• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.293-315
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• 2016

Seismic isolation is often used in protecting mission-critical structures including hospitals, data centers, telecommunication buildings, etc. Such structures typically house vibration-sensitive equipment which has to provide continued service but may fail in case sustained accelerations during earthquakes exceed threshold limit values. Thus, peak floor acceleration is one of the two main parameters that control the design of such structures while the other one is peak base displacement since the overall safety of the structure depends on the safety of the isolation system. And in case peak base displacement exceeds the design base displacement during an earthquake, rupture and/or buckling of isolators as well as bumping against stops around the seismic gap may occur. Therefore, obtaining accurate peak floor accelerations and peak base displacement is vital. However, although nominal design values for isolation system and superstructure parameters are calculated in order to meet target peak design base displacement and peak floor accelerations, their actual values may potentially deviate from these nominal design values. In this study, the sensitivity of the seismic performance of structures equipped with linear and nonlinear seismic isolation systems to the aforementioned potential deviations is assessed in the context of a benchmark shear building under different earthquake records with near-fault and far-fault characteristics. The results put forth the degree of sensitivity of peak top floor acceleration and peak base displacement to superstructure parameters including mass, stiffness, and damping and isolation system parameters including stiffness, damping, yield strength, yield displacement, and post-yield to pre-yield stiffness ratio.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.383-397
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• 2018

Traditional base isolation systems focus on isolating the seismic response of a structure in the horizontal direction. However, in regions where the vertical earthquake excitation is significant (such as near-fault region), a traditional base-isolated building exhibits a significant vertical vibration. To eliminate this shortcoming, a rocking-isolated system named Telescopic Column (TC) is proposed in this paper. Detailed rocking and isolation mechanism of the TC system is presented. The seismic performance of the TC is compared with the traditional elastomeric bearing (EB) and friction pendulum (FP) base-isolated systems. A 4-storey reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame (RC-MRF) is selected as the reference superstructure. The seismic response of the reference superstructure in terms of column axial forces, base shears, floor accelerations, inter-storey drift ratios (IDR) and collapse margin ratios (CMRs) are evaluated using OpenSees. The results of the nonlinear dynamic analysis subjected to multi-directional earthquake excitations show that the superstructure equipped with the newly proposed TC is more resilient and exhibits a superior response with higher margin of safety against collapse when compared with the same superstructure with the traditional base-isolation (BI) system.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.527-543
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• 2012

This paper presents a response spectrum analysis procedure suitable for base isolated regular buildings subjected to near fault ground motions. This procedure is based on the fact that the isolation system may be treated separately since the superstructure behaves as a rigid body on well selected isolation systems. The base isolated building is decomposed into several single-degree of freedom systems, the first one having the total weight of the building is isolated while the remainder when superposed they replicate approximately the behavior of the superstructure. The response of the isolation system is governed by a response spectrum generated for a single isolated mass. The concept of the procedure and its application for the analysis of base isolated structures is illustrated with an example. The present analysis procedure is shown to be accurate enough for the preliminary design and overcomes the limits of applicability of the conventional linear response spectrum analysis.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.561-575
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• 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
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.341-363
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• 2013

Earthquake response calculation, parametric analysis and seismic parameter optimization of base-isolated structures are some critical issues for seismic design of base-isolated structures. To calculate the earthquake responses for such non-symmetric and non-classical damping linear systems and to implement the earthquake resistant design codes, a modified complex mode superposition design response spectrum method is put forward. Furthermore, to do parameter optimization for base-isolation structures, a graphical approach is proposed by analyzing the relationship between the base shear ratio of a seismic base-isolation floor to non-seismic base-isolation one and frequency ratio-damping ratio, as well as the relationship between the seismic base-isolation floor displacement and frequency ratio-damping ratio. In addition, the influences of mode number and site classification on the seismic base-isolation structure and corresponding optimum parameters are investigated. It is demonstrated that the modified complex mode superposition design response spectrum method is more precise and more convenient to engineering applications for utilizing the damping reduction factors and the design response spectrum, and the proposed graphical approach for parameter optimization of seismic base-isolation structures is compendious and feasible.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.331-338
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• 2001

Seismic performances of the base isolated model of Five Story Stone Pagoda were studied through shaking table tests. Friction pendulum system (FPS), Pure-friction system with laminated rubber bearing (LRB) and Ball with rubber bearing were selected fur the comparison of performances. Performances of specially designed isolation systems were tested dynamically using shaking table. The test results of isolated model are compared with those of fixed base model. Compared with fixed base model, the isolated model showed that it could withstand much higer intensity of earthquake motion. The Effective Peak Ground Acceleration (EPGA) value of isolated model when the top component tipped over was above twice of that value in case of fixed base model. According to the additional test results, the lower value of coefficient of friction than that of common frictional base isolation systems is more effective to protect the piled multi-block system of Pagoda against moderate intesity of ground motion.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.639-656
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• 2015

