Abstract
Seismic isolation is identified as one of the most popular and effective methods of protecting structures under strong dynamic excitations. Base isolators, such as Lead Rubber Bearings, High Damping Rubber Bearings, and Friction Pendulum Bearings, are widely used in practice in many earthquake-prone regions of the world to mitigate structural vibrations, and therefore minimize loss of life and property damage during seismic events. The present paper reports the results of the comprehensive experimental investigation designed to verify the effectiveness of a prototype base isolation system made of Polymeric Bearings in reducing structural vibrations. In order to construct seismic bearings considered in this study, a specially prepared polymeric material with improved damping properties was used. The dynamic behaviour of a single-storey and two-storey experimental model, both fixed-base and base-isolated, under a number of different ground motions, was extensively studied. The reduction in lateral response was measured by comparing the peak accelerations recorded at the top of the analyzed model structures with and without a base isolation system. The results of this research clearly demonstrate that the application of the prototype Polymeric Bearings leads to significant improvement in seismic response by reducing the lateral acceleration.
Highlights
Earthquakes are counted among the most severe and unpredictable threats to structures all around the world
The present paper aims to verify experimentally the effectiveness of a prototype base isolation system made of the Polymeric Bearings (PBs), which are constructed with the use of a specially prepared polymeric material with improved damping properties
The present paper reports the results of the comprehensive experimental investigation designed to verify the effectiveness of a prototype base isolation system made of PBs in reducing structural vibrations
Summary
Earthquakes are counted among the most severe and unpredictable threats to structures all around the world. In order to achieve the above-mentioned aim of the current study, the following specific objectives have been established: Perform an extensive material testing to determine the basic mechanical properties of the polymer used to construct the PBs; Conduct the Dynamic Mechanical Analysis to evaluate the viscoelastic characteristics of the analyzed polymer over a wide range of temperatures for different excitation frequencies; Design and construct a prototype base isolation bearing with the use of a specially prepared polymeric material; 4. (c) 5 Hz, and (d) 10 Hz.analysis (DMA) results for various excitation frequencies: (a) 1 Hz, The glass transition temperature, usually denoted as Tg , which is one of the most significant parameters used to characterize mechanical behaviour of polymers, was measured by the peak value of tangent of the phase angle.
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