Hybrid Base Isolation System with Friction Sliders and Viscous Dampers in Parallel: Comparative Dynamic Nonlinear Analysis with Traditional Fixed Base Structure

Abstract

In the present paper we have analyzed a multi-storey reinforced concrete (RC) building in presence of a hybrid seismic protection system for highlighting the limits of the conventional fixed base seismic design of structures. This hybrid seismic protection system is a passive structural control system that combines the Base Isolation System (BIS) and the Passive Supplemental Damping (PSD). The Viscous Dampers (VS) and Friction Sliders (FS) are the devices adopted in parallel for realizing the innovative base isolation system. The fixed base structure and the base isolated structure have been designed and verified according to the European seismic code EC8 and the European code for the design of concrete structures EC2. A three-dimensional dynamic nonlinear analysis for a base isolated structure has been performed adopting recorded accelerograms for the defined bi-directional ground motions according to the conditions imposed by EC8. The seismic isolation is a promising alternative for the earthquake resistant design of buildings and its peculiarity is that the base isolated buildings are designed such that the superstructure remains elastic and the nonlinearities are localized at the isolation level. In this paper a comparative analysis is presented between the base isolated structure, with the viscous dampers in parallel with friction sliders, and the traditional fixed-base structure.