| Seismic forces pose a significant threat to structural integrity, necessitating effective energy
dissipation strategies. One promising solution is to use metallic dissipaters to absorb seismic energy
and reduce damage to primary structural elements. U-Shaped Flexural Plates (UFPs), which function
as displacement-activated sacrificial elements, are widely recognized for their ability to dissipate
energy and protect structural components from damage. This study is a comprehensive experimental
investigation of novel double UFPs (DUFPs) that incorporate reinforcement pipes. The DUFPs were
fabricated from ASTM A36 steel with varying thicknesses of 0.25-inch, 0.375-inch, and 0.5-inch and
subjected to bi-directional quasi-static cyclic loading. The behavior of DUFP specimens in two
orthogonal directions, i.e., in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OOP), was assessed based on hysteretic
behavior, energy dissipation, and self-centering capacity. Results showed that while the 0.25-inchthick DUFP endured more loading cycles before failure, increased thickness led to enhanced stiffness
and energy dissipation capacity, as well as self-centering characteristics. The results of this study
provide a foundation for future investigations under adverse loading conditions. However, further
study is required to assess the structural application of the DUFPs under different loading conditions.
Keywords: Metallic Dissipaters, U-Shaped Flexural Plates (UFPs), Seismic, Bi-directional Loading,
Quasi-Static Cyclic Loading, Energy Dissipation, |