Ground motion due to earthquake excitation often induces disastrous disturbances that severely damage structures and their contents. Conventional earthquake-resistant design focuses on the strengthening of structures to avoid collapse, while little attention is paid to the prevention of damage as it is almost impossible to construct completely earthquake proof structures at reasonable cost. This state-of-the-art volume explores seismic isolation as an alternative and performance-based design approach to minimise earthquake induced loads and resulting damage in low to medium-rise buildings. A discussion of the characteristics, advantages and limitations of seismic isolation is followed by a demonstration of its capability to decouple a structure from the damaging effects of ground acceleration. Describes currently used seismic isolation systems in detail. Evaluates the performance of seismically isolated structures and provides examples of their response under earthquake action. Proposes a preliminary design methodology for seismically isolated structures. Accessible to both students and practising structural engineers who need to familiarise themselves with this approach.

Complete, practical coverage of the evaluation, analysis, and design and code requirements of seismic isolation systems. Based on the concept of reducing seismic demand rather than increasing the earthquake resistance capacity of structures, seismic isolation is a surprisingly simple approach to earthquake protection. However, proper application of this technology within complex seismic design code requirements is both complicated and difficult. Design of Seismic Isolated Structures provides complete, up-to-date coverage of seismic isolation, complete with a systematic development of concepts in theory and practical application supplemented by numerical examples. This book helps design professionals navigate and understand the ideas and procedures involved in the analysis, design, and development of specifications for seismic isolated structures. It also provides a framework for satisfying code requirements while retaining the favorable cost-effective and damage control aspects of this new technology. An indispensable resource for practicing and aspiring engineers and architects, Design of Seismic Isolated Structures includes: * Isolation system components. * Complete coverage of code provisions for seismic isolation. * Mechanical characteristics and modeling of isolators. * Buckling and stability of elastomeric isolators. * Examples of seismic isolation designs. * Specifications for the design, manufacture, and testing of isolation devices.

This book explores the area of seismic isolation strategies for earthquake-resistant construction. It covers topics such as dampers for earthquake protection of existing buildings and for displacements restraints in seismically isolated buildings, innovative base isolation strategies for seismic retrofitting of existing frame and stone buildings, comparative analysis of innovative base isolation, and other topics

The success of any product sold to consumers is based, largely, on the longevity of the product. This concept can be extended by various methods of improvement including optimizing the initial creation structures which can lead to a more desired product and extend the product's time on the market. Design and Optimization of Mechanical Engineering Products is an essential research source that explores the structure and processes used in creating goods and the methods by which these goods are improved in order to continue competitiveness in the consumer market. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics including modeling and simulation, new product development, and multi-criteria decision making, this publication is targeted toward students, practitioners, researchers, engineers, and academicians.

My involvement in the use of natural rubber as a method for the protec 1976. At that time, tion of buildings against earthquake attack began in I was working on the development of energy-dissipating devices for the same purpose and had developed and tested a device that was even tually used in a stepping-bridge structure, this being a form of partial isolation. It became clear to me that in order to use these energy devices for the earthquake protection of buildings, it would be best to combine them with an isolation system which would give them the large displace ments needed to develop sufficient hysteresis. At this appropriate point in time, I was approached by Dr. C. J. Derham, then of the Malaysian Rubber Producers' Research Association (MRPRA), who asked if I was interested in looking at the possibility of conducting shaking table tests at the Earthquake Simulator Laboratory to see to what extent natural rubber bearings could be used to protect buildings from earthquakes. Very soon after this meeting, we were able to do such a test using a 20-ton model and hand-made isolators. The eady tests were very promising. Accordingly, a further set of tests was done with a more realistic five storey model weighing 40 tons with bearings that were commercially made. In both of the test series, the isolators were used both alone and with a number of different types of energy-dissipating devices to en hance damping.

Seismic isolation offers the highest degree of earthquake protection to buildings and their inhabitants. Modern applications of the technology are less than 50 years old and uptake in seismically active regions continues to soar. Seismic Isolation for Architects is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice in this field. Based on the latest research findings and the authors’ extensive experience, coverage includes the application, effectiveness, benefits, and limitations of seismic isolation, as well as the architectural form, design aspects, retrofitting, economics, construction, and maintenance related to this method. The book is written for an international audience: the authors review codes and practices from a number of countries and draw on examples from eleven territories including the US, Chile, Argentina, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand. Aimed at readers without prior knowledge of structural engineering, the book provides an accessible, non-technical approach without using equations or calculations, instead using over 200 drawings, diagrams and images to support the text. This book is key reading for students on architecture and civil engineering courses looking for a clear introduction to seismic-resistant design, as well as architects and engineers working in seismically active regions.

This book features chapters based on selected presentations from the International Congress on Advanced Earthquake Resistance of Structures, AERS2016, held in Samsun, Turkey, from 24 to 28 October 2016. It covers the latest advances in three widely popular research areas in Earthquake Engineering: Performance-Based Seismic Design, Seismic Isolation Systems, and Structural Health Monitoring. The book shows the vulnerability of high-rise and seismically isolated buildings to long periods of strong ground motions, and proposes new passive and semi-active structural seismic isolation systems to protect against such effects. These systems are validated through real-time hybrid tests on shaking tables. Structural health monitoring systems provide rapid assessment of structural safety after an earthquake and allow preventive measures to be taken, such as shutting down the elevators and gas lines, before damage occurs. Using the vibration data from instrumented tall buildings, the book demonstrates that large, distant earthquakes and surface waves, which are not accounted for in most attenuation equations, can cause long-duration shaking and damage in tall buildings. The overview of the current performance-based design methodologies includes discussions on the design of tall buildings and the reasons common prescriptive code provisions are not sufficient to address the requirements of tall-building design. In addition, the book explains the modelling and acceptance criteria associated with various performance-based design guidelines, and discusses issues such as selection and scaling of ground motion records, soil-foundation-structure interaction, and seismic instrumentation and peer review needs. The book is of interest to a wide range of professionals in earthquake engineering, including designers, researchers, and graduate students.