1.

Determine the horizontal and vertical stiffness of square (300 mm x 300mm) and circular (diameter =
300 mm) bearing as shown in figure 1. The height of the bearing between top and bottom steel plates
is 75 mm. The five no. of 5mm thick steel plates are provided in the bearing. Take the shear modulus
of the rubber as 1.06 N/mm2.

Solution:
Given for the each bearing,
Total thickness of the rubber = 75 – 5*5 = 50 mm
Thickness of single rubber layer = 50/6 = 8.33 mm
G = 1.06 MPa
(a) Square bearing
The shape factor, S = a/4t =300/(4*8.33) = 9
2
Ec = 6.73GS = 6.73 * 1.06* 92 = 577.84 MPa

The vertical stiffness of the bearing:

Kv = EcA/tr = 577.84*(300 x 300)/50 = 1040112 N/mm

The horizontal stiffness of the bearing

KH = GA/tr = 1.06*(300 x 300)/50 = 1908 N/mm

(b) Circular Bearing

The shape factor, S = a/4t =300/(4*8.33) = 9
Ec = 6GS2 = 6* 1.06* 92 = 515.16 MPa

The vertical stiffness of the bearing:

Kv = EcA/tr = 515.16*(3.14 x 3002/4)/50 = 727921 N/mm

The horizontal stiffness of the bearing

KH = GA/tr = 1.06*(3.14 x 3002/4)/50 = 1498 N/mm

2. A stiff superstructure that can be approximated with a rigid mass, m = 200 Mg, is seismically
isolated. The isolation system consists of 4 high-damping elastomeric bearings. Recorded data
on the cyclic behavior of the bearings are shown in the table given below.
 f= 0.5 Hz
strain(ϒ) uo po WD
% Inch Kips inch-Kips
9.80 0.34 1.80 1.15
74.00 2.43 7.20 15.27
124.20 4.00 11.60 35.58
179.80 6.00 17.00 70.00

(i) Compute the equivalent storage stiffness, K1(ω), loss stiffness, K2(ω), and the effective
damping coefficient, βeff %, and plot them as a function of strain.
(ii) Assuming that the superstructure-isolation system can be approximated with a SDoF system,
compute the natural frequency and the damping ratio of the structural system. What is the
natural frequency and damping ratio of the structural system if the mass of the superstructure
is reduced to 100 Mg.

Solution:
f= 0.5 Hz ω= 3.141593 rad/sec Mass(Mg) 200 100
strain(ϒ) uo po WD K1(ω) C(ω) Keff K2(ω) Es βeff Total Keff ωo ω/ωo ξ ωo ω/ωo ξ
% Inch Kips inch-Kips Kips/inch Kips-sec/inch Kips/inch inch-Kips % KN/m rad/sec % rad/sec %
9.80 0.34 1.80 1.15 4.26 1.03 5.36 3.24 0.30 30.26 3753 4.332 0.725 41.7 6.126 0.513 59.0
74.00 2.43 7.20 15.27 2.84 0.26 2.96 0.82 8.76 13.87 2074 3.220 0.976 14.2 4.554 0.690 20.1
124.20 4.00 11.60 35.58 2.81 0.23 2.90 0.71 23.20 12.20 2032 3.187 0.986 12.4 4.507 0.697 17.5
179.80 6.00 17.00 70.00 2.76 0.20 2.83 0.62 51.00 10.92 1985 3.150 0.997 11.0 4.455 0.705 15.5

𝑃 2 𝑊 2
K1(ω) = √(𝑈0 ) − (𝜋𝑈𝐷2 )
0 0

WD
K2(ω) = = C(ω). ω
πU0 2

P0
Keff = 𝑈0

1
𝐸𝑠 = 𝐾𝑒𝑓𝑓 𝑈02
2
wD
βeff = 2πK 2
eff U0
 4 x K 𝑒𝑓𝑓
𝜔0 = √ − 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦
𝑚

𝜔 =2·π·𝑓
ω
ξ= β
Ω eff
Note: ξ corresponds to isolated structure, whereas βeff corresponds to isolation system.

