Guidelines for Testing Passive Energy Dissipation Devices

Published

November 1, 1999

Author(s)

Michael A. Riley, Fahim H. Sadek, B Mohraz

Abstract

Passive energy dissipation devices can be used to significantly reduce the response of structures to earthquake and wind excitation. Wide acceptance of these devices depends on the availability of information on their performance as well as standards for evaluating and testing them. The Building and Fire Research Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology therefore initiated a program to develop guidelines for testing damping devices.The objective of this document is to provide guidelines for prototype and quality control tests of passive energy dissipation devices. The guidelines, which are independent of both device type and application, are intended to assist manufacturers, researchers, and practitioners in performing, and interpreting the results of, tests on these devices.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 6936

Report Number

6936

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

earthquake design, energy dissipation, passive energy dissipation, structural control, structural dampers, test protocols, wind design

Citation

Riley, M. , Sadek, F. and Mohraz, B. (1999), Guidelines for Testing Passive Energy Dissipation Devices, NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860468 (Accessed October 7, 2025)