Snubbers can resist movement of the pipe and/or structure when the piping system is subjected to dynamic loads, often earthquake loads. Snubbers do not resist movement due to loads that are slowly applied, such as gravity (GR) and thermal expansion. Options to apply stiffness as well as damping constant (C) and nonlinear velocity exponent as specified by some damper vendors.
When the velocity exponent, α, is 1.0, the damper output force is linearly proportional to damper velocity. Dampers with velocity exponent values other than 1.0 indicate a nonlinear relationship between output force and velocity.
In general, the lower the velocity exponent (.2 or .3, for example) the more efficient the viscous damping for energy dissipation.
