CONFERENCE / REACT-2025

Enhancing the seismic resilience of steel structures through effective energy dissipation and controlled deformation is a key goal in modern structural design. This study evaluates the seismic performance of three base damper types—Dual Pipe Dampers (DPDs), U-Shaped Dampers (UDs), and a Steel Slit Damper (SSD)— installed at the base of steel columns to facilitate rocking mechanisms and reduce seismic demands. Using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in ANSYS, a parametric cyclic analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of damper geometry, particularly diameter and thickness, on two key performance metrics: base moment capacity and column drift ratio. The results demonstrate that DPDs offer tuneable performance through geometric adjustment, UDs provide consistent behaviour with simple fabrication, and SSDs achieve high energy dissipation with superior drift control. This comparative evaluation informs the optimal selection of damping systems for improved structural stability and seismic damage mitigation.