Presented in this paper is an innovative, uniform seismic protection system of masonry and infilled frame buildings created on the basis of a specifically upgraded sliding isolation system with new SF devices. The new building sliding-space flange protection system (BSSF system) represents a specific research segment of the integral research project, led by the fourth author, conducted in the Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (IZIIS), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (Skopje), during three and a half years, in the frames of the innovative NATO Science for Peace and Security Project “Seismic Upgrading of Bridges in South-East Europe by Innovative Technologies (SFP: 983828)”, involving five European countries. The upgraded, seismically isolated sliding system with integrated space flange (SF) energy dissipation (ED) devices has been developed as a mechanical passive concept to provide harmonized response of building structures to strong earthquakes. It is formulated as an adaptive system, which follows the adopted concept of global optimization of seismic energy balance, through utilization of newly designed dissipation devices as a supplementary damping level to the building isolation. The new BSSF protection system is based on obligatory incorporation of the following three integrated complementary systems: (1) Sliding seismic isolation (SSI) system, (2) SF seismic energy dissipation (ED) system and (3) Earthquake displacement limiting (EDL) system. The proposed seismically resistant BSSF building system represents a qualitatively new strategy for construction of modern masonry and framed masonry buildings by applying traditional and new construction materials and providing simultaneously: (1) Full seismic safety of protected buildings, (2) Reduction of construction time, and (3) Profitable construction in seismic areas achieved by the special system characteristics.

The design and construction of modern, globally upgraded and seismically safe industrial hall systems (SSIH Systems) is currently viewed as an activity of extraordinary importance since these structures most frequently house new advanced and robotically conceptualized industrial machines and equipment, whose value multiply exceeds the value of the integral structures. The SSIH systems are of vital importance because it is only by their practical application that efficient and continuous functioning of important production industrial systems and compounds is provided. The achieved safety margins, the actual seismic performances and the present limitations of the used pin-based floor-beam column connections of the existing precast N-system were integrally confirmed by the original results obtained from the conducted experimental tests of the constructed connection prototype models. The precast N-system is commonly used for intensive construction of large industrial structures in different regions and countries, including areas of Europe and wider characterized by high seismicity. The initial results obtained from the laboratory test of the constructed large-scale prototype model representing a common floor-beam column (CFBC) connection confirmed the actual bearing capacity of the connection, the damage propagation pattern and the specific total failure mode. To investigate possible upgrading of the connection safety, a specific supplementary test was performed using the created and constructed new experimental model, representing an upgraded floor-beam column (UFBC) connection by application of an improved concrete confinement and use of larger diameters of steel connection pins (dowels). The main conclusion regarding the safety increase was that such common upgrading concept of pin-based connections could not be considered as a basic adequate approach since it was able to provide only limited upgrading effects. The existing need for creation of a new, advanced, experimentally proved and effective innovative upgrading method was clearly pointed out.

Combined and extensive experimental and analytical study devoted to development of an integrated earthquake and flood protection (EFP) bridge system was performed. It represents an extension of the integral research project led by the fourth author, conducted in the Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (IZIIS), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (Skopje), during three and a half years, in the frames of the innovative NATO Science for Peace and Security Project “Seismic Upgrading of Bridges in South-East Europe by Innovative Technologies (SFP: 983828)”, involving five European countries and led by the fourth author. The presently introduced EFP bridge system represents a specific, extended segment of the integral research. The upgraded, seismically isolated (USI) system with integrated space flange (SF) energy dissipation (ED) devices has been developed as a mechanical passive concept to provide harmonized response of bridge structures to earthquakes. It was formulated as an adaptive system, which follows the adopted concept of global optimization of seismic energy balance, through utilization of newly designed dissipation devices as a supplementary damping level to bridge isolation. The new EFP-bridge system is based on obligatory incorporation of the following four integrated complementary systems: (1) Seismic isolation (SI) system, (2) Seismic energy dissipation (ED) system, (3) Combined earthquake and flood displacement limiting (EFDL) system composed of new and experimentally tested RB devices and (4) Uplift protection system (UP). With the extensive experimental quasi-static cyclic tests conducted by simulated, gradually increased displacement amplitudes, there were confirmed very stable hysteretic responses of the created prototype models of rubber buffer (RB) devices applicable for efficient protection of common and isolated bridges exposed to either strong earthquakes or flood disasters. Following the upgrading of the seismically isolated (USI) bridge system with energy dissipation devices, the adopted original rubber buffer (RB) devices represent an important additional line of defense against abrupt loadings due to earthquake and flood disasters.