• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.115-122
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• 2005

This study analyzed the characteristics of four kinds of bridge rubber pads and suggested how to determine the stiffness the pads. The stiffness of rubber pads can be estimated by a direct static test. In the procedure to estimate the stiffness of a pad, the dead load(preload) of a bridge and live load of a vehicle are considered. The polyurethane rubber pads have larger hardness than natural and chloroprene rubber pads and thus carry larger load bearing capacity. In addition, they showed higher stiffness with the same shape factor than the others and thus are more avaliable as for bridge bearings. Although natural and chloroprene rubber pads are elongated to large deformation in horizontal direction due to vertical loads, polyurethane rubber pads almost do not generate horizontal deformation due to vertical loads regardless to the thickness and hardness of the pads. Therefore, they do not need reinforced plate to restrict horizontal deformation.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.399-412
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• 2011

This study compares the performance of two smart isolation systems that utilize superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) for seismic protection of bridges using energy balance concepts. The first isolation system is a SMA/rubber-based isolation system (SRB-IS) and consists of a laminated rubber bearing that decouples the superstructure from the bridge piers and a SMA device that provides additional energy dissipation and re-centering capacity. The second isolation system, named as superelastic-friction base isolator (S-FBI), combines the superelastic SMAs with a flat steel-Teflon bearing rather than a laminated rubber bearing. Seismic energy equations of a bridge structure with SMA-based isolation systems are established by absolute and relative energy balance formulations. Nonlinear time history analyses are performed in order to assess the effectiveness of the isolation systems and to compare their performance. The program RSPMatch 2005 is employed to generate spectrum compatible ground motions that are used in time history analyses of the isolated bridge. Results indicate that SRB-IS produces higher seismic input energy, recoverable energy and base shears as compared to the S-FBI system. Also, it is shown that combining superelastic SMAs with a sliding bearing rather than rubber bearing significantly reduce the amount of the required SMA material.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.361-374
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• 2016

The material property of the rubber has been studied in order to improve the reliability of the finite element model of a lead rubber bearing (LRB) which is a typical base isolator. Rubber exhibits elastic behaviour even within the large strain range, unlike the general structural material, and has a hyper-elastic characteristics that shows non-linear relationship between load and deformation. This study represents the mechanical characteristics of the rubber by strain energy function in order to develop a finite element (FE) model of LRB. For the study, several strain energy functions were selected and mechanical properties of the rubber were estimated with the energy functions. A finite element model of LRB has been developed by using material properties of rubber and lead which were identified by stress tests. This study estimated the horizontal and vertical force-displacement relationship with the FE model. The adequacy of the FE model was validated by comparing the analytical results with the experimental data.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.601-611
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• 2016

The research, development and use of seismic isolation systems have been increasing with the gradual development of structure safety assurance methods for earthquakes. The High Damping Rubber Bearing (HDRB), one type of seismic isolation system, is a Laminated Rubber Bearing using special High Damping Rubber. However, as its damping function is slightly lower than that of the Lead Rubber Bearing, a similar seismic isolation system, its utilization has not been high. However, the HDRB has a superior damping force to the Natural Rubber Bearing, which has similar materials and shapes, and the existing Lead Rubber Bearing has a maleficence problem in that it contains lead. Thus, studies on HDRBs that do not use lead have increased. In this study, a test targeting the HDRB was done to examine its various dependence properties, such as its compressive stress, frequency and repeated loading. To evaluate the HDRB's seismic performance in response to several earthquake waves, the shaking table test was performed and the results analyzed. The test used the downscaled bridge model and the HDRB was divided into seismic and non-seismic isolation. Consequently, when the HDRB was applied, the damping effect was higher in the non-seismic case. However, its responses on weak foundations, such as in Mexico City, represented increased shapes. Thus, its seismic isolator.

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

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Technology of Plasticity Conference
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• 1999.03b
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• pp.229-232
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• 1999

The seismic isolation technology has appeared to be increasingly necessary for highway brides LNG tank nuclear power plant and building structures in view of recent frequent earthquake vibrations in Korea. Also high-technology industries required effective seismic protection. The LRB(Lead Rubber Bearing) systen has been counted as the most effective way for seismic isolation which is now under development and widely used in industries. Hear the commercial FEM software for nonlinear analysis MARC has provided force-displacement curves on the rubber system. The analysis has been carried out about four cases ; 29.5mm and 59mm horizontal dislacements with/without a center hole. The unknown constants of the strain energy function of Ogden model have been obtained by a tension test,

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.4A
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• pp.303-309
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• 2011

Laminated rubber bearing is the most commonly used device for seismic base isolation of bridge structures. It is important to know performance and behavior characteristics of the laminated rubber bearings. The main evaluation factors of the rubber bearing are classified as compressive, shear and tensile behavior characteristics. The reference data of compressive and shear characteristics are rich, but the reference data of tensile characteristics is scarce. In this study, tensile test results of the rubber bearing with variation of shape factor and shear deformation are investigated for mechanical property. When tensile deformation in normal condition is increasing, tensile cycle behavior curve becomes non-linear and tensile breaking point is 300%. On the other hand, tensile breaking point is shear deformation condition is about 40%. Furthermore, when shape factor is lower, tensile breaking point is decrease. This results mean that tensile breaking point is decreased in triaxial tensile deformation because of cracks caused by internal void of the rubber bearings. This experimental data can be used as the reference data of tensile characteristics for designing seismic isolation of structures.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.95-102
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• 2021

Elastometic bearings using flexible rubber materials have recently been widely applied for seismic retrofit of bridges. However, due to various factors, the aging of the rubber material progresses, which causes the shear stiffness change of the bearing, which affects the seismic performance of the bridge. For natural rubber, accelerated heat aging test was performed with variables of heating temperatures and exposure time to analyze shear characteristics. As aging progresses (i.e. increase of temperature and exposure time), the maximum shear stress and shear strain decrease. Also, the shear stiffness is greatly increased at the same shear strain. This means that the rubber material is hardened, implying that the seismic performance of the elastomeric bearing becomes poor.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2001

In this study, the horizontal loading tests of 10ton and 200ton capacity of LRB(lead-rubber bearing) were performed for the evaluation of the dynamic properties of the LRB. It is noted from the test results that dynamic properties of the LRB are dependent on the loading frequency, vertical load and shear strain. A Slender bearing subjected to large deformation will tend to develop plastic hinges in the end regions of the lead plug which will cause the failure of the lead plug. It is recommended that the appropriate mechanical properties of LRB considering the level of structural response and input ground motion should be used in the design of base isolated structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.603-619
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• 2014

Soft storey buildings are characterised by having a storey that has a large amount of open space. This soft storey creates a major weak point during an earthquake. As the soft stories are typically associated with retail spaces and parking garages, they are often on the lower levels of tall building structures. Thus, when these stories collapse, the entire building can also collapse, causing serious structural damage that may render the structure completely unusable. The use of special soft storey is predominant in the tall building structures constructed by several local developers, making the issue important for local building structures. In this study, the effect of the incorporation of an isolator on the seismic behaviour of tall building structures is examined. The structures are subjected to earthquakes typical of the local city, and the isolator is incorporated with the appropriate isolator time period and damping ratio. A FEM-based computational relationship is proposed to increase the storey height so as to incorporate the isolator with the same time period and damping ratio for both a lead rubber bearing (LRB) and high-damping rubber bearing (HDRB). The study demonstrates that the values of the FEM-based structural design parameters are greatly reduced when the isolator is used. It is more beneficial to incorporate a LRB than a HDRB.