Adaptive base-isolation of civil structures using variable amplification

Semi-active dampers are used in base-isolation to reduce the seismic response of civil engineering structures. In the present study, a new semi-active damping system using variable amplification will be investigated for adaptive baseisolation. It uses a novel variable amplification device （VAD） connected in series with a passive damper. The VAD is capable of producing multiple amplification factors, each corresponding to a different amplification state. Forces from the damper are amplified to the structure according to the current amplification state, which is selected via a semi-active control algorithm specifically tailored to the system＇s tmique damping characteristics. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the VAD-damper system for adaptive base-isolation, numerical simulations are conducted for three and seven-story base-isolated buildings subject to both far and near-field ground motions. The results indicate that the system can achieve significant reductions in response compared to the base-isolated buildings with no damper. The proposed system is also found to perform well compared to a typical semi-active damper.

Research and development of seismic base isolation technique for civil engineering structures

Base isolation is one of the most promising alternatives among the structure control methods. In recent decades, base isolation has been seriously considered for civil structures, such as buildings and bridges, subjected to ground motion. The research achievements and development of seismic base isolation technique for civil structures in Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) are introduced. The achievements include project applications, experimental research results and theoretical innovation.

Optimal design and effectiveness evaluation for inerter-based devices on mitigating seismic responses of base isolated structures

The optimal design and effectiveness of three control systems,tuned viscous mass damper(TVMD),tuned inerter damper(TID)and tuned mass damper(TMD),on mitigating the seismic responses of base isolated structures,were systematically studied.First,the seismic responses of the base isolated structure with each control system under white noise excitation were obtained.Then,the structural parameter optimizations of the TVMD,TID and TMD were conducted by using three different objectives.The results show that the three control systems were all effective in minimizing the root mean square value of seismic responses,including the base shear of the BIS,the absolute acceleration of structural SDOF,and the relative displacement between the base isolation floor and the foundation.Finally,considering the superstructure as a structural MDOF,a series of time history analyses were performed to investigate the effectiveness and activation sensitivity of the three control systems under far field and near fault seismic excitations.The results show that the effectiveness of TID and TMD with optimized parameters on mitigating the seismic responses of base isolated structures increased as the mass ratio increases,and the effectiveness of TID was always better than TMD with the same mass ratio.The TVMD with a lower mass ratio was more efficient in reducing the seismic response than the TID and TMD.Furthermore,the TVMD,when compared with TMD and TID,had better activation sensitivity and a smaller stroke.

A modified Kelvin impact model for pounding simulation of base-isolated building with adjacent structures

Base isolation can effectively reduce the seismic forces on a superstructure, particularly in lowto medium-rise buildings. However, under strong near-fault ground motions, pounding may occur at the isolation level between the baseisolated building （BIB） and its surrounding retaining walls. To effectively investigate the behavior of the BIB pounding with adjacent structures, after assessing some commonly used impact models, a modified Kelvin impact model is proposed in this paper. Relevant parameters in the modified Kelvin model are theoretically derived and numerically verified through a simple pounding case. At the same time, inelasticity of the isolated superstructure is introduced in order to accurately evaluate the potential damage to the superstructure caused by the pounding of the BIB with adjacent structures. The reliability of the modified Kelvin impact model is validated through numerical comparisons with other impact models. However, the difference between the numerical results from the various impact analytical models is not significant. Many numerical simulations of BIBs are conducted to investigate the influence of various design parameters and conditions on the peak inter-story drifts and floor accelerations during pounding. It is shown that pounding can substantially increase floor accelerations, especially at the ground floor where impacts occur. Higher modes of vibration are excited during poundings, increasing the inter-story drifts instead of keeping a nearly rigid-body motion of the superstructure. Furthermore, higher ductility demands can be imposed on lower floors of the superstructure. Moreover, impact stiffness seems to play a significant role in the acceleration response at the isolation level and the inter-story drifts of lower floors of the superstructure. Finally, the numerical results show that excessive flexibility of the isolation system used to minimize the floor accelerations may cause the BIB to be more susceptible to pounding under a limited seismic gap.

