Seismic Isolation System Research Articles

Shake table testing of a seismic isolation system for lightweight structures

AbstractThe implementation of seismic isolation in lightweight structures, such as houses, is limited, except for Japan, where nearly 5000 houses are seismically isolated with highly engineered systems. The use of such systems in countries of growing economies is prohibitive due to their cost, difficulties in locally fabricating components, and incompatibility with local construction practices. Previous studies on low‐cost isolation systems showed that isolation devices with rolling rather than sliding elements are more suitable for lightweight structures. A low‐cost isolation system based on a deformable rolling bearing developed at the University at Buffalo has simple components that can be easily manufactured, has a large displacement capacity, and features a fail‐safe mechanism. The bearing is composed of one flat and one concave concrete plate and a rubber rolling ball. This paper presents the results of shake table testing of half‐length scale versions of prototype houses and small bridges equipped with this deformable rolling isolation system in three‐directional seismic excitation. The results showed that deformable rolling bearings provide significant seismic protection of lightweight structures against strong ground motions, which in the testing reached a maximum peak ground velocity of 1.2 m/s in the test scale and a peak ground acceleration of 4 g in the horizontal direction and up to 1 g in the vertical direction. The isolation system was particularly effective in the horizontal direction, whereas it did not provide any vertical isolation. The tests included cases of extreme response, which included vertical impact within the bearing's components and uplift of the isolated structure.

SH‐waves in a complex fluid composite structure with spring membrane imperfect interfaces

AbstractComplex fluids are of nobleness due to their unique mechanical responses to applied stress, which are different from simple fluids. Therefore, the current study encapsulated the behavior of SH‐wave in a complex fluid layer overlying a fiber‐reinforced half‐space with six different cases considered at the common interface. These cases involve various interface conditions, including perfect bonding, a spring layer, an infinitely thin membrane layer, loose bonding, a combined spring‐membrane layer, and a membrane layer with loose bonding. Precisely, the effect of loose bonding, membrane strength, and spring stiffness at the common interface on the propagation of SH (Shear Horizontal) wave is studied in detail. The problem is mathematically formulated for all the aforementioned six models followed by their solution with the aid of appropriate boundary conditions. Numerical computations are performed with a view to study the effect of stiffness of spring and membrane, as well as loose bonding at the common interface of the media. It is demonstrated that membrane strength impedes wave propagation, while increased spring stiffness supports it. Notably, the combined spring‐membrane interface has a more pronounced effect than a spring layer alone. The findings of this study may be utilized in the development of membrane technology, including the study of fluid membranes and it has significant importance in seismic engineering and vibration isolation systems.

Experimental study on seismically isolated systems using a novel roller-type bearing with energy dissipation capacity

The roller-type isolation bearing is highly effective in limiting the transmission of lateral seismic forces to the superstructure. This paper introduces a novel roller-type bearing with energy dissipation capacity (RB-EDC), which includes flat bearing seats, rollers, limit plates with energy dissipation capability, and limit rings. The RB-EDC is characterized by its excellent energy dissipation capacity, simple manufacturing process, low cost, vertical tensile bearing capacity and stable performance in extremely cold regions due to its specific configuration and materials. The design procedure for the RB-EDC is detailed herein. Subsequently, pseudo-dynamic comparison tests were conducted on both a seismic isolation system specimen and a RC column specimen under frequent and rare earthquake conditions to validate the damping performance of the RB-EDC. The seismic isolation system consists of the RB-EDC and an RC column identical to the RC column specimen. The results indicate that, compared to the RC column specimen, the column in the seismic isolation system specimen significantly reduces crack distribution ranges, rebar strain, concrete strain, and displacement at the column top under seismic actions. The RB-EDC exhibits significant energy dissipation capacity even during frequent earthquakes, demonstrating effective damping performance. However, the residual displacement of the RB-EDC increases with seismic intensity, which may impact the damping performance of the bearing in future potential earthquakes, indicating the need for further redesign to incorporate self-centering capacity.

