Image from Google Jackets

Rolling-ball rubber-layer isolators

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Journal of Natural Rubber Research 1997Description: 199-214Subject(s): Summary: A system has been developed for seismic isolation of light structures, with no restriction as to choice of deflection capacity, damping or period. It comprises: isolators consisting of balls rolling between tracks; damping provided by layers of dissipative material, such as rubber, bonded to the tracks and hence integral with the isolators; separate springs to provide a restoring force. The use of rubber layers to provide rolling resistance permits a very wide choice of effective damping level, and the rolling resistance can easily be arranged to be a preset function of displacement. The design of the isolators is thus more versatile than for sliding isolators, which are otherwise similar in concept. Experimental results are presented for the steady rolling resistance as a function of load, ball radius, rubber thickness, rubber nature and rolling velocity. The peak in horizontal force required to start the balls rolling depends on the length of time for which the load is applied before rolling starts as well as on the above parameters. This peak in force could be beneficial in providing resistance to wind loads, but if too high could prevent the isolation system operating in an earthquake.
Tags from this library: No tags from this library for this title. Log in to add tags.
Star ratings
    Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)
Holdings
Item type Current library Vol info Status
Journals Journals RRII Library Rubber chemistry Volume 12, Issue 4 Journals
Total holds: 0

A system has been developed for seismic isolation of light structures, with no restriction as to choice of deflection capacity, damping or period. It comprises: isolators consisting of balls rolling between tracks; damping provided by layers of dissipative material, such as rubber, bonded to the tracks and hence integral with the isolators; separate springs to provide a restoring force. The use of rubber layers to provide rolling resistance permits a very wide choice of effective damping level, and the rolling resistance can easily be arranged to be a preset function of displacement. The design of the isolators is thus more versatile than for sliding isolators, which are otherwise similar in concept. Experimental results are presented for the steady rolling resistance as a function of load, ball radius, rubber thickness, rubber nature and rolling velocity. The peak in horizontal force required to start the balls rolling depends on the length of time for which the load is applied before rolling starts as well as on the above parameters. This peak in force could be beneficial in providing resistance to wind loads, but if too high could prevent the isolation system operating in an earthquake.

There are no comments on this title.

to post a comment.
Share