FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF MULTI-FUNCTIONAL VIBRATION-ABSORPTION MEGA-FRAMES

The multifunctional vibration-absorption mega-frame structures, which are composed of parts with different damping coefficients, are complicated and large-scale systems. Problems arise when the finite element method is adopted to analyze the systems. Considering the performance of the system under dynamic loads, a simplified three-dimensional finite element model, in which the degrees of freedom are condensed, is presented. The main deformation of the laminated rubber bearings (LRBs) is the horizontal shear deformation; therefore a LRB is regarded as a three-dimensional elastic or elasto-plastic hinge with damping character and a three-dimensional finite element model of the LRB is presented. The substructure technique is adopted to analyze the multifunctional vibration-absorption mega-frame structures.