``Smart'' Base Isolation Systems

Abstract

This paper investigates the effectiveness of several base isolation strategies for historical earthquakes of various magnitudes and characteristics. The strategies studied herein include isolation systems with lead-rubber bearings and with "smart" (semi-active) dampers. To demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches, historical earthquakes scaled to different magnitudes are used to excite an isolated building structure. Responses examined include: peak base and structural (relative) displacements, peak base and structural (absolute) accelerations, and peak applied forces. The adaptable nature of the smart damper system is shown to protect a structure from extreme earthquakes, without sacrificing performance during the more frequent, moderate seismic events.