A damper is a mechanical device that is designed to absorb and dissipate energy from a moving system, such as a building or a vehicle. It works by converting kinetic energy into heat, which is then dissipated into the surrounding environment.
There are several factors that should be considered when designing a damper, including the mass of the moving system, the maximum expected velocity, the type of motion (e.g. horizontal or vertical), and the desired level of damping.
The equation for calculating the damping coefficient is: c = (2 * m * wn * zeta), where c is the damping coefficient, m is the mass of the moving system, wn is the natural frequency, and zeta is the damping ratio.
The natural frequency of a system can be determined by dividing the stiffness of the system (k) by the mass (m) using the equation: wn = √(k/m), where wn is the natural frequency, k is the stiffness, and m is the mass of the system.
A damper is used in buildings to reduce the amount of movement caused by external forces, such as wind or earthquakes. It helps to stabilize the building and prevent damage or collapse by absorbing and dissipating the energy from these forces.