Rotational friction (RF) dampers are among the efficient energy-absorbing devices with nearly elasto-plastic behavior and stable hysteresis response. However, the lack of self-centering features might result in undesirable residual displacement for the buildings equipped with RF dampers, not being re-occupiable quickly after severe events. This paper introduces an innovative seismic device named Self-Centering Rotational Friction damper (SC-RF damper) that can provide both energy dissipation as well as self-centering characteristics. The damper is comprised of especially grooved friction plates clamped by high strength bolts or rods using pre-stressed conical disc springs. Similar to RF dampers, the SC-RF dampers provides a remarkable flexibility not only at the connection component design, but also at the structural system performance. In this paper, the principles of force-deflection relationship for the SC-RF damper are analytically and numerically developed and validated through finite element analysis. Then, a sample prototype damper was manufactured and experimentally tested, to further validate the performance of the system. The effect of disk springs performance on the damper is experimentally investigated in detail. To gain a better understanding about damper’s performance, the influence of various parameters affecting the damper’s performance are analyzed as well. Finally, the damper’s capability including its adaptive stiffness and damping is also investigated in principle. The results highlight the capability of the damper to dissipate seismic energy through rotational friction sliding while providing a stable and repeatable self-centering feature with no requirement for post-event maintenance, ready for aftershocks.

旋转摩擦（RF）阻尼器是一种高效的能量吸收装置，具有近乎弹塑性的特性和稳定的磁滞响应。但是，缺乏自动居中功能可能会导致配备RF阻尼器的建筑物产生不希望的残留位移，在严重事件发生后无法迅速重新占用。本文介绍了一种创新的抗震装置，称为自定心旋转摩擦阻尼器（SC-RF阻尼器），它既可以提供能量耗散，又可以提供自定心特性。减震器由特别是开槽的摩擦板组成，这些摩擦板通过使用预应力锥形碟形弹簧通过高强度螺栓或杆夹紧。与RF阻尼器类似，SC-RF阻尼器不仅在连接组件设计上而且在结构系统性能上都提供了显着的灵活性。本文对SC-RF阻尼器的力-挠度关系原理进行了分析和数值开发，并通过有限元分析对其进行了验证。然后，制造了一个样机原型阻尼器并进行了实验测试，以进一步验证系统的性能。碟形弹簧性能对减震器的影响已通过实验进行了详细研究。为了更好地了解阻尼器的性能，还分析了影响阻尼器性能的各种参数的影响。最后，原则上还研究了阻尼器的性能，包括其自适应刚度和阻尼。