Roles of soil-structure interaction and damping in base-isolated structures built on numerous soil layers overlying a half-space

This study examines the roles of soil-structure interaction （SSI）, higher modes, and damping in a base-isolated structure built on multiple layers of soil overlying a half space. Closed-form solutions for the entire system, including a superstructure, seismic isolator, and numerous soil layers overlying a half-space, were obtained. The formulations obtained in this study simply in terms of well-known frequencies and mechanical impedance ratios can explicitly interpret the dynamic behavior of a base-isolated structure interacting with multiple soil layers overlying a half-space. The key factors influencing the performance of the isolation system are the damping ratio of the isolator and the ratio of the natural frequency of the fixed-base structure to that of the isolated structure by assuming that the superstructure moves as a rigid body. This study reveals that higher damping in the base isolator is unfavorable to higher mode responses that usually dominate the responses of the superstructure and that the damping mechanism plays an important role in transmitting energy in addition to absorbing energy. It is also concluded that it is possible to design a soft soil layer as an isolation system for isolating vibration energy.

Seismic Responses of Asymmetric Base-Isolated Structures under Near-Fault Ground Motion

An inter-story shear model of asymmetric base-isolated structures incorporating deformation of each isolation bearing was built, and a method to simultaneously simulate bi-directional near-fault and far-field ground motions was proposed. A comparative study on the dynamic responses of asymmetric base-isolated structures under near-fault and far-field ground motions were conducted to investigate the effects of eccentricity in the isolation system and in the superstructures, the ratio of the uncoupled torsional to lateral frequency of the superstructure and the pulse period of near-fault ground motions on the nonlinear seismic response of asymmetric base-isolated structures. Numerical results show that eccentricity in the isolation system makes asymmetric base-isolated structure more sensitive to near-fault ground motions, and the pulse period of near-fault ground motions plays an import role in governing the seismic responses of asymmetric base-isolated structures.

Modelling and Analysis of Base Isolated Structures with Friction Pendulum System Considering near Fault Events

The seismic behavior of base isolated structures with friction pendulum slide bearings devices subjected to near fault events characterized by significant vertical ground motion components is investigated. In particular, in order to evaluate the effects of vertical components on seismic response, non-linear dynamic analysis, carried out by using several numerical models, have been performed by considering two near-fault seismic events, L’Aquila 2009 and Emilia Romagna 2012. The obtained results show that increasing vertical seismic motion base shear significantly increases while relative displacements increase very little.

Seismic response reduction analysis of large chassis base-isolated structure under long-period ground motions

Long-period structures(e.g.Isolated structures)tend to produce pseudo-resonance with low frequency compo-nents of long-period ground motions,resulting in the increase in damage.Stiffness mutation occurs due to the set-back in the upper body of the large chassis structure.In the parts with stiffness mutation,the torsion effect caused by the tower is far greater than that of the chassis itself.In this study,a total of 273 ground motions are collected and then filtered into four types,including the near-field ordinary,near-field pulse,far-field ordinary,and far-field harmonic.An 8-degree(0.2 g)fortified large chassis base-isolated structure is established.Furthermore,ETABS program software is used to conduct nonlinear time history analysis on the isolation and seismic model under bi-directional earthquake ground motions.The comparison results show that the seismic isolation effect of the base-isolated structure under long-period ground motions is worse than that associated with ordinary ground motions when the seismic response reduction rate of the large base floor significantly decreases compared with that of the tower.When the inter-story displacement angle and the displacement of isolation layer of the chassis exceeds the limit of Code for Seismic Design of Buildings(GB 50011-2010),it is recommended to adopt composite seismic isolation technology or add limit devices.Under the condition of long-period ground motions,the base-isolated structure reduces the lateral-torsional coupling effect of the large chassis structure,while the torsion response of large chassis’top layer increases.Under long-period ground motions with the same acceleration peak,the response of the base-isolated structure increases much more than that of the seismic structure and the consideration of this impact is suggested to be added to the Code.

Probabilistic analysis for the response of nonlinear base isolation system under the ground excitation induced by high dam flood discharge

According to theoretical analysis, a general characteristic of the ground vibration induced by high dam flood discharge is that the dominant frequency ranges over several narrow frequency bands, which is verified by observations from the Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station. Nonlinear base isolation is used to reduce the structure vibration under ground excitation and the advantage of the isolation application is that the low-frequency resonance problem does not need to be considered due to its excitation characteristics, which significantly facilitate the isolation design. In order to obtain the response probabilistic distribution of a nonlinear system, the state space split technique is modified. As only a few degrees of freedom are subjected to the random noise, the probabilistic distribution of the response without involving stochastic excitation is represented by the δ function. Then, the sampling property of the δ function is employed to reduce the dimension of the Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov （FPK） equation and the low-dimensional FPK equation is solvable with existing methods. Numerical results indicate that the proposed approach is effective and accurate. Moreover, the response probabilistic distributions are more reasonable and scientific than the peak responses calculated by conventional time and frequency domain methods.

