Reliability of MDOF-systems with hysteretic devices

Hysteretic devices (Hydes) such as friction based devices to reduce excessive vibrations in buildings have been used successfully for new buildings and the upgrading of RC/frames as well as other type of structures against earthquake effects, This is due to the fact that such systems can limit the story drift below the quasi-elastic limit, For the purpose of controlling vibrational characteristics, the frictional devices are assembled throughout the structure, As in a well designed system the input energy due to strong earthquakes is largely dissipated by the friction devices during only a few inelastic cycles, the remaining structure stays elastic, The stochastic structural analysis is based on Monte-Carlo simulation and controlled Monte-Carlo simulation procedures, i.e. 'double and clump' as a further development to assess the reliability of complex structural systems, For the mechanical modeling the FE-method is utilized, In a numerical example (three-story structure) the effect of the frictional devices (two-dimensional), under bi-directional earthquake loading, on the structural reliability is shown. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.