• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.3
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• pp.407-416
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• 2021

Seismic isolation is one of the best-advanced methods for controlling seismic vibrations in buildings, bridges and nuclear facilities. A new Friction Multi-Layer Elastomeric Seismic Isolator (FMESI) has been modeled, analyzed and investigated by ABAQUS finite element analysis software and then, compared to real models. A number of friction cores have been used instead of the lead core therefore, some of the previous isolator problems have been almost resolved. Moreover, Studies show that the proposed isolator provides suitable initial stiffness and acceptable hysteresis behavior under different vertical and horizontal loading conditions and also internal stresses in different layers are acceptable. Also, as a result, the initial stiffness and overall area of the curves increase, as friction coefficients of the cores increase, although the frictional coefficients must be within a certain range.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2010

After obtaining tensile and compressive stiffness as well as shear stiffness of elastomeric seismic isolator experimentally, those stiffness were modeled analytically using nonlinear computer program. To induce tensile stress due to overturning in the seismic isolators of an isolated frame for horizontal force, free vibration simulations generated by large initial displacement were conducted. Since elastomeric seismic isolator is weak for tensile stress, the axial stiffness of isolators shall be included properly in the analytical model to evaluate the uplift phenomenon of elastomeric seismic isolator.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.2026-2033
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mechanical properties of the FREI using horizontal stiffness and vertical stiffness by experiments. Two kinds of FREI are designed and fabricated. The steel plates of SREI are replaced with fibers in order to reduce the cost of fabrication and installation. At first, the Nylon fiber is adopted as feasibility study of FREI. The experimental results of Nylon FREI and SREI show that the vertical stiffness of Nylon FREI is lower than SREI, and effective damping is two times higher than SREI. Carbon is adopted, by these rusults, as strong reinforcement than Nylon and full scale of carbon FREI was designed and fabricated. By the experimental test results, it is shown that the vertical stiffness of carbon FREI is three times higher than SREI, and two times higher in effective damping. As a result, the proposed FREI can replace the SREI as a seismic isolator.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.31-47
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• 2017

As a relatively new type of multi-layered rubber-based seismic isolators, fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators (FREIs) are composed of several thin rubber layers reinforced with flexible fiber sheets. Limited analytical studies in literature have pointed out that "warping" (distortion) of reinforcing sheets has significant influence on buckling behavior of FREIs. However, none of these studies, to the best knowledge of authors, has investigated their warping behavior, thoroughly. This study aims to investigate, in detail, the warping behavior of strip-shaped FREIs by deriving advanced analytical solutions without utilizing the commonly used "pressure", incompressibility, inextensibility and the "linear axial displacement variation through the thickness" assumptions. Studies show that the warping behavior of FREIs mainly depends on the (i) aspect ratio (shape factor) of the interior elastomer layers, (ii) Poisson's ratio of the elastomer and (iii) extensibility of the fiber sheets. The basic assumptions of the "pressure" method as well as the commonly used incompressibility assumption are valid only for isolators with relatively large shape factors, strictly incompressible elastomeric material and nearly inextensible fiber reinforcement.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.1-6
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• 2002

In order to apply seismic isolators to low-cost buildings, seismic isolators have to be low-cost and light. In this paper fiber reinforced strip form isolator in which the steel plates of conventional rubber bearing were replaced by fiber was proposed. The proposed fiber reinforced strip form isolator was designed, fabricated, cut and subjected to vertical test and horizontal test. Therefore, fiber reinforced strip form isolator was to be shown valid in the view point of fabrication and application to desired size. The horizontal test and vertical test have shown that fiber reinforce strip form isolator could be replaced the rubber isolator. By these results, low-cost and light seismic isolator can be applied to the low-cost building.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.395-410
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• 2014

