Evaluating Friction Dampers for Seismic Protection of Non-structural Elements in Hospitals

Yusril Abdurrahman; Ari Wibowo; Achfas Zacoeb

doi:10.56741/jnest.v5i02.1178

Evaluating Friction Dampers for Seismic Protection of Non-structural Elements in Hospitals

Authors

Yusril Abdurrahman University of Brawijaya
Ari Wibowo University of Brawijaya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9423-2248
Achfas Zacoeb University of Brawijaya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8247-5373

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/jnest.v5i02.1178

Keywords:

Friction Damper, Hospital, Non-structural Component, Seismic Retrofit

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of friction dampers in improving the seismic performance of non-structural components in hospital buildings. A five-story reinforced concrete hospital, intentionally modeled to exceed allowable drift limits, was analyzed using nonlinear time history analysis under three earthquake scenarios: BSE-1E (225-year), BSE-2E (975-year), and BSE-2N (2475-year), assuming soft soil conditions. Non-structural components were classified as drift- or acceleration-sensitive, with damage probabilities assessed using fragility curves and categorized into risk classes. Results show that friction dampers significantly reduced damage probability for acceleration-sensitive components up to 74% for cabinet contents under BSE-1E. However, drift-sensitive elements remained vulnerable, particularly in higher-intensity events, due to the building's flexible design and limited damper activation. While friction dampers improved global structural performance, their effectiveness declined with increasing seismic demand. These findings underscore the potential and limitations of friction dampers in retrofitting hospital buildings and highlight the need for careful damper sizing and consideration of alternative strategies to protect non-structural systems.

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Author Biographies

Yusril Abdurrahman, University of Brawijaya

is a Master's student in the Department of Civil Engineering at Brawijaya University, Indonesia. His research focuses on the use of friction dampers as seismic retrofits for buildings with excessive flexibility. This research partially fulfills his master's requirements. (email: yusrilabdurrahman@gmail.com).

Ari Wibowo, University of Brawijaya

is a lecturer and researcher at the Department of Civil Engineering at Brawijaya University, Indonesia. He specializes in seismic performance of structures, retrofitting of buildings, and sustainable materials. (email: ariwibowo@ub.ac.id).

Achfas Zacoeb, University of Brawijaya

is a Lecturer and researcher in the Department of Civil Engineering at Brawijaya University, Indonesia. He specializes in structural engineering, forensic engineering, and procurement. (email: zacoeb@ub.ac.id).

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