K1(ω) - (kips/in) K2(ω) - (kips/in)

5.00 4.00

K2(ω)
K1(ω)

4.00
2.00
3.00
2.00 0.00
0.00 50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 0.00 50.00 100.00150.00200.00
Strain (%) Strain (%)

βeff
40.00
βeff (%)

30.00
20.00
10.00
0.00
0.00 50.00 100.00 150.00 200.00
Strain (%)

3. What is storage stiffness and loss stiffness?

If the bearing is idealized as a viscoelastic element, the total bearing force is related to both the
displacement and velocity. The storage stiffness (KS) characterizes the ability of the bearing to store
energy. The loss stiffness (KL) and damping coefficient characterize the ability of the bearing to dissipate
(or lose) energy. The phase angle indicates the degree to which the bearing stores and dissipates energy.
For example, if the phase angle is 90 degree, the storage stiffness is zero, and the bearing acts as a pure
energy dissipation element. (i.e. a linear viscous dashpot).
Conversely, if the phase angle is 0 degree, the loss stiffness is zero and the bearing acts a pure energy
storage element. (i.e a linear spring).
In terms of the bearing hysteresis loop, the storage stiffness is the slope of the loop at the maximum
displacement. The width of the loop at zero displacement is proportional to the loss stiffness. The area
within the loop, which is also proportional to the loss stiffness, is equal to the energy dissipated per cycle.
𝑃0
𝐾𝑆 = cos(𝛿)
𝑈0
 𝑃0
𝐾𝐿 = sin(𝛿)
𝑈0

4. Show that for viscous damping the loss factor ξ is independent of the amplitude and proportional to
the frequency.

5. The following figure represents response spectra from 1985 Mexico City Earthquake. What is your
opinion regarding effectiveness of seismic isolation in this place?

6. For a seven storey-building frame (Fig. 1), design the lead rubber bearing that satisfy the
required criteria for practical implementation and manufacturing. The response spectra to be
used is shown in Fig. 2. Take PGA= 0.36g and damping modification coefficient for 10%
damping as 0.8. Total vertical load on mat foundation is 853.76kN. Given that beams:
50cmx30cm; columns: 50cmx50cm; bay width: 5m; storey height: 3m; live load on beams: 5kN/m
and dead load on beams: 20kN/m. Total vertical load on mat foundation is 853.76kN. Take site soil
type as A. Fixed base time period (Tb) = 0.875s.
Fixed base time period: Tb = 0.875s
1. Estimate target period for base isolated structure (considered as 2.5s to 3.5s)
TD = 3Tb = 3x0.875s = 2.6s
2. Evaluate effective bearing stiffness Keff
2 m W 4 2 853.76 4 2
TD   2  Keff   2    508.25kN / m
D Keff g TD 9.81 2.62
3. Estimate maximum design displacement of the isolator corresponding to the target time-
period for ξeff = 10%.
From spectral acceleration-period graph  Sa/g = 0.11 Sa =1.086m/s2.
sa sa sa .TD2 1.086  2.62
sa   2 sd  sd      0.186m
D2  2 
2
4 2 4 2
 
 TD 
4. A bilinear model based on three parameters model the lead-rubber isolation bearing: K1, K2
and Qd. Isolation bearings have high elastic stiffness, K1 and less K2 (post-yield stiffness).
K2 can be determined using the shear modulus of rubber and the bearing design. The
characteristic strength Q is the intercept of the hysteresis loop and the force axis and can be
determined from the yield stress of the lead [10.3MPa (1500psi)] and lead-plug area. The
effective stiffness of lead-plug bearing, defined based on peak-to-peak loads, steadily reduces
with displacement. In terms of basic parameters K1, K2 and Q, it is expressed as
Q
keff  K 2  D  Dy
D

The effective damping ξeff for D Dy is defined as

 Area of hysteresis loop WD 
eff 
2 keff D 2

The hysteresis damping is due to plastic deformation of lead.

WD  2 keff sd2eff

Equivalent Linear Properties from Idealized Bilinear Hysteresis Loop

The area of hysteresis loop is given by

 
Fy
WD  4Q sd  Dy where, Dy  and Fy  Q  K 2 Dy
K1
Q Q
Dy    K1  10 K 2 
K1  K 2 9 K 2 
Neglecting Dy, the short-term yield force is given by

WD  
Q  .keff .eff .sd   508.25  0.10  0.186  14.86kN
4sd 2 2
5. The post-yield horizontal stiffness (K2)
Q 14.86kN
K 2  keff   508.25kN / m   428.42kN / m
sd 0.186m
6. Yield displacement (Dy)
Q 14.86kN
Dy    0.00388m
9K 2 9  428.42kN / m
 Value of Dy obtained is very small.
7. Yield force (Fy)
Fy  K1Dy  10K2 Dy  10  428.42kN / m  0.00388m  16.63kN
8. Correcting the first estimate of Q
WD 2 keff eff sd2
Q   15.16kN

4 sd  Dy  
4 sd  Dy 
9. Geometric design of bearing. Assume the material properties as
E = 4.45x103kN/m2
ξ = 500%
G = 1.06x103kN/m2
Modification factor (K) = 0.57
Design maximum shear strain, γmax = 50%
Effective damping ratio, ξeff =10%
Yield strength of lead core, fpy = 8820kN/m2
Allowable normal stress of rubber, σc = 7840kN/m2
Yield strength of steel plates, Fy = 2.74x105 kN/m2
Shear strength of steel, Fs = 0.6 Fy = 1.65x105 kN/m2
10. Determine lead-plug area (Ap)
Q 15.71kN
Ap   2
 1.72  103 m 2
f py 8820kN / m

