Seismic Isolation for Earthquake-resistant Structures

• Introduction - Motivation; Outline. Conventional Earthquake Resistance Design and its Limitations - Objectives and Design Philosophy; Disadvantages; Need for a Different Design Approach. Seismic Isolation: An Alternative Earthquake Resistance Design Approach - The Concept; Basic Components; Advantages and Applications of Seismic Isolation; Comparison of a Fixed Supported and a Seismically Isolated Structure; Constraints in the Implementation; Limitations; Factors Which Enable the Use of Seismic Isolation; Economics of Seismic Isolation; Reasons for the Lack of Extensive Use of Seismic Isolation. Seismic Isolation Devices - Types of Seismic Isolation Systems; Sliding Isolation Systems; Elastomeric Isolation Systems; Elastomeric Bearings: Mechanical and Physical Characteristics. Applications of Seismic Isolation - Introduction; Seismic Isolation in the United States; Seismic Isolation in Japan; Seismic Isolation in New Zealand; Seismic Isolation in Italy; Observed Performance of Seismically Isolated Structures. Practical Considerations for Seismic Isolation - Seismic Isolation of Buildings; Seismic Isolation of Bridges; Maintenance and Management of the Isolation System; Code Requirements. Structural Modeling and Analysis of Seismically Isolated Structures - Modeling of Response; Natural Modes of Vibration; Linear Systems; Bilinear Systems; Comparative Study of a Linearly and a Bilinearly Isolated Structure; Linearization of Bilinear Behavior; Effect of the Degree of Non-Linearity; Effect of Superstructure Stiffness; Modeling of Seismically Isolated Bridge Structures; Ductility of Seismically Isolated Structures. A Preliminary Design Methodology - Introduction; A Feasibility Study for the Use of Seismic Isolation; Determination of Peak Ground Acceleration; Design of the Superstructure; Selection of a Suitable Isolation System; Preliminary Design of the Isolation System; Issues of Concern at the Final Analysis Stage. The Future of Seismic Isolation - Summary; Future of Seismic Isolation. Appendix A: Linear Elastic Systems - Single Degree of Freedom Systems; Multi Degree of Freedom Systems. Appendix B: Bilinear Systems - Single Degree of Freedom Systems; Multi Degree of Freedom Systems.

"Basic theories and knowledge on base isolation are clearly presented almost in layman's terms...approachable to undergraduate students and junior engineers...a useful reference in practical design of base-isolated structures." Applied Mechanics Reviews