A Study of Sliding Base Isolation System: A Review

Seismic isolation systems are crucial for protecting structures by minimizing the transmission of acceleration during seismic events, and among the various types, the resilient sliding system, which combines restoring springs and sliders, is highly effective in mitigating seismic impacts. This system controls structural responses by balancing stiffness and friction, ensuring safety while maintaining the functionality of buildings. However, optimizing the design of this system requires carefully selecting combinations of stiffness and the coefficient of friction to achieve low acceleration levels, while simultaneously managing the relative displacement within the isolation system to protect both the structure and its occupants. Excessive displacement may compromise the integrity of the isolation system or cause damage to the structure it is meant to protect. The challenge lies in finding the optimal friction and stiffness levels that provide sufficient energy dissipation and restore forces without allowing displacement to exceed acceptable thresholds. Studies show that restoring forces generated by springs help limit excessive displacements, while sliders dissipate seismic energy, and adjustments in these parameters must account for variations in ground motion intensity and frequency. Thus, a balance between flexibility and resistance is essential in sliding systems to ensure maximum structural safety and occupant protection during earthquakes. This paper reviews different sliding isolation systems which fulfils the requirements of controlling the earthquake and functioning accordingly. It include systems such as PF, FPS, VFPI , CFPI,VFPS,PFPE, VCFPS,VFFPI etc.

Experimental Study on Seismic Performance Evaluation of a Multi-Story Steel Building Model with Rolling-Type Seismic Base Isolation

Critical structures such as hospitals, high-precision manufacturing facilities, telecommunications centers, and fire stations, especially, need to maintain their functionality even during severe earthquakes. In this sense, seismic isolation technology serves as a vital design method for preserving their functionality. Seismic isolators, also known as earthquake isolation systems, are used to reduce the effects of earthquakes on buildings by isolating them from the ground they are located on. By ensuring that less acceleration and force demand is transmitted to the superstructure, both the building and the equipment and the devices in the building are prevented from being damaged by earthquakes. This experimental study aims to conduct vibration tests on a small-scale multi-story steel-building model equipped with a specially designed rolling-type seismic base isolation system. The relationship between the test model and the prototype was achieved by frequency simulation. The tests will be performed on a shake table under six different earthquake accelerations to examine the model’s dynamic behavior. The primary goal is to evaluate the isolation performance of the rolling-type seismic base isolator under seismic loads, with a focus on recording the vibrations at the top of the test building. It has been observed that the isolator placed at the base of the building significantly reduced the peak acceleration and displacement values of the floor motion. Under the most severe earthquake record applied to the shake table, the acceleration at the top of the building with the isolator was found to be reduced by approximately 50%, compared to the non-isolated case.

Structural System and Computational Dynamic Model of a Life-Saving Multi-Storey Building with a Kinematic Seismic Isolation System

Introduction. In design of a life-saving multi-storey building, a seismic isolation system in the form of the kinematic supports is used to ensure the seismic resistance and reduce the seismic loads. The structural system, the computational dynamic model and the results of the intermediate in-situ tests of a life-saving multi-storey building with a kinematic seismic isolation system being built in Grozny have been analysed in the article.Materials and Methods. The research included modeling and computation of the structural system of a building with a kinematic seismic isolation system. In-situ tests were carried out to confirm the working capacity of the seismic isolation system connections.Results. A multi-storey life-saving building was designed according to a frame-core wall structure, where the vertical load-bearing elements were core walls, columns and connections between the columns in the form of the stiffening diaphragms. The high-rise part of a building was designed using a kinematic seismic isolation system consisting of the seismic isolating concrete-filled steel tubular supports. The results of the calculations of the main and specific load combinations and internal forces in the load-bearing structures have been presented.Discussion and Conclusion. The research has shown that the use of the developed structural system of seismic isolation with kinematic supports makes it possible to reduce the seismic loads and the total weight of a building and at the same time to increase its mechanical reliability and safety. The conducted intermediate in-situ tests have confirmed the working capacity of the joints connecting the supports with the monolithic reinforced concrete structures of a building, which makes it possible to implement the kinematic seismic isolation supports into the construction industry practices.