 
4 Ap
Dia. of lead-plug  p   0.047m

Take  p  5cm
11. Total height of rubber layers
sd 0.186m
H   0.37m
 max 0.5
12. Selection of shape factor (S)
 
E 1  2KS 2 / G  400  S  9.09
Suitable value of S lies between 10 to 20. Let us use S=10.
13. Evaluate compression modulus of rubber-steel composite
  
EC  E 1  2KS 2  4450 1  2  0.57 102  511750kN / m2 
14. Determine effective area (A0) of the bearing based on the allowable normal stress under the
vertical load condition.
PDLLL 853.76kN
c   A0  2
 0.11m2
A0 7840kN / m
15. Effective area, A1, from the shear strain condition for vertical load case.
PDL LL  b
 DL LL   s   A1  0.06m2
Ec A1 3
16. Evaluate Kr.
 A 
K d  K r 1  12 p   K r  360.16kN / m
 A0 
Area of rubber layer,
Kr H
A  0.126m 2  dia.   0.40m
G
s 
  2cos 1  d   2.18
 
2
Area     sin    0.055m2
4

 A  max A0 , A1 A2  0.11m2 
  0.50m giving area  0.196m2
17. Thickness of single layer is
 2 / 4   50
S  t    1.25cm
t 4t 4S 4  10
18. Number of rubber layers: N = H/t = 37cm/1.25cm = 29.8
Use N = 30.
19. Steel plate thickness
2  ti  ti1  PDLLL 
ts   2mm
Area  Fy
Let us use 2.1mm thick steel shim plates.
20. Total height of isolator
h = H+(N-1) x ts+2 x cover plate thickness =

High Damping Rubber Bearing (HDRB)

To meet the requirement of higher damping, the Malaysian Rubber Producers’ Research
Association (MRPRA) of the UK introduced high damping rubber bearing. The damping is
increased by adding extra-fine carbon block, oils or resins, and other propriety fillers. The
damping is increased to levels between 10 and 20% and 100% shear strains, with the lower
levels corresponding to low hardness (50 -55 durometer) and a shear modulus about 0.34MPa
(50psi) and the high levels to high hardness (70 -75 durometer) and a high shear modulus
[1.40MPa (200psi). The methods of vulcanization, bonding and construction of the isolators
are unchanged.
The material is nonlinear at shear strains less than 20% (Figs.) and is characterized by higher
stiffness and damping, which tends to minimize response under wind load and low-level
seismic load. Over the range of 20 -120% shear strain, the modulus is low and constant. At
large strains the modulus increases due to a strain crystallization process in the rubber that is
accompanied by an increase in the energy dissipation. This increase in stiffness and damping
at large strains can be exploited to produce a system that is stiff for small input, is fairly
linear and flexible at design level input, and can limit displacements under unanticipated
input levels that exceeds design levels.
T = 2π/  (T/2π)2 = m/K  KAH= m (2π/T)2

Four distinct displacements calculated using simple formulas and used for static analysis, serve
as the code permitted lower bound values for dynamic analysis results. These are:
DD: The design displacement. It is the displacement at the center of rigidity of the isolation
system at the DBE.
DM: It is the displacement at the center of rigidity of the isolation system at the MCE.
DTD: The total design displacement. It is the displacement of a bearing at a corner of the
building. It includes the component of torsional displacement in the direction of DD.
DTM: Same as DTD but calculated for MCE.
DD and DM are spectral displacement values calculated assuming constant spectral velocity
from code published spectral maps and adjusted for damping.

SD1 and SM1 are spectral coefficients, TD and TM are isolated periods, and BD and BM are
damping coefficients corresponding to the DBE and MCE level responses, respectively.
S1: The MCE 5% damped spectral acceleration for the site available from hazard maps.
Fv: The site coefficient defined for various site classes and acceleration levels such that
SM1 = Fv S1
SD1 = 2/3 SM1
The effective damping in the system, β, at the DBE and MCE response levels (referred as βD
and βM) are computed from

KDmax and KMmax are effective stiffness. The damping reduction factors BD for the DBE and
BM for the MCE are given in UBC, but a close approximation can be obtained from

Effective System Vibration Periods: TD and TM

TD and TM correspond to DBE and MCE, respectively.
W W
TD  2 and TM  2
K D. min g K M . min g
Total Design Displacements: DTD and DTM
The total design displacements DTD and DTM (which include torsion) are given by