Performance of Novel Rectangular Partially Bonded Steel Mesh–Reinforced Elastomeric Bearings for Seismic Isolation of Bridges
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 29, Issue 7
Abstract
Steel plates have traditionally been the reinforcement of choice for conventional elastomeric bridge bearings. In addition, these bearings are often employed under fixed boundary conditions (bonded application) as seismic isolators. The main objective of this study is to develop a new type of elastomeric bearing with improved lateral flexibility and superior seismic isolation efficiency. The new bearing is a partially bonded mesh-reinforced (MR) elastomeric bearing. MR bearings employ high-strength steel mesh reinforcement layers instead of steel-reinforcing plates. Additionally, the bearing is utilized in a partially bonded application; that is, only a limited region at the central portion of the bearing contact surfaces is bonded to the top and bottom supports. Given this specific boundary condition and the bending flexibility of the mesh reinforcement layers, the MR bearing experiences lateral rollover deformations under shear loads. During lateral rollover deformation, the upper and lower surfaces of the bearing partially roll off the contact supports. This experimental study compared the cyclic lateral responses of bonded plate-reinforced (PR) bearings (as reference bearings) and their partially bonded MR-bearing counterparts. The elastomer material properties and geometrical characteristics of the two bearing types were identical. The experimental results suggest that partially bonded MR bearings are feasible, perform more flexibly in the lateral direction, and exhibit greater energy-dissipation capability than PR bearings.
Practical Applications
This study focuses on a new type of elastomeric bridge-bearing isolator designed to be more flexible horizontally and better at absorbing the input energy of earthquakes. The new bearing isolator was constructed using laminated rubber material layers that were bonded to high-grade steel mesh reinforcement layers instead of conventional steel plates. The mesh reinforcement is rigid when stretched in a flat direction; however, it can bend easily. The bearing isolator was only partially bonded to its supports, which allowed it to deform more freely in the horizontal direction. During horizontal deformation, the upper and lower surfaces of the bearing partially roll off the contact supports. In this study, the new bearing type was compared with the conventional (steel plate reinforced) type, and it was found that the new bearing type is more effective at absorbing seismic excitations and can provide greater flexibility in the horizontal direction. This new bearing type is called a partially bonded mesh-reinforced elastomeric bearing.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Larzeh Badal Kar (LBK) Ltd., Kermanshah, Iran for manufacturing the bearing isolators for this study and providing the testing facilities. The authors are also thankful to the Structural Research Laboratory of Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch, Kermanshah, Iran for the tests conducted on the bearing isolators used in this study. The authors are grateful to Mr. Delshad Ghanbari, who fabricated the isolator test setup for this study.
Author contributions: Amir A. Karimi prepared the materials, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, and wrote the original draft of the paper. Hamid Toopchi-Nezhad supervised the research (developed the concept and methodology and designed and supervised the experiments) and reviewed and edited the paper. Parham Memarzadeh Co-supervised the research and reviewed the paper.
References
ASCE. 2004. Primer on seismic isolation. Task Committee on Seismic Isolation. Reston, VA: ASCE.
ASCE. 2022. Minimum design loads and associated criteria for building and other structures. Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. ASCE/SEI 7-22. Reston, VA: ASCE.
ASTM. 2010. Standard test method for rubber property-durometer hardness. ASTM D2240. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2014. Standard test methods for rubber property—Adhesion to rigid substrates. ASTM D429-14. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM. 2021. Standard test methods For vulcanized rubber and thermoplastic elastomers–Tension. ASTM D412-16. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Chaghakaboodi, S., and H. Toopchi-Nezhad. 2021. “On the wind-induced motion of unbonded fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators: Designing for habitability.” Struct. Control Health Monit. 28 (3): 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/stc.2682.
Chen, W.-F., and L. Duan. 2014. Bridge engineering handbook, substructure design. Boca Raton: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.
Cilento, F., D. Losanno, and L. Piga. 2022. “An experimental study on a novel reclaimed rubber compound for fiber-reinforced seismic isolators.” Structures 45: 9–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2022.09.009.
Clough, R. W., and J. Penzien. 1975. Dynamic of structures. New York: McGraw-Hill.
EN-1337-3. 2005. Structural Bearings–Part 3: Elastomeric bearings, European Committee for Standardization. London, UK: British Standards Institution.
Fosoul, S. A., and M. J. Tait. 2022. “Seismic performance assessment of an existing multispan bridge in eastern Canada retrofitted with fiber reinforced elastomeric isolator.” Can. J. Civ. Eng. 49 (9): 1453–1470. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjce-2021-0344.
Galano, S., A. Calabrese, and D. Losanno. 2021a. “On the response of fiber reinforced elastomeric isolators (FREIs) under bidirectional shear loads.” Structures 34: 2340–2354. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ISTRUC.2021.08.107.
Galano, S., D. Losanno, and A. Calabrese. 2021b. “Stability analysis of unbonded fiber reinforced isolators of square shape.” Eng. Struct. 245: 112846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112846.
Habieb, A. B., M. Valente, and G. Milani. 2019. “Implementation of a simple novel Abaqus user element to predict the behavior of unbonded fiber reinforced elastomeric isolators in macro-scale computations.” Bull. Earthquake Eng. 17 (5): 2741–2766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-018-00544-6.