Simple Method for Dynamic Responses of Soil-Pile-Isolated Structure Interaction System

To investigate the effect of soil-pile-structure interaction(SPSI effect)on the dynamic response of a baseisolated structure with buried footings on a pile foundation,certain shake table tests are previously conducted.Based on the test results and the existing related studies,an efficient simplified model and a corresponding calculation method are verified for estimating the dynamic characteristics of a base-isolated structure with buried footings on a pile foundation with the SSI effect.In this method,the solutions by Veletsos and co-workers for a non-isolated structure with the SSI effect are verified and advanced for a base-isolated structure,and the solutions by Maravas and co-workers for a non-isolated structure on a pile foundation are introduced to consider the effect of the piles.By comparison with the shake table test,this work proves that the simplified method can efficiently estimate the dynamic responses of a base-isolated structure with buried footings on a pile foundation.Using parameter analysis,this work also shows that the dynamic characteristics of a non-isolated structure are quite similar to those of the base-isolated structure when the soil foundation is sufficiently soft,which means that the isolation layer gradually loses its isolation function as the soil foundation softens.

Numerical Analysis of Seismic Elastomeric Isolation Bearing in the Base-Isolated Buildings

Base isolation concept is currently accepted as a new strategy for earthquake resistance structures. According to different types of base isolation devices, laminated rubber bearing which is made by thin layers of steel shims bonded by rubber is one of the most popular devices to reduce the effects of earthquake in the buildings. Laminated rubber bearings should be protected against failure or instability because failure of isolation devices may cause serious damage on the structures. Hence, the prediction of the behaviour of the laminated rubber bearing with different properties is essential in the design of a seismic bearing. In this paper, a finite element modeling of the laminated rubber bearing is presented. The procedures of modeling the rubber bearing with finite element are described. By the comparison of the numerical and the experimental, the validities of modelling and results have been determined. The results of this study perform that there is a good agreement between finite element analysis and experimental results.

Performance-based semi-active control algorithm for protecting base isolated buildings from near-fault earthquakes

Base isolated structures have been found to be at risk in near-fault regions as a result of long period pulses that may exist in near-source ground motions. Various control strategies, including passive, active and semi-active control systems, have been investigated to overcome this problem. This study focuses on the development of a semi-active control algorithm based on several performance levels anticipated from an isolated building during different levels of ground shaking corresponding to various earthquake hazard levels. The proposed performance-based algorithm is based on a modified version of the well-known semi-active skyhook control algorithm. The proposed control algorithm changes the control gain depending on the level of shaking imposed on the structure. The proposed control system has been evaluated using a series of analyses performed on a base isolated benchmark building subjected to seven pairs of scaled ground motion records. Simulation results show that the newly proposed algorithm is effective in improving the structural and nonstructural performance of the building for selected earthquakes.

Simulation of the response of base-isolated buildings under earthquake excitations considering soil flexibility

The accurate analysis of the seismic response of isolated structures requires incorporation of the flexibility of supporting soil. However, it is often customary to idealize the soil as rigid during the analysis of such structures. In this paper, seismic response time history analyses of base-isolated buildings modelled as linear single degree-of-freedom （SDOF） and multi degree-of-freedom （MDOF） systems with linear and nonlinear base models considering and ignoring the flexibility of supporting soil are conducted. The flexibility of supporting soil is modelled through a lumped parameter model consisting of swaying and rocking spring-dashpots. In the analysis, a large number of parametric studies for different earthquake excitations with three different peak ground acceleration （PGA） levels, different natural periods of the building models, and different shear wave velocities in the soil are considered. For the isolation system, laminated rubber bearings （LRBs） as well as high damping rubber bearings （HDRBs） are used. Responses of the isolated buildings with and without SSI are compared under different ground motions leading to the following conclusions： （1） soil flexibility may considerably influence the stiff superstructure response and may only slightly influence the response of the flexible structures; （2） the use of HDRBs for the isolation system induces higher structural peak responses with SSI compared to the system with LRBs; （3） although the peak response is affected by the incorporation of soil flexibility, it appears insensitive to the variation of shear wave velocity in the soil; （4） the response amplifications of the SDOF system become closer to unit with the increase in the natural period of the building, indicating an inverse relationship between SSI effects and natural periods for all the considered ground motions, base isolations and shear wave velocities; （5） the incorporation of SSI increases the number of significant cycles of large amplitude accelerations for all the stories, especially for earthquakes with low and moderate PGA levels; and （6） buildings with a linear LRB base-isolation system exhibit larger differences in displacement and acceleration amplifications, especially at the level of the lower stories.

