Efforts Toward International Harmonization of Seismic Isolation Design Code and Current Status in Japan

Abstract

AbstractStructures that use seismic isolation technology have been built since the 1970s. The effectiveness of seismic isolation technology has been verified in many earthquakes. By adopting the seismic isolation technology, the inertial force acting on the building can be dramatically reduced, so that not only the structural safety of the building but also the function of the building can be secured by preventing the fall of the indoor contents. There is no other such excellent seismic technology other than the seismically isolated structure. However, existing design standards of seismically isolated structures such as Eurocode, ASCE, Japanese Design Guide, etc. are not consistent even in their basic philosophy. Also, promotion of good quality seismically isolated structures is needed in all earthquake prone countries. In order to spread the seismic isolation technology more widely and internationally, it is necessary to develop internationally harmonized standards for ensuring the performance of the seismically isolated structure. It should include 1) the design method for the seismically isolated structure to achieve the target performance of the building, 2) the construction and maintenance method for the seismically isolated structure, 3) the manufacturing and testing method for the seismic isolation devices. In 2018, a WG (working group) was established within ISO (International Organization for Standardization) to create an international standard for seismically isolated structures. After active discussions in the committee, a standard has been developed that summarizes the basic concepts that will encompass the seismic isolation standards of various countries.KeywordsSeismic isolationInternational standardEarthquake designBuilding safety