The method to protect the whole station structure by installing flexible devices at the column end has been proved to be effective in typical station structures. However, the damping effects and application of this method to multi-story subway station structures still need further study. In this paper, a stochastic analysis method, probability density evolution method (PDEM), is adopted to estimate the damping effect of a four-story subway station structure with lead rubber bearings (LRBs) installed in the central column. Stochastic analysis results show that the internal forces and plastic energy dissipation of columns installed LRBs are greatly reduced and the reliability is improved. Internal forces and plastic energy dissipation of columns without the installation of LRBs increase and the reliability decrease. There is little difference in structural deformation and plastic energy dissipation of structural components when LRB is installed in the middle of the column or at the column ends. When LRBs are installed only in some of the stories, the overall reliability of the structure is lower than that of the structure without LRB. When LRBs are installed in the columns of all stories, the structural reliability is higher than that of the structure without LRB. Based on the above results, to obtain better seismic control effect by installing LRBs, the multi-story subway station structure should be installed with LRBs in the columns of all stories, and LRBs can be installed at the upper, middle and lower end of the columns.
