• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.227-235
• /
• 2017

This paper describes some of the challenges for structural design of a mid-story seismic isolated high-rise building, which is located near Tokyo station, completed in 2015. The building is a mixed-use complex and encompasses three volumes: one substructure including basement and lower floors, and a pair of seismic isolated superstructures on the substructure. One is a 136.5m high Main Tower (office use), and the other is a 98.5 m high South Tower (hotel use). The seismic isolation systems are arranged in the $3^{rd}$ floor of the Main Tower and $5^{th}$ floor of the South Tower, so that we call this isolation system as the mid-story seismic isolation. The primary goal of the structural design of this building was to secure high seismic safety against the largest earthquake expected in Tokyo. We adopted optimal seismic isolation equipment simulated by dynamic analysis to minimize building damage. On the other hand, wind-induced vibration of a seismic isolated high-rise building tends to be excited. To reduce the vibration, the following strategies were adopted respectively. In the Main Tower with a large wind receiving area, we adopted a mechanism that locks oil dampers at the isolation level during strong wind. In the South Tower, two tuned mass dampers (TMDs) are installed at the top of the building to control the vibration. In addition, our paper will also report the building performance evaluated for wind and seismic observation after completion of the building. In 2016, an earthquake of seismic intensity 3 (JMA scale) occurred twice in Tokyo. The acceleration reduction rate of the seismic isolation level due to these earthquakes was approximately 30 to 60%. These are also verified by dynamic analysis using observed acceleration data. Also, in April 2016, a strong wind exceeding the speed of 25m/s occurred in Tokyo. On the basis of the record at the strong wind, we confirmed that the locking mechanism of oil damper worked as designed.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.374-379
• /
• 2008

The purpose of seismic isolation system among them is to lengthen the period of structure and make its period shift from the dominant period of earthquake. In this study, the seismic behavior of arch structure with lead rubber bearing(LRB) and friction pendulum system(FPS) is analyzed. The arch structure is the simplest structure and has the basic dynamic characteristics among large spatial structures. Also, Large spatial structures have large vertical response by horizontal seismic vibration, unlike seismic behavior of normal rahmen structures. When horizontal seismic load is applied to the large spatial structure with isolation systems, the horizontal acceleration response of the large spatial structure is reduced and the vertical seismic response is remarkably reduced.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2001.04a
• /
• pp.425-432
• /
• 2001

This paper presents the studies of the characteristics of dynamic behavior of single layer latticed domes with laminated rubber bearing and establishes the effectiveness of the system. The base isolation system installed between base and structures reduces the responses due to earthquake motions and increases the natural period of structures. Numerical analysis is carried out using modal superposition method and Newmark-βmethod which is linear acceleration method with (equation omitted) : 1/2 and β : 1/6. The time interval Δt for response calculation is 0.001 sec. Damping ratio is 2 % as Rayleigh damping and El Centro NS(1940) as earthquake motion is the input excitation data. The acceleration response of dome with base isolation is reduced to 30 % of the response of non-isolation system. From the results of the numerical studies on the models, it is confirmed that base isolation system effectively suppresses the responses of the domes subjected to horizontal earthquakes.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.471-484
• /
• 2020

Previous earthquakes show that, structural safety evaluations should include the evaluation of nonstructural components. Failure of nonstructural components can affect the operational capacity of critical facilities, such as hospitals and fire stations, which can cause an increase in number of deaths. Additionally, failure of nonstructural components may result in economic, architectural, and historical losses of community. Accelerations and random vibrations must be under the predefined limitations in structures with high technological equipment, data centers in this case. Failure of server equipment and anchored server racks are investigated in this study. A probabilistic study is completed for a low-rise rigid sample structure. The structure is investigated in two versions, (i) conventional fixed-based structure and (ii) with a base isolation system. Seismic hazard assessment is completed for the selected site. Monte Carlo simulations are generated with selected parameters. Uncertainties in both structural parameters and mechanical properties of isolation system are included in simulations. Anchorage failure and vibration failures are investigated. Different methods to generate fragility curves are used. The site-specific annual hazard curve is used to generate risk curves for two different structures. A risk matrix is proposed for the design of data centers. Results show that base isolation systems reduce the failure probability significantly in higher floors. It was also understood that, base isolation systems are highly sensitive to earthquake characteristics rather than variability in structural and mechanical properties, in terms of accelerations. Another outcome is that code-provided anchorage failure limitations are more vulnerable than the random vibration failure limitations of server equipment.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.299-306
• /
• 2023

