Experimental results reveal that rocking shallow foundations reduce earthquake-induced force and flexural displacement demands transmitted to structures and can be used as an effective geotechnical seismic isolation mechanism. This paper presents data-driven predictive models for maximum acceleration transmitted to structures founded on rocking shallow foundations during earthquake loading. Results from base-shaking experiments on rocking foundations have been utilized for the development of artificial neural network regression (ANN), k-nearest neighbors regression, support vector regression, random forest regression, adaptive boosting regression, and gradient boosting regression models. Acceleration amplification ratio, defined as the maximum acceleration at the center of gravity of a structure divided by the peak ground acceleration of the earthquake, is considered as the prediction parameter. For five out of six models developed in this study, the overall mean absolute percentage error in predictions in repeated k-fold cross validation tests vary between 0.128 and 0.145, with the ANN model being the most accurate and most consistent. The cross validation mean absolute error in predictions of all six models vary between 0.08 and 0.1, indicating that the maximum acceleration of structures supported by rocking foundations can be predicted within an average error limit of 8% to 10% of the peak ground acceleration of the earthquake.
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Fundamental Dynamics of 3-Dimensional Seismic Isolation
Seismic isolation systems for buildings are generally selected to achieve higher seismic performance objectives, such as continued operation or immediate occupancy following a design earthquake event. However, recent large scale tests have suggested that these objectives may be compromised if the shaking includes large vertical acceleration components that are damaging to the nonstructural components and contents. Some research has been conducted to develop three dimensional isolation systems that can isolate the structure from both the horizontal and vertical components of ground motion. In several cases, systems have been proposed without much justification of the target design parameters. Rocking has been noted as a potential concern for structures with 3D isolation systems, and complex systems have been proposed to control the rocking. In this study, the fundamental dynamic response of structures with 3D isolation systems is explored. Target horizontal and vertical spectra for a representative strong motion site were developed based on NEHRP recommendations, and horizontal and vertical ground motions were selected that best fit the target spectra when the same amplitude scale factor was applied to all three motion components. Using a simple model of a rigid block resting on linear isolation bearings, the following aspects are evaluated for a wide range of horizontal and vertical isolation periods: response modes and severity of rocking, horizontal and vertical displacement demands in the isolation bearings, and attenuation of both horizontal and vertical accelerations in the structure relative to the ground acceleration. Preliminary results point to a number of useful observations. For example, rocking appears to be an issue only if the horizontal and vertical isolation periods are closely spaced. Helical spring isolation systems that have been applied to a few structures have this characteristic. However, if the horizontal isolation period is large relative to the vertical isolation period, troublesome rocking can be avoided. In addition, other researchers have proposed systems with vertical isolation periods on the order of 2 seconds, which require large displacement and damping capacity. However, preliminary results suggest that vertical isolation periods as low as 0.5 seconds will be effective in attenuating the vertical acceleration. Limiting the vertical isolation period will make design of a 3D isolation system more feasible with respect to vertical displacement capacity and avoiding rocking.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1437003
- PAR ID:
- 10081096
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1508
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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