Seismic behavior of base-isolated building structures with lead rubber bearings (LRBs)

• Published in: Procedia Structural Integrity 2024, Vol.61, p.171-179
• Main Authors: Ziraoui, Adil, Kissi, Benaissa, Aaya, Hassan, Azdine, Ilham
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Base isolation system; Lead rubber bearing (LRB); Nonlinear time history analysis method
• ISSN: 2452-3216; 2452-3216
• DOI: 10.1016/j.prostr.2024.06.023

This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of multi-storey buildings in mitigating seismic responses, particularly through the implementation of a base isolation system. Our focus centers on two reinforced concrete structures, one eight stories high and the other ten stories high, both outfitted with a base isolation system featuring lead rubber isolators to proactively minimize seismic risks. The primary objective of introducing a base isolation system is to curtail the potentially destructive impact of earthquakes on a building by attenuating the transmission of seismic forces from the superstructure to the foundations. This seismic protection technique involves strategically installing isolators between the building's superstructure and its foundations. The integration of lead rubber bearing (LRB) isolators into the building's base constitutes a pivotal approach to significantly augmenting the seismic performance of a structure. This method boasts several advantages, chief among them being a notable reduction in floor drift, a critical factor for ensuring the safety and stability of a structure amidst seismic activity. The outcomes of our study underscore the remarkable effectiveness of base isolation in substantially decreasing the overall seismic responses of buildings in the studied region. The observed reductions range from 50% to 70%, affirming the robustness and resilience that this innovative approach imparts to buildings in earthquake-prone areas.