Smart Structures and Systems

Volume 2, Number 4, 2006, pages 321-328

DOI: 10.12989/sss.2006.2.4.321

Testing of rubber bearings for the dynamic damper of seismic isolated buildings

Mikayel Melkumyan and Alexander Hakobyan

Abstract

The paper describes the testing facilities and the methodology on testing of laminated rubber bearings envisaged for application in the system of Dynamic Damper (DD) of seismic isolated buildings, as well as the obtained results. For the first time in Armenia laminated rubber bearings were tested simultaneously under the action of horizontal shear force and vertical tension force. The test results have proven the possibility of using rubber bearings as elements subjected to tension due to action of the mass of DD. Also it was confirmed that the suggested structural concept of DD for reducing the displacements and shear forces of seismic isolation systems will have reliable behavior during the design level earthquakes.

Key Words

seismic isolation; dynamic damper; testing; rubber bearing; shear; tension; modulus; stiffness; displacement.

Address

Engineering Research Center, The American University of Armenia, 40 Marshal Baghramian st., 375019, Yerevan, Armenia