Base Isolation
Base Isolation
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this project is to provide a safe and efficient Method of an earthquake
resistant building by using Base Isolation. As earthquake has been and become one of the major
disasters in human world, which has caused many deaths and chaos to human lives, due to which the
economy of a particular country also goes down. And it also affects the natural balance of the world.
So, it is essential that proper measures of prevention must be taken to cope up with such situations.
So, adoption of base isolation using lead rubber bearing at foundation is done for the protection of
buildings and lives from the fatal earthquake vibration. It also preserves the economic and social
state of a country.
Earthquake Resistant Building is a basic need of human being. But this is out of the
means of low income householder who constitute majority of the population in the country. Low cost
housing become must in civil engineering. In this report some methods of Earthquake Resistant
Building by using Base Isolation are given.
This article aims to study the different types of Earthquake Resisting Building
methods of base Isolation in India and provide a viable and efficient Method to overcome to
Earthquake losses. It tries to identify the main reasons for the inadequacy of Earthquake Resisting
Building units and why the government, private sector and common Peoples have failed to address
this issue. Based on the learning gained, the article tries to propose a scalable and sustainable model
to alleviate this growing problem.
INTRODUCTION
Base isolation of structures is one of the most desired means to protect it against
earthquake forces. It is the fundamental concepts for earthquake engineering which can be defined as
separating or decoupling the structure from its foundation. This effects in reduction of inter storey
drift and effective displacement in the floors of base isolated structural system, that ensures the least
damage to facilities and also provides safety to life and property.
The concept of base isolation had been suggested in last few decades, the technologies
are made available, the knowledge of base isolation system are getting used, developed and hence
well established. Seismic isolation systems are more effective when applied to high stiffness, low-
rise buildings, owing to their abilities to alter the characteristic of the building from rigid to flexible.
And the gradual increase in number of structures to be isolated enhances the fact that base isolation
system is gradually becoming accepted as a proven technology in earthquake hazard mitigation.
Interestingly, base isolation is a passive control system; it does not require any external force or
energy for its activation.
Generally, two basic types of isolation systems. In the first approach the isolation
system introduces a layer of low lateral stiffness between the structure and the foundation. With this
isolation layer the structure has natural period that is much longer than its fixed base natural period.
This lengthening of period can reduce the pseudo-acceleration and hence the earthquake-induced
forces in structure. This system is being adopted most widely. The second basic type of isolation
system is typified by the sliding system. This works by limiting the transfer of shear across the
isolation interface
Base Isolation:
Base Isolation is a state-of-the-art design strategy that substantially decouples
(isolates) a building from the damaging effects of earthquake ground motion. It can be used to
dramatically reduce earthquake forces by factors of 5 to 10 on mid-rise buildings (2-15 stories tall),
and make a Magnitude 8.0 earthquake seem like a much less damaging Magnitude 5.5 event. A base-
isolated structure is one supported by isolation elements--generally bearings or sliders--that are
typically placed between the building and its foundation. An appropriate analogy would be the
relationship between automobiles and their suspension system of springs and shock absorbers, which
cushion the occupants from a bumpy ride.
The following illustrations shows the effects of an earthquake acting on both a base-
isolated building and a conventional, fixed-base building. During an earthquake, the ground beneath
each building begins to move. In figure 1, isolators placed between the bottom of each column and
its foundation, prevent most of the horizontal movement of the ground from being transmitted to the
structure, and dissipate the energy imparted to the building by earthquake. The building feels less
force and moves uniformly (like a rigid box) in a slow controlled fashion, resulting in substantially
reduced damage to the structure and its contents.
But in contrast, we can say that the basic approach to more advanced techniques for
earthquake resistance is not to strengthen the building, but to reduce the earthquake-generated forces
that is put on the building. The most important advanced techniques of earthquake resistant design
and construction are: -
3. WORKING PRINCIPLE :
To get a basic idea of how base isolation works, first examine the `(fig b). This shows an earthquake
acting on base isolated building and a conventional, fixed-base, building. As a result of an
earthquake, the ground beneath each building begins to move. In (fig b) it is shown moving to left.
Each building responds with movement which tends towards the right. The buildings displacement in
the direction opposite the ground motion is actually due to inertia. The inertia forces acting on a
building are the most important of all those generated during an earthquake.
Fig: A Fig: B
In addition to displacing towards right, the un-isolated building is also shown to be changing its
shape from a rectangle to a parallelogram. We say that the building is deforming. The primary cause
of earthquake damage to buildings is the deformation which the building undergoes as a result of the
inertial forces upon it.
