Premium
Pseudodynamic tests on rubber base isolators with numerical substructuring of the superstructure and strain‐rate effect compensation
Author(s) -
Molina F. J.,
Verzeletti G.,
Magonette G.,
Buchet Ph.,
Renda V.,
Geradin M.,
Parducci A.,
Mezzi M.,
Pacchiarotti A.,
Federici L.,
Mascelloni S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
earthquake engineering and structural dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.218
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1096-9845
pISSN - 0098-8847
DOI - 10.1002/eqe.176
Subject(s) - superstructure , structural engineering , natural rubber , base (topology) , base isolation , compensation (psychology) , engineering , strain rate , materials science , mathematics , composite material , mechanical engineering , mathematical analysis , psychology , frame (networking) , psychoanalysis
A pseudodynamic testing procedure has been applied by which the seismic response of a base‐isolated building is obtained by using as specimen the isolators, while the superstructure is numerically simulated. The procedure also takes advantage of the continuous pseudodynamic testing capabilities of the ELSA laboratory, which increase the accuracy of the results and reduce the strain‐rate effect of the rubber bearings. A simple proportional correction of the measured forces compensates the remaining strain‐rate effect due to the unrealistic speed of the test. The correction factor is obtained by means of a characterizing test on the specific rubber isolators. The developed method has been successfully applied to the prediction of the seismic response of a base‐isolated four‐storey building submitted to several specified accelerograms. The results for those earthquakes as well as the effects of some changes of the parameters of the system are discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.