [9] Seismic Response of Building using Fluid Viscous Dampers: A Review Kapil P. Gunjal1, Prof. Sanket S. Sanghai2 © 2019 JETIR May 2019, Volume 6, Issue 5 www.jetir.org (ISSN-2349-5162) [10] Review on Analysis of Multistoried RCC Structure with and Without Viscous Dampers in Seismic Zone Bhushan Bhelkar1 and Dr. Valsson Varghese2

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Shubham Dudhe, Prof. R. M. Phuke. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.