• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.19-37
• /
• 2013

The optimum design of base isolation system considering model parameter uncertainty is usually performed by using the unconditional response of structure obtained by the total probability theory, as the performance index. Though, the probabilistic approach is powerful, it cannot be applied when the maximum possible ranges of variations are known and can be only modelled as uncertain but bounded type. In such cases, the interval analysis method is a viable alternative. The present study focuses on the bounded optimization of base isolation system to mitigate the seismic vibration effect of structures characterized by bounded type system parameters. With this intention in view, the conditional stochastic response quantities are obtained in random vibration framework using the state space formulation. Subsequently, with the aid of matrix perturbation theory using first order Taylor series expansion of dynamic response function and its interval extension, the vibration control problem is transformed to appropriate deterministic optimization problems correspond to a lower bound and upper bound optimum solutions. A lead rubber bearing isolating a multi-storeyed building frame is considered for numerical study to elucidate the proposed bounded optimization procedure and the optimum performance of the isolation system.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.3 no.3
• /
• pp.385-403
• /
• 2007

The effectiveness of the newly developed smart passive control system employing a magnetorheological (MR) damper and an electromagnetic induction (EMI) part for seismic protection of base isolated structures is numerically investigated. An EMI part in the system consists of a permanent magnet and a coil, which changes the kinetic energy of the deformation of an MR damper into the electric energy (i.e. the induced current) according to the Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. In the smart passive control system, the damping characteristics of an MR damper are varied with the current input generated from an EMI part. Hence, it does not need any control system consisting of sensors, a controller and an external power source. This makes the system much simpler as well as more economic. To verify the efficacy of the smart passive control system, a series of numerical simulations are carried out by considering the benchmark base isolated structure control problems. The numerical simulation results show that the smart passive control system has the comparable control performance to the conventional MR damper-based semiactive control system. Therefore, the smart passive control system could be considered as one of the promising control devices for seismic protection of seismically excited base isolated structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.561-575
• /
• 2000

Microvibration of high technology facilities, such as semiconductor plants and facilities with high precision equipments, due to nearby road and rail traffic has attracted considerable attention recently. In this paper, a preliminary study is conducted for the possible use of various protective systems and their performance for the reduction of microvibration. Simulation results indicate that passive base isolation systems, hybrid base isolation systems, passive floor isolation systems, and hybrid floor isolation systems are quite effective and practical. In particular, the performances of hybrid floor isolation systems are remarkable. Further, passive energy dissipation systems are not effective for the reduction of microvibration. Finally, the protections against both microvibration and earthquake are also investigated and presented.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-15
• /
• 2024

Isolation technology has been proven effective in reducing the seismic response of superstructures, where most of the deformation is concentrated in the isolation layer. However, in cases of earthquakes with intensities surpassing the fortification level of the area, or severe near-fault earthquakes, the isolation layer may experience excessive deformation, resulting in damage to the isolation bearings or collisions with the retaining wall or surrounding buildings. In this study, a finite element model using ABAQUS is established and compared with experimental test results to deeply investigate the influence of limit devices on the isolation layer and its response to the superstructure. The findings reveal that a larger limiter stiffness and a smaller reserved gap can achieve a more effective limiting effect. Nevertheless, a smaller reserved gap and a larger limiter stiffness may result in increased response of the superstructure. Therefore, rational selection of the reserved gap and limiter stiffness is crucial to reduce the acceleration response.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.82 no.4
• /
• pp.417-434
• /
• 2022

In this work, a review of mechanical metamaterials and seismic protection systems that use them is carried out, focusing on passive protection systems. During the last years, a wide variety of classical systems of seismic protection have demonstrated to be an effective and practical way of reducing the seismic vulnerability of buildings, maintaining their health and structural integrity. However, with the emergence of metamaterials, which allow obtaining uncommon mechanical properties, new procedures and devices with high performance have been developed, reducing the seismic risk through novel approaches such as: seismic shields and the redirection of seismic waves; the use of stop band gaps and the construction of buried mass resonators; the design of pentamodal base isolators. These ideas are impacting traditional areas of structural engineering such as the design and building of highly efficient base isolation systems. In this work, recent advances in new seismic protection technologies and researches that integrate mechanical metamaterials are presented. A complete bibliometric analysis was carried out to identify and classify relevant authors and works related with passive seismic protection system based on mechanical metamaterial (pSPSmMMs). Finally, possible future scenarios for study and development of seismic isolators based on mechanical metamaterials are shown, identifying the relevant topics that have not yet been explored, as well as those with the greatest potential for future application.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.411-419
• /
• 1999

