Geotechnical Seismic Isolation System Based on Sliding Mechanism Using Stone Pebble Layer: Shake‐Table Experiments

Abstract

Using a shake-table, the effects of several stone pebble layer parameters (the layer thickness, the fraction of pebbles, the pebble compaction, the pebble moisture, the vertical contact stress below the foundation, and the effect of repeated excitations) on layer aseismic efficiency were investigated. For each considered parameter, a model of a rigid building on an aseismic layer was exposed to four different accelerograms, with three levels of peak ground acceleration (PGA), while all other layer parameters were kept constant. For each test, the characteristic displacements and accelerations were measured. Based on the test results, the main conclusions regarding the effect of the considered parameters on the effectiveness of the adopted aseismic layer are given.

Large‐scale field testing of geotechnical seismic isolation of structures using gravel‐rubber mixtures

“…The urge for alternative low-cost seismic isolation systems has led to various novel designs [3]. Many researchers investigated fully coupled soil-structure isolation systems [4][5][6][7] and proposed exploiting the soil's nonlinear behavior and its deformability as a means of natural passive isolation mechanism [8,9].…”

“…The urge for alternative low-cost seismic isolation systems has led to various novel designs. 3 Many researchers investigated fully coupled soil-structure isolation systems [4][5][6][7] and proposed exploiting the soil's nonlinear behavior and its deformability as a means of natural passive isolation mechanism. 8,9 Although rocking isolation mechanisms have been proven quite successful in the attenuation of motions through soil yielding below the foundations, foundation rocking, uplift, and sliding, [10][11][12] the residual differential settlement after a strong earthquake that requires a realignment of the structure afterward can be considered a drawback.…”

Performance of geotechnical seismic isolation system using rubber‐soil mixtures in centrifuge testing

“…As GSI was defined in Tsang 1 as an isolation technique that involves direct contact with geological sediments, rocking isolation (below foundation) can also be included into the family of GSI techniques. Other GSI techniques with somewhat different mechanisms include horizontal and V‐shaped soft buried barriers, 25 , 26 sliding effects of stone pebble layer, 27 as well as a periodic foundation for creating effective attenuation zones 28 , 29 . A review of a range of other GSI (or soil improvement) techniques can be found in Ortiz‐Palacio et al 30…”

Analytical design models for geotechnical seismic isolation systems

“…GSI can be achieved by introducing a low-modulus layer and/or a sliding interface surrounding the foundation for decoupling the structure from the ground shaking. Low-modulus materials are used to reduce the horizontal and rocking stiffnesses of the foundation system for creating a GSI system that exploits the beneficial effects of dynamic soil-structure interaction (Tsang 2008), whilst geosynthetic liners (Yegian and Kadakal 2004;Yegian and Catan 2004), sand (Tsiavos et al 2020) or stone pebble (Banović et al 2019) can be used to create the low-friction sliding interface. These two major GSI mechanisms are analogous to the conventional structural seismic isolation systems based on the use of laminated rubber bearings and spherical sliding bearings respectively (Tsang 2009).…”