A dissipator is a device mounted among some sections of a building to reduce strains during an earthquake by slowing down the shaking of the building. During an
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fr ...
, the sections of the building are subjected to movements which are relative to each other (for instance, the relative movement between two different floors). When the structures oscillate, the dissipator devices, some of which are similar to
pistons, slow down the vibration by dissipating viscous or
friction
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction:
*Dry friction is a force that opposes the relative lateral motion of ...
energy, thus increasing the equivalent viscous coefficient and then reducing the strains on the structure itself.
Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation
Earthquake engineering
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