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Geotechnical Seismic Isolation as a Novel Isolation Technology

Presentation · May 2023

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22622.41287

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 Boğaziçi University
Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute
Department of Earthquake Engineering

Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI) as a Novel Isolation Technology

Orhun Kalyoncu
May 2023

12.05.2023 Cite as: Kalyoncu O., (2023), Geotechnical Seismic Isolation as a Novel Isolation Technology (Presentation) 1
Content

Overview of Seismic Isolation System

What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?
Materials and Studies
Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
New Emerging Research for GSI Concept
Closing Remarks
References

12.05.2023 2
Overview of Seismic Isolation System
What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?
Materials and Studies
Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
New Emerging Research for GSI Concept
Closing Remarks
References

12.05.2023 3
 Overview of Seismic Isolation System

A seismic isolation system is defined as a flexible or sliding interface positioned between

a structure and its foundation, for the purpose of decoupling the horizontal motions of the
ground from the horizontal motions of the structure, thereby reducing earthquake damage
to the structure and its contents (Taylor and Igusa, 2004).

Δx

Source:
https://www.bridgestoneengineered.c
om/Seismic_Isolator_for_Buildings/

12.05.2023 4
 Overview of Seismic Isolation System

Base isolation or seismic isolation is a technique that mitigate damaging effects of an

earthquake by decoupling the building from its foundation.

Ductility Concept of Design (Hussain, 2014; Symans, 2013).

attempts to diminish the demand instead of increasing

Configuration of Seismic Isolation (Barole, 2016). the capacity of structure!

12.05.2023 5
 Overview of Seismic Isolation System

Use of isolator increases the fundamental period of the structure and provides safety
against predominant frequencies of earthquakes.

Objectives of the seismic isolation system can be listed as below

(Symans, 2013):
- Maintaining the use of a facility,
- Minimizing the damaging effects of the earthquakes,
- Reducing the transmitted accelerations to protect buildings from
damage,
- Reducing earthquake forces by providing flexibility to increase
period,
- Dissipating the seismic energy to manage the displacement of
isolation system, and
- Providing rigidity under wind and minor earthquakes.

Shift of Period in Base Isolated Structures (Symans, 2013).

12.05.2023 6
 Overview of Seismic Isolation System

If a structure is low-rise building on stiff soil, system

will be the most effective under earthquake.
However, if the high-rise building is lying on the soft
soil and has a high fundamental period, isolation
system will be the least effective in the presence of
earthquake event

Shift of Period in Base Isolated Structures (Symans, 2013).

12.05.2023 7
 Overview of Seismic Isolation System

Kelly, 2001 showed the difference between rigid and flexible structures under same
earthquake excitation.

Transmission of Ground Motions (Kelly, 2001). Acceleraton and Displacement Responses for Structures (Kelly, 2001).

12.05.2023 8
 Overview of Seismic Isolation System

laminated rubber bearing spherical sliding bearing

LRB provides additional stiffness against minor FPS can return its original position, so it does not require restoring
earthquakes and wind forces is to reduce force, which limits the transfer of shear across the isolation
transmitted shear forces by increasing the period interface.
of system.

LRB is elastomeric bearings. ? Elastomeric : Low horizontal stiffness, high vertical stiffness

12.05.2023 Keep in mind you that the stress is formulated as : σ = Ε x ε 9

 Overview of Seismic Isolation System

In fact, isolation system does not absorb the seismic energy. It deflects the energy
through the dynamics of the system.

12.05.2023 10
Overview of Seismic Isolation System
What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?
Materials and Studies
Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
New Emerging Research for GSI Concept
Closing Remarks
References

12.05.2023 11
 What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?

Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI) can be defined as a new category of seismic isolation
techniques that involve the dynamic interaction between the structural system and geo-
materials.

Proposed classification of seismic isolation systems. (Tsang, 2008)

12.05.2023 12
 What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?

GSI shifts the focus from altering the structures to making beneficial use of
geomaterials or facilitating the beneficial interaction between the structure and
surrounding geomaterials, which can be based on different mechanisms.

1 Branches 3

2
Dynamic soil-foundation-structure interaction Vibration scattering or filtering, as
well as various forms of damping
Controlled sliding between the structural
foundation and surrounding geomaterials

12.05.2023 13
 What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?

The Journey of GSI from Yegian&Kadakal (2004) to Tsang (2009) (Still ongoing!)

Isolation using geosynthetics (Geotextile) Isolation using Rubber-Soil Mixture

Keywords!
High Damping
Low Elasticity (High Shear Strain)
12.05.2023 14
 What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?

