Feasibility and Performance Studies on Improving the Earthquake Resistance of New and Existing Buildings Using the Friction Pendulum System

摘要

The Friction Pendulum System (FPS) is an innovative technique for improving the earthquake resistance of buildings, which uses steel connections to isolate seismically a building by means of small amplitude pendulum motions. The anticipated seismic performance of building structures using the FPS steel connections was investigated analytically and experimentally. Buildings designed to have approximately equivalent construction costs as conventional building designs were studied. The earthquake responses of the FPS supported buildings were compared with those of conventional code design. The FPS was assessed to be feasible and cost effective for improving the seismic resistance of new buildings. The flexibility to select any isolator period makes the approach suitable for a wide range of applications. The compact size and high strength of the FPS isolators permit a versatility in installation details that helps to achieve construction which is cost equivalent to non-isolated buildings, yet provides substantially improved seismic resistance. A cost equivalent example building, designed with the FPS and a reduced seismic design load of 50%, demonstrated 86% less building damage during severe earthquakes as compared with the full strength design without the FPS. The FPS was also assessed to be a feasible and attractive technique to improve the seismic resistance of existing hazardous buildings.