<title>Earthquake response reduction of buildings by rocking structural systems</title>

Abstract

We are developing the rocking structural systems that can reduce earthquake responses of buildings by causing rocking vibration. This paper aims to examine the effects of the rocking system. To cause rocking vibration under appropriate control, weak base plates are attached at the bottom of each steel column at the first story. When the weak base plates yield during a strong earthquake, the building causes rocking vibration. In this paper, the earthquake responses of this rocking system (the base plate yielding system) are examined comparing with those of the simple rocking system and the fixed-base system by nonlinear time history analyses. The results are summarized as follows: 1) Story shear forces of the base plate yielding systems are reduced as much as those of the simple rocking system. The roof displacements and axial forces are less than those of the simple rocking system. 2) The roof displacements and axial forces of the base plate yielding systems are almost similar to those of the fixed-base system under a certain input level. It is concluded that the rocking system with weak base plates can reduce earthquake responses of buildings.