Comparison data in Frequency Domain (Tsang 2008)

Comparison data in Frequency Domain (Tsang 2008)

12.05.2023 15
Overview of Seismic Isolation System
What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?
Materials and Studies
Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
New Emerging Research for GSI Concept
Closing Remarks
References

12.05.2023 16
Branch Type : 1

Rubber-Sand Mixture (Tsang, 2009; 2012; 2020; 2021; 2022)

Tsang et al.,2020: Centrifuge Testing for

RSM mixtures

12.05.2023 17
Branch Type : 1

Gravel Rubber-Sand Mixture (Pitilakis et al., 2021)

GRM100/0 GRM90/10 GRM70/30

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Branch Type : 1

Eco- Gravel Rubber-Sand Mixture (Abate, 2023)

12.05.2023 19
 1D Analysis
Branch Type : 3

SAP-Sand Mixture (Somma et al., 2023)

SAP40

SAP60

SAP80

-Possible settlements or residual tilt of the structure, generated by the soft barriers, are not able to affect the
structural stability!!
-Since for a given amount of SAP its efficiency in both filtering shear waves and increasing damping
amplifies as the size of SAP particles decreases, chemical compositions of the polymers not giving rise to
12.05.2023 20
extremely large SAP particles should be preferred.
Branch Type : 1

Rubber-Sand Mixture reinforced with Geogrids (Dhanya et al., 2020; 2023)

2020 2023

2023

2020

12.05.2023 21
Branch Type : 2

Geosynthetic Liner (Nanda, 2017)

12.05.2023 22
Branch Type : 1

Rubber-Sand Mixture reinforced with Piles (Tsang, 2012)

Parameters
Thickness of RSM
Building width
Number of Stories
Pile Length

12.05.2023 23
Branch Type : 2

Stone Pebble (Banovic et al., 2018; 2019; 2020; 2022)

12.05.2023 24
Branch Type : 1

EPS Beads-Sand Mixture (Edinçliler and Yildiz, 2023)

Results for 1999 Kocaeli EQ

EPS5,20,40 are used in the study.

Thickness of layer is between 10 and 15 cm.

12.05.2023 25
Polyurethane Coated Rubber-Sand Mixture (Akhtar and Tsang, 2023)

1.The shear modulus of polyurethane-coated

rubber-soil mixtures decreases as the polyurethane-
coated rubber content of the mixture increases.

2. The damping ratio of polyurethane-coated rubber-

soil mixtures increases as the polyurethane-coated
rubber content of the mixture increases.
12.05.2023 26
Branch Type : 2

PVC-‘Sand’wich(PVC-s) (Tsiavos et al., 2020; 2022)

Masonry school prototype structure located in Nepal (dimensions in cm).

Chi-Chi 1999 EQ
12.05.2023 27
Fragility Assessment of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation System (Forcellini, 2017; 2021; 2022)

Fragility curves consist of a probabilistic-based approach to

express the relationship between the demand and the capacity.

12.05.2023 28
Overview of Seismic Isolation System
What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?
Materials and Studies
Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
New Emerging Research for GSI Concept
Closing Remarks
References

12.05.2023 29
 Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)

The performance of the GSI system has been studied through various numerical, physical
and hybrid modelling techniques; but due to the complexity of the problem, the isolation
mechanism has not been thoroughly investigated. Hence, Tsang & Pitilakis (2019) aimed at
initiating this aspect of development:

- Considering equivalent linear method to estimate and derive effective shear strain by
means of theoretical approach .

- GSI system with RSM layer of 2 m thick and 30%rubber by weight.

12.05.2023 30
 Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
SDOF MDOF

Idealized lumped-parameter model

Soil-shallow foundation-structure (SSFS) system (Tsang&Pitilakis, 2019)

12.05.2023 31
 Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)

Equation of Motion

Natural fundamental period of idealized SSF system

(Ground acceleration)

12.05.2023 32
 Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)

GSI system aims to redistribute seismic demand on the whole SSFS system to a well-
controlled low-modulus foundation material, such that the demand on the superstructure
can be reduced and the associated damage can be minimised.

