A SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR BUILDINGS AGAINST EARTHQUAKES

Abstract

A system for isolating buildings and potentially other structures to protect them against the effects of earthquakes is presented and discussed. This isolation system relies on an assembly of slender steel members vertically placed between the ground and the building base. It is intended to carry the vertical loading of the building while undergoing significant lateral deflections to absorb dominant horizontal ground motions produced by earthquakes. Discussions are presented that facilitate the understanding of the structural behavior of the system and its ability to protect buildings against seismic/earthquake activity. The isolation system contributes to sustainability in design by safeguarding human health while preserving natural resources that would otherwise be needed to repair or replace a potentially damaged structure built without such isolation. The assembly of the proposed system requires no specialized methodologies, and the system itself does not involve some non-environmentallyfriendly materials or fabrication processes that typically characterize the production of currently available base isolation systems. This adds to the attractiveness of the proposed system as a practical, innovative option that can contribute to sustainability in design. Merits of the system are further discussed in this paper and demonstrated by using examples representative of actual conditions for building applications.