Modeling Triple Friction Pendulum Bearings in Program OpenSees Including Frictional Heating Effects

Keywords: Seismic isolation, triple friction pendulum bearing, modeling, heating effects, OpenSees

Abstract: This report presents and verifies a revised model of the behavior of triple friction pendulum bearings that explicitly computes the sliding displacements, sliding velocities and the rise in temperature at its four sliding interfaces.  This permits consideration of the effects of velocity and temperature on the coefficients of friction.  The model is based on the earlier model of Fenz and Constantinou, which did not explicitly compute the conditions at each sliding interface but correctly predicted the global force-displacement relationship of the bearing.  The model was implemented in program OpenSees and interested users may obtain the source code from the authors.