The Material Behavior and Isolation Benefits of Ball Pendulum System

Author(s):  
C. S. Tsai ◽  
Ching-Pei Tsou ◽  
Yung-Chang Lin ◽  
Mei-Ju Chen ◽  
Wen-Shin Chen

Earthquake ground motions often result in significant seismic disasters. Strong ground motions will not only cause damage, but may also cause the collapse of structures. People have to face up the suffering from the earthquake damage, and the indirect loss which may be more serious than the damage itself. For example, the antique breaks in museum, and the equipment damages in hi-tech industries are often in huge loss. Therefore, in addition to promoting the earthquake-resistant capacity of a structure, it is also important to ensure the safety of the ancient valuable objects and the instruments in structures. For this reason, this study is aimed at a new damped rolling type base isolation system named the ball pendulum system (BPS) to be installed under the motion sensitive equipment and proceeding all related studies. The isolation device can isolate earthquake from buildings or equipments in any direction by rolling motions and damping materials. This study has conducted a series of component tests and shaking table tests for examining the behaviors of materials and earthquake proof benefits. From the experiment results, it is found that this device can reduce more than 80% of acceleration response under earthquakes with peak ground acceleration of 450 gal. So, the new rolling isolation system with a damping material can be recognized as a feasible and promising way in mitigating the seismic response of equipment.

Author(s):  
C. S. Tsai ◽  
Jeng-Wen Lin ◽  
Yung-Chang Lin ◽  
Chia-Chi Chen

In order to promote seismic resistance capability of structures and simplify the manufacturing processes of an isolator, a new base isolation system called the multiple trench friction pendulum system (MTFPS) is proposed. The investigations for the proposed isolator have been carried out to address its mechanical characteristics and to assess its performance in seismic mitigation through a series of shaking table tests in this study. The MTFPS isolator can provide different natural periods, displacement capacities and damping effects in any two independent directions. The natural period and damping effect for a MTFPS isolator change continually during earthquakes. Results from the shaking table tests on a scaled three-story structure isolated with MTFPS isolators illustrate that the proposed MTFPS isolator can isolate most earthquake induced energy and provide good protection for structures from earthquake damage. In addition, the mathematical formulations for the MTFPS isolator have also been derived to examine its characteristics.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aruna Rawat ◽  
Naseef Ummer ◽  
Vasant Matsagar

Rolling base isolation system provides effective isolation to the structures from seismic base excitations by virtue of its low frictional resistance. Herein, dynamic analysis of flexible-shear type multi-storey building mounted on orthogonally placed elliptical rolling rod base isolation systems subjected to bi-directional components of near-fault earthquake ground motions is presented. The orthogonally placed rods would make it possible to resist the earthquake forces induced in the structure in both the horizontal directions. The curved surface of these elliptical rods has a self-restoring capability due to which the magnitude of peak isolator displacement and residual displacement is reduced. The roughness of the tempered curved surface of the rollers dissipates energy in motion due to frictional damping. The seismic performance of the multi-storey building mounted on the elliptical rolling rod base isolation system is compared with that mounted on the sliding pure-friction and cylindrical rolling rod systems. Parametric studies are conducted to examine the behavior of the building for different superstructure flexibilities, eccentricities of the elliptical rod, and coefficients of friction. It is concluded that the elliptical rolling rod base isolation system is effective in mitigation of damaging effects of the near-fault earthquake ground motions in the multi-storey buildings. Even under the near-fault earthquake ground motions, the base-isolated building mounted on the elliptical rolling rods shows considerable reduction in seismic response. The isolator displacement with the elliptical rolling rod base isolation system is less in comparison to the pure-friction and cylindrical rolling rod systems.


2018 ◽  
Vol 211 ◽  
pp. 17001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Falborski ◽  
Robert Jankowski

The present paper summarizes the preliminary results of the experimental shaking table investigation conducted in order to verify the effectiveness of a new base isolation system consisting of Polymeric Bearings in reducing strong horizontal machine-induced vibrations. Polymeric Bearing considered in the present study is a prototype base isolation system, which was constructed with the use of a specially prepared flexible polymer with improved damping properties. Dynamic oscillatory tests, during which a concrete base slab supported by four Polymeric Bearings was subjected to horizonal sinusoidal excitations characterized by different frequencies and amplitudes, were conducted in order to determine the damping properties of Polymeric Bearings and their effectiveness in mitigating structural vibrations. Equivalent damping ratios for every excitation frequency considered were determined using the experimentally obtained hysteresis loops. Final conclusions are presented and the results discussed.


Author(s):  
Shigeru Aoki ◽  
Yuji Nakanishi ◽  
Kazutoshi Tominaga ◽  
Takeshi Otaka ◽  
Tadashi Nishimura ◽  
...  

