A Proposal for a Hybrid Self-Centering Prestressed Rocking Column With Integrated Friction-Based Energy Dissipation Capabilities

In earthquake-prone regions, reinforced concrete (RC) structures are vulnerable to severe damage under high seismic demands, resulting in residual displacements, costly repairs, and prolonged downtime. Conventional fixed-base RC systems inherently concentrate damage in plastic hinges, leading to irreparable structural degradation and compromised post-earthquake functionality. While modern performance-based seismic design prioritizes life safety, emerging codes increasingly demand solutions that ensure rapid occupancy recovery and minimal residual drift—objectives that traditional approaches often fail to meet. This study addresses these gaps by proposing a self-centering prestressed rocking column with integrated friction-based energy dissipation capabilities. This hybrid system combines post-tensioned tendons, enabling recentering, with adjustable friction dampers to dissipate energy without compromising ductility. A computational framework based on OpenSees in a Python environment (OpenSeesPy) models mechanism’s nonlinear hysteresis, enabling parametric optimization of damper forces and tendon prestress levels before using the proposed model in a real-case analytical scenario. A retrofitted mid-rise RC frame subjected to spectrum-compatible ground motions demonstrates system’s efficacy in terms of residual drift reduction and peak inter-story drift modifications under design-level shaking, outperforming conventional fixed-base systems. Nonlinear time-history analyses reveal damage localization in strategic structural components, preserving primary structural elements and ensuring post-event functionality. By bridging performance-based design with modular retrofitting, this work offers a scalable pathway to enhance seismic resilience in new RC buildings, aligning with evolving code mandates for reparability and socio-economic sustainability.