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PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF RC MOMENT RESISTING FRAMES USING

DIFFERENT RUBBER BEARING BASE ISOLATION TECHNIQUES

Conference Paper · October 2017

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Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF RC MOMENT
RESISTING FRAMES USING DIFFERENT
RUBBER BEARING BASE ISOLATION
TECHNIQUES
Dr. Rajan L. Wankhade
*
Assistant Professor in Applied Mechanics Department, Government College of Engineering, Nagpur,
Maharashtra, India; email: rajanw04@gmail.com
Abstract
Earthquake is caused by the release of the energy stored in the rocks
or interior of the earth which results in sudden rapid shaking. It is
occurred by destructive movement of the rocks in the Earth’s crust.
Earthquakes may repeat over a long period of time. When the earth
moves offshore in the ocean, it can cause a tsunami. It can also
cause just as much death and destruction. Landslides happen
because of such movement of plates. Base isolation technique is
effectively used to protect the structures from damage and getting
destroyed. Springs and bearings are mostly used as base isolators to
act as shock absorbers. In this paper different rubber bearings are
used to study the performance of the moment resisting RC frames
subjected to earthquake loading. Base shear and natural frequencies
are found out for such structures. These results are compared for
different rubber bearing to show its performance in earthquake
analysis.
Key Words: Base isolation, Lead rubber bearing, LDRB,
HDRB
1. Introduction
It is observed that moment resisting frames and building
structures fails if subjected to sever earthquake loading. Due
to the shaking of ground the fixed bases are damaged greatly.
Hence base isolation techniques are effectively used to
control the response of the structures in such situations.
Springs are mostly used as base isolators in various structures.
Further rubber bearings are also act as base isolators to act as
shock absorber. Natural rubber bearings, also known as
laminated rubber bearings are manufactured of natural rubber
or neoprene, a synthetic rubber material employed of its
toughness and durability.
Barbat and Bozzo [1] studied seismic analysis of base
isolated buildings. Barbat et al [2] proposed effectiveness of
International Conference on
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017
block iterative schemes in computing the seismic response of
buildings with nonlinear base isolation. Bozzo and Barbat [3]
evaluated nonlinear response of structures with sliding base
isolation. Constantinou et al [4] investigated behaviour of
teflon bearings in base isolation with its modelling. Kikuchi
and Aiken [5] proposed an analytical hysteresis model for
elastomeric seismic bearings. Taylor et al [6] studied
performance of elastomers in isolation bearings with a huge
literature review. Hwang and Hsu [7] carried out
experimental study of isolated building under triaxial ground
excitations. Sato et al [8] performed shaking table tests on
failure characteristics of base isolation system for a DFBR
plant. Jain and Sheth [9] provided criteria for earthquake
engineering in the civil engineering curricula. Murty et al
[10] discussed on opportunities and challenges for
developing earthquake engineering industry in India.
Wankhade and Landage [11, 12] studied performance
analysis of building frames with earthquake loadig subjected
to isolation techniques. Wankhade [13] carried out
performance based design and estimation of forces for
building frames with earthquake loading
Natural rubber bearing isolators are comprised of the
alternating layers of rubber and metal shims. These layers are
placed together by means of the vulcanization process
through pressure and heat to make a composite bearing.
Metal shims add vertical stiffness to the bearings so as to
prevent the rocking response of an isolated structure. Metal
shims also prevent rubber from bulging out under high axial
compressive loads coming on bearing. Lateral stiffness of
bearings is controlled by the shear modulus of the elastic
material. The bearings are kept between two thick end plates
to facilitate the connection between the foundations and the
isolation mat. The natural rubber bearings have low damping
and are unable to handle service wind loads due to low
stiffness. However, these natural rubber bearings are easy to
install and manufacture. Their behaviour can also be easily

Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
modelled analyzed and hence easy to design for particular
loading. The effects of creep, stiffness deterioration over time
are small for these bearings because natural rubber and
neoprene are known to have a consistent shear modulus over
time.
Hence in present work efforts are made to study the structural
response of RC moment resisting frames. For this, three
different rubber bearings; lead rubber bearing, low damping
rubber bearing and high damping rubber bearing are used.
Moment resisting concrete frames subjected to earthquake
loading are analysed to study its behaviour.
2. Base Isolation Techniques
2.1 Lead Rubber Bearings
As compared to the natural rubber bearings, lead rubber
bearings have a much better capability to provide adequate
stiffness for wind loads and better damping characteristics.
The lead rubber bearing is configured in the same manner as
that of natural rubber bearings, except there is one or more
cylindrical lead plugs provided in the centre as shown in
Figure 1. The lead plugs are added in combination with the
rubber to act as a device to demonstrate bilinear behaviour.
Under low service wind loads, high stiffness of the lead plug
bears most of the load for which the arrangement shows high
stiffness. Under extreme seismic loads; lead is deformed
plastically and hence the stiffness of the device matches the
stiffness of rubber. In addition, during the plastic deformation
of the lead plug, energy is being dissipation shows hysteretic
manner.
Figure 1. Lead Rubber Bearing
During extreme loads, the lead plug experiences the same
deformation as rubber and also generates heat or dissipates
kinetic energy by converting it into heat. Thus, hysteretic
behaviour of the plug in the bearing helps to reduce the
energy absorbed by the building. Thus, lead rubber bearings
exhibits desirable hysteretic damping characteristics, which
enhance the structural response of the system. The amount of
dissipated energy is a function of maximum bearing
displacement. Lead rubber bearings are also easy to install,
International Conference on
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017
manufacture, analyze and design as that of natural rubber
bearings.
2.2 High Damping Natural Rubber Bearings
The high damping natural rubber bearings are employed to
eliminate the need for supplementary damping devices. The
composition of HDRB is similar to that of the natural rubber
bearings except that elastomeric material is used in addition.
The increase in damping is achieved by adding fillers such as
carbon, oils and resins. The addition of such fillers increases
the damping to 20-30% of critical damping.
Figure 2. High Damping Natural Rubber Bearings
The high damping natural rubber bearings exhibit high
stiffness and high damping at shear strains below 20%. This
behaviour of HDRB is advantageous for limiting deflections
under service wind loads. The advantage of HDRB is that at
shear strains between 20% and 120% their stiffness remains
constant and damping decreases. At strains above 120% there
is an increase in both damping and stiffness of the bearing.
Therefore, such behaviour adequate sufficient stiffness for
service wind loads and also limits deflections. Hence it
effectively dissipates energy during extreme earthquake
loads. High damping natural rubber bearings have the
advantages with the aforementioned devices with regard to
ease of design, manufacture and implementation.
2.3 Sliding Devices
Sliding devices are employed to eliminate torsion effects in
asymmetric structures because of frictional force utilized in
sliding devices is proportional to the axial force on a sliding
device due to weight. Therefore, the centre of gravity of a
building structure coincides with the centre of stiffness of the
isolation system by eliminating torsion effects in asymmetric
structures. The sliding base isolation devices consists of pure
 International Conference on
Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017

friction devices, resilient friction based devices and friction friction-base isolators. The friction developed between the
pendulums. Sliding devices are characterized by insensitivity plates is sufficient to provide resistance to service wind loads.
to the frequency content of the earthquake excitations and Under seismic loads, the damping capability of the rubber is
hence can be used for a verity of structures. relatively small, and the friction damping is the main energy
Sliding systems are simple to construct and have a dissipater. The manufacture of a resilient friction-base
theoretical appeal. A layer with a particular coefficient of isolator is a relatively simple task as the rubber cores are only
friction limits the acceleration to this value and the forces fitted but not bonded to the sliding rings.
which can be transmitted also be limited to the coefficient of
friction times the weight. 2.6 Friction Pendulum Bearings
Sliding devices provide the major requirements of a
Friction pendulum bearing consists of sliding device with
practical system if the coefficient of friction is high enough to
pendulum action. The schematic layout of a friction
resist movement under service loads. Sliding movement
pendulum bearing is shown in Figure 3. They consist of an
provides the flexibility. The force-displacement trace
articulated slider resting on a spherical concave chrome
provides a rectangular shape which is required to have the
surface. The slider as shown in figure is covered with a
optimum for equivalent viscous damping. A pure sliding
polished bearing material such as Teflon. The friction
system should have unbounded displacements, with an upper
coefficient between the surfaces of slider and spherical
limit equal to the maximum ground displacement for a
concave chrome surface is of the order of 0.1 at high velocity
coefficient of friction equals to zero. The system provides no
sliding and of the order of 0.05 at low velocities. A friction
restoring force and hence the isolated structure will displaced
pendulum system acts as a fuse and is activated when
to new position after an earthquake ends up and may continue
earthquake forces exceed the value of static friction.
to displace with aftershocks. The lack of restoring force may
be remedied by using sliding bearings in parallel with other
types which do have a restoring force. Also restoring force
may be remedied by using a shaped rather than flat sliding
surface.

