 Base Isolation

Base Isolation is the process by which super-structure and sub-structure or Base is separated by providing
Suspension system between base and structure in reference of Seismic design of structure. i.e., The structure
Above the ground, which is most affected during the earthquake force which is separated so that damage in
the structure is minimised.
e.g., During the Earthquake Flying bird is affected. Or we can say that if the structure is floating on its base,
the ground movement will not affect the structure.

 Purpose of Base Isolation

Wind and Earthquake are the most predominant loads that demands lateral design of a structure. Again,
earthquake load is not controllable, only practical approach left is to accept that capacity is more than
demand.
 The inertial forces caused due to earthquake is directly proportional to the mass of structure and
the ground acceleration.
 Increasing ductility of the building or increasing the elastic strength of the structure is the most
conventional method of handling seismic demand.
Base isolation takes an opposite approach, i.e., to reduce the seismic demand instead of increasing the
capacity. It can be achieved by preventing/reducing the motions being transferred to the structure from
foundations.

 Principle of Base Isolation

The basic principle behind base isolation is that the response of the structure or a building is modified such
that the ground below is capable of moving without transmitting minimal or no motion to the structure
above. A complete separation is possible only in an ideal system. In a real-world scenario, it is necessary to
have a vertical support to transfer the vertical loads to the base.

Basic requirements of an isolation system are

1. Flexibility
2. Damping
3. Resistance to Vertical or other service loads.
 Type of Base Isolation Devices
There are Six major types of base isolation devices which are widely adopted for seismic base isolation.

1. Elastomeric Bearings
2. High Damping Bearings
3. Lead Rubber Bearings
4. Flat Slider Bearings
5. Curved Slider Bearings or Pendulum Bearings
6. Ball & Roller Bearings

Flexibility and Damping are the two major components of base isolation system. Flexibility of the isolation
has predominant effect in response modification. Viscous dampers or Hysteretic dampers are often
provided to enhance isolation. Response reduction using dampers is independent of the structure stiffness.

a) Elastomeric Bearing
Elastomers are ideal for base isolation due to the low shear modulus, near incompressibility and ability to
accommodate large recoverable strains at relatively low stress levels. Modern elastomeric isolation devices
are composed of alternating horizontal layers of reinforcement and vulcanized elastomer.

Elastomeric Isolators Rubber isolators can be of heavy-duty rubber or alternatively rubber stiffened with
metal plates. Steel plates prevent bulging of rubber under vertical load and also provide large vertical
stiffness to support heavy gravity loads.

b) Lead rubber bearing

Lead rubber bearing, applied to building and bridge constructions, is a practical and cost-effective choice
for seismic isolation. It is composed of laminated elastomeric bearing pad, top and bottom sealing &
connecting plates and lead plug inserted in the middle of the bearing.

Circular
Lead n= dof of
superstructur
e

Features of LRB

a) Stiff and strong in vertical direction but flexible in horizontal direction.

b) Absorb earthquake-generated force by changing the bearing’s shape.
c) Allow the buildings to retain their original shapes and position owing to the high elastic force of
rubber.
d) Capable to adjust damping amount just by changing the number of lead plugs.
e) Excellent vertical load capacity ranging from 5 ton to 2000 ton.
f) Reduce the ground acceleration by extending the structure vibration period.
g) High durable and elasticity of the rubber part - not suffer any damages during and after earthquake.
h) Easy to install without a separated damper.
i) Low maintenance.

Mechanical model of LRB

c) Sliding Isolator

Sliding isolator works on principle of friction. In friction system, two true flat stainless-steel plates
(Friction system) slide over each other. The upper plate slides over the lower plate under excitation
force. The structure resting on upper plate displace as a rigid mass during earthquake. The only
necessary condition for triggering of isolator is,
excitation force greater than frictional force of isolator.

The ultimate frictional force,

F s=μMg
Where,

μ = Co-efficient of friction

M = Mass of Isolator

d) Friction pendulum System

Friction Pendulum System is the advancement on the pure

friction (Sliding) system to overcome the main drawback of
restoring force of pure friction (Sliding) system. It is based on
well-known principle of pendulum motion. The FPS has emerged as an effective vibration control system
incorporating isolation, energy dissipation and restoring mechanism in one unit.

The FPS has a spherical concave surface as a base of isolator and an articulated element as a slider. The
PTFE bearing material is provided in between base and slider. In an earthquake the slider will slide over
concave surface so as to achieve isolation. Due to concavity of base, at the end of earthquake, the slider will
come back to its original position under action of gravitational force.

Features of FPS

1. Will show the high seismic isolation effect for the lighter load buildings to which the application of
multilayer rubber is difficult, because the variable setting of period is possible regardless the weight
of the building.
2. A low-cost seismic isolation device not only the cost of device itself, but also the cost for
modification for seismic isolation of the building.
3. The simple structure provides the ease of construction, and further its compact size does not require
space for installation, which is suitable for anti-seismic reinforcement as well. (Retrofit)
4. Always maintain the stable performance because of the excellent durability and less variation of
characteristics of the device.
5. The secure maintenance can be just visually conducted.

Mechanical model of FPS

 Modelling and analysis of Base isolation of building

Assumptions

1. The super-structure is considered as elastic during the seismic excitation.

2. The floors are assumed to be rigid in its own plans and the mass is considered to be lumped at each
floor.
3. The columns are inextensible and weightless, only providing the lateral stiffness.

The governing equation for super-structure:

M
[ M ] { ẍ s } + [ C s ] { ẋ s } + [ K s ] { x s } =[ M s ] { γ }

Where,

[ M ] =Mass , [ C s ]=Damping∧ [ K s ] =stiffness

{ ẍ s } , { ẋ s }∧{ x s }=Relative Acceleration , velocity∧Displacement respectively

{ γ }=influence factor

mb ẍb + F b−K 1 x 1−C 1 ẋ 1=−mb ẍ g

Where,

mb=mass of isolation

F b=restoring force

x 1=displacement if first floor

Newmark’s Beta method/4th order Runge-kutta method

Since order of left hand side is not equal to order of right hand side so influence factor is introduced.

 Advantages of Base Isolation

1. Reduced the seismic demand of structure, thereby reducing the cost of structure.
2. Lesser displacements during an earthquake.
3. Improves safety of Structures.
4. Reduced the damages caused during an earthquake. This helps in maintaining the performance of
structure after event.
5. Enhances the performance of structure under seismic loads.
 Application of Base Isolation
1. Base isolation of bridges.
2. Base isolation of important buildings.
3. Enhancing response of historic structures.
4. Isolation in Machinery Field.