The base-isolated building, though is still displacing, retained it's original retangular shape. Only the
lead-rubber bearing supporting the building are deformed. The base-isolated building escaped the
deformation and damage--which shows that the inertial forces acting on the base-isolated building
have been reduced. Experiments and observations of baseisolated buildings in earthquakes have been
shown to reduce building accelerations to as little as 1/4 of the acceleration of fixed-base buildings
Since the rubber isolation bearings are highly elastic, they don't suffer any damage. The lead plug in
the middle of the example bearing experiences the same deformation as the rubber. However, it also
generates heat as it does so. In other words, the lead plug reduces, or dissipates, the energy of
motion--i.e., kinetic energy--by converting that energy into heat. And by reducing the energy
entering the building, it helps to slow and eventually stop the building's vibrations sooner-in other
words, it damps the building's vibrations.
In practice, isolation is limited to a consideration of the horizontal forces to which buildings are most
sensitive. Vertical isolation is less needed and much more difficult to implement. Although each
earthquake is unique, it can be stated in general that earthquake ground motions result in a greater
acceleration response in a structure at shorter periods than at longer periods. A seismic isolation
system exploits this phenomenon by shifting the fundamental period of the building from the more
force-vulnerable shorter periods to the less force vulnerable longer periods. The principle of seismic
isolation is to introduce flexibility in the basic structure in the horizontal plane, while at the same
V.A.P.M. ALMALA Page 4
FINAL YEAR REPORT
time adding damping elements to restrict the resulting motion. In an ideal system, the isolation would
be total. In the real world, there needs to be some contact between the structure and the ground. A
building that is perfectly rigid will have a zero period. When the ground moves, the acceleration
induced in the structure will be equal to the ground acceleration and there will be zero relative
displacement between the structure and the ground. Thus, the structure and ground move by same
amount.
4. APPLICATIONS:
1. It was firstly implemented in New Zealand in 1974 & came to India in 2001 after Gujarat
earthquake.
ii. The most common configuration is to install a diaphragm immediately above the isolators.
iii. If the structure has basement be structure then the options are to install the isolators at top,
bottom & mid-ht of the basement columns & walls.
2. The structures with base isolators are more predictable & hence they have high reliability as
compared to conventional structures.
3. The use of strengthening elements such as frames, bracing, shear walls is reduced to greater
extent.
4. In large seismic forces, the damage is concentrated in isolation systems where the elements
can be substituted easily.
7. Structural Damage is restricted when the structure is built on a suitable seismic isolating
system. International Journal for Research in Applied Science & Engineering Technology
(IJRASET) ISSN: 2321-9653; IC Value: 45.98; SJ Impact Factor:6.887 Volume 5 Issue X,
October 2017- Available at www.ijraset.com ©IJRASET (UGC Approved Journal): All
Rights are Reserved 1045.
8. Damage to indoor services and facilities would be of little concern which would normally
affect gas, water or sewage leakage for unfortified structures. The base isolation will protect
the structure by preventing plastic deformation of structural elements, because the
superstructure demonstrates elastic behavior during initial and following excitation of the
base.
9. Secondary damage as a result of falling furniture would be restricted. In other words, the
level of safety is increased significantly when using base isolation system rather than
conventional systems.
10. The function of buildings can be ensured during an excitation or even after a major
earthquake as super structure is designed to remain elastic. Therefore, plastic deformation of
structural elements can be prevented and the building is still a safe place to remain and life
can continue as normal.
11. Base Isolation can be retrofitted to suitable existing structures but too many variables to give
meaningful indication of cost.
12. Base isolation allows for a reduction in structural elements of the building with less ductile
detailing needed.
13. Crawl spaces or basements can have multiple benefits e.g. in siting services, additional
income from a car park, flexibility for future development.
15. When viewed against the savings it can in some cases result in a slightly lower construction
cost overall.
7. DISADVANTAGES :
1. It can be done on the structures resting on soft soils.
LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Overview of Base Isolation Technique for Earthquake Resistant Buildings, Vol. 3, Issue 11,
November 2014, DOI: 10.15680/IJIRSET.2014.0311133:
An overview of earthquake resistant building with base isolation technology is given in this
paper which elaborates the construction, working principle and design structure of base
isolation system. Base Isolation is a state-of-theart design strategy that substantially
decouples (isolates) a building from the damaging effects of earthquake ground motion. It can
be used to dramatically reduce earthquake forces by factors of 5 to 10 on mid-rise buildings
(2-15 stories tall), and make a Magnitude 8.0 earthquake seem like a much less damaging
Magnitude 5.5 event. Base isolation, also known as seismic or base isolation system, is a
collection of structural elements which should substantially decouple a superstructure from
its substructure resting on a shaking ground thus protecting a building or non-building
structure's integrity .Base isolation is the most powerful tool of the earthquake engineering
pertaining to the passive structural vibration control technologies. It is meant to enable a
building or non-building structure to survive a potentially devastating seismic impact through
a proper initial design or subsequent modifications. In some cases, application of base
isolation can raise both a structure's seismic performance and its seismic sustainability
considerably. Contrary to popular belief base isolation does not make a building earthquake
roof as there is no such thing.