建筑结构隔震技术研究进展

建筑结构隔震技术通过在建筑结构底部或中间楼层设置隔震装置,延长结构的自振周期,并提供适当的阻尼使得结构的响应大幅度减小,能够更有效地保护房屋结构以及室内设备的安全,可显著提升建筑震后功能可恢复能力。目前建筑结构隔震技术已经有较为成熟的技术产品和工程应用,已广泛应用于住宅、医院、学校、博物馆和图书馆等建筑中。随着《建设工程抗震管理条例》的颁布,预期隔震技术将有更广阔的应用场景。隔震建筑也将逐步从低层、简单建筑结构向高层、复杂建筑结构的方向发展。目前常用的隔震装置存在着抗拉能力不足、对竖向地震或竖向环境振动减振效果不足、控制频宽窄、适应性不足以及使用状态及损伤状态难以监测等问题。为此,众多学者针对以上问题进行了深入研究,开发了抗拉隔震支座、三维隔震(振)支座、半主动隔震支座和隔震支座的健康监测系统,为扩展隔震技术的应用范围提供了解决方法。目前,相关研究偏重于新型隔震装置的性能研究,未来应全面考虑新型隔震装置对于建筑的影响,提出配套的设计方法,并进行示范性工程应用,加快隔震技术的推广。

变刚度地基上隔震结构群桩基础动力响应试验研究

通过控制输入地震动持时压缩比和强度的方法,提出了变刚度地基上桩基基础隔震结构振动台模型试验方法,并结合已完成的不同地基上桩基基础隔震结构系列振动台模型试验,分析了地基刚度变化对隔震结构群桩基础动力学特性的影响规律。结果表明,结构-土体相对刚度比和输入地震动强度显著影响隔震结构群桩基础弯矩反应,强震下结构-土体相对刚度比越大,隔震结构群桩基础中间桩体上部弯矩反应幅值增大越显著,而中间桩体下部弯矩幅值较小。当输入加速度峰值和结构-土体相对刚度比R大于一定限值时,群桩基础震陷显著增加,群桩基础承台转动反应强烈,同时群桩基础桩顶水平位移在主震后出现明显的单边累积水平位移,说明强震作用下地基刚度变化过程中隔震结构群桩基础上部更易出现地震破坏,而群桩基础震陷与基础承台强烈转动反应的共同作用可能是导致隔震结构群桩基础上部弯矩骤增的主因。

混合基础隔震体系优化设计及性能

为解决基础隔震结构中隔震层位移需求过大的问题,提出了一种基础隔震结构(Base Isolated Structure,BIS)+串并联调谐质量阻尼器惯容器(Tuned Tandem Mass Damper-Inerter, TTMDI)的混合隔震体系。采用Bouc-Wen滞回模型模拟隔震层的非线性力-变形行为,基于随机等效线性化和模式搜索优化算法并考虑地震动模型,在频域内建立了BIS+TTMDI体系的优化设计框架。分别从鲁棒性、有效性、刚度和阻尼系数、冲程及对地震频率敏感性方面对BIS+TTMDI体系的性能进行评估,并与BIS+调谐质量阻尼器(Tuned Mass Damper, TMD)、串并联调谐质量阻尼器(TunedTandemMassDamper,TTMD)和调谐质量阻尼器惯容器(TunedMass Damper-Inerter, TMDI)进行比较。通过对近场地震动下某七层混合基础隔震结构(包括BIS+TTMDI和BIS+TMDI体系)的动力弹塑性分析,评价了其减/隔震性能。结果表明:BIS+TTMDI体系具有最好的减/隔震性能和强鲁棒性;而且在BIS+TTMDI体系中TTMDI的总阻尼需求不到BIS+TMDI体系中TMDI的一半,因而更为经济实用。

