A novel scheme for inserting manufactured viscous dampers in building structures

This paper summarizes the results of a number of research works carried by the authors over the years in order to identify the “optimal” way of inserting manufactured viscous dampers in shear-type structures. The novel scheme proposed here as “optimal” (and referred to as “the MPD system”) is based upon the mass proportional component of the Rayleigh damping matrix (MPD matrix) and is characterised by a peculiar damper placement which sees the dampers placed so that they connect each floor to a fixed point. Firstly, the paper briefly recalls (a) the physical principles and (b) selected results of numerical investigations which show that the MPD system is characterised by superior dissipative properties. Secondly, the paper investigates the implementation of the MPD system in civil building structures.