Investigation of a Base-Isolator System’s Effects on the Seismic Behavior of a Historical Structure

Abstract

The earthquake performance of structures with seismic isolation is much better than that of fixed-base structures, and the application of seismic insulation ensures both structural integrity and the protection of the items present in the structures. The base-isolation system is used to extend the fundamental period of vibration of the structure and to obtain higher value from base-isolated structures relative to the fixed-base structure. Historical masonry mosques could be strengthened using a base-isolation technique. In this study, a historical masonry mosque was organized and modelled using SAP2000 software. Nonlinear Time History analyses were carried out for the historical masonry structure, firstly for the fixed-base mosque and secondly for the base-isolated mosque with lead rubber bearing (LRB). The use of a base-isolator system caused an increase in the historical mosque’s period, reducing the displacements, acceleration, and force applied on the mosque and the resulting structural deformation; the results of the analysis indicate a significant improvement in the seismic behavior. The modelling results show that such historical masonry buildings (especially those with high and delicate minarets) can be vulnerable to major earthquakes, and it may be useful to examine strengthening strategies for these buildings.