Reduction of seismic response of mechanical system is important problem for aseismic design. Some types of base isolation systems are developed and used in actual base of buildings and floors in buildings for reduction of seismic response of mechanincal system. In this paper, a base isolation system utilizing bearing with friction and restoring force of bearing is proposed. Friction bearing consists of two plates having spherical concaves and oval type metal or spherical metal with rubber. First, effectiveness of the base isolation system is examined experimentally. Using artificial time histories, the isolated table is shaken on the shaking table. The maximum value of response is reduced and sum of squares of response is significantly reduced. Power spectrum is significantly reduced in almost of all frequency regions, except for very low frequency region. Next, in order to examine reduction of seismic response of actual mechanical system, a console rack is set on the isolated plate. Seismic response is also significantly reduced. Finally, obtained results of experiment are examined by simulation method. An analytical model considering friction and restoring force is used. From simulation method, effectiveness of the proposed base isolation system is demonstrated.


Author(s):  
C. S. Tsai ◽  
Yung-Chang Lin ◽  
Wen-Shin Chen

Seismic mitigation of high-tech facilities is a very important issue in earthquake prone areas such as Taiwan, Japan, U.S.A., etc. In order to lessen vulnerability of earthquake damage of high-tech equipment, base isolation seems to be a good choice. This paper mainly explores the possibility of using a new base isolation system named the trench friction pendulum system (TFPS) to reduce seismic responses of high-tech facilities. The main reasons, from a engineer’s point of view, to use this system for protecting high-tech equipment from earthquake damage are high efficiency and low cost. A series of shaking table tests for a high-tech facility isolated with TFPS isolators were carried out in the Department of Civil Engineering, Feng Chia University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. The experimental results show that the proposed system provides a good protection for the high-tech facility during strong earthquakes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 1264-1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Bagheri ◽  
Mostafa Farajian

There are several methods to reduce the seismic damages in liquid storage tanks. One of these methods is to use passive control devices, in particular seismic base isolators. Among the different base isolation systems, the Friction Pendulum System (FPS) whose period does not depend on the weight of the system is more appropriate for isolation of liquid storage tanks. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of peak ground acceleration (PGA) and pulselike characteristics of earthquakes on the seismic behavior of steel liquid storage tanks base isolated by FPS bearings. In addition, impact effects of the slider with the side retainer are investigated, as well as effects of tank aspect ratio, isolation period and friction coefficient. The obtained results of tanks with different aspect ratios indicate that the responses get more reduced due to isolation under far-field ground motions compared to near-fault ground motions. It is also seen that the response of a base isolated tank is affected when contact takes place with the side retainer of the FPS.


Author(s):  
C. S. Tsai ◽  
Yung-Chang Lin ◽  
H. C. Su

In order to prevent a building from earthquake damage, a base isolation system called the multiple friction pendulum system (MFPS) which has numerous concave sliding interfaces is proposed to isolate a building from its foundation. Mathematical formulations have been derived to simulate the characteristic of the MFPS isolation system subjected to multi-directional excitations. By virtue of the derived mathematical formulations, the phenomena of the sliding motions of the MFPS isolator with several concave sliding interfaces under multi-directional earthquakes can be clearly understood. Also, numerical analyses of a building isolated with the MFPS isolator with several sliding interfaces have been conducted in this study to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed system in seismic mitigation. It has been proved through numerical analyses that structural responses have been reduced significantly and that the proposed system is a good tool to insure the safety of structures during earthquakes.


2010 ◽  
Vol 163-167 ◽  
pp. 4179-4184 ◽  
Author(s):  
He Len Wu

The paper proposes an aseismic hybrid control system to control the response of structures subjected to large ground motions caused by large magnitude earthquakes. The proposed hybrid control system consists of a base isolation system (laminated rubber bearings) connected to an active control system (a tuned mass damper and an actuator). The base isolation system is used to decouple the horizontal ground motions from the structure, whereas the active control system is used to protect the safety and integrity of the base isolation system. A 5-story benchmark building model is developed to study the effectiveness of the hybrid control system against different ground motions. It was found from the numerical results that rubber bearing system alone shows good performance and resists ground motion due to Hachinohe 1968, Kobe 1995, and Northridge 1994 earthquakes, but is somewhat unable to protect the model against El-Centro 1940 earthquake. After the installation of an active control system onto the rubber-isolated model, further improvements to earthquake resistance against these four earthquakes were observed, especially against the El-Centro earthquake. The merit of the hybrid control system lies in its capability to protect against different ground motions, with varying intensity and frequency content.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramin Rabiee ◽  
Yunbyeong Chae

Base isolation system is widely used to protect important and essential buildings from seismic hazards. The use of high damping is effective in reducing the resonance effect under long-period earthquake ground motions. However, high damping increases the acceleration demand under short-period ground motions, leading to a higher risk of damage of nonstructural components. Actually, low damping is beneficial to reduce the acceleration demand under short-period ground motions, suggesting the use of adaptive damping control, that is, high damping under long-period motions and low damping under short-period motions. In order to implement this concept, a semi-actively controlled base isolation system is provided in this article along with a new control law based on the transmissibility theory. Unlike existing studies, the proposed method enables a systematic design procedure for base isolated structures with semi-active dampers, which is called the simplified design procedure in this article. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated with numerical simulations for a base isolated three-story building with magneto-rheological dampers. It was shown that the proposed system achieves a high level of performance under long-period ground motions, while maintaining the exceptional performance of a conventional base isolation system with low damping under short-period ground motions.


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