ABSTRACT

Over the last decade, significant efforts have been dedicated to develop novel low-cost seismic protection systems that could be used on a large scale in developing regions of the world. In the attempt of reducing the cost of conventional base isolation devices, the feasibility of using flexible reinforcements to replace the steel sheets of traditional steel-reinforced elastomeric isolators (SREIs) has been validated. It has also been verified that these bearings can be installed in unbonded configurations. Previous research has verified the performance of fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators in unbounded configuration (U-FREIs) using recycled elastomers. The use of recycled rubber to manufacture U-FREIs is very appealing because of its low-cost and its limited environmental impact. In this paper a thorough comparison of the performance of natural-rubber unbounded fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators (NU-FREIs) and that of recycled rubber bearings (RU-FREIs) is proposed. To this end, the paper discusses the manufacturing and the main features of the two different technologies, as well as the results of experimental tests on the devices and small-scale structures tested on a shaking-table. Overall, the performance of NU-FREIs was found to be better than that of RU-FREIs. Nevertheless, recycled rubber devices are very promising when it comes to protecting non-engineered constructions from moderate to high seismic inputs at a fraction of the cost of conventional technologies.

摘要

在过去十年中，人们致力于开发可在世界发展中地区大规模使用的新型低成本地震防护系统。在降低传统基础隔离装置成本的尝试中，已经验证了使用柔性加强件代替传统钢增强弹性体隔离器 (SREI) 钢板的可行性。还验证了这些轴承可以安装在非粘合配置中。先前的研究已经验证了使用回收弹性体的无界配置 (U-FREI) 中纤维增强弹性体隔离器的性能。使用再生橡胶制造 U-FREI 非常有吸引力，因为它成本低且对环境的影响有限。本文对天然橡胶无界纤维增强弹性隔振器 (NU-FREI) 和再生橡胶支座 (RU-FREI) 的性能进行了全面比较。为此，本文讨论了两种不同技术的制造和主要特点，以及在振动台上测试的设备和小型结构的实验测试结果。总体而言，发现 NU-FREI 的性能优于 RU-FREI。尽管如此，再生橡胶装置在保护非工程结构免受中度至高度地震输入方面非常有前途，其成本仅为传统技术的一小部分。本文讨论了两种不同技术的制造和主要特点，以及在振动台上测试的设备和小型结构的实验测试结果。总体而言，发现 NU-FREI 的性能优于 RU-FREI。尽管如此，再生橡胶装置在保护非工程结构免受中度至高度地震输入方面非常有前途，其成本仅为传统技术的一小部分。本文讨论了两种不同技术的制造和主要特点，以及在振动台上测试的设备和小型结构的实验测试结果。总体而言，发现 NU-FREI 的性能优于 RU-FREI。尽管如此，再生橡胶装置在保护非工程结构免受中度至高度地震输入方面非常有前途，其成本仅为传统技术的一小部分。