Simultaneous optimization of capacity and topology of seismic isolation systems in multi-story buildings using a fuzzy reinforced differential evolution method

Inter-story isolation systems, as an alternative earthquake protection system, reduce in-building movement compared to base isolation systems. In this context, the current study focuses on simultaneously optimizing the topology and capacity of base and inter-story isolation systems for a multi-story building exposed to multiple earthquake scenarios. In addressing this challenge, an optimization model is developed that simultaneously considers both the topology (vertical arrangement) and capacity (required stiffness) of the seismic isolators as the decision variables of the model. To attain more practical and feasible solutions, the side constraints of the problem involve the inter-story drift and the total cost of seismic isolation systems. A gradient-free and self-adaptive search method, Fuzzy Differential Evolution incorporated Virtual Mutant (FDEVM), is employed to solve the optimization problem. The FDEVM approach applies a fuzzy mechanism to adopt its search behavior with governing condition(s) of the current problem. The selected method's performance is implicitly compared with its standard version. The obtained results indicate that optimally placing inter-story isolators with an optimal configuration and capacity not only improves the seismic performance of the systems but also its more cost-efficient approach compared with conventional based isolation systems. Also, the comparative outcomes indicate that the FDEVM method exhibits a high search capability for this class of problems.

Experimental investigation and numerical analysis of a hybrid bridge isolation system utilizing bonded and unbonded laminated rubber bearings

To enhance the seismic resilience of bridges equipped with nonseismic laminated rubber bearings, a novel seismic isolation system is proposed, leveraging hybrid bonded and unbonded laminated rubber bearings. An experimental program is conducted to investigate the seismic behavior of this innovative hybrid bearing system. Cyclic loadings are applied to bonded, unbonded, and hybrid bearings to assess their force-displacement hysteretic response, energy dissipation, and restoring performance. The experimental findings reveal that unbonded rubber bearings exhibit significant energy dissipation through sliding but show limitations in restorability. Conversely, bonded bearings demonstrate superior restoring capacity but offer limited energy dissipation. The proposed hybrid bearings, combining bonded and unbonded bearings, achieve a favorable equilibrium between energy dissipation and restoring performance. Compared to individual bonded and unbonded bearings, the hybrid bearings exhibit a remarkable increase in energy dissipation by 110 % and restoring performance by 185 %. Furthermore, a numerical simulation method is proposed to accurately capture the critical hysteretic behavior of the hybrid bearings.

Advances and challenges in friction pendulum bearings for seismic isolation systems

Friction pendulum bearings (FPBs) have emerged as critical structural isolation devices in the field of earthquake engineering. Extensive research and development efforts have led to the exploration and refinement of these bearings, resulting in the creation of various models with unique structural configurations and superior mechanical properties. This paper offers an in-depth review of the friction materials employed in FPBs, alongside an analysis of the mechanical performance and advancements in research regarding single-pendulum, double-pendulum, multiple-pendulum, and other types of friction bearings. Characterized by their low sensitivity and high stability, these bearings are adept at resisting seismic forces, thus providing dependable isolation protection for structures. This review also includes a succinct examination of the seismic performance and engineering applications of these isolation structures. With robust self-centering capabilities, excellent isolation, and energy dissipation mechanisms, FPBs are capable of quickly resuming normal operations post-seismic events. This reduces structural damage and maintenance expenses, significantly improving the seismic resilience of structures. Moreover, the paper outlines the current challenges in the research and development of FPBs and suggests future research directions, including optimizing friction materials, enhancing the design and performance of isolation structures, and improving the seismic performance and engineering application efficiency of FPBs. By identifying underexplored areas and synthesizing findings differently, this review provides a comprehensive and novel perspective that advances the field of earthquake engineering.