Fiber Reinforced Elastomeric Bearings (FREBs) are a relatively new type of laminated bearings that can be used as seismic/vibration isolators or bridge bearings. In an unbonded (U)-FREB, the bearing is placed between the top and bottom supports with no bonding or fastening provided at its contact surfaces. Under shear loads the top and bottom faces of a U-FREB roll off the contact supports and the bearing exhibits rollover deformation. As a result of rollover deformation, the horizontal response characteristics of U-FREBs are significantly different than conventional elastomeric bearings that are employed in bonded application. Current literature lacks an efficient analytical horizontal stiffness solution for this type of bearings. This paper presents two simplified analytical models for horizontal stiffness evaluation of U-FREBs. Both models assume that the resistance to shear loads is only provided by an effective region of the bearing that sustains significant shear strains. The presented models are different in the way they relate this effective region to the horizontal bearing displacements. In comparison with experimental results and finite element analyses, the analytical models that are presented in this paper are found to be sufficiently accurate to be used in the preliminary design of U-FREBs.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2017

The aim of this paper is to develop software for designing of steel reinforced elastomeric isolator (SREI) according to American Association for State Highway and Transportation Officials Load and Resistance Factor Design (AASHTO LRFD) Specifications. SREI is used for almost all bridge types and special structures. SREI-structures interface defines support boundary conditions and may affect the seismic performance of bridges. Seismic performance of the bridge is also affected by geometrical and materials properties of SREI. The selection of SREI is complicated process includes satisfying all the design constraints arising from code provisions and maximizing performance at the lowest possible cost. In this paper, design stage of SREI is described up to AASHTO LRFD 2012. Up to AASHTO LRFD 2012 analysis and design program of SREI performed different geometrical and material properties are created with C# object-oriented language. SREI-CAD, name of the created software, allows an accurate design for economical estimation of a SREI in a short time. To determine types of SREI effects, two different types of bearings, rectangular and circular with similar materials and dimension properties are selected as an application. Designs of these SREIs are completed with SREI-CAD. It is seen that ensuring the stability of circular elastomer bearing at the service limit state is generally complicated than rectangular bearing.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.409-416
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• 2002

In order to apply seismic isolators to the low-cost buildings, seismic isolators have to be low-cost and light. In this paper fiber reinforced strip form isolator in which the steel plates of conventional rubber bearing was replaced by fiber was proposed. The proposed fiber reinforced strip form isolator was designed, fabricated, cut and subjected to vertical test and harizontal test. Therefore fiber reinforced strip form isolator was to be shown valid in the view point of fabrication and application to desired size. The harizontal test and vertical test have shown that fiber reinforced strip form isolator could replace the rubber isolator. By these results, low-cost and light seismic isolator can be applied to the low-cost building. These fiber reinforced strip form isolator can be applied to the low-cost building.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

This study introduces a technique for improving the elastomeric-isolator performance using modular devices. The modular devices are shear resistance block, polymer spring, displacement acceptance guide, and anti-falling block. They are installed on the elastomeric isolator as a supplementary device. Each modularized device improves the isolator performance by performing step-by-step actions according to the seismic intensity and displacement. The PRB isolation device works in four stages, depending on the seismic magnitude, to satisfy the target performance. It is designed to accommodate design displacement in the first stage and large magnitude of earthquakes in the second and third stages. This design prevents superstructures from falling in the fourth stage due to large-magnitude earthquakes by increasing the capacity limit of the elastomeric isolator. In this study, the PRB isolation device is analyzed using finite element analysis to verify that the PRB isolation device works as intended and it can withstand loads corresponding to large-magnitude earthquakes. The performance of the PRB isolation device is validated by the analysis, which is further corroborated by actual experiments.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.19-26
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• 2021

The seismic isolation system have been applied in order to protect the collapse of bridge by seismic load and the vertical load transmitted from the superstructure. However, the failure and damages of non-shrinkage mortar, isolator and wedge in total 12 bridge were reported by Pohang Earthquake. In this study, the damage mechanism and behavior characteristics of elastomeric bearing by an earthquake were evaluated to consider the seismic isolation system including non-shrinkage mortar and the seat concrete of pier. To discuss the effect of installed wedge and damage mode of elastomeric bearing, the compressive-shear tests were carried out. Also, the mechanical behaviors and damage mechanism for each component of elastomeric bearing were evaluated by using finite element analysis. From the test results, the cracks were created at boundary between non-shrinkage mortar and seismic isolator and the shear loads were rapidly increased after bump into wedge. The cause for damage mechanism of seismic isolation system was investigated by comparing stress distribution of anchor socket and non-shrinkage mortar depending on wedge during earthquake.