A Multidimensional Elastic–Plastic Calculation Model of the Frame Structure with Magnetorheological Damper

To analyze the multidimensional elastic–plastic response of the frame structure with magnetorheological (MR) dampers under strong seismic excitations, the test of the MRD was performed, the location matrix of the MRD in the frame structure was derived, and the multidimensional elastic–plastic calculation models of the frame structure with and without an MRD were established based on the three-segment variable stiffness beam. Taking a five-story reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure as an example, the multidimensional elastic–plastic calculation models were developed by MATLAB software and the dynamic time history analyses were performed under strong seismic excitations. The results show that under the seismic wave, after the MRD is installed in the structure, the maximum horizontal displacements of the top-story node of the structure in X and Y directions is reduced by 51.87% and 39.59%, respectively, and the maximum horizontal accelerations are reduced by 36.67% and 47.86%. The maximum displacements and the story drift ratios of each story of the structure are significantly reduced, and the reduction in the maximum accelerations of each story is small relatively. In the frame structure without an MRD, plastic hinges appear at the ends of most columns, and the structure is characterized by a column hinge yield mechanism. The maximum residual displacement angles of the column end in X and Y directions which reach 1.628 × 10−3 rad and 2.101 × 10−3 rad, respectively. After setting the MRD, the number of plastic hinges in X and Y directions at the column end are both reduced by 37.5%, and the residual displacement angle at some column ends are reduced to 0. The results show that the complied calculation model programs of the frame structure can effectively simulate the multi-dimensional seismic response of the structure with and without MRD.