The Sliding Isolation Pendulum for the seismic protection of buildings

Abstract

The Sliding Isolation Pendulum (SIP) is a new seismic isolator that can be ideally derived from a conventional PTFE spherical sliding bearing in which the flat surface that accommodates translation movements has been substituted by a concave sliding surface. This important, albeit simple modification, transforms a structural bearing into a perfect seismic isolator providing all necessary functions of a seismic isolation system for a building. Besides the adoption of the curved sliding surface, the Sliding Isolation Pendulum differs from a conventional PTFE spherical sliding bearing in its use of a new elasto-plastic sliding material and certain design details that translate into an enhanced level of performance. This paper illustrates the innovative aspects that distinguish the Sliding Isolation Pendulum from other existing similar devices, the substantial advantages it can accrue vis-á-vis previously used technologies, as well as the practical applications.