Numerical performance evaluation of a bi-directional roller seismic isolation bearings

Abstract

Base isolation systems (BISs) are devices that mitigate the harmful effects of earthquakes on structures. Nowadays, designers are implementing this technology to bridge and building special projects located in areas of high seismic risk to improve their performance under earthquake excitations. However, high cost, uncertainty and lack of knowledge in the design have limited its massive use, specially in developing countries. According to the mechanical behavior, BISs are clasiffied in elastomeric bearings, sliding bearings and roller bearings. In this work, the performance of a bi-directional roller bearings system was evaluated; thus, the main objective of this publication is to show the efficiency of a bi-directional roller bearing in improving the structural seismic response of multicolumn systems by means of reducing accelerations and displacements. A numerical code in Matlab was written to simulate the response of the structures under base excitations, the finite element method (FEM) in conjunction with frame elements was used to solve the governing equations. The validation of the numerical model was done by direct comparisons between experimental and numerical data.