Seismic performance and resilience assessment of an innovative self-centering modular disc spring device

This paper presents a self-centering modular disc spring device (SC-MDSD) equipped with an adjustable modular partition that allows the length of the disc spring stack (SDS) to be modified to meet practical construction needs. The device exhibits high energy dissipation capacity and excellent self-centering performance. Its structural configuration and mechanical behavior are elaborated, and a theoretical model is developed. A comprehensive investigation was carried out on the mechanical properties, self-centering capability, and energy dissipation capacity of the SC-MDSD. Cyclic loading tests were performed on seven specimens with variations in disc spring type, preloading height, and modular partition configuration. The results indicate that the load–displacement curves of the modular SC-MDSD specimens display a distinct flag-shaped hysteresis, which is primarily influenced by disc spring stiffness, preloading height, and modular layout. Increasing the ratio of the disc spring outer diameter to thickness as well as the preloading height significantly improves the load-carrying capacity. Negligible residual deformations were observed after cyclic loading, demonstrating outstanding self-centering performance with a maximum recovery rate of 98.11%. The modular partition enables effective adjustment of the SDS length, allowing tailored adaptation to various structural layouts and greatly enhancing the device’s applicability. The proposed theoretical model shows strong consistency with experimental and numerical results, offering a reliable reference for applications in seismic engineering.