Dissipator (building design)

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A dissipator in building design, is a device mounted among some elements of a building; during an earthquake they are subjected to movements which are relative to each other (for instance, the relative movement between two different floors). When the structures oscillates, such devices, some of which are similar to pistons, slow down the vibration by dissipating viscous or friction energy, thus increasing the equivalent viscous coefficient and then reducing the strains on the structure itself.