Use of seismic isolation in new and retrofit construction

Conference · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:129048

Walters, M T; Honeck, B; Elsesser, E ^[1]

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1. Forell/Elsesser Engineers, Inc., San Francisco, CA (United States)

Interest among engineers in the use of seismic base isolation has grown sharply since the January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake. The most salient applications of seismic isolation in California to date have been in the area of building construction. Two recent examples are presented and discussed: the new Traffic Management Center for Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol in Kearny Mesa near San Diego, and the historic Oakland City Hall. The Traffic Management Center is a new two-story ``essential facility`` building that was engineered in accordance with the seismic isolation design provisions for California hospitals, and supported on high-damping rubber isolation bearings. Oakland City Hall is an ornate 1914 vintage 19-story high-rise public building that was retrofit using lead-rubber and ordinary rubber isolation bearings. The important design, analysis, and construction features of each project will be discussed and contrasted for these two diverse projects.

• OSTI ID: 129048
• Report Number(s): CONF-950740--; ISBN 0-7918-1325-8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
BUILDING CODES
CALIFORNIA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
RETROFITTING
SAFETY ANALYSIS
SEISMIC ISOLATION
SHOCK ABSORBERS
SPECIFICATIONS
TRAFFIC CONTROL