Behavior of Pressurized Sand Dampers in Harsh Environments: Extreme Temperatures and Humidity

This study presents the behavior of the recently developed pressurized sand damper (PSD) in extremely low or high temperatures, as well as the influence of wet sand inside the damper housing due to either extreme humidity or water leakage. The PSD is comprised of a steel sphere or bolt that moves within a cylindrical tube filled with sand that is under pressure. The PSD response under normal conditions (ambient temperatures and dry sand) is remarkably stable, symmetric, and nearly velocity-independent, as shown in recent studies. In this study, the results of two different experimental campaigns, one under extreme temperatures and one under saturated sand, that took place at the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Lehigh Experimental Facility (EF), at the Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS) Engineering Research Center, at Lehigh University and at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Structures Laboratory, respectively, are presented. The stable behavior of the PSD is invariably affected by neither the elevated temperatures nor possible water leakage inside the damper housing revealing its resilience and robust nature.