Enhancing operational performance assessment of structures with seismic response modification devices: The role of observability and symmetry analysis under limited sensor deployment

AbstractTo manage structural responses under various external forces, the increasing incorporation of seismic isolation and supplementary damping systems in modern civil engineering necessitates post‐installation performance assessments. The challenge of accurately inferring system information from these complex dynamical structures, especially with limited sensor deployment, could be significant. From the perspective of solving inverse problems, this challenge hinges on constructing an input‐output mapping that assures unique solutions, achievable through theoretical observability or symmetry analysis. We introduce a unified algorithm framework designed to accommodate various definitions of Lie derivatives, specifically for observability and symmetry analysis in dynamic systems with affine, non‐affine, and unknown inputs—capabilities not fully achieved in previous studies. We demonstrate its application across typical dynamic scenarios, including both linear and nonlinear examples. We also present a numerical example featuring complex isolation systems with limited sensor layouts, illustrating how uniform convergence can be achieved in estimating all system states when an observable input‐output mapping is utilized. Furthermore, an experimental example employing shaking table tests showcases the potential complications that arise when an unobservable input‐output mapping is used.

Seismic performance assessment of pile supported wharves with seismic isolation system considering pile-soil interaction

Pile-Supported Wharves (PSW) are critical for maritime operations but are highly vulnerable to seismic events, which can disrupt port activities. Previous seismic events have highlighted that short free length piles in wharf structures are particularly prone to earthquake damage. This paper aims to mitigate damage between the wharf deck and piles connections by adopting the seismic isolation systems. Conventional Wharf (CW) and Isolated Wharf (IW) structures were comprehensively assessed, focusing on Pile-Soil Interaction (PSI), using the finite element software OpenSees for advanced numerical simulations. Non-Linear Time History Analysis (NLTHA) of CW and IW has been conducted to verify the design under Contingency Level Earthquake (CLE) and Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) scenarios. The analysis aims to enhance the performance of short free length piles within the IW structure. Comparative analysis of fragility curves between CW and IW structures shows that isolation systems significantly reduce seismic fragility by 49%, 60%, and 67% at the MCE level for minimal damage, control & repairable damage and life safety protection across three performance levels, respectively. These findings indicate that the implementation of isolation measures has significantly enhanced the seismic performance and safety of PSW structures.

Analysis and validation of theoretical equations for a seismic isolation system with a multi-level friction damper

Analysis and validation of theoretical equations for a seismic isolation system with a multi-level friction damper

Adaptive Seismic Upgrading of Isolated Bridges with C-Gapped Devices: Model Testing

The seismic safety margins of seismically isolated bridges have not been thoroughly studied or comprehended due to a lack of actual on-site data observations. This study introduces a newly validated method for the efficient seismic protection of bridges that may be exposed to extremely strong, multidirectional near-source and critical far-source earthquakes. The isolated system was improved by incorporating innovative adaptive horizontal C-multigapped (HC-MG) energy dissipation devices to overcome the safety limitations associated with solely using isolated bridges under seismic loads. The newly developed adaptive C-gapped (ACG) bridge system was systematically validated through extensive experimental seismic tests on bridge models and additional analytical studies. The new ACG bridge system represents an advanced technical solution that integrates the benefits of seismic isolation and energy dissipation. The seismic isolation system for the large-scale ACG bridge prototype was designed using double spherical rolling seismic bearings (DSRSB). The seismic performance of the system was enhanced with adaptive HC-MG energy dissipation devices. The improved seismic performance of the system was demonstrated through extensive seismic shaking-table tests on the ACG bridge prototype, simulating selected seismic inputs characteristic of typical near- and far-source earthquakes. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-09-01 Full Text: PDF

Development of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation System in the Form of Vertical Barriers: Effectiveness and Perspective

This paper discusses the concept of geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI) systems, characterized by new principles of action, to reduce seismic loads on buildings. The advantages and disadvantages of GSIs and their environmental and economic reliability are analyzed. The aim of the study is to develop a geotechnical seismic isolation system in the form of vertical barriers, using a rubber–soil mixture (RSM). The novelty of the work lies in the definition of effective structural and technical solutions of vertical seismic barriers made of RSM, characterized by reliability in providing seismic isolation. The ground and superstructure interactions are modeled in PLAXIS 2D software from 2021, using the finite element method, using the accelerogram of the Kobe and Northridge earthquakes. The results confirm the positive impact of using an RSM as an effective GSI geometrical. The results show that the GSI system using an RSM reduces horizontal accelerations by 60%. Significant acceleration reductions of 40–60% are also observed when the thickness and depth of GSI seismic barriers are increased. The results of the study contribute to the substantiation of methodology and scientific and technical efficiency of geotechnical seismic isolation as an economically favorable design alternative to the traditional seismic isolation system.

Experimental and Numerical Research on a Sand Cushion Geotechnical Seismic Isolation System in Strong Earthquakes and Cold Regions

Masonry buildings in high-intensity seismic and cold regions of China face the dual challenges of frost heaving and seismic hazards. To explore the potential of a sand cushion instead of the frozen soil layer to deal with these problems, a cost-effective sand cushion-based Geotechnical Seismic Isolation System (GSI-SC) was developed in this study, where a sand cushion is introduced between the structural foundation and natural soil, while the space around the foundation is backfilled with sand. Shaking table tests on a one-story masonry structure equipped and non-equipped with the GSI-SC system were undertaken to investigate its effectiveness in seismic isolation, where the input wave adopted the north–south component of the EL Centro wave recorded in 1940, and the peak input acceleration (PIA) was set as 0.1 g, 0.2 g, and 0.4 g. It is found that the GSI-SC system significantly reduced the seismic response of the structure, effectively achieving seismic isolation. For a PIA of 0.4 g, the GSI-SC system reduced the acceleration of the roof panel and the inter-story displacement of the structure by 33% and 39%, respectively. Numerical simulations were performed to evaluate the seismic response of buildings equipped and non-equipped with the GSI-SC system. The simulation results matched well with the experimental results, verifying the effectiveness of the newly developed seismic isolation system. The GSI-SC system can provide the potential to reduce frost heave and earthquake disasters for buildings in high-intensity seismic and cold regions.

Experimental investigation of an electromagnetic seismic isolation system with different configurations of inertance

Protecting seismic isolated equipment or buildings in a near-fault area is challenging because of the strong long-period velocity components of near-fault ground motions. These long-period pulses can cause excessive base displacement of conventional seismic isolation systems. In this study, an electromagnetic seismic isolation system with flywheels (EMSIS-FW) was experimentally investigated to reduce the base displacement of isolation systems during near-fault earthquakes. The EMSIS-FW consists of a sliding platform and rotary electromagnetic (EM) dampers, which can provide an EM damping force. With an additional flywheel installed on each EM damper, its moment of inertia can offer a considerable inertance for the EMSIS-FW. The inertance generated by the flywheel can be hundreds of times larger than its mass. Accordingly, the isolation frequency can be adjusted using different-sized flywheels. A prototype EMSIS-FW was designed and manufactured. A theoretical model was also developed to predict its dynamic behavior. Through shaking table tests, this study provided experimental verification of the effectiveness of inertance on isolation systems subjected to near-fault ground motions. The experimental results indicate that an increase in inertance reduces the isolation displacement, but it may increase the isolation acceleration during a typical far-field ground motion. In addition, the accuracy of the theoretical model was verified using the shaking table test.

Development of a pressure-, velocity-, and acceleration-dependent phenomenological friction model using experimental data of sliding tests between 11 polymers and stainless steel

This paper experimentally investigates the frictional behavior between stainless steel and 11 polymers. Particularly, the dependence of the friction coefficient on the sliding velocity, pressure, and acceleration is quantified. The novelty of this work lies in quantifying the acceleration-dependent nature of friction, correlating it to the well-documented Stick-Slip effect. The experimental setup consisted of two parallel stiff steel beams, one above the other, with a separation of 95 mm, and steel surfaces welded at the inner sides for sliding the polymers. Cylindrical polymer pads were placed between the stainless-steel surfaces and connected to a dynamic actuator to apply the displacement protocol. The protocol consisted of consecutive nominally constant-velocity ramp cycles covering velocities from 1 mm/s to 300 mm/s (with 20 mm/s increments). An additional vertical force was applied with a hydraulic actuator to reach nominal pressures in the polymers between 5 and 80 MPa. The results showed that the friction coefficient depends on the velocity, pressure, and acceleration of the motion, and a phenomenological model on these three variables is proposed. The velocity dependence can be represented through a logarithmic relationship, while the pressure dependence is through an exponential decay relationship. The acceleration dependence was represented through a linear relationship, which could capture the stick-slip effect. Overall, this work contributes to a better understanding of friction for seismic isolation systems. Since friction is the main source of energy dissipation in such structures, the proposed model will allow a higher accuracy in predicting variables of interest during the dynamic analyses of seismically isolated structures with frictional systems.

