Structural behavior of a seismic-isolated stadium grandstand considering hard and soft soil conditions

Abstract

The primary application of base isolation around the world is in buildings and bridges; however, it could be applied in any structure. The technique has some limitations that, theoretically, reduce its efficiency, such as in tall buildings and soft soil conditions. In this paper, a non-conventional seismic isolated structure is studied to evaluate the benefits of the technique on it. Specifically, a stadium grandstand located in Colombia with hard and soft soil conditions beneath the isolated base is analyzed. The considered structure is important due to its necessity for seismic risk mitigation. It will have a high number of people to evacuate safely during earthquakes, and after them, it could be designated as a humanitarian shelter. The results a) show structural benefits principally in hard soil conditions, b) corroborate and quantify the limitations in soft soil, and c) make recommendations to isolate structures under the conditions studied here.