Dual structures towards kinetic adaptability for earthquake resistance

The design of structures in earthquake zones includes an additional demand: to achieve, from an early design stage, an optimized behavior in respect to the static requirements and the dynamic response of the systems. The present paper presents an alternative system to control excitations; it introduces the conceptual idea of Adaptable Dual Control Systems (ADCS). A kinetic mechanism is activated by the proposed structure performed by the dual function of its components. Tension-only bracings of a closed circuit are used as secondary elements within the primary frame, coupled with a hysteretic damper of steel plates. The parametric study on the seismic behavior of an ADCS's configuration verifies that the proposed system effectively resists the horizontal loading, expected to act in the Mediterranean region.