Design and experiments of a new type of nonlinear damper

A new type of viscoelastic damper is proposed. The prototype damper is designed and manufactured. Experiments for the damping property of this damper are performed to study its load-displacement characteristics and frequency response properties. The measured load-displacement curves and the frequency response function curve show its hysteretic characteristics and nonlinear damping mechanism. A nonlinear mechanical model is adopted to describe the nonlinear viscoelastic clamping property of this type of damper. Parameter identification for the hysteretic restoring force model is conducted with good precision. It is also indicate that this damper is promising in structural vibration control.