BHUJ HOSPITAL, GUJARAT

SEISMIC RESISTANCE STUDY

BRIEF

Gujarat is the site of earthquakes, one of which devastated the area in January 2001
and caused massive casualties. During the disaster the local hospital in Bhuji
collapsed claiming approximately 176 lives.
New Zealand, known as the “shaky isles”, has considerable expertise in earthquake-
proofing buildings as it is often effected by tremors. As a part of The New Zealand
Government’s international aid programme, they decided to rebuild the ruined facility
with the help of their earthquake engineering assistance.

The main hospital building has a CT scan room, three intensive care units and eight
operation theatres apart from other basic facilities.
Aside from the main hospital building, there is a block for the chief district medical
officer, two nursing schools ; one general and another for female health workers & a
commercial health centre and staff quarters.
The New Zealand Government contributed $150,000 to the project with the rest
coming from the Government of India. The total cost was Rs1 billion.
MISSION It was decided to construct the building with the New Zealand developed lead-
rubber base-isolation system.
The idea behind this technique is to isolate the building from the ground in a way
to avoid the transmission of earthquake motions up through the building.

BASE ISOLATION SYSTEM

A base isolation system is a powerful passive method of seismic protection where

the structure (superstructure) is separated from the base (foundation or
substructure). By separating the structure from its base. The amount of energy
that is transferred to the superstructure during an earthquake is reduced
significantly. The devices (bearings) for base isolation are installed between the
foundation and the building super-structure. It is basically putting flexible
bearings or pads made from layers of rubber and lead. This can be either elastic
or sliding.
They often install one or more type of bearing to support the weight of structure.

TYPES OF BASE ISOLATION DEVICES (bearings)

Elastomeric bearings
Friction pendulum sliding bearings
Flat plate sliding bearings
All of these components can provide some level of energy dissipation (damping), but typically only in the form of hysteretic damping.
Hysteretic damping has certain limitations in terms of energy absorption and can excite higher modes in some cases. But we can add
damping devices which can counter hysteretic damping.

A base isolator predominantly provides a way to prevent a structure having to move and follow the ground as the ground shakes
during an earthquake, while a seismic damper absorbs energy when the structure moves.

TYPES OF BASE ISOLATION TECHNIQUES (only few of them are discussed)

ROLLER AND BALL BEARINGS : This type of isolation technique is mainly implemented to resist service movements and damping. As
the name suggests, use of cylindrical rollers and balls is done for the isolation.

SLIDING BEARINGS : It includes a sliding mechanism with a predefined coefficient of friction. The mechanism results in reduction of the
forces and acceleration that are transferred to the structure.

SPRINGS : The springs isolation mechanism is not very popular in structural engineering as it facilitates the movement in both vertical
and horizontal directions. This increases service deflections.

ELASTOMERIC RUBBER BEARINGS : This is the most widely used base isolator. The bearing structure consists of horizontal layers of
neoprene or natural rubber sandwiched between mild steel plates, moulded as one unit. Steel plates are responsible for preventing
rubber layers from bulging.
Any type of movement in vertical deformation is resisted and is granted in the horizontal direction by these bearings. These types of
bearings have wide application in large span bridges and buildings.
 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES
Apart from protecting structures from seismic
activities, base isolation also protects them from blast
loads as the ability to move reduces the overall impact
of the blast on the structures.
Base isolated structures are predictable, hence
reliability of them is very high as compared to
conventional structural components.
Simplification of seismic analysis as compared to the
conventional structures by allowing reduction in
structural elements.
In case of large unexpected seismic activities, damage
is only concentrated in isolation system, where
elements can be easily substituted.
Base isolation can also be retrofitted to suitable
existing structures. Moreover, the building can remain
serviceable throughout the construction.
DISADVANTAGES
Base isolation can’t be done on every structure, for
example: it is not suitable for structures resting on soft
soils.
Becomes less efficient for high rise buildings.
Unlike other retrofitting base isolation cannot be
applied partially to the structure.
Implementation is efficient manner is difficult and often
requires highly skilled labours and engineers.
More expensive than the conventional engineering
methods
Base-isolation is well-suited to construction styles in India.

Structural Engineers of the New Zealand design team

supervised the installation of the first bearings on site in late
2001. Eventually, 280 lead-rubber bearings were installed.
Base-isolation protects a number of buildings in New Zealand,
including the national museum (Te Papa), the Parliament
Buildings and Wellington Hospital’s new emergency
department. It’s also used in numerous buildings and bridges in
earthquake-prone countries around the world.
The new 30,000m² hospital is the first building in India to be
fitted with the technology. It is reputed to be able to stand a
force 10 tremor on the Richter scale. There are plans to extend
the facility into a teaching hospital and boost its capacity to
500 beds.
CONCLUSION
BENEFITS OF SEISMIC ISOLATION

Reducing building response

-acceleration
-velocity
-inter storey displacement
Protection of contents
Reduced Damage
Minimal destruction

PARTICULAR BENEFITS FOR HOSPITALS

High demand for hospital services following earthquake

Proven functionality during and after earthquake
Can be used to protect other buildings housing key staff. For eg nurses
accomodation
Small investment required

PRINCIPLE : This technique is based on the principle that it is more efficient to reduce seismic demand on a structure rather than
increasing its earthquake resistance capacity.
THANK YOU
SUBMITTED BY NEFRIN ABOOBACKER AP
18AR27