National Conference on Recent Advances In Testing of Material, NDT And Numerical Modeling

March 18-19, 2016

ISBN 978-81-929744-9-1

Comparison of Different Types of Base Isolators on Structure.

V.B. Gadakh 1, V.R. Rathi 2
PG Student, Pravara Rural Education Societys College of Engineering.
2
Ass. Professor and Head of Civil Engg Dept., Pravara Rural Education Societys College of Engineering.
1

Abstract The superstructure of a base-isolated building is relatively rigid compared with the isolation
system. This can lead to idealization of the superstructure as a rigid body, modeling the base-isolated structure
as a single-degree-of-freedom system. Such analysis significantly reduces the computational efforts required to
design the base-isolated structure under seismic loading.
In this study, a comparison is made of the seismic response of a multi-storey base-isolated building by
idealizing the superstructure as rigid and flexible. A comparison is made of the seismic response of Building
with and without base isolators to investigate the seismic response of isolated building and compare it with
corresponding response of non-isolated building, to identify the effectiveness of isolation system. Various
isolation systems considered include elastomeric bearings (with and without lead cores) as well as sliding
systems.
Keywords: Base isolator, elastomeric bearing, lead core, sliding system
I.

Introduction

usefully occurs in the range of 0.2 0.6 sec.

Seismic base-isolation is mature and efficient

Therefore, the matching of fundamental frequencies

technology can be adopted to improve the seismic

of base-isolated structures when the vibration time-

performance. Which is strategically important in high

period of the structure is increased beyond the limits

rise buildings such as schools, hospitals, industrial

and

structures, elevated water tanks, residential houses

earthquake is avoided thereby the preventing the

etc. in addition to places where sensitive equipments

near-resonance response and resulting in dramatic

are intended to protect from the hazardous effects

reduction in structural response. The matching of

during earthquake, Based on the extent of control to

fundamental frequencies of base-isolated structures

be achieved over the seismic response, the choice of

and

the isolation system varies and there upon its design

earthquakes is also consequently avoided, leading to

is done to suite the requirement of use of the structure

a flexible structural system more suitable from

and location of structure. In the base-isolated

earthquake resistance viewpoint.

structures, the superstructure is decoupled from

the

the

predominant

frequency

predominant

frequency

contents

contents

of

of

2.1 OBJECTIVE OF WORK

earthquake ground motion by introducing flexible

The investigations of the dynamic characteristics of

interface between the foundation and the base of the

the base-isolated building subjected to horizontal

structure. Thereby, these isolation systems dissipate

ground motion using different location according to

the energy in damping, limiting the amount of force

various zone and its effects. To examine the influence

that can be transfer to the superstructure such that

of isolator characteristics and compare the seismic

inter-story drift and floor accelerations are reduced

response of different isolator. The specific objectives

drastically and shift the fundamental time-period of

the structure to a large value. The dominant time-

of the study are:

1. To investigate the seismic response of the isolated

period of typical earthquake accelerations are in the

multi-story

range of 0.1 1.0 sec. and maximum acceleration

corresponding
CE1

building

and

response

compare
of

without

it

with

isolated

National Conference on Recent Advances In Testing of Material, NDT And Numerical Modeling

March 18-19, 2016

ISBN 978-81-929744-9-1

multistory building, to identify the effectiveness of

4) To propose strategies for mitigation of such sudden

isolation system.
2. To evaluate

failure of building and verify the performance of the

container

displacement

and

newly modified improved base isolated multi-story

deformation of tower structure (i.e. tower drift) in

case of story displacement in case of multi-story

buildings.
The needs of seismic isolation include the ability to

building structures.

significantly reduce structural and non-structural

damage to reduce seismic design forces. The past

2.2 NEED OF PRESENT STUDY

studies of the dynamics behaviour. This includes (i)

The chapter on literature review indicates that

the effect of base isolated system and aspect ratio on

very few studies are reported on the behavior and

for further study of base isolated building to

response of base-isolated multi-story buildings

understand

during earthquake and are more specific in nature,

building

reducing

the

earthquake

response of building. However, there is need building

dealing with few typical problems and case studies.

