Simulation of the Earthquake-Induced Pounding of Seismically Isolated Buildings

摘要

Seismic isolation introduces flexibility at the isolation level of relatively stiff buildings in order to avoid resonance with the predominant frequencies of common earthquakes. This alternative earthquake-resistant design approach can be used to reduce the shear forces, interstory deflections, and floor accelerations of a building, and prevent damage of its structural and non-structural elements, as well as damage of its contents, respectively. However, since the width of the seismic gap, which must be provided around a seismically isolated building to facilitate the large relative displacements at the isolation level, is usually finite due to practical limitations, the possibility of poundings of the building with adjacent structures during strong earthquakes is a vital concern. This research work investigates, using numerical simulations, how potential poundings of seismically isolated buildings with adjacent structures may affect the effectiveness of seismic isolation.