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This trend has also been reported in experiments (Kasai et al., 1993). Meanwhile, the overall forcedisplacement
response is displayed in Fig. 6. Viscous dissipation leads to the development of the
increased temperatures that, in turn, cause thermal softening of the VE layer. This produces the
degradation of the hysteresis loops shown in the figure. Again, this is evident in experiments and must
be properly accounted for in VE damper design. Detailed contour plots of temperature and shear strain
throughout the VE layer at maximum lateral displacement are provided in Fig. 7. Of particular
concern are the shear strain concentrations that appear on the VE-steel interface at the free edges.
These can lead to debonding failures.
Figure 5: VE Damper - Temperature Response
Figure 6: VE Damper - Force-Displacement Response
f .««*-««*,.. *,.•*., f
Figure 7: VE Damper - Temperature and Shear Strain Distributions