Evaluation and assessment of the seismic responses of 3-D base-isolated structures

Book · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:129036

Hueffmann, G K; Sutton, W T ^[1]

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1. GERB Vibration Control Systems, Inc., Westmont, IL (United States)

The 1994 Northridge earthquake offered the opportunity to evaluate and assess the seismic response of several base-isolated buildings. Assessment of 2-D base isolation is straightforward comparing separately the uncoupled horizontal and vertical building motions to the corresponding ground motions. With 3-D systems characterized by low vertical natural frequencies, the system assessment must include rocking of the structure. Neglecting this consideration leads to an erroneous conclusion that the system greatly amplifies vertical ground accelerations. The paper evaluates the seismic response of a 3-D base-isolated building as compared to the same structure on a 2-D system. The paper also shows that the vertical accelerations measured at extreme locations in the building on a 3-D base-isolation system develop mainly from rocking responses to the horizontal ground motion.

• OSTI ID: 129036
• Report Number(s): CONF-950740--; ISBN 0-7918-1325-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
BUILDINGS
CALIFORNIA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESIGN
EARTHQUAKES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GROUND MOTION
PERFORMANCE
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SEISMIC ISOLATION
SHOCK ABSORBERS