Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties and Response Control Effects of Low-Cost Scrap Tire Pads by Tire Type, Shape Factor and Surface Pressure

Abstract

The rural buildings in developing countries are built with locally available stone, brick, or adobe. These buildings are constructed based on the experience and traditional knowledge of local people without proper engineering design. Therefore, resulting in heavy damage during low-intensity earthquakes. Base isolation system has been proven to the protection of human life and the reduction of damage to buildings as a result of earthquakes. However, due to the base isolator’s relatively high costs, the base isolation system is rarely used in rural construction, especially in developing countries. This paper focuses on the experimental assessment and numerical analysis of scrap tire pads (STP) for low-rise buildings, representing most rural construction projects in developing countries. Two types of STP with different rubber matrices were employed: snow tire and all-season tire. First, vertical compression and horizontal shear tests were conducted. The vertical stiffness, vertical ultimate bearing capacity, horizontal stiffness, and equivalent damping ratio were analyzed. The specimens have different characteristics regarding tire rubber (snow tire and all-season tire) and shape factor (geometric size and layers). Based on the experimental results, three-dimensional finite element analyses were carried out on the base-isolated and fixed-base configurations of the prototype building subjected to a set of strong recorded ground motions. The results show a significant reduction in both the accelerations and inter-story drifts of the base-isolated configuration compared to the response of the fixed-base building.