12.05.2023 33
 Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)

Various configurations of geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI) systems that are based on
reduced foundation stiffnesses (Tsang, 2022)
Gatto et al., 2021

Somma 2022(a) , 2022(b)

12.05.2023 34
 Isolation Mechanisms Tsang&Pitilakis 2019

Lower Lateral (Shear) Stiffness

➢ Act like traditional base isolation with rubber bearings

Augmented Rocking Behaviour

➢ Reduce structural deformation
➢ Similar to ‘’Rocking Isolation’’

High Material Damping

➢ More energy dissipation
➢ Less energy transmitting into structure
Tsang et al., 2020

12.05.2023 35
Overview of Seismic Isolation Concept
What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?
Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
Materials and Studies
New Emerging Research for GSI Concept
Closing Remarks
References

12.05.2023 36
Overview of Seismic Isolation System
What is Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)?
Mechanism of Geotechnical Seismic Isolation (GSI)
Materials and Studies
New Emerging Research for GSI Concept
Closing Remarks
References

12.05.2023 37
 Closing Remarks

Resilience: GSI has gone through a decade of fundamental development and has evolved into a new
seismic design philosophy, a new research area and a new scientific approach for achieving
earthquake resilience. It has now come to a stage when the research outcomes can be consolidated,
and further efforts can be directed to higher goals and societal impacts based on global collaboration
with synergy.

Sustainability: GSI aims primarily at enhancing the earthquake resilience of buildings and
infrastructure at a competitive cost. Meanwhile, it has been considered a green construction
technology that adds another benefit from the environmental perspective (Tsang 2012).

Universality: GSI was put forward as a universal technology for earthquake safety in the first place.
When the last few decades have seen rapid urbanisation in high-population developing countries
(Wenzel et al. 2007) and the high death tolls in a series of major earthquakes, it is an undeniable
responsibility of earthquake engineering professionals to face this challenge head-on (Comartin et al.
2004). Hopefully, GSI can play a part here.

12.05.2023 38
 References

• Symans, M. D., “ Seismic Protective Systems: Seismic Isolation”, International Material Complementing
FEMA 451, Design Examples. 2013.
• Taylor, A.W. and Igusa, T. (Ed.) Primer on Seismic Isolation; American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):
Reston, VA, 2004.
• Kelly, T. E., Base Isolation Of Structures; Design Guidelines, S.E. Holmes Consulting Group Ltd, Revision,
2001.
• Hussain, M., “Seismic Base Isolation”, Final Seminar, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, 2014.
• Barole, S., “Seismic Base Isolation”, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 2016.
• Tsang, H.H. (2009). Geotechnical Seismic Isolation. In: Earthquake Engineering: New Research, Takumi
Miura and Yuuki Ikeda (Eds.), ISBN: 978-1-60456-736-6, Nova Science Publishers, Inc., New York, U.S., pp.
55-87.

12.05.2023 39
 References

• Aloisio A, Contento A, Xue J, Fu R, Fragiacomo M, Briseghella B (2022) Probabilistic formulation for the q-
factor of piles with damping pre-hole. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01497-7
• Banović I, Radnić J, Grgić N, Semren K (2022) Effectiveness of several low-cost geotechnical seismic
isolation methods: a shake-table study. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01481-1
• Bernal-Sanchez J, Leak J, Barreto D (2023) Rubber–soil mixtures: use of grading entropy theory to evaluate
stiffness and liquefaction susceptibility. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-023-01673-3
• Chiaro G, Palermo A, Banasiak L, Tasalloti A, Granello G, Hernandez E (2022) Seismic response of low-rise
buildings with eco-rubber geotechnical seismic isolation (ERGSI) foundation system: numerical investigation.
Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01584-9
• Dhanya JS, Fouzul MA, Banerjee S, Boominathan A, Zhussupbekov A (2023) Shaking table experiments on
framed structure resting on geogrid reinforced geotechnical seismic isolation system. Bull Earthq Eng.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-023-01687-x
• Edinçliler A, Yildiz Ö (2023) Shaking table tests on geotechnical seismic isolation for medium-rise buildings
using EPS beads-sand mixtures. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01587-6

12.05.2023 40
References

• Forcellini D, Alzabeebee S (2022) Seismic fragility assessment of geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI) for
bridge configuration. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01356-5
• Gatto MPA, Lentini V, Montrasio L (2022) Dynamic properties of polyurethane from resonant column tests
for numerical GSI study. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01412-0
• Hazarika H, Kuribayashi K, Kuroda S, Hu Y (2023) Performance evaluation of waste tires in protecting
embankment against earthquake loading. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-023-01690-2
• Somma F, Flora A (2023) SAP–sand mixtures as a geotechnical seismic isolation technology: from the
dynamic characterization to a simple analytical design approach. Bull Earthq Eng. https://doi.
org/10.1007/s10518-023-01660-8
• Tsang HH (2009) Geotechnical seismic isolation. Earthquake Engineering: New Research. Nova Science
Publishers Inc, New York, USA, pp 55–87
• Tsang HH (2022) Analytical design models for geotechnical seismic isolation systems. Bull Earthq Eng.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-022-01469-x

12.05.2023 41
 Thank You for Attention!

Orhun Kalyoncu
Department of Earthquake Engineering
Boğaziçi University

12.05.2023 42
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