Techno Press
Techno Press

Smart Structures and Systems
  Volume 17, Number 5, May 2016 , pages 709-724
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12989/sss.2016.17.5.709
 


Performance assessment of buildings isolated with S-FBI system under near-fault earthquakes
Osman E. Ozbulut and Baikuntha Silwal

 
Abstract
    This study investigates the optimum design parameters of a superelastic friction base isolator (S-FBI) system through a multi-objective genetic algorithm to improve the performance of isolated buildings against near-fault earthquakes. The S-FBI system consists of a flat steel-PTFE sliding bearing and superelastic NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) cables. Sliding bearing limits the transfer of shear across the isolation interface and provides damping from sliding friction. SMA cables provide restoring force capability to the isolation system together with additional damping characteristics. A three-story building is modeled with S-FBI isolation system. Multiple-objective numerical optimization that simultaneously minimizes isolation-level displacements and superstructure response is carried out with a genetic algorithm in order to optimize S-FBI system. Nonlinear time history analyses of the building with optimal S-FBI system are performed. A set of 20 near-fault ground motion records are used in numerical simulations. Results show that S-FBI system successfully control response of the buildings against near-fault earthquakes without sacrificing in isolation efficacy and producing large isolation-level deformations.
 
Key Words
    shape memory alloys; base isolation; near-fault earthquake; seismic control; friction
 
Address
Osman E. Ozbulut and Baikuntha Silwal: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA 22904-1000
 

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