NCEER - Taisei Corporation Research Program on sliding seismic isolation systems for bridges : Experimental and analytical study of systems consisting of sliding bearings, rubber restoring force devices and fluid dampers

ABSTRACT

This report describes the results of an experimental study of the behavior of a class of sliding isolation systems, consisting of flat sliding bearings, rubber restoring force debices and fluid dampers, in bridge seismic isolation. Earthquake simulator tests have been perfomed on a model bridge structure both isolated with these systems and non-isolated. The experimental results demonstrate a market increase of the capacity of the isolated bridge to withstand earthquake forces under all conditions. Analytical techniques are used to predict the dynamic response of the system and the obtained results are in very good agreement with the experimental results.(AU)