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Title: Design and Assessment of Innovative Dual-Mode Rolling Isolation Systems
Loss of operation or devastating damage to buildings and industrial structures, as well as equipment housed in them, has been observed due to earthquake-induced vibrations. A common source of operational downtime is due to the performance reduction of vital equipment, which are sensitive to the total transmitted acceleration. A well-known method of protecting such equipment is seismic isolation of the equipment itself (or a group of equipment), as opposed to the entire structure due to the lower cost of implementation. The first objective of this dissertation is assessing a rolling isolation system (RIS) based on existing design guidelines for telecommunications equipment. A discrepancy is observed between the required response spectrum (RRS) and the one and only accelerogram recommended in the guideline. Several filters are developed to generate synthetic accelerograms that are compatible with the RRS. The generated accelerograms are used for probabilistic assessment of a RIS that is acceptable per the guideline. This assessment reveals large failure probability due to displacement demands in excess of the displacement capacity of the RIS. When the displacement demands on an isolation system are in excess of its capacity, impacts result in spikes in transmitted acceleration. Therefore, the second objective of this dissertation is more » to design impact prevention/mitigation mechanisms. A dual-mode system is proposed where the behavior changes when the displacement exceeds a predefined threshold. A new piecewise optimal control approach is developed and applied to find the best possible mechanism for the region beyond the threshold. By utilizing the designed curves obtained from the proposed optimal control procedure, a Kelvin-Voigt device is tuned for illustrative purposes. On the other hand, the preference for protecting equipment decreases as the earthquake intensity increases. In extreme seismic loading, the response mitigation of the primary structure (i.e., life safety and collapse prevention) is of greater concern than protecting isolated equipment. Therefore, the third objective of this dissertation is to develop an innovative dual-mode system that can behave as equipment isolation under low to moderate seismic loading and passively transition to behave as a vibration absorber for the primary structure under extreme seismic loading. To reduce the computational cost of simulating a large linear elastic structure with nonlinear attachments (i.e., equipment isolation with cubic hardening nonlinearity), a reduced order modeling method is introduced that can capture the behavior of such nonlinear coupled systems. The method is applied to study the feasibility of dual-mode vibration isolation/absorber. To this end, nonlinear transmissibility curves for the roof displacement and isolated mass total acceleration are developed from the steady-state responses of dual-mode systems using the harmonic balanced method. The final objective of this dissertation is to extend the reduced order modeling method developed for linear elastic structure with nonlinear attachment to inelastic structures (without attachments). The new inelastic model condensation (IMC) method uses the modal properties of the full structural model (in the elastic range) to construct a linear reduced order model in conjunction with a hysteresis model to capture the hysteretic inter-story restoring forces. The parameters of these hysteretic forces are easily tuned, in order to fit the inelastic behavior of the condensed structure to that of the full model under a variety of simple loading scenarios. The fidelity of structural models condensed in this way is demonstrated via simulation for different ground motion intensities on three different building structures with various heights. The simplicity, accuracy, and efficiency of this approach could significantly alleviate the computational burden of performance-based earthquake engineering. « less
Authors:
Award ID(s):
1663376
Publication Date:
NSF-PAR ID:
10272978
Journal Name:
The University of Oklahoma Libraries
ISSN:
0270-6989
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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  1. ; ; ; ; ( , Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics)
    Abstract

    Floor isolation systems (FISs) are used to mitigate earthquake‐induced damage to sensitive building contents. Dynamic coupling between the FIS and primary structure (PS) may be nonnegligible or even advantageous when strong nonlinearities are present under large isolator displacements. This study investigates the influence of dynamic coupling between the PS and FIS in the presence of nonsmooth (impact‐like) nonlinearity in the FIS under intense earthquakes. Using component mode analysis, a nonlinear reduced order model of the combined FIS–PS system is developed by coupling a condensed model of the linear PS to the nonlinear FIS. A bilinear Hertz‐type contact model is assumed for the FIS, with the gap and the impact stiffness and damping providing parametric variation. The performance of the FIS–PS system is quantified through a multiobjective, risk‐based design criterion considering both the total acceleration sustained by the isolated mass under a service‐level earthquake and the interstory drift under a maximum considered earthquake. The results of a parametric study shed light on understanding the valid range that the decoupled approach can be reliably applied for nonlinear FISs experiencing impacts. It is also shown that the nonlinear FIS can be tuned in such a way to mitigate seismic responses of themore »supporting PS under strong shaking, in addition to protecting the isolated mass at low to moderate shaking. The FIS, therefore, functions as a dual‐mode vibration isolator/absorber system, with displacement‐dependent response adaptation. Guidelines to the optimal tuning of such a dual‐mode system are presented based on the risk‐based stochastic design optimization.