Nonlinear seismic assessment for nuclear power plants with structural-geotechnical hybrid isolation strategy

Improving the seismic resilience of nuclear power plants (NPP) to withstand super-strong earthquakes is critical for ensuring nuclear safety. Seismic isolation can effectively enhance the structural seismic margins and has significant potential for development in NPPs. Although three-dimensional (3D) base isolation can effectively isolate tri-directional ground motion, it also faces challenges such as the limitations of horizontal and vertical displacements of the isolation layer under super-strong earthquakes. In this paper, a novel hybrid passive control strategy that combines 3D base isolation with geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI) systems is proposed. Furthermore, a nonlinear soil-structure interaction analysis method is developed and the program is validated using numerical examples. Finally, a nonlinear dynamic analysis of a large-scale nuclear island building at a non-bedrock site is conducted to investigate the seismic mitigation effects of a hybrid isolation system under super-strong earthquakes. The research findings demonstrate a significant improvement in the isolation effectiveness of the proposed strategy compared to 3D base isolation, which further reduces the tri-directional seismic responses of NPPs while also exhibits the ability to control the deformation in the isolation layer. The proposed hybrid isolation system can significantly improve the ability of NPPs to withstand super-strong earthquakes and provide support for the hybrid seismic isolation design of NPPs.

Multi-layered solid element for seismic analysis of rubber bearings considering stress continuity based on finite particle method

Rubber bearings are crucial components in seismic isolation systems to mitigate the damaging effects of earthquakes on structures. Rubber bearings generally consist of alternate layers of steel and rubber bonded together. Simplified two-point spring models omit this layered construction and have limitations in adaptability and programmability, while refined multiple solid models lead to substantial computational costs. This study presents an effective and efficient approach to simulate rubber bearings by using multi-layered solid element based on the finite particle method (FPM). The traditional “Zigzag” shape function is extended into the 3D situation to reflect the serrated deformation within the layered construction. Based on the simplified assumption of stress continuity, an iterative approach is presented for the deformation gradient to achieve the force continuity between layers in dynamic nonlinear scenarios. The multi-layered solid models for both natural rubber bearings (NRBs) and lead rubber bearings (LRBs) are proposed based on this element. The errors of the hysteresis curves of rubber bearings are below 3.1 % between the numerical results obtained by using the multi-layered solid model and the experimental results. The computational speedup ratio of the proposed multi-layered solid model is verified to be 19 relative to the refined multiple solid model. The proposed method is applied to a base-isolated frame structure to demonstrate its effectiveness in structural seismic analysis.

Seismic Isolators Layout Optimization Using Genetic Algorithm Within the Pymoo Framework

In most previous studies, seismic base isolation system optimization has mainly focused on determining isolation layer parameters. However, the subsequent steps of isolator device selection and positioning can significantly impact overall system performance. To address these shortcomings, we propose an alternative optimization approach demonstrated through two models: regular and irregular 8-storey reinforced concrete structures. This approach utilizes the Pymoo framework and commercially available isolators to find optimal isolator layout configurations in two steps. First, using the equivalent lateral force (ELF) procedure, an initial population of seismic isolators meeting shear strain, base shear coefficient, and buckling requirements was randomly selected from suppliers' elastomeric bearing catalogs. Second, the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was used to improve the seismic response of the models under the fast nonlinear analysis (FNA) method by minimizing peak roof acceleration, inter-story drift ratio, displacement of the isolated base layer, as well as maximizing the fundamental period. The results underscore the effectiveness of this approach in improving seismic response. Compared to fixed-base structures, the optimal solutions achieved more than double the fundamental period, reduced peak roof acceleration by over 70%, and diminished base shear force by approximately 50%. This methodology can serve as a reference for future research across various structure types, including hybrid isolation systems and steel structures. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-08-07 Full Text: PDF