Shake table investigation of a structure isolated by recycled rubber devices and magnetorheological dampers

This paper describes the main results obtained from shaking table tests performed on a 1-storey steel frame isolated by innovative rubber bearings and magnetorheological dampers (hybrid isolation). The proposed base isolation technology is based on the use of bearings made of a low-cost recycled elastomer and reinforced with fibre sheets. Bounding the strain demand for such isolators because of severe earthquakes within acceptable values is a key point of this research, crucial for the effective application of this low-cost technology to real cases. A specific semi-active controller has been designed and adopted to achieve this goal. A set of natural earthquake records is applied to the base of the said structure using a shaking table system. The experimental results in terms of base displacement, roof acceleration and interstory drift are compared with the response of the same structure base isolated in the absence of magnetorheological dampers. It is found that when the semi-active control is suitably designed and implemented, the seismic performance of the structure can be significantly improved. Even if referred to the case study, the conclusions encourage further investigating the application of the proposed low-cost technology for seismic protection of buildings. © 2016 The Authors. Structural Control and Health Monitoring Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.