CHAPTER 4 PERFORMANCE OF BASE ISOLATED

STRUCTURE
Why base isolation is ee!ti"e#
Base isolation lengthens the fundamental vibration period of the structure,
and thus reduces the pseudo-acceleration for this mode (for the design spectrum
considered) and hence the earthquake induced forces in the structure. The second mode
that produces deformation in the structure is essentially not excited by the ground motion,
although its pseudo-acceleration is large. This can be explained as follos! the first
vibration mode of the base isolation structure involves deformation only in the isolation
system, the structure above being essentially rigid. Thus the first-mode components s"of
the effective earthquake force distribution s#m" is essentially the same as s, and the
second-mode component s$ is very small, causing very small modal static response in the
second mode.
The primary reason for effectiveness of the base isolation in reducing
earthquake-induced forces in a building is the above-mentioned lengthening of the first
mode period. The damping in the isolation system and energy dissipation is only a
secondary factor in reducing structural response.
EFFECTI$ENESS OF BASE ISOLATION
%t is clear that the effectiveness of base isolation in reducing structural
forces is closely tied to the lengthening of the natural period of structure, and for this
purpose the period ratio Tb&Tf should be as large as practical. %n the example of the
preceding section, the natural period of the fixed based structure located the structure at
the peak of the selected design spectrum. 'ith base isolation, the natural period (of the
base isolation mode contributing almost all the response) as shifted to the velocity-
sensitive region of the spectrum ith much smaller pseudo-acceleration. (s a result, the
base shear is reduced from ")*+of the structural eight (excluding the base slab) to
*,.-+. 'hether the forces in the structure are reduced because of this period shift depend
on the natural period of the fixed-base structure and on the shape of the earthquake
design spectrum, among the other factors.
$. INTRODUCTION TO SEISMIC BASE ISOLATION
The concept of base isolation is explained through an example building resting on
frictionless rollers. 'hen the ground shakes, the rollers freely roll, but the building
above does not move. Thus, no force is transferred to the building due to the
shaking of the ground. simply, the building does not experience the earthquake.
/o, if the same building is rested on the flexible pads that offer resistance against
lateral movements, then some effect of the ground shaking ill be transferred to the
building above. %f the flexible pads are properly chosen, the forces induced by
ground shaking can be a fe times smaller than that experienced by the building
built directly on ground, namely a fixed base building. The flexible pads are called
base-isolators, hereas the structures protected by means of these devices are
called base-isolated buildings. The main feature of the base isolation technology is
that it introduces flexibility in the structure.
0uring earthquakes, the conventional structure ithout seismic isolation is
sub1ected to substantial story drifts, hich may lead to damage or even collapse of
building. 'hereas the isolated structure vibrates almost like a rigid body ith large
deformation or displacements endured by the isolation bearings, as illustrated bello.
The lateral forces of the isolated building are not only reduced in magnitude but also
fairly redistributed over the floors, hich further mitigates the overturning moment of
structure.
0ue to the flexibility in the structure, reinforced concrete building becomes
extremely flexible. The isolators are often designed, to absorb energy and thus
add damping to the system. This helps in further reducing the seismic response of
the building. 2any of the base isolators look like large rubber pads, although
there are other types that are based on sliding of one part of the building relative
to other. (lso, base isolation is not suitable for all buildings. 2ostly lo to
medium rise buildings rested on hard soil underneath. high-rise buildings or
buildings rested on soft soil are not suitable for base isolation.
3ig "." Traditional 4arthquake 2itigation Techniques
3ig./o.$." Base %solation Technique
3ig ".$ Base isolation technique
3ig /o. $.$ B(54 %567(T6/ 585T42
$." Wo%&in' P%in!i(le)
To get a basic idea of ho base isolation orks, first examine the (fig $."). This
shos an earthquake acting on base isolated building and a conventional, fixed-base, and
building. (s a result of an earthquake, the ground beneath each building begins to move.
%n (fig $.") it is shon moving to left. 4ach building responds ith movement hich
tends toards the right. The buildings displacement in the direction opposite the ground
motion is actually due to inertia. The inertia forces acting on a building are the most
important of all those generated during an earthquake.
%n addition to displacing toards right, the un-isolated building is also shon to
be changing its shape from a rectangle to a parallelogram. 'e say that the building is
deforming. The primary cause of earthquake damage to buildings is the deformation
hich the building undergoes as a result of the inertial forces upon it.
The base-isolated building retains its original, rectangular shape. The base
isolated building itself escapes the deformation and damage-hich implies that the
inertial forces acting on the base isolated building have been reduced. 4xperiments and
observations of base-isolated buildings in earthquakes to as little as 9 of the acceleration
of comparable fixed-base buildings.
(cceleration is decreased because the base isolation system lengthens a
buildings period of vibration, the time it takes for a building to rock back and forth and
then back again. (nd in general, structures ith longer periods of vibration tend to reduce
acceleration, hile those ith shorter periods tend to increase or amplify acceleration.
$.$ NEED OF BASE ISOLATION
( practical seismic isolation system should meet the folloing three requirements!
") 5ufficient hori:ontal flexibility to increase the structural period and
spectral demands, except for very soft soil sites.
$) 5ufficient energy dissipation capacity to limit the displacements across the
isolators to a practical level
*) (dequate rigidity to make the isolated building no different from a fixed-
base building under general service loading
;) 2ost commonly used seismic isolating systems can satisfy all the above
requirements. <ertainly, if the seismic isolating system can be equipped ith fail-
safe devices for avoiding the total collapse of the isolated structure in cases here
excessive displacements occur, then the system ill most likely be satisfactory.