2.4 Cable Friction Bearings

Cable friction bearing consists of a conventional sliding
bearing, high strength restrainer’s cables and a shear bolt in
the middle. Under extreme earthquake; restrainer’s cables
prevents excessive displacement of the superstructure. Under
minor and moderate earthquakes, the shear bolts are designed
to resists shear so that no replacement of the bearing will be
necessary. Under high earthquake loads the shear bolt may
breaks and sliding is mobilized. Thus with the help of this the
transmission of earthquake forces to the superstructure is
mitigated. Energy is dissipated be means of friction between
stainless steel plate and the Teflon plate whereas excessive
relative displacements are restricted by cables.
2.5 Resilient Friction Base Isolators
The resilient friction-base isolators consist of a set of flat
metal plates which can slide on each other with a central
rubber core and/or peripheral rubber cores. The metal rings
are protected from corrosion and dust by enclosing them in a
very flexible rubber cover. The sliding plates are coated with
Teflon to reduce the friction. The lateral displacement and
velocity along the height of the isolator are distributed with
the help of the rubber cores. The coefficient of friction of the
sliding elements and the total lateral stiffness of the rubber
cores enhance the characterisation of the resilient
Figure 3. Double Concave Friction Pendulum Bearing
Frictional force and the restoring force due to the rising of the
building up the spherical surface are the lateral forces
developed by such bearings. The restoring force in a bearing
is proportional to the weight supported by the bearing. Also
the restoring force is inversely proportional to the radius of
curvature of the concave surface. Due to static friction, such
bearings do not deflect showing moderate rigidity under
service wind loads, which is a highly desirable characteristic
of such devices. The lateral force in a particular bearing is
always proportional to the fraction of building weight
supported by that bearing. Therefore the centre of mass of the
building should coincident with the centre of stiffness of the
support system to eliminate torsion effects. Hence friction
pendulum systems show low sensitivity to the frequency
content of earthquake excitation implying high stability.

Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
3. Other types of isolators
Various types of isolation system have been developed in
decades. The following are commonly used isolators.
Springs
There are proprietary devices based on steel springs and their
most likely application is for machinery isolation. The main
disadvantage with springs is that most of them are flexible in
both the vertical and the lateral directions. The vertical
flexibility of springs allows a pitching mode of response to
occur. Springs have little damping and will move excessively
under service loads.
Figure 4. Springs
Rocking isolation system
The rocking isolation system is used for slender structures. It
is based on the principle that for a rocking structure the
period of response increases with increasing amplitude of
rocking. Figure 5 shows a rocking isolation system.
Figure 5. Rocking Isolation System
Resistance to service loads is provided by the weight of the
structure. Damping is to be added by using devices such as
yielding bolts or steel cantilevers in such system.
Flat Slider Bearings
Flat sliding bearings provide an elastic-perfectly plastic
hysteresis shape with no strain hardening after the applied
force exceeds the coefficient of friction times the applied
International Conference on
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017
vertical load. This is attractive from structural design
perspective as the base shear on the structure is limited to the
sliding force.
Ball and Roller bearings
Ball and roller bearing is the simplest isolation
device. A ball is compressible material, which deforms as it
rolls providing some resistance to service loads and energy
dissipation.
Solid ball and roller bearing constructed of steel or
alloys usually results in flattening of the contact surface
under time if they are subjected to a high stress. This appears
to have restricted their use. Also they do not provide much
resistance to service loads and damping hence need to be
used in parallel with other isolation devices.
2.7 Cost of base isolation
The cost of isolation is always an important consideration
and this is one of the main questions to the architects and
Engineer considering use of base isolation. In most of cases,
a new isolated building cost more than a non isolated
building, usually in the range of 1 to 10% of total cost or
more. Following are some factors which affect the cost of
base isolation.
Factors affecting cost of base isolation
 Design and document costs.
 Isolator’s costs.
 Cost of structural change.
 Architectural change cost.
Thought cost of construction is affected by the use of base
isolation system, it is effectively used to control the response
of the structures in earthquake loading.
The performance analysis of RC moment resisting frames
with different types of rubber isolators is discussed in next
section.
4. Performance of G+9 Building with different rubber
bearing
The performance analysis of RC moment resisting G+9
frame with different types of rubber isolators is studied in this
section.
A reinforced concrete building is located on a medium soil
with following parameters.
Storey height: 3m
Size of beams: 0.3m x 0.5m
 International Conference on
Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017

Size of columns: 0.5m x 0.5m

Thickness of wall: 0.15m
Thickness of slab: 0.15m
Dead load: 8 KN/m2
Live load: 2.5 KN/m2
Density of concrete: 25 KN/m3
Modulus of elasticity: 25000 N/mm2
Fck: 20 N/mm2
Fy: 415 N/mm2
Time period is assumed to be 2 sec.
Stiffness of HDRB: 544 KN/m.
Stiffness of LDRB: 486 KN/m.
Stiffness of LRB: 745KN/m.

By a static analysis using the software (STADD Pro program)

the loads are computed for all the columns at their base,
where the bearings are to be installed. The weight of structure Figure 7. bending Moment Diagram for G+9 Building Frame
is KN. Figure 6 shows elevation of G+9 RC building. Figure
7. Shows bending moment diagram for same building having
fixed base. Figure 8-11 shows first two modes for same
structures after analysis.

