Experimental study on the effectiveness of polymer damper in damage reduction of temporary steel grandstand

A large number of accidents, involving collapses of temporary grandstands during different types of events, were observed in the past. If the synchronized movement of people is tuned with the natural frequency of the affected part of the structure, resonance might occur. It may lead to severe damages of grandstands, their collapse or panic among the spectators. The aim of the paper is to assess, through preliminary experimental tests, the effectiveness of a polymer damper in damage reduction of a temporary steel grandstand. The damper considered in the study has been constructed out of two L-shape steel members bonded with polymer mass of high damping properties. The element has been installed as a diagonal one at the back part of the structure. The method has been compared with the typical solution of strengthening the grandstand with the diagonal stiffener of tubular cross section. The results of the study show that the responses of a temporary steel grandstand equipped with the polymer damper as well as with the typical stiffener are substantially different. The application of the polymer damper leads to the substantial increase in the level of structural damping ratio allowing to minimize the possibility of structural damage.