*. T*PES OF BASE ISOLATION
5eismic isolation bearings are structural 1oints that are installed beteen
a structure and its foundation support columns. The purpose is to minimi:e damage
caused by large lateral displacements observed during earthquakes. Three types of
seismic isolation bearings are commonly used in practice.
*." =igh 0ensity >ubber Bearings (=0>B) are comprised of specially formulated high
density rubber disks that serve as a damping agent. 7aminated >ubber Bearings (7>B)
are similar in design to =0>B hoever, they use a different type of rubber for damping
of the structure.
3ig. no. *." =igh 0ensity >ubber Bearings
*.$ 7ead-rubber bearings are the frequently-used types of base isolation bearings. ( lead
rubber bearing is made from layers of rubber sandiched together ith layers of steel. %n
the middle of the solid lead ?plug?. 6n top and bottom, the bearing is fitted ith steel
plates hich are used to attach the bearing to the building and foundation. The bearing is
very stiff and strong in the vertical direction, but flexible in the hori:ontal direction.
3ig no. *.$ 7ed rubber Bearing
*.* 3riction @endulum Bearings (3@B) are made up of a dense chrome over steel concave
surface in contact ith an articulated friction slider and free to slide during lateral
displacements.
3ig.*.* cross-section of a friction pendulum bearing
3riction @endulum Bearings are specially designed for each facility based on the load
capacity requirements, earthquake displacement capacity, soil conditions, and the si:e of
the structure being supported. Bearings can be designed to accommodate different
magnitudes of displacement simply by ad1usting the curvature and diameter of the
bearing surface. Typically 3riction @endulum bearings measure * feet in diameter, )
inches high, and eigh $AAA pounds. Bearings can vary from the typical * foot diameter
bearing to the orldBs largest bearing constructed for the Benicia-2artine: Bridge, hich
measures "* feet in diameter. The 3riction @endulum Bearings used in the Benicia-
2artine: Bridge in the 5an 3rancisco Bay (rea, as shon in 3igure , eigh ;A,AAA
pounds each and can displace up to -* inches. The shiny surface on the inside of the
bearing is the dense chrome hich reduces the friction beteen the articulated slider and
the concave surface to allo for lateral displacement hen ground shaking occurs.
3ig /o. *.; friction pendulum bearing
The advantages of the 3@B include the folloing!
>elatively small construction cost
5mall net-height required for installation
=igh vertical rigidity
'ell-proved durability against temperature and corrosion
<oincidence of mass center ith shear center, hich implies small tensional effects
;. DESI+N CRITERIA FOR ISOLATION DE$ICES
( complete design for base isolation should ensure that the isolators can support
the maximum gravity service loads of the structure throughout its life, and the isolators
can provide the dual function of period shift and energy dissipation to the isolated
structure during earthquakes. %n accordance ith these design aims, the folloing design
steps should be undertaken!
". 0etermine the minimum plan si:e required and locations of isolators under the
maximum gravity loads.
$. <ompute the dimensions of the isolators that ill result in the desired period shift for
reducing the earthquake forces.
*. 0etermine the damping ratio of the isolator such that the displacement of the
structure can be controlled ithin the design limit under ind loads.
;. <heck the performance of the isolators under gravity, ind, thermal, earthquake, and
other possible load conditions.
To implement the design procedure for the seismic isolators, three different
isolation systems, that is, the high damping rubber bearing, lead core rubber bearing, and
3riction pendulum system (3@5), are considered in this chapter. The primary purpose
herein is to illustrate the concepts involved in the preliminary si:ing of isolators for a
given pro1ect.
;." Desi'n !%ite%ia o Lea, %-bbe% Bea%in's-
7ead rubber bearings (7>Bs) are usually made of alternating layers of steel plates
and natural rubber ith a central hole into hich the lead core is press-fitted. 'hen
sub1ected to lateral shear forces, the lead core deforms almost in pure shear, yields at lo
level of shear stresses, approximately ) to "A 2pa at normal ($A
A
c) temperature, and
produces rather stable hysteric deformation behavior over a number of cycles. 6ne
feature of the lead core is that it can recrystalli:e at normal temperature and ill not
encounter the problem of fatigue under cyclic loadings. 5ufficient rigidity is alays
ensured by the 7>Bs for the structure under service loads.
;.$ 0esign criteria of =igh 0ensity >ubber Bearings-
The rubber layers constituting the high density rubber (=0>) are usually made of
materials that are highly nonlinear in terms of hear strains. 4ffective damping in the range
of A."A-A.$A of critical can easily be exhibited by the =0>, hich is achieved through
addition of special chemical compounds that can change the material properties of the
rubber. (s as stated previously, the stiffness and damping of the =0> are required to be
large enough to resist ind and minor earthquakes. %n practice, the stiffness and damping
properties of the =0> remain quite stable under one or more design earthquakes. Thus,
similar to hat has been undertaken in most previous studies, the =0> is assumed to be
linear elastic and isotropic for the purpose of preliminary design.
;.* Desi'n o F%i!tion Pen,-l-. syste.
The preliminary model of a 3riction @endulum bearing is consisted of a simple
spring system connected to an anchor, as shon in 3igure *."
3ig ;." @reliminary 0esign of 3riction @endulum 5ystem
This model as developed to simulate the pendulum motion of a single 3riction
@endulum Bearing. The springs acted as the force that centered the system hen it as
displaced in any direction. The preliminary model as modified slightly to improve the
response of the system. The ne design had four actual bearings machined to reduce the
friction and better represent the response of an actual pendulum system. 3our columns
ere added to the top plate to raise the plate above the spring anchor resting inside the
3riction @endulum Bearings (5ee 3igure *.$).
3ig. ;.$