Design, Installation and Design Review of Base Isolators and Energy Dissipaters in Building Structure(II)

Design, Installation and Design Review of Base Isolators and Energy Dissipaters in Building Structure(II)

This research is aimed at developing a guideline for the proper use of seismic isolation systems and passive energy dissipation devices for buildings. The research started from reviewing current design codes and standards as well as cases of applications around the world. The test standards for seismic isolators and energy dissipation devices are proposed based on the required performance of the isolators or devices, and currently available test facilities in Taiwan. Finally, installation issues that may affect the quality of those devices are discussed and summarized. The test procedures and evaluation for base isolation system and energy dissipation devices have been proposed in this report. It is recommended that all base isolators and dampers should be tested and evaluated before commercialized. The job-specific designed base isolators and energy dissipaters should be tested and evaluated each time when they are proposed for structures. Before the actual installation of these devices, tests should be conducted to confirm if the mechanical properties and the stability match the design values. This report surveys the literature found in U.S.A. and Japan. The draft of the latest seismic building design code in Taiwan is also studied.