3. Earthquake Resisting Elements and Techniques in High Rise Buildings, ISSN: 2278-3075,
Volume-9 Issue-3, January 2020, DOI: 10.35940/ijitee.C8854.019320, Retrieval Number:
C8854019320/2020©BEIESP:
An earthquake resisting elements are the components that are introduced in a structure to
improve its seismic resistance and method of application of these elements are said as
techniques. Though structures are designed and detailed as per code provision there remains
some possibility of damage or failure in strong earthquake. Performance of buildings may be
improved using earthquake resistant elements and techniques. An earthquake produces
seismic waves on earth surface of earth due to releases of large energy from lithosphere
which produces waves in earth surface causing disturbance in structures resulting failure of
seismically weak structures. Seismic waves then travels in horizontal and vertical direction. It
causes horizontal and vertical ground movement or vibration. These seismic waves cause
disturbances in in buildings. The disturbance caused depends on position of building with
respect to the center of disturbance called as epicenter. Intensity of these seismic waves is
maximum at center and goes on reducing away from epicenter. Generally horizontal waves
are of stronger than vertical so buildings are designed to horizontal seismic forces. These
valves travel in any direction but from design purpose it is resolved in two orthogonal
directions. Few constructional precautions may help to avoid or minimize damage in
buildings. Earthquake resistance of building may be improved with proper design and
construction of structures. Some earthquake resisting elements like shear wall, moment
resisting frame or innovative techniques like base isolation, or energy dissipation system are
used in many high rise buildings to avoid or minimize damage and hence loss of lives and
properties. Shear walls are RC member generally introduced in a structure during
construction in symmetrical manner. Base isolators in the form bearings are placed between
sub and super structure to reduce stiffness of structures. Structures are braced with seismic
dampers in energy dissipation system. Composites are used by mixing in concrete or as a
warp. All these techniques are reviewed herewith with special attention on shear walls.
4. Base Isolation of Residential Building using Lead Rubber Bearing Technique, ISSN: 2278-
0181, Vol. 7 Issue 05, May-2018:
Conventional seismic design practice permits the reduction of forces for designs below the
elastic level on the premise, that inelastic action with significant energy dissipation potential
in a suitably designed structure should be efficient and able to survive a severe earthquake
without collapse. But the base isolation seismic design provides protection technique which
in turn allows the structure to function with no damage even after major earthquakes with a
negligible increase in expenditure. Basically, the base isolation of structures reduces the
storey shear and acceleration and simultaneously increases the time period, storey
displacement and storey drift that induces flexibility in rigid structure by dissipating the
energy to the foundation. This base isolation study along with seismic analysis is done in
equivalent static method using E-TABS software. Analysis of the structures are done using
SMRF frame in Zone-II and response of structure like storey displacement, storey drift,
storey stiffness, overturning moment, storey shear were observed, plotted in graphs. An
overall comparison of G+10 and G+15 structures with isolator and without isolator were
observed. Indian standard codes such as IS 456-2000, IS 1893-2002. Design of base isolator
was done to find the stiffness and physical dimension of the core of LRB to be given at the
base of structures.
5. A Review Paper on Base Isolation Technique, ISSN: 2321-9653; Volume 5 Issue X, October
2017;
Earthquake is one of the nature’s greatest hazards, throughout historic time they have caused
significant loss of life and severe damage to property, especially to Man-Made Structures.
Base Isolation is an effective method for earthquake resistant design to reduce vibration
transmitted from ground to the structure. Base isolation, is also known as seismic base
isolation or base isolation system, is one of the most popular means protecting a structure
against earthquake forces. In the present paper, different base isolation techniques are
discussed.
7.
A high proportion of the world is subjected to earthquakes and society expects that
structural engineers will design our buildings so that they can survive the effects of these
earthquakes. As for all the load cases encountered in the design process, such as gravity and wind,
should work to meet a single basic equation: CAPACITY > DEMAND. Earthquakes happen and are
uncontrollable. So, in that sense, we have to accept the demand and make sure that the capacity
exceeds it. The earthquake causes inertia forces proportional to the product of the building mass and
the earthquake ground accelerations. As the ground accelerations increases, the strength of the
building, the capacity, must be increased to avoid structural damage. But it is not practical to
continue to increase the strength of the building indefinitely.
In high seismic zones the accelerations causing forces in the building may exceed one
or even two times the acceleration due to gravity, g. It is easy to visualize the strength needed for this
level of load – strength to resist 1 g means than the building could resist gravity applied sideways,
which means that the building could be tipped on its side and held horizontal without damage.
Designing for this level of strength is not easy, nor cheap. So, most codes allow
engineers to use ductility to achieve the capacity. Ductility is a concept of allowing the structural
elements to deform beyond their elastic limit in a controlled manner (Figure 10). Beyond this limit,
the structural elements soften and the displacements increase with only a small increase in force.
The elastic limit is the load point up to which the effects of loads are non- permanent;
that is, when the load is removed the material returns to its initial condition. Once this elastic limit is
exceeded changes occur. These changes are permanent and non-reversible when the load is removed.