Recent progress and development of building vibration-control systems in Japan

Abstract

Japan is on a seismically active zone, the people are frequently shaken, and there is good reason to develop vibration-control systems (table 1). Ministries and major construction companies have contributed to the progress of the technology. An example is the fast-breeder reactor (FBR) research project, which may be equipped with a base-isolation system. Rubber bearings will be standardized and base-isolated buildings will be designed and constructed easily on good ground in the near future. But one needs time to realize a building with an active control system, which is effective in potentially destructive earthquakes.