SEISMIC ISOLATION

DESIGN
Introduction

1. In the BSDS, the philosophy of seismic isolation design was

introduced as one of the latest bridge seismic design specification
provision.
2. However, the design concept, procedure, condition and design
example were not explained in detail in BSDS.
3. This lecture on familiarization of BSDS provision on seismic
isolation will enable the participants to gain the basic knowledge
of the seismic isolation design.
DPWH Guide Specifications, LRFD Bridge Seismic Design Specifications, 2013
1. To understand the background, basic principles, applicability
and effect of the seismic isolation design.

2. To understand and appreciate the difference between the

seismic “resistant” design and the seismic “isolation” design.
Basic Principles on Seismic Isolation Design
1. Background
2. Basic principles
3. Applicability and effect
4. Structural design for seismically isolated bridges
5. Difference between the seismic resistant design and the seismic
isolation design
6. Examples of seismic isolation devices (LRB, LRB with lead plug,
HRB)
History of Seismic Isolation Design in Japan
1. Ideal concept of seismic isolation was experimentally
used on the construction of old wooden buildings by
assuming “sliding’ between a building and the ground
and “dowelling” between wooden members.

Example of Doweling Example of Central Pillar

Source: www.eonet.ne.jp Source: blog.goo.ne.jp/ruribo0209 Source: http://www.horyuji.asia
Seismic Isolation Effect on Ancient Wooden Building
Source: www.youtube.com
Seismic Isolation Effect on Tokyo Sky Tree
Source: www.youtube.com
History of Seismic Isolation Design in Japan
2. After the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923), the
technical dispute called “Flexible structure vs. Rigid
structure” was started. The design method of rigid
structure was adopted as the Building Standard Law.
3. Seismic isolation for the buildings had been studied,
such as “Sliding” and “Rolling” Devices since 1920s.
4. Design of a flexible structure is considered to be a
base of the design method of a high rise building.
However, the design method had been less well
understood because of lack of processing capability.
History of Seismic Isolation
Design in Japan
5. After 1970, a study stage was
shifted to a “practical stage” and
various types of “seismic isolation
devices” were adopted to the bridge
design.
Sliding Object

Vibration

Horizontal force is not distributed to the Source: Hanshin Expressway

object. The object does not return to the
Sliding Seismic Isolation Bearing
original position.
History of Seismic Isolation
Design for Bridge
1. Issuance of “Guideline on Seismic
Isolation Design for Road Bridge,
Japan Institute of Country-ology and
Engineering, 1991”
2. Issuance of “Seismic Isolation Design
Manual (Draft), Ministry of
Construction, 1992”
3. Construction of the first seismic
isolation bridge (LRB: Lead-plugged
Rubber Bearing) in Japan “Miyagawa Source: Public Works Research Center (PWRC)
Bridge” in 1991 Miyagawa Bridge, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
(Bridge Length = 105.8m)
4. Construction of the first seismic isolation bridge (High Damping Rubber
Bearing) in Japan “Yamaage Bridge” in 1992.

Source: Public Works Research Center (PWRC)

Source: Public Works Research Center (PWRC) Yamaage Bridge, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
HRB: High Damping Rubber (Bridge Length = 246.3m)
Bearing
Development of LRB, HRB, and Damper

-Afterthe Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, LRB (Lead-plugged Rubber

Bearing) HRB (High-damping Rubber Bearing) and other dampers are
popularly applied for seismic isolation design.
LRB HRB Oil Damper

Source: Kawakin Core-tech Co., Ltd

Ayala Bridge Seismic Retrofitting

14
High Damping Rubber Bearing

15
Seismic Isolation
-Seismic Isolation is one of the most popular method to protect a structure against
seismic forces. A top-heavy superstructure should be decoupled from its
substructure on a shaking ground.
Basic components of seismic isolation are:
Long Period : To increase the natural period of the vibration of the
structure. (To avoid resonance vibration)
High Damping: To increase the energy absorption capacity of the
structure. (To reduce displacement)
Reaction Distribution: To distribute the optimized reaction to substructures.
(To avoid concentration of reaction)
Non-Seismic Isolated Building vs. Seismic Isolated Building
Source: Wikipedia & www.youtube.com
2. Basic Principle
Location of Setting of Seismic Isolation Device:

Building shall
be protected Top heavy structure

Seismic
Isolation
Device

Seismic
Isolation Substructure shall be
Device protected
For buildings For bridges
2. Basic Principle
Effect of Long Period and High Damping
-The seismic force can be reduced by “increasing natural period” and the energy
absorption capacity with “high damping” of the structure.

