Mitigation of seismic effects by means of dissipative braces based on high damping rubber and elasto-plastic buckling restrained devices: experimental campaign on a real-scale mock-up

As part of a national research program an experimental campaign was carried out on a real scale mock-up consisting of a steel-concrete composite frame equipped with dissipative bracings, based on High Damping Rubber (HDR) devices and elasto-plastic buckling restrained devices also called Buckling Restrained Braces (BRBs). With reference to HDR devices free vibration tests, followed by force-controlled and displacement-controlled cyclic tests were performed. The experimental tests aim at studying the dynamic response of the coupled system in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of HDR devices in increasing the stiffness and dissipation capacity of the frame. With regards to BRBs only displacement controlled tests are performed, since their behavior is not time dependent. In this case the aim of the tests is to investigate the dissipative properties of the devices and their fatigue behavior.