A Review on Base Isolator

Presented By: Bisakha Chalisey

M.Tech in Civil Engineering (Structural
Engineering)

A Review on Base Isolator 04/06/2020 1

 “It always seems impossible until its
done.”- Nelson Mandela

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 OBJECTIVES
 To understand the concept of base isolation in regard of earthquake
engineering

 To study and understand about the mechanism and technique of base

isolations

 To study about the different researches conducted on base isolators to

get the in-depth knowledge about the topic.

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OVERVIEW
1. Introduction
2. Base Isolation
3. Concept of Base Isolation
4. Isolation Components
5. Isolator Locations
6. Economic Considerations
7. Limitation of Base Isolator
8. Application of Base Isolation System

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 INTRODUCTION
 Earthquake by itself, is not a disaster, it is natural
phenomenon.

 It causes vibration of the ground and structures

standing on top. Fig1: Nepal Earthquake, April 2015
Source: news.nationalgeographic.com

 The ground may develop cracks, fissures and

settlements.

 One of the most widely implemented and accepted

seismic protection systems is base isolation.
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Fig2: Nepal Earthquake, April 2015
Source: news.nationalgeographic.com
 BASE ISOLATION
 The term isolation refers to reduced interaction between structure and the ground.

 It mitigates the effect of an earthquake by essentially isolating the structure.

 When the seismic isolation system is located under the structure, it is referred as
“base isolation”.

 Provide an additional means of energy dissipation, thereby reducing the

transmitted acceleration into the superstructure.

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 CONCEPT OF BASE ISOLATION
 The concept of base isolation is explained through an example building resting
on frictionless rollers.

Fig3: Building on rollers without any friction

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 CONTD..

Fig4: Building on flexible pads Fig5: Building resting directly on ground

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 ISOLATION COMPONENTS
 Elastomeric Isolators
 Natural Rubber Bearings
 Low-Damping Rubber Bearings
 Lead-Rubber Bearings
 High-Damping Rubber Bearings

 Sliding Isolators
 Resilient Friction System
 Friction Pendulum System

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 CONTD..
 Elastomeric Isolators
 Formed of horizontal layers of natural or
synthetic rubber in thin layers bonded
between steel plates. Fig 6: Elastometric Isolators Source: ResearchGate

 The steel plates prevent the rubber layers

from bulging and so the bearing is able
to support higher vertical loads with only
small deformations.

Fig 7: Elastometric
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Isolators
10 Source: ResearchGate
 CONTD..
 Sliding Isolators
 In this type of Isolation system, the sliding
displacements are controlled by high-tension
springs or laminated rubber bearings, or by
making the sliding surface curved.
Fig 8: Sliding Isolators Source: ArchiExpo

 These mechanisms provide a restoring force to

return the structure to its equilibrium position.

A Review on Base Isolator 04/06/2020 11 Sliding Isolators

Fig 9: Source: ResearchGate
 ISOLATOR LOCATIONS
 The most common configuration is to install a diaphragm immediately above
the isolators.
 If the building has a basement then the options are to install the isolators at
the top, bottom or mid-height of the basements columns and walls.

Source: ResearchGate
Fig 10:Different Locations for
Isolators
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 HOW BASE ISOLATOR IS ECONOMIC?
 Allows for the reduction in structural elements of the building with less ductile
detail needed.

 Require no maintenance during the life of a building.

 Devices do not need to replaced after an earthquake unless an event was in

excess of their design specification.

 Because the building is protected from major damage, repair costs following an
earthquake will be lower to non-existent.

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 LIMITATION OF BASE ISOLATOR

 Cannot be applied partially to structures unlike other retrofitting

 Challenging to implement in an efficient manner

 Allowance for building displacements

 Not suitable for building rested on soft soil

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 APPLICATION OF BASE ISOLATION SYSTEM
 Seen in larger buildings and bridges in India and Abroad.
 For retrofitting historical structures and monuments to reduce any possible
destruction.
 Used in Turbo Generator Support

Fig 11. Base isolator under building Fig 12: Base Isolators under bridge Fig 13: Base Isolators in turbo
generator support

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 BASE ISOLATION SYSTEM IN NEW BHUJ
HOSPITAL
 The 300 bed Bhuj Hospital that claimed 176 lives
when it collapsed during the major January 2001
Gujarat Earthquake is studied

 This was the first new building in India to be fitted

with earthquake – resistant NZ developed base
isolation technology

 Structural engineers Dunning Thornton Consultants

from Wellington were part of the New Zealand
design team and supervised installation of the first
bearings on site in late 2001.

 280 lead rubber bearings were installed in the

structure Fig 14: Base Isolators in New Bhuj
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Source: Science Learn -
http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Earthquakes/Sci-
Media/Images/Bhuj-Hospital).
 CONCLUSION
 Seismic base isolation method has proved to be a reliable method of earthquake
resistant design.

 The success of this method is largely attributed to the development of isolation

devices and proper planning.

 Adaptable isolation systems are required to be effective during a wide range of

seismic events.

 Efforts are required to find the solutions for the situations like near fault regions
where wide variety of earthquake motions may occur
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 REFERENCES
 Design of Structures with Seismic Isolation, Ronald L Mayes, Ph.D. Consulting
Engineer, Berkeley, California, Farzad Naeim, Ph.D., S.E. Vice President and
Director of Research and Development, John A. Martin and Associates, Inc., Los
Angeles, California
 Design of Seismic Isolated Structures: From Theory to Practice.. F. Naeim and
J. M. Kelly Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
 Base Isolation of Structures, A presentation by Syeda Nushrath Fathima,
Slideshare
 ISET Journal of Earthquake Technology
 Journal of Engineering Research and Application

A Review on Base Isolator 04/06/2020

A Review on Base Isolator 04/06/2020