Seismic isolation devices are commonly used to mitigate damages caused by seismic responses of structures. More damages are created due to progressive collapse in structures. Therefore, evaluating the impact of the isolation systems to enhance progressive collapse-resisting capacity is very important. In this study, the effect of lead rubber bearing isolation system to increase the resistance of structures against progressive collapse was evaluated. Concrete moment resisting frames were used in both the fixed and base-isolated model structures. Then, progressive collapse-resisting capacity of frames was investigated using the push down nonlinear static analysis under gravity loads that specified in GSA guideline. Nonlinear dynamic analysis was performed to consider dynamic effects column removal under earthquake. The results of the push down analysis are highly dependent on location of removal column and floor number of buildings. Also, seismic isolation system does not play an effective role in increasing the progressive collapse-resisting capacities of structures under gravity loads. Base isolation helps to localize failures and prevented from spreading it to intact span under seismic loads.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.587-606
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• 2013

The given paper presents a new approach in design of seismic isolation systems of base isolated buildings. The idea is to install not one big size rubber bearing under the columns and/or shear walls, or one by one with certain spacing under the load-bearing walls, but to install a group/cluster of small size bearings, in order to increase the overall effectiveness of the isolation system. The advantages of this approach are listed and illustrated by the examples. Also the results of analyses of some buildings where the approach on installation of clusters of rubber bearings was used in their isolation systems are given for two cases: i) when the analyses are carried out based on the provisions of the Armenian Seismic Code, and ii) when the time history analyses are carried out. Obtained results are compared and discussed. Paper also presents, as an example, detailed analysis and design of the 18-story unique building in one of the residential complexes in Yerevan. Earthquake response analyses of this building were carried out in two versions, i.e. when the building is base isolated and when it is fixed base. Several time histories were used in the analyses. Comparison of the obtained results indicates the high effectiveness of the proposed structural concepts of isolation systems and the need for further improvement of the Seismic Code provisions regarding the values of the reduction factors. A separate section in the paper dedicated to the design of high damping laminated rubber-steel bearings and to results of their tests.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2017

Near-fault ground motions are characterized by high values of the ratio between the peak of vertical and horizontal ground accelerations, which can significantly affect the nonlinear response of a base-isolated structure. To check the effectiveness of different base-isolation systems for retrofitting a r.c. framed structure located in a near-fault area, a numerical investigation is carried out analyzing the nonlinear dynamic response of the fixed-base and isolated structures. For this purpose, a six-storey r.c. framed building is supposed to be retrofitted by insertion of an isolation system at the base for attaining performance levels imposed by current Italian code in a high-risk seismic zone. In particular, elastomeric (e.g., high-damping-laminated-rubber bearings, HDLRBs) and friction (e.g., steel-PTFE sliding bearings, SBs, or friction pendulum bearings, FPBs) isolators are considered, with reference to three cases of base isolation: HDLRBs acting alone (i.e., EBI structures); in-parallel combination of HDLRBs and SBs (i.e., EFBI structures); FPBs acting alone (i.e., FPBI structures). Different values of the stiffness ratio, defined as the ratio between the vertical and horizontal stiffnesses of the HDLRBs, sliding ratio, defined as the global sliding force divided by the maximum sliding force of the SBs, and in-plan distribution of friction coefficient for the FPs are investigated. The EBI, EFBI and FPBI base-isolation systems are designed assuming the same values of the fundamental vibration period and equivalent viscous damping ratio. The nonlinear dynamic analysis is carried out with reference to near-fault earthquakes, selected and scaled on the design hypotheses adopted for the test structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.755-770
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• 2009

This study proposes a new smart base isolation system that employs Magneto-Rheological Elastomers (MREs), a class of smart materials whose elastic modulus or stiffness can be varied depending on the magnitude of an applied magnetic field. It also evaluates the dynamic performance of the MRE-based isolation system in reducing vibrations in structures subject to various seismic excitations. As controllable stiffness elements, MREs can increase the dynamic control bandwidth of the isolation system, improving its vibration reduction capability. To study the effectiveness of the MRE-based isolation system, this paper compares its dynamic performance in reducing vibration responses of a base-isolated single-story structure (i.e., 2DOF) with that of a conventional base-isolation system. Moreover, two control algorithms (linear quadratic regulator (LQR)-based control and state-switched control) are considered for regulating the stiffness of MREs. The simulation results show that the MRE-based isolation system outperformed the conventional system in suppressing the maximum base drift, acceleration, and displacement of the structure.