High
Damping
1st Vibration Mode of Non Seismic
Isolation Bridge
(in case of T = 0.5s)

Design Acceleration Response Spectrum

3. Applicability and Effect

1. Seismic isolation shall not normally

be adopted for a bridge meeting the
following conditions:
a) The bridge is located in an extremely soft layer
and/or layer causing liquefaction.
b) The bridge has fairly flexible substructures and
long fundamental natural period.
c) The bridge is located in a soft soil layer with long
natural period that may cause resonance with
the bridge if seismic isolation is introduced.
Source: https://pbs.twimg.com
d) The bridge has uplift at bearing supports.
Flexible Bridge Pier
3. Applicability and Effect

2. The applicability of seismic isolation

design are as follows:
a) When the ground is firm and the ground around
the bridge foundations is stable during an
earthquake.
b) When the stiffness of the substructure is high
and the natural period of the bridge is short.
c) When it is a multi-span continuous bridge.
Source: Public Works Research Center (PWRC)
Rigid Bridge: Tenryu-gawa Bridge,
Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
(Bride Length = 1,585.5m)
3. Applicability and Effect
2. The effects of seismic isolation design are as follows:
a) Bridge Pier: States only allow secondary plastic behavior.
b) Bearing Support System: States ensuring reliable energy absorption by seismic
isolation bearing.
c) Foundation: States only allow secondary plastic behavior.

Primary plastic Primary plastic

behavior behavior
Secondary plastic Secondary plastic
behavior behavior

Secondary Secondary
plastic plastic
behavior behavior
4. Structural Design for Seismically Isolated Bridges

1. As a precondition for use of a seismically isolated bridge, the inertia force of a

superstructure shall be adequately distributed to multiple substructures and
its adoption shall be judged after studying the effects of increasing the
natural period and the energy absorption ability of the bridge with seismic
isolation bearings.
2. When adopting a seismically isolated bridge, clearances that assure
displacements on the ends of the superstructure shall be provided for design
purposes.
3. When an isolation bearing is used as a horizontal load distributing structure
during an earthquake, rather than a seismic force reduction structure
through energy absorption, the effect of energy absorption by isolation
bearing shall not be considered.
5. Difference between the Seismic Resistant Design
and the Seismic Isolation Design

In case of Level II (1,000-year return period), OC-I (Operational

Classification: Critical Bridges), the “seismic resistant design”
are defined as follows:
1. Seismic Safety Design: Ensure safety against collapse and girder unseating
2. Seismic Serviceability Design: Capable of recovering functions within a short
period after the earthquake event
3. Seismic Repairability Design:
Emergency Repairability: Capable of recovering functions by emergency repair
works
Permanent Repairability: Capable of easily undertaking permanent repair work

To avoid collapse and limited seismic damages are allowed.

5. Difference between the Seismic Resistant Design
and the Seismic Isolation Design

δ P Linear Nonlinear
(Elastic
Range)

P: Lateral
Force
Ductility of bridge
pier is expected

Soundness Soundness Soundness Soundness

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4δ:
Lateral Displacement

Seismic Load P-δ Relation

5. Difference between the Seismic Resistant Design
and the Seismic Isolation Design

Typical Damage of Bridge Piers due to

Source: civil-eye.com Earthquake
5. Difference between the Seismic Resistant Design
and the Seismic Isolation Design

In case of
Primary plastic
behavior
P Primary plastic
behavior
Seismic Isolation
Secondary plastic Secondary plastic
behavior behavior P

Secondary Secondary
plastic plastic LRB for Design
behavior behavior

P

RB for Design δ
δ Damping by LRB
LRB for Actual

Typical P-δ Relation

Source: Oiles
Deformation of rubber bearing
Source: Kawakin Coretech
 5. Difference between the Seismic Resistant Design
and the Seismic Isolation Design

Seismic “Resistant” Design

Primary plastic Primary plastic
Ductility of bridge piers are behavior behavior
expected.
Secondary Secondary
plastic plastic
behavior behavior

Seismic “Isolation” Design

Primary plastic Primary plastic
Seismic energy absorption by behavior behavior
Secondary plastic Secondary plastic
displacement and damping of behavior behavior
isolation bearing is expected.
Secondary Secondary
plastic plastic
behavior behavior
5. Difference between the Seismic Resistant Design
and the Seismic Isolation Design

Item Resistant Design Isolation Design

Natural Period of
Short Long
Structure
Damping of
Medium High
Structure
Seismic Force Large Small

Displacement Small Large

Primary Plastic
Bridge Pier Seismic Isolation Bearing
Behavior

Limited seismic damage and -ditto-

Seismic
capable of immediately It is possible to design a bridge
Performance
recovering bridge function to minimize seismic damage or
(Level II, OC-I)
without structural repair to reduce construction cost
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Laminated Rubber Bearing Laminated Rubber High Damping Rubber

Bearing with Lead Plug Bearing
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Laminated Rubber Bearing

• Laminated rubber bearing is made up of
rubber and steel plate laminated to each
other and vulcanized.

• Expansion of rubber due to the vertical

load is suppressed by adhesive force of
rubber and steel plate as well as tensile
resistance of steel plate, and it deformed
by shearing deformation of rubber
against the load in the horizontal
direction.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Laminated Rubber Bearing

• Laminated rubber bearing can be
designed to the required vertical rigidity
or horizontal rigidity by selecting the
shape and rubber materials.

• Depending on the form of the upper and

lower structures such as concrete girder
and steel girder, laminated rubber
bearing body and upper/lower structures
shall be securely fixed with anchor bolts,
etc.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Laminated Rubber Bearing

with Lead Plug
• Laminated rubber bearing with lead plug
is a seismic bearing which integrated the
laminated rubber bearing and the lead
plug by press-fitting the cylindrical lead
plug into the vulcanized molded rubber
with a cylindrical hole in the center.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Laminated Rubber Bearing

with Lead Plug
• Laminated rubber bearing functions as a
bearing and an isolator that support the
load of the upper structure, and the lead
plug functions as a damper that absorbs
energy by its elastic-plastic deformation.

• The joining of upper structure and lower

structure is similar to the structure of
laminated rubber bearing.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

High Damping Laminated

Rubber Bearing
• High Damping Rubber Bearings (HRB)
are used in seismic isolation applications
for buildings and bridges.

• HRBs can be designed to withstand the

design earthquakes without significant
damage.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

High Damping Laminated

Rubber Bearing
• HRB consists of alternative layers of
rubber and steel. The steel plates can
greatly increase the vertical stiffness of
the bearing while the plates enable the
bearing to support the vertical load even
under a large shear displacement.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

High Damping Laminated

Rubber Bearing
• HRB is a seismic isolation bearing using
the rubber material imparting damping
property to the rubber itself. Therefore, it
functions as the seismic isolation bearing
which combines the horizontal spring
characteristics which generates the
restoring force by rubber itself and
history damping performance for energy
absorption.
.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

High damping laminated Testing Machine for

rubber bearing Rubber Bearing
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

During the testing of rubber bearing

6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

During the testing of rubber bearings

Source: www.youtube.com
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Laminated Rubber Laminated Rubber Bearings High Damping Rubber

Bearings with Lead Bearings
Without damping With damping With damping
Largest displacement Larger displacement Large displacement

Durable More durable Most durable

Expensive More expensive Most expensive
Disadvantage: If lead is deformed after
earthquake, it can no longer perform its
purpose. (Bearing needs replacement.)

Note: The ordinary laminated bearings that are used conventionally to our bridges do not dissipate energy.
The main purpose is to transfer the gravity load of superstructure to substructure.
General Description of Sample Bridge

-Ground Type 2
-Operational Classification: Essential Bridge
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Results of Structural Analysis

6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Advantages Disadvantages
• By adding seismic isolation • During a large earthquake, it
devices, the period is lengthened, produces larger displacement in
the forces are reduced, and the superstructure. Hence, there is a
energy dissipation is increased. need to provide some special
• Pier is designed not to yield. expansion joints.
During a large earthquake,
elastic behavior is anticipated.
6. Examples of Seismic Isolation Devices

Advantages of using LRB with lead plug and HDR than LRB
• Displacement of superstructure when using LRB w/ lead plug and
HDR is smaller compared with using LRB. (In this example, it is
smaller by more than 40%)
• Forces at Pier is much larger when using LRB.
• Energy is dissipated by damping property of LRB w/ lead plug and
HDR bearing. Therefore, the force and displacement of both
superstructure and substructure induced by an earthquake is
reduced due to the damping properties of bearing.
(n.d.). Retrieved from blog.goo.ne.jp/ruribo0209.
(n.d.). Retrieved from blog.goo.ne.jp/ruribo0209.
(n.d.). Retrieved from Source: Public Works Research Center (PWRC).
(n.d.). Retrieved from Kawakin Core-tech Co., Ltd.
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://pbs.twimg.com.
(n.d.). Retrieved from civil-eye.com.
(n.d.). Retrieved from Oiles.
LRFD Bridge Seismic Design Specifications. (2013).
Takayuki, T. (2018, May 22-24). Seismic Isolation Design. Regional Training Program for the
Technology Transfer Component DPWH Bridge Seismic Design Specifications (BSDS) Application to
Seismic Design of Bridges.
www.eonet.ne.jp. (n.d.).