Base Isolation System: Outline on Principles, Types,

Advantages & Applications

What is Base isolation?

Base isolation is a state-of-the-art method in which the structure (superstructure) is separated

In context of seismic design of structures, base isolation can be replaced with seismic isolation
i.e., the structure above the ground, which is most affected during earthquake is separated from
the effects of earthquake forces by introducing a mechanism that will help the structure to hover.
The concept of base isolation is quite easy to grasp. It can be explained as a bird flying during an
earthquake is not affected. In simple words if structure is floating on its base, the movement of
ground will have no effect on the structure.

Purpose of Base Isolation

Wind and Earthquake are the most predominant loads that demands lateral design of a structure.
Again, earthquake load is not controllable and it is not practical to design a structure for an
indefinite seismic demand. Only practical approach left is to accept a demand and make sure the
capacity is more than the demand. The inertial forces caused due to earthquake is directly
proportional to the mass of structure and the ground acceleration. Increasing ductility of the
building or increasing the elastic strength of the structure is the most conventional method of
handling seismic demand. Engineer has to increase the capacity exceed the demand.
Logic of Ideal Base Isolation

Base isolation takes an opposite approach, i.e., to reduce the seismic demand instead of
increasing the capacity. Controlling ground motion is impossible, but we can modify the demand
on structure by preventing/reducing the motions being transferred to the structure from
foundations.

Principle of Base Isolation

The basic principle behind base isolation is that the response of the structure or a building is
modified such that the ground below is capable of moving without transmitting minimal or no
motion to the structure above. A complete separation is possible only in an ideal system. In a
real-world scenario, it is necessary to have a vertical support to transfer the vertical loads to the
base.

The relative displacement of ground and the structure is zero for a perfectly rigid, zero period
structure, since the acceleration induced in the structure is same as that of ground motion.
Whereas in an ideal flexible structure, there is no acceleration induced in the structure, thus
relative displacement of the structure will be equal to the ground displacement.

No Structure is perfectly rigid or flexible, therefore, the response of the structure will be between
the two explained above. Maximum acceleration and displacements are a function of earthquake
for periods between zero to infinity. During earthquakes there will be a range of periods at which
acceleration in the building will be amplified beyond maximum ground acceleration, though
relative displacements may not exceed peak ground displacements. Base isolation is the ideal
method to cater this, by reducing the transfer of motion, the displacement of building is
controlled.

Displacement occurs at CG of the structures for fixed base structures, which will be approx. two-
third height for buildings and at isolation plane for base isolated structures with lesser
displacement within the structure. The response of a base isolated structure and a structure
without base isolation can be illustrated as shown in the figure below. The displacement and
acceleration is controlled by base isolation.

Response of base isolated & non-isolated structure

Basic requirements of an isolation system are

1. Flexibility
2. Damping
3. Resistance to Vertical or other service loads.

Type of Base Isolation Systems

Well, what kind of mechanism can achieve this, resisting the gravitational pull of earth? A
lubricated sliding surface? Or a strong magnetic levitation? These might sound right but are not
the right engineering solution. It should be a system which is capable of restraining the structure
under strong gust of winds and gravitational pull. Though an ideal solution is yet to be
discovered or invented, there are a few practical isolation mechanisms which are widely used in
the field of earthquake engineering. Which means that these systems are capable of reducing the
seismic demand of the structure.

Six major types of Isolators are

Elastomeric Rubber Bearings

Bearings formed of horizontal layers of synthetic or natural rubber in thin layers bound between
steel plates. These bearings are capable of supporting high vertical loads with very small
deformations. These bearings are flexible under lateral loads. Steel plates prevent the rubber
layers from bulging. Lead cores are provided to increase damping capacity as plain elastomeric
bearings does not provide significant damping. They are usually soft in horizontal direction and
hard in vertical direction.

Elastomeric Rubber Bearings

Roller and Ball Bearings

For isolation applications in machinery isolation, roller and ball bearing are used. It includes
cylindrical rollers and balls. It is sufficient to resist service movements and damping depending
on the material used.

Roller and Ball Bearings

Steel springs are most likely used in mechanical applications as in roller bearings. It is not
adopted in structural applications because it is flexible in both vertical and horizontal directions.
This will increase service deflections.

Spring Isolators

Sliding Bearing

Sliding systems with a predefined coefficient of friction can provide isolation by limiting
acceleration and forces that are transferred. Sliders are capable of providing resistance under
service conditions, flexibility and force-displacements by sliding movement. Shaped or spherical
sliders are often preferred over flat sliding systems because of their restoring effect. Flat sliders
provide no restoring force and there are possibilities of displacement with aftershocks.
 Sliding Bearing

Soft-story and Sleeved Piles and Rocking Isolation systems are other major systems.

Type of Base Isolation Devices

There are Six major types of base isolation devices which are widely adopted for seismic base
isolation.

1. Elastomeric Bearings
2. High Damping Bearings
3. Lead Rubber Bearings
4. Flat Slider Bearings
5. Curved Slider Bearings or Pendulum Bearings
6. Ball & Roller Bearings

Flexibility and Damping are the two major components of base isolation system. Flexibility of
the isolation has predominant effect in response modification. Viscous dampers or Hysteretic
dampers are often provided to enhance isolation. Response reduction using dampers is
independent of the structure stiffness.

Types of Base Isolation System Dampers?

1. Steel Dampers
2. Oil Dampers
3. Lead Dampers
4. Friction Dampers with disc springs

Advantages of Base isolation?

1. Reduced the seismic demand of structure, thereby reducing the cost of structure.
2. Lesser displacements during an earthquake.
3. Improves safety of Structures
 4. Reduced the damages caused during an earthquake. This helps in maintaining the
performance of structure after event.
5. Enhances the performance of structure under seismic loads.
6. Preservation of property

Isolation reduced the damages caused during an earthquake

Applications of Base isolation?

1. Base isolation of bridges