confirm the effectiveness of base isolation (ii) the

Summarizing from the review of literature it is

effectiveness of isolation System for buildings.

observe that the response of base-isolated multi-story

Materials & Methods

buildings are more liable to damage and which is

2.1 Earthquake Resistance Devices:

depending upon the location of building during the

A complete design for base isolation should ensure

earthquake and hence require in-depth investigations

that the isolators can support the maximum gravity

with special attention towards behavioral studies and

service loads of the structure throughout its life, and

generalization of the phenomenon followed by

the isolators can provide the dual function of period

suggesting remedial measures. It is quite relevant that

shift and energy dissipation to the isolated structure

such studies are indispensible and carries more

during earthquakes. In accordance with these design

importance in mitigation of the response occurring

aims,

during earthquake. Therefore, it will be essential to

the

following

design

steps

should

be

undertaken.

study the dynamic behavior of base-isolated multi-

1. Determine the minimum plan size required.

story buildings during severe earthquake conditions.

2. Compute the dimensions of the isolators.

The modelling of base isolated multi-story buildings

3. Determine the damping ratio of the isolator such

for the analytical and numerical solution purpose for

that the displacement of the structure can be

earthquake response and study the behavior of base-

controlled within the design limit.

isolated multi-story buildings under earthquake

Elastomeric Rubber Bearing (EMB):

shaking is need for the following reasons:

1) Characterizing base-isolation structures and the

The rubber layers constituting the high damping

rubber bearing are usually made of materials that are

study for the parameters influencing its behaviour

highly nonlinear in terms of shear strains. Effective

during earthquake.
2) Evaluation of seismic response and related

damping in the range of 0.10~0.20 of critical can

and

easily be exhibited by the HDR, which is achieved

consequently to determine the loss of effectiveness of

through addition of special chemical compounds that

isolation.
3) Examining the different isolator response and

can change the material properties of the rubber. As

affecting

parameters

for

aspect

ratio

was stated previously, the stiffness and damping of

compare it to find out effective isolation system for

the HDR are required to be large enough to resist

the consider cases.

wind and minor earthquakes. In practice, the stiffness

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National Conference on Recent Advances In Testing of Material, NDT And Numerical Modeling

March 18-19, 2016

ISBN 978-81-929744-9-1

and damping properties of the HDR remain quite

stable under one or more design earthquakes. Thus,

2.2 Mathematical Model of Building:

similar to what has been undertaken in most previous

Fig. 4 shows the idealized mathematical model of

studies, the HDR is assumed to be linear elastic and

the 3-storey base-isolated building considered for the

isotropic in this chapter, for the purpose of

present study.

preliminary design.

fig. 4. Mathematical model of 3-storey Building

Governing Equations of Motion:

fig. 1 Elastomeric bearing

For the system under consideration, the governing

Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB):

equations of motion are obtained by considering the

A lead rubber is form of lead rubber plug forced

equilibrium of forces at the location of each degrees

fitted into a pre formed hole in an elastomeric

of- freedom. The equations of motion for the

bearing. The lead core provides rigidity under the

superstructure under earthquake ground acceleration

service load and energy dissipation under high lateral

are expressed in the matrix form as:

load.

[ Ms ] { x }+ [ Cs ] { x }+ [ Ks ] { x }=[ Ms ] { r } (x b + x g)
[4]
where [Ms], [Cs] and [Ks] are the mass, damping
and

stiffness

matrices

of

the

respectively; ( x )= ( x 1 , x2 , x

superstructure,
N

), x. s , x.. s

the unknown relative floor displacement, velocity

and acceleration vectors, respectively; ,

fig. 2 Lead rubber bearing

x b

Friction Pendulum System (FPS):

x g

and

are the relative acceleration

The other approach for increasing flexibility in a

of base mass and earthquake ground acceleration,

structure is to provide a Sliding or friction surface

respectively; and {r} is the vector of influence

between the foundation and the base of the structure.

coefficients.

