Effect of shear force - horizontal displacement curve of a laminated elastomeric isolator on seismic performance of a base-isolated building

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
Laminated elastomeric isolator is a class of seismic isolator to use popularly for base-isolated buildings under earthquakes. Two important parameters of characteristic properties of the isolator are effective horizontal stiffness and equivalent viscous damping. The effective horizontal stiffness of the isolator is directly determined from shear force – horizontal displacement curve. In this study, time history analysis of a base-isolated reinforced concrete frame building supported on different isolators with same damping and different shear force – horizontal displacement curves under same ground motion of earthquakes is
investigated by finite element analysis. Results show that seismic performance of the base-isolated building is affected by the shear force – horizontal displacement curve of the isolator.

Keywords: Base isolation system, laminated elastomeric isolator, reinforced concrete frame building, earthquake