Application and design of 3D seismic isolation bearing in lattice shell structure

ABSTRACT

A three-dimensional seismic isolation bearing (3DSIB) was introduced. The 3DSIB was designed and applied in a single-layer spherical lattice shell structure with 40 m span by using a SAP2000 software. The original record of the Taft seismic wave was input into the shell structure in X, Y and Z directions, respectively in the model. The effectiveness of the 3DSIB was examined by time history analysis to the shell structural model in the SAP2000. It was shown that the isolated structure with 3DSIBs had better performance compared with the un-isolated structure in terms of the nodal absolute acceleration response as well as member axial force. It was found that the 3DSIB had good isolation function in both horizontal and vertical directions for shell structure under seismic conditions. Furthermore, the influence of horizontal and vertical stiffness of 3DSIB on the structural period, structural member peak axial force and nodal absolute acceleration were analysed. The variation of the structural responses under different conditions was discussed. The results will provide references for parameter design of the bearing in spatial structures. The purpose of this research is to introduce the new 3DSIB and promote the practical application of bearings in spatial structures.

KEYWORDS:

• Acceleration response
• axial force
• bearing
• seismic isolation
• spatial structure

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under [Grant Nos. 50778006, 51278008]; Research Fund for Doctoral Program of Higher Education under [Grant No. 20121103110021].

Notes on contributors

Yancheng Cai

Dr Yancheng Cai is currently a Structural Engineer in Meinhardt (C&S) Ltd, Hong Kong. He obtained his MEng and Ph.D. degrees in Structural Engineering from the Beijing University of Technology in 2009 and The University of Hong Kong in 2013, respectively. He received the University Postgraduate Fellowship and University Postgraduate Studentship from The University of Hong Kong in 2009. He is a member of The International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures, and a member of the Editorial Advisory Panel of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Civil Engineering.

Xiongyan Li

Dr Xiongyan Li is an Associate Professor of Structural Engineering, the College of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Beijing University of Technology. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the Beijing University of Technology. He is a First Class Registered Structural Engineer of the PRC and a member of The International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures. His current research interests lie in the seismic isolation and newly structural form innovation for spatial structures.

Suduo Xue

Prof Suduo Xue is a Professor of Structural Engineering, the College of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Beijing University of Technology. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His current research interests lie in the seismic isolation, seismic analytical theory and newly structural form innovation for spatial structures. He is currently the Dean of the College of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Beijing University of Technology, and he is also an Executive Member of The International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures.