James M. Kelly

Base isolation technology offers a cost-effective and reliable strategy for mitigating seismic damage to structures. The effectiveness of this new technology has been demonstrated not only in laboratory research, but also in the actual response of base-isolated buildings during earthquakes. Increasingly, new and existing buildings in earthquake-prone regions throughout the world are making use of this innovative strategy. In this expanded and updated edition, the design methods and guidelines associated with seismic isolation are detailed. The main focus of the book is on isolation systems that use a damped natural rubber. Topics covered include coupled lateral-torsional response, the behavior of multilayer bearings under compression and bending, and the buckling behavior of elastomeric bearings. Also featured is a section covering the recent changes in building code requirements.

Widely used in civil, mechanical and automotive engineer­ing since the early 1980s, multilayer rubber bearings have been used as seismic isolation devices for buildings in highly seismic areas in many countries. Their appeal in these applications comes from their ability to provide a component with high stiffness in one direction with high flexibility in one or more orthogonal directions. This combination of vertical stiffness with horizontal flexibility, achieved by reinforcing the rubber by thin steel shims perpendicular to the vertical load, enables them to be used as seismic and vibra­tion isolators for machinery, buildings and bridges. Mechanics of Rubber Bearings for Seismic and Vibration Isolation collates the most important information on the mechanics of multilayer rubber bearings. It explores a unique and comprehensive combination of relevant topics, covering all prerequisite fundamental theory and providing a number of closed-form solutions to various boundary value problems as well as a comprehensive historical overview on the use of isolation. Many of the results presented in the book are new and are essential for a proper understanding of the behavior of these bearings and for the design and analysis of vibration or seismic isolation systems. The advantages afforded by adopting these natural rubber systems is clearly explained to designers and users of this technology, bringing into focus the design and specification of bearings for buildings, bridges and industrial structures. This comprehensive book: includes state of the art, as yet unpublished research along with all required fundamental concepts;is authored by world-leading experts with over 40 years of combined experience on seismic isolation and the behavior of multilayer rubber bearings;is accompanied by a website at www.wiley.com/go/kelly The concise approach of Mechanics of Rubber Bearings for Seismic and Vibration Isolation forms an invaluable resource for graduate students and researchers/practitioners in structural and mechanical engineering departments, in particular those working in seismic and vibration isolation.

Complete, practical coverage of the evaluation, analysis, and design and code requirements of seismic isolation systems. Based on the concept of reducing seismic demand rather than increasing the earthquake resistance capacity of structures, seismic isolation is a surprisingly simple approach to earthquake protection. However, proper application of this technology within complex seismic design code requirements is both complicated and difficult. Design of Seismic Isolated Structures provides complete, up-to-date coverage of seismic isolation, complete with a systematic development of concepts in theory and practical application supplemented by numerical examples. This book/CD-ROM set helps design professionals navigate and understand the ideas and procedures involved in the analysis, design, and development of specifications for seismic isolated structures. It also provides a framework for satisfying code requirements while retaining the favorable cost-effective and damage control aspects of this new technology. An indispensable resource for practicing and aspiring engineers and architects, Design of Seismic Isolated Structures includes: *Isolation system components. *Complete coverage of code provisions for seismic isolation. *Mechanical characteristics and modeling of isolators. *Buckling and stability of elastomeric isolators. *Examples of seismic isolation designs. *Specifications for the design, manufacture, and testing of isolation devices.