Design and performance study of a segmented intelligent isolation bearing

ABSTRACT In this paper, a novel type of isolator, named segmented intelligent isolation bearing (SIIB), is designed and manufactured, which can meet the requirements of seismic fortification under three seismic intensities, i.e. frequent intensity, basic intensity, and rare intensity. A theoretical formula for the output of the SIIB is established to provide a basis for the determination of the size of the SIIB. MRE and STMP used in SIIB were prepared, of which the changes of shear storage modulus and damping factor with the magnetic field under different strain are analyzed. The mechanical properties of the SIIB under small displacement, medium displacement, and large displacement are tested, respectively, and the hysteretic characteristics of force–displacement are analyzed. The dynamic mechanical model combining the rheological model, phenomenological model, and bilinear restoring force model is established to represent the behavior of the SIIB. The results showed that the theoretical results agree well with the experimental results, and the model can significantly reflect the dynamic characteristics of SIIB. Graphical abstract