Figure 8. First two mode shape without isolation

Figure 6. Elevation of G+9 Building Frame

 International Conference on
Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017

Figure 11. First two mode shapes with isolation (LRB 745)

Figure9 First two mode shapes with isolation (LDRB 486) Figure 12 shows variation of frequency with different rubber
bearing isolators (G+9 RC Building). Figure 13 shows
variation of base shear with different rubber bearing isolators
(G+9 RC Building)

Figure 10. First two mode shapes with isolation (HDRB 544) Figure 12. Variation of frequency with different rubber
bearing isolators (G+9 RC Building)

Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
Figure 13. Variation of base shear with different rubber
bearing isolators (G+9 RC Building)
5. Conclusion:
The aim of the study was comparative study of peak storey
shear and displacements in building with and without
isolators. When analyzed it has been concluded that there is a
considerable difference in peak storey shear and
displacements in a building with fixed and isolated base.
Also the behaviour of building changes from floor to floor in
each case.
 With the use of LDRB 486 isolator at base frequency is
reduced by 58% for 1st mode whereas it is 29.44% for
higher mode.
 With the use of HDRB 544 isolator at base frequency is
reduced by 55.94% for 1st mode whereas it is 29.14% for
higher th mode.
 With the use of LRB 745 isolator at base frequency is
reduced by 49.92% for 1st mode whereas it is 28.23% for
higher th mode.
 Percentage difference for peak storey shear with LDRB
486 isolator to that of fixed base is found to be 53.64 % at
top level and 26.73% at ground level.
 Percentage difference for peak storey shear with HDRB
544 isolator to that of fixed base is found to be 52.75 % at
top level and 26.73% at ground level.
 Percentage difference for peak storey shear with LRB 745
isolator to that of fixed base is found to be 50.10 % at top
level and 26.72% at ground level.
References
[1] A. H. Barbat and L. M. Bozzo, Seismic analysis of
base isolated buildings, Archives of Computational
Methods in Engineering, 4, 2, 1997,153–192.
[2] A. H. Barbat, N. Molinares and R. Codina,
Effectiveness of block iterative schemes in
computing the scismic response of buildings with
nonlinear base isolation, Computers and structures,
58(1), 1996, 133–141.
International Conference on
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017
[3] L. M. Bozzo and A. H. Barbat, Nonlinear response
of structures with sliding base isolation, Journal of
Structural Control, 2(2), 1995, 59–77.
[4] M. C. Constantinou, A. Mokha and A. M. Reinhorn,
Teflon Bearings in Base Isolation II: Modeling,
Journal of Structural Engineering, ASCE,116(2),
1990, 455–474.
[5] M. Kikuchi and I.D. Aiken, An Analytical
Hysteresis Model For Elastomeric Seismic Bearings,
Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics,
26, 1997, pp 215-231.
[6] A. W. Taylor, A. N. Lin and J. W. Martin,
Performance of Elastomers in Isolation Bearings : A
Literature Review, J. of Earthquake Spectra, 8(2),
1992, pp 279-303.
[7] J. S. Hwang, T. Y. Hsu, Experimental study of
isolated building under triaxial ground excitations.
ASCE J. Struct. Eng., 126, 2000, 879–886.
[8] N. Sato, A. Kato, Y. Fukushima, M. Iizuka, Shaking
table tests on failure characteristics of base isolation
system for a DFBR plant. Nuclear Eng. Des., 212,
2002, 293–305.
[9] Jain, S.K. and Sheth, A. Earthquake Engineering in
the civil engineering curricula, The Indian Concrete
Journal, September 2002, Vol 76, No 9, pp.
558-562.
[10] CVR Murty, D. C. Rai, R Sinha and S. K. Jain,
workshop on developing earthquake engineering
industry in India: Opportunities and challenges, The
Indian Concrete Journal, 73, 8, 1999, 481-487.
[11] R. L. Wankhade and A. B. Landage, Static analysis
for fixed base and base isolated building frame,
Proceedings of National Conference on Advances in
Civil and Structural Engineering (NCACSE-2014),
2014, 466-473.
[12] R. L. Wankhade and A. B. Landage, Performance
Based Analysis and Design of Building Frames with
Earthquake Loading, International Journal of
Engineering Research, 5(1), 2015, 106-110.
[13] R. L. Wankhade, Performance based design and
estimation of forces for building frames with
earthquake loading, International Conference on
Recent Trends and Challenges in Civil Engineering
December 12-14, 2014, MNNIT Allahabad, India,
141, 335-340.
Biographies
(Dr. R. L. Wankhade is
working as Assistant
Professor at Government
 International Conference on
Innovations in Concrete for Infrastructure Challenges
Nagpur, India
October 6-7, 2017

College of Engineering, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.)

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