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  2. ; ( , Proceedings of the 2021 International Modal Analysis Conference XXXIX)
    Floor isolation systems (FISs) are used to mitigate earthquake-induced damage to sensitive building contents and equipment. Traditionally, the isolated floor and the primary building structure (PS) are analyzed independently, assuming the PS response is uncoupled from the FIS response. Dynamic coupling may be non-negligible when nonlinearities are present under large deflections at strong disturbance levels. This study investigates a multi-functional FIS that functions primarily as an isolator (i.e., attenuating total acceleration sustained by the isolated equipment) at low-to-moderate disturbance levels, and then passively adapt under strong disturbances to function as a nonlinear (vibro-impact) dynamic vibration absorbers to protect the PS (i.e., reducing inter-story drifts). The FIS, therefore, functions as a dual-model vibration isolator/absorber system, with displacement dependent response adaptation. A scale experimental model—consisting of a three-story frame and an isolated mass—is used to demonstrate and evaluate the design methodology via shake table tests. The properties of the 3D-printed rolling pendulum (RP) bearing, the seismic gap, and the impact mechanism are optimized to achieve the desired dual-mode performance. A suite of four ground motions with varying spectral qualities are used, and their amplitudes are scaled to represent various hazards—from service level earthquake (SLE), to design basis earthquake (DBE), and even maximummore »considered earthquake (MCE). The performance of the multi-functional FIS is established and is described in this paper.« less
  3. ( , The University of Oklahoma Libraries)
    Nonstructural components within mission-critical facilities such as hospitals and telecommunication facilities are vital to a community's resilience when subjected to a seismic event. Building contents like medical and computer equipment are critical for the response and recovery process following an earthquake. A solution to protecting these systems from seismic hazards is base isolation. Base isolation systems are designed to decouple an entire building structure from destructive ground motions. For other buildings not fitted with base isolation, a practical and economical solution to protect vital building contents from earthquake-induced floor motion is to isolate individual equipment using, for example, rolling-type isolation systems (RISs). RISs are a relatively new innovation for protecting equipment. These systems function as a pendulum-like mechanism to convert horizontal motion into vertical motion. An accompanying change in potential energy creates a restoring force related to the slope of the rolling surface. This study seeks to evaluate the seismic hazard mitigation performance of RISs, as well as propose and test a novel double RIS. A physics-based mathematical model was developed for a single RIS via Lagrange's equation adhering to the kinetic constraint of rolling without slipping. The mathematical model for the single RIS was used to predict the responsemore »and characteristics of these systems. A physical model was fabricated with additive manufacturing and tested against multiple earthquakes on a shake table. The system featured a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structure to represent a piece of equipment. The results showed that the RIS effectively reduced accelerations felt by the SDOF compared to a fixed-base SDOF system. The single RIS experienced the most substantial accelerations from the Mendocino record, which contains low-frequency content in the range of the RIS's natural period (1-2 seconds). Earthquakes with these long-period components have the potential to cause impacts within the isolation bearing that would degrade its performance. To accommodate large displacements, a double RIS is proposed. The double RIS has twice the displacement capacity of a single RIS without increasing the size of the bearing components. The mathematical model for the single RIS was extended to the double RIS following a similar procedure. Two approaches were used to evaluate the double RIS's performance: stochastic and deterministic. The stochastic response of the double RIS under stationary white noise excitation was evaluated for relevant system parameters, namely mass ratio and tuning frequency. Both broadband and filtered (Kanai-Tajimi) white noise excitation were considered. The response variances of the double RIS were normalized by a baseline single RIS for a comparative study, from which design parameter maps were drawn. A deterministic analysis was conducted to further evaluate the double RIS in the case of nonstationary excitation. The telecommunication equipment qualification waveform, VERTEQ-II, was used for these numerical simulations. Peak transient responses were compared to the single RIS responses, and optimal design regions were determined. General design guidelines based on the stochastic and deterministic analyses are given. The results aim to provide a framework usable in the preliminary design stage of a double RIS to mitigate seismic responses.« less
  4. ( , The University of Oklahoma Libraries)
    Building contents and nonstructural components are known to be vulnerable during seismic events. Of particular concern is computer and network equipment that is critical in the post-earthquake recovery process. A solution for mitigating the seismic hazard to such systems is rolling-type isolation systems (RISs), but the characterization of RISs with realistic loading conditions and system setups is not well documented. An experimental parametric case study was performed varying the mass eccentricity, the number of cabinets, and the damping to simulate in-service conditions. A series of free response tests was performed using an abrupt shake table displacement (pulse) along with forced response tests utilizing the VERTEQ-II Zone-4 waveform. An array or string potentiometers and accelerometers measured the longitudinal, transverse, and rotational responses of the systems. Supplementally damped systems were found to have increased rotations when a mass eccentricity was present. The increase in system size and mass reduced the overall rotations due to an increased restoring moment arm and higher mass moment of inertia. Increased damping decreased the displacement demand on the isolator but increased the overall accelerations slightly. However, the systems without the supplemental damping had such large displacements that impacts were experienced causing excessively high accelerations. Durability was anmore »issue for lightly damped systems due to increased contact stress between the ball and concave rolling surface. A physics-based mathematical model was developed for the prediction of the response of multi-unit RIS arrays with mass eccentricity. The model was first calibrated to the experimental free response tests and then validated with the forced response tests. The validated model was then used to perform a numerical parametric case study. Configurations with one, two, four and eight cabinets were modeled, and the eccentricity was varied. The VERTEQ-II waveform was applied in both the front-to-back and side-to-side directions under varying ground motion scaling. Impacts are predicted at lower ground motion scaling with larger mass eccentricity due to the initiation of rotations. The ground motion scaling for which impacts occur is increased due to the systems higher resistance to rotations from increased number of isolated cabinets. Finally, capacity design curves for the impact point were determined, which can be used to establish the required configuration (number of cabinets and eccentricity) for a given ground motion intensity.« less
  5. ( , 16th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering)
    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 amore »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.« less
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