While woodframe structures have historically performed well with regard to life safety in regions of moderate to high seismicity, these types of low-rise structures have sustained significant structural and non-structural damage in recent earthquakes. This NEESWood project, funded by the National Science Foundation, seeks to take on the challenge of developing a seismic design philosophy that will provide the necessary mechanisms to safely increase the height of woodframe structures in active seismic zones of the U.S. as well as mitigating damage to low-rise woodframe structures. This project incorporates the use of economical seismic protection systems such as supplemental dampers and base isolation systems in order to further increase energy dissipation capacity and/or increase the natural period of the woodframe buildings. In Part 2 of this Engineering TV interview at Colorado State University, Prof. van de Lindt digs deeper into the Friction Pendulum Sliders used to remove ground acceleration away from the structures to minimize damage.
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