An overview of seismic isolation and structural control in Japan is presented. The paper includes a mention of the history of aseismic technology and the earthquake threat in Japan, summarizes the merits of seismic isolation and response control, and discusses the types of devices used and some recent project examples. The projects presented are mostly examples of response control used for high-rise buildings. These types of buildings are not amendable to seismic isolation, and are a challenge to applying damping devices, as their high aspect ratio means that their dominant deformation mode is bending. Japanese engineers have developed a range of unique techniques to apply response control to these types of structures. Concluding remarks discuss some of the current challenges to expanding the use of seismic isolation and response control technologies.

• Computational Structural Engineering
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.61-66
• /
• 2008

• Computational Structural Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.57-62
• /
• 2011

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.829-847
• /
• 2016

Generally seismic isolation is achieved by supporting the structure on laminated rubber bearings, friction pendulum bearings, roller bearings etc. Very little work has been performed using soil as a base isolation media. Experiments and analytical work has been performed on a structural model with isolated footing and found encouraging results. Details of this work are presented in this paper.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.27-36
• /
• 2013

In this study, seismic isolation technology to the lighthouse structure is suggested and isolation effects on response reduction are studied for three types of isolation models with the proposed seismic isolation technology. A seismic isolation system is installed on the base of the lighthouse structure in model 1, on the base of the lighthouse lens in model 2, and on the base of both of them in model 3. The dynamic time history analysis verifies that in case of model 1, the earthquake loading is greatly reduced and the accelerations of superstructure are greatly reduced. Also, the inter-story drifts are very small and can be neglected. The isolated model is in translational state and can be seen as a rigid whole. as a results, model 1 is very effective to mitigate the influence of earthquake on structures. In model 2, isolation effects are valid but special care should be taken to failure of the non-isolated lighthouse sub-structure. In model 3, isolation effects are also valid but the effects are small. model 3 is less effective than model 1.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.503-529
• /
• 2015

Traditionally, multi-story buildings are designed to provide stiffer structural support to withstand lateral earthquake loading. Introducing flexible elements at the base of a structure and providing sufficient damping is an alternative way to mitigate seismic hazards. These features can be achieved with a device known as an isolator. This paper covers the design of base isolators for multi-story buildings in medium-risk seismicity regions and evaluates the structural responses of such isolators. The well-known tower building for police personnel built in Dhaka, Bangladesh by the Public Works Department (PWD) has been used as a case study to justify the viability of incorporating base isolators. The objective of this research was to establish a simplified model of the building that can be effectively used for dynamic analysis, to evaluate the structural status, and to suggest an alternative option to handle the lateral seismic load. A finite element model was incorporated to understand the structural responses. Rubber-steel bearing (RSB) isolators such as Lead rubber bearing (LRB) and high damping rubber bearing (HDRB) were used in the model to insert an isolator link element in the structural base. The nonlinearities of rubber-steel bearings were considered in detail. Linear static, linear dynamic, and nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed for both fixed-based (FB) and base isolated (BI) buildings considering the earthquake accelerograms, histories, and response spectra of the geological sites. Both the time-domain and frequency-domain approaches were used for dynamic solutions. The results indicated that for existing multi-story buildings, RSB diminishes the muscular amount of structural response compared to conventional non-isolated structures. The device also allows for higher horizontal displacement and greater structural flexibility. The suggested isolation technique is able to mitigate the structural hazard under even strong earthquake vulnerability.