基础隔震结构附加变化型调谐质量惯容阻尼器的优化设计研究

在强震作用下基础隔震结构的隔震层将发生非常大的水平变形。已有研究表明采用在基础隔震结构的隔震层附加变化型调谐质量阻尼器(VTMD)的混合控制策略能够有效降低隔震层的水平变形需求,然而该混合控制策略最大的缺陷在于需要很大的调谐质量。考虑到惯容装置具有明显的质量放大效应,本文提出将惯容装置(Inerter)与VTMD中的阻尼器并联,从而形成具有较小调谐质量的变化型调谐质量惯容阻尼器(VTMDI),并将其附加在基础隔震结构的隔震层,基于随机振动的分析框架开展了VTMDI参数的优化设计研究。研究表明直接将基础隔震结构的上部结构层间变形作为优化目标的传统优化策略并不经济有效。为此,本文提出了一种基于两步优化法的优化策略,该优化策略首先确保附加VTMDI的基础隔震结构相对于附加相同阻尼的基础隔震结构具有更优的控制效果;然后确保附加VTMDI的基础隔震结构的上部结构层间变形最小。通过动力时程分析结果表明:两种优化策略都能有效降低隔震层的水平变形和上部结构的层间变形,同时不会导致调谐质量出现过大的运动行程,基于两步优化法的优化策略更为经济有效。

高烈度地区高层基础隔震结构模型振动台试验研究

高层基础隔震结构在我国高烈度地区城市应用前景广阔,开展此类型结构地震反应研究十分必要。以一幢典型办公楼为原型,开展1/15缩尺地震模拟振动台试验,通过不同地震波输入,获得模型结构的动力特性、绝对加速度响应、层间位移响应及隔震层响应等参数,并对结构高层部分特殊的突变放大现象进行分析。结果表明:高层基础隔震结构总体具有良好的耗能能力及减震性能;结构可能存在由于高层部分自振频率与整体结构某高阶频率相同而产生的高阶效应,同时高阶效应可能由于结构高层部分自振频率与场地卓越频率相近而愈发强烈;高阶效应使得隔震层上部结构突变处在罕遇地震作用下超越弹塑性层间位移角,同时加剧提离摇摆效应,带动隔震支座受拉超限,需采取振动控制措施以抑制高阶效应。

钢框架结构双层隔震体系的减震性能研究

以某9层钢框架结构为研究对象,采用SAP2000有限元软件建立了6种工况分析模型,并以此进行了模态分析及罕遇地震作用下的非线性时程分析;同时,通过对比各工况下基底剪力、结构位移、层间位移、滞回曲线等指标,探讨了双层隔震体系对结构在罕遇地震作用下的减震性能,并分析了双层隔震体系中上层隔震层设置位置不同对结构减震效果的影响。结果表明:双层隔震体系结构自振周期可进一步延长;其抗震性能较普通结构的有显著提高,且其减震效果较仅基础隔震有所提升;其上部隔震层设置的高度与减震效应存在着负相关性,建议上部隔震层设置在结构的中下部;其层间剪力、楼层位移在隔震层附近存在突变,需在工程隔震设计中考虑。

非基岩场地基础隔震核岛厂房抗震性能分析

为了研究非基岩场地条件下基础隔震核电工程结构的抗震性能,本文依据外源波动理论提出了考虑土-结构相互作用效应的基础隔震核电工程结构抗震分析方法,该方法实现了地震动的高精度输入以及整体系统的直接求解,通过与传统封闭体系振动法计算结果的对比验证了其有效性。建立了基础隔震核岛厂房-地基整体有限元模型,开展了核岛厂房地震响应分析,讨论了不同剪切波速场地条件下核岛厂房的基础隔震性能。研究结果表明:非基岩场地条件下基础隔震核岛厂房表现出良好的隔震效果;随着场地剪切波速的降低,基础隔震的隔震能力逐渐下降,与剪切波速为1067 m/s的场地相比,当场地的剪切波速为305 m/s时,核岛厂房结构顶部的楼层反应谱、加速度放大系数和层间位移角的隔震率分别减小了14.30%、13.50%和23.41%。为了保证核电工程结构的安全性,在基础隔震设计中应充分考虑非基岩场地条件下的SSI效应。