The friction pendulum system is a sliding isolation

The corresponding equation of motion for the base

system. In this the weight of the structure is

mass under earthquake ground acceleration is

supported on spherical sliding surface.

expressed by

mb x b

bk 1 x 1c 1 x 1=mb x g

+F

[5]

Where

mb and

F b are the base mass and

restoring force developed in the isolation system,

respectively;
floor; and

fig. 3 Friction pendulum system

k1

c1

is the story stiffness of first

is the first story damping. The

restoring force developed in the isolation system,

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National Conference on Recent Advances In Testing of Material, NDT And Numerical Modeling

March 18-19, 2016

ISBN 978-81-929744-9-1

Fb

Shift in Time Period:

depends upon the type of isolation system

Base isolation shifts the fundamental time

considered and approximate numerical models shall

period of the structure from the dominant period of

be used.
1)

the earthquake. Generally it shifts the time period of

As per Uniform Building Code and

the structure more than 2 seconds. The dominant

International Building Code, the non-linear force-

periods of the earthquake are in 0.2 to 0.6 second

deformation characteristic of the isolator can be

range. The severe acceleration of an earthquake is

replaced by an equivalent linear model through

avoided due to period shift provided by isolation.

effective elastic stiffness and effective viscous

Acceleration:

damping. The linear force developed in the isolation

Acceleration

system can be expressed as.

eff

is

the

[4]
effective

viscous damping ratio;

effective

eff

isolated

check the acceleration response to the time.

Velocity:
Velocity response of base isolated structures as

the effective

compared to its fixed base framed structure and

eff =2 /Teff is the

isolation

T eff =2 M /k eff

base

structure and various isolation bearing. In this we can

stiffness;

is the effective

c eff =2 eff M eff

viscous damping constant; is

of

structures as compared to its fixed base framed

F b=k eff x b+ c eff x b

Where

response

frequency;

various isolation bearing. In this we can check the

and

velocity response to the time.

is the effective isolation

III.

period.

REFERENCES
[1]

Jangid RS, Datta TK. Seismic behaviour of base isolated

building}A state-of-the-art-review. Structures and Buildings 1995;

2.3 Parameter To Be Study:

110:186203.

Base Shear:

[2] Jangid, R. S. 'Seismic response of torsionally coupled base

Base shear is estimate of the maximum

isolated structure to random ground motion', PhD thesis, Indian

expected lateral force that will occur due to seismic

Institute of Technology, New Delhi, 1993.

ground motion at the base of the structure. It has been

[3] Kelly, J.M., 1986. A seismic base isolation: a review and

observed that base isolation process is very effective

bibliography. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering 5, 202

216.

in reducing the base shear as compared to

[4] Matsagar, V. A. and Jangid, R. S., 2004, Influence of isolator

conventional fixed base structure.

characteristics on the response of base-isolated structures,

Engineering Structures 26(12), 17351749.

Displacement:

[5] Matsagar, V. A. and Jangid, R. S., 2003, Seismic response of

Displacement in fixed base structure is zero

base-isolated structures during impact with adjacent structures,

at the base and increases as the storey height

Engineering Structures 25(10), 13111323.

increases. Where as in isolated structures there is a

[6] Matsagar, V. A. and Jangid, R. S., 2005, Base-isolated

small displacement at the base and increases

building with asymmetries due to the isolator parameters,

gradually with the height. In case of fixed base

Advances in Structural Engineering 8(6), 603622.

Acknowledgement

building, storey drift is higher at the lower floors and

it decreases drastically as we move to the top floors.

I extend great pleasure to express my deep

In case of base isolated buildings, storey drift is

sense of gratitude towards project guide Ass. Prof. V.

comparatively lower than fixed base buildings at the

R. Rathi, Head of Civil Engineering Department,

lower floors and decreases as we move to the top

Pravara Rural Engineering College, Loni. Whose

floor.

consistent inspiration & valuable guidance helped me

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National Conference on Recent Advances In Testing of Material, NDT And Numerical Modeling

March 18-19, 2016

ISBN 978-81-929744-9-1

to materialize this project. I would like to express

to all the faculty advisors of Civil Engg. Dept,

sincere thanks to Principal of Pravara Rural

Pravara Rural Engineering College, Loni, for

Engineering College, Loni for giving me the

providing all sort of possible help in project work.

opportunity to present this project. I am also thankful

The help of all these people is worth appreciating.

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