PROTECTION OF SENSITIVE INFILL IN FRAME BUILDINGS USING SB-UPGRADED ISOLATION SYSTEM: SEISMIC TESTS OF MODEL

Presented in this paper is an innovative system efficient for seismic protection of sensitive infill in RC frame buildings created with upgrading of isolated buildings with developed specific uniform SB devices. Capability of the new seismic protection system of masonry infilled frame buildings was fully demonstrated with the conducted extensive seismic shaking table tests of large-scale models constructed with applied upgrading of its basic sliding isolation system with the created uniform SB devices. The specific research segment devoted to development of the present SB upgraded building system (SBBS system) was originally initiated by the second and fourth authors and represents a part of the integral research project realized in the Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (IZIIS), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in 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 composed upgraded isolated sliding system with uniform multi-gap SB energy dissipation (ED) devices represents a suitable integrated passive mechanical building system providing harmonized response of integral buildings subjected to strong earthquakes. The adopted system is based on global optimization of seismic energy balance, achieved through the utilization of newly designed dissipation devices as a supplementary damping to building isolation. The new SBBS seismic protection system is based on the incorporation of the following three integrated complementary systems: (1) a basic sliding seismic isolation (BSSI) system, (2) a created SB energy dissipation (ED) system; and (3) a displacement-limiting (DL) system. The created SBBS building system represents a qualitatively new construction strategy providing qualitatively upgraded seismic structural safety and efficient seismic protection of sensitive infill in rapidly constructed RC frame buildings located in seismically active regions. Key words:building, RC frame, masonry, seismic response, seismic isolation, energy dissipation