A nonlinear model for time-step analysis of bridges subjected to two orthogonal horizontal components of earthquake motions was developed. The focus of the study was on elastomeric isolators with or without lead cores. The hysteretic behavior of the isolators, the columns, abutments, and shear keys was taken into account. The nonlinear analysis showed that, contrary to linear theory prediction, the use of isolators does not necessarily increase the displacement of the superstructure. Furthermore, it was shown that properly designed isolators can reduce the ductility demand in RC bridge columns substantially.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.63-76
• /
• 2004

This paper presents LRB-based hybrid base isolation systems employing additional active/semiactive control devices for mitigating earthquake-induced vibration of a cable-stayed 29 bridge. Hybrid base isolation systems could improve the control performance compared with the passive type-base isolation system such as LRB-installed bridge system due to multiple control devices are operating. In this paper, the additional response reduction by the two typical additional control devices, such as active type hydraulic actuators controlled by LQG algorithm and semiactive-type magnetorheological dampers controlled by clipped-optimal algorithm, have been evaluated bypreliminarily investigating the slightly modified version of the ASCE phase I benchmark cable-stayed bridge problem (i.e., the installation of LRBs to the nominal cable-stayed bridge model of the problem). It shows from the numerical simulation results that all the LRB based hybrid seismic isolation systems considered are quite effective to mitigate the structural responses. In addition, the numerical results demonstrate that the LRB based hybrid seismic isolation systems employing MR dampers have the robustness to some degree of the stiffness uncertainty of in the structure, whereas the hybrid system employing hydraulic actuators does not. Therefore, the feasibility of the hybrid base isolation systems employing semiactive additional control devices could be more appropriate in realfor full-scale civil infrastructure applications is clearly verified due to their efficacy and robustness.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.809-822
• /
• 2013

Base isolation is widely used in seismic resisting buildings due to its low construction cost, high reliability, mature theory and convenient usage. However, it is difficult to design the isolation layer in high-rise buildings using the available bearings because high-rise buildings are characterized with long period, low horizontal stiffness, and complex re-distribution of the internal forces under earthquake loads etc. In this paper, a simple and innovative isolation bearing, named Teflon-based lead rubber isolation bearing, is developed to address the mentioned problems. The Teflon-based lead rubber isolation bearing consists of friction material and lead rubber isolation bearing. Hence, it integrates advantages of friction bearings and lead rubber isolation bearings so that improves the stability of base isolation system. An experimental study was conducted to validate the effectiveness of this new bearing. The effects of vertical loading, displacement amplitude and loading frequency on the force-displacement relationship and energy dissipation capacity of the Teflon-based lead rubber isolation bearing were studied. An analytical model was also proposed to predict the force-displacement relationship of the new bearing. Comparison of analytical and experimental results showed that the analytical model can accurately predict the force-displacement relationship and elastic shear deflection of the Teflon-based lead rubber isolation bearings.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.295-307
• /
• 2021

The gap provided between adjacent structures in the metropolitan cities is mostly narrow due to architectural and financial issues. Consequently, structural pounding occurs between adjacent structures during earthquakes. It causes damages, ranging from minor local to more severe ones, especially in the case of seismically isolated buildings, due to their higher displacements. However, due to the increased flexibility of isolated buildings, the problem could become more detrimental to such structures. The effect of the seismic pounding of moat walls on the response of buildings isolated by Triple Friction Pendulum Bearing (TFPB) is investigated in this paper. To this propose, two symmetric three-dimensional models, including single-story and five-story buildings, are modeled in Opensees. Nonlinear Time History Analyses (NTHA) are performed for seismic evaluation. Also, five different sizes with four different sets of friction coefficients are considered for base isolators to cover a whole range of base isolation systems with various geometry configurations and fundamental period. The results are investigated in terms of base shear, buildings' drift, and roof acceleration. Results indicated a profound effect of poundings against moat walls. In situations of potential pounding, in some cases, the influence of impact on seismic responses of multistory buildings was more remarkable.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.9 no.4 s.33
• /
• pp.625-635
• /
• 1997

The base isolation technique and its benefits in reducing the transmitted earthquake energy into a structure have gained increasing recognition during the last two decades. Unfortunately, the current available design procedures, especially for base-isolated bridges, seem inadequate and too restrictive. As a result, practical design procedure still relies upon a series of deterministic time history analyses. In this study, the evaluation of the possibility of the normal mode method to predict the nonlinear seismic responses of base isolated bridges has been performed. The applicability has been examined through the numerical approach with isolator's elastic or plastic states of the base isolated bridges. Numerical results show that the 1st. mode period and the various responses are varied with the state but are conversed. And, the result show that the normal mode method is applicable to predict the seismic responses and to design the babe isolated bridge. Various analysis method to bridges with bilinearized hysteresis isolator and various pier heights are evalulated.