Matrix and reinforcement materials for low-cost building isolators: an overview of results from experimental tests and numerical simulations

Abstract

During the last years several options to replace the conventional steel-reinforced isolators have been investigated using different materials for the matrix and reinforcement to implement isolation system in buildings. As alternatives to natural rubber, recycled elastomers derived from tires and industrial leftover, scrap tire rubber pads and nanocomposite rubber, have been proposed. Furthermore, with the goal of replacing the inflexible, thick steel plates, a wide variety of fabric reinforcements, such as nylon, carbon, polyester, polyamide, glass and thin flexible steel plates, have been investigated. The manufacturing process and connections between the devices and the structure (bonded, unbonded and partially bonded) have also been studied. This paper presents an overview of the results from investigations where the mechanical properties of prototypes were determined through horizontal shear and vertical compression tests and, in certain cases, through finite element analysis with hyperelastic models. In order to facilitate the visualization and comparison between investigations, the results are tabulated and plotted. The organization and presentation of the results allows to identify important aspects implemented in different experimental programs and analytical models developed for low-cost isolators.