Harris, H. G., and G. Sabnis. 1999. Structural modeling and experimental techniques. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Hassan, W. M. 2020. “Assessment of ASCE 7–16 seismic isolation bearing torsional displacement.” Int. J. Civ. Eng. 18 (3): 351–366. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-019-00462-x.
Kelly, J. M., and D. Konstantinidis. 2007. “Low-cost seismic isolators for housing in highly-seismic developing countries.” In Proc., 10th World Conf. on Seismic Isolation, Energy Dissipation and Active Vibrations Control of Structures, 28–31. San Francisco, CA: Word Press.
Khan, A. K. M. T. A., M. A. R. Bhuiyan, and S. B. Ali. 2019. “Seismic responses of a bridge pier isolated by high damping rubber bearing: Effect of rheology modeling.” Int. J. Civ. Eng. 17 (11): 1767–1783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40999-019-00454-x.
Konstantinidis, D., and J. M. Kelly. 2012. “Two low-cost seismic isolation systems.” In Proc., 15th World Conf. on Earthquake Engineering, 24–28. Lisbon, Portugal: Portuguese Society of Seismic Engineering (SPES).
Lee, G. C., Y. Kitane, and I. G. Buckle. 2001. “Literature review of the observed performance of seismically isolated bridges.” Res. Prog. Accomplishments: Multi-Discip. Center Earthquake Eng. Res. 51–62.
Li, H., S. Tian, X. Dang, W. Yuan, K. Wei, L. Han, T. Shengze, D. Xinzhi, Y. Wanchenga, and W. Kai. 2016. “Performance of steel mesh reinforced elastomeric isolation bearing: Experimental study.” Constr. Build. Mater. 121: 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.05.143.
Li, H., Y. Xie, Y. Gu, S. Tian, W. Yuan, and R. DesRoches. 2020. “Shake table tests of highway bridges installed with unbonded steel mesh reinforced rubber bearings.” Eng. Struct. 206: 110124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2019.110124.
Losanno, D., D. De Domenico, and I. E. Madera-Sierra. 2022. “Experimental testing of full-scale fiber reinforced elastomeric isolators (FREIs) in unbounded configuration.” Eng. Struct. 260: 114234. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENGSTRUCT.2022.114234.
McDonald, J., E. Heymsfleld, R. R. R. Avent, B. J. Mcdonald, S. Member, E. Heymsfield, R. R. R. Avent, J. McDonald, E. Heymsfleld, and R. R. R. Avent. 2000. “Slippage of neoprene bridge bearings.” J. Bridge Eng. 5 (1995): 216–223. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1084-0702(2000)5:3(216).
Mishra, H. K., A. Igarashi, and H. Matsushima. 2013. “Finite element analysis and experimental verification of the scrap tire rubber pad isolator.” Bull. Earthquake Eng. 11 (2): 687–707. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10518-012-9393-4.
Naeim, F., and J. M. Kelly. 1999. Design of seismic isolated structures: From theory to practice. earthquake spectra. Chichester, UK: Wiley.
Russo, G., and M. Pauletta. 2013. “Sliding instability of fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators in unbonded applications.” Eng. Struct. 48: 70–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2012.08.031.
Saremi, E., and H. Toopchi-Nezhad. 2021. “Finite element modeling of horizontal load‒displacement hysteresis loops in unbonded elastomeric isolators.” Structures 34: 2987–2995. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ISTRUC.2021.08.095.
Smith, M. 2021. ABAQUS/standard user's manual: vols. 6.21–6. Palo Alto, CA: ABAQUS Inc.
Thuyet, V. N., S. K. Deb, and A. Dutta. 2017. “Mitigation of seismic vulnerability of prototype low-rise masonry building using U-FREIs.” J. Perform. Constr. Facil 32 (2): 04017136. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)CF.1943-5509.0001136.
Toopchi-Nezhad, H. 2014. “Horizontal stiffness solutions for unbonded fiber reinforced elastomeric bearings.” Struct. Eng. Mech. 49 (3): 395–410. https://doi.org/10.12989/sem.2014.49.3.395.
Toopchi-Nezhad, H., M. Karaji, and M. R. Ghotb. 2018. “An efficient horizontal stiffness solution for unbonded FREBs.” In Proc., Academic World 103rd Int. Conf. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto.
Toopchi-Nezhad, H., M. J. Tait, and R. G. Drysdale. 2008a. “A novel elastomeric base isolation system for seismic mitigation of low-rise buildings.” In Proc., 14th World Conf. on Earthquake Engineering, 12–17. Beijing: International Association for Earthquake Engineering.
Toopchi-Nezhad, H., M. J. Tait, and R. G. Drysdale. 2008b. “Testing and modeling of square carbon fiber-reinforced elastomeric seismic isolators.” Struct. Control Health Monit. 15 (6): 876–900. https://doi.org/10.1002/stc.225.
Toopchi-Nezhad, H., M. J. Tait, and R. G. Drysdale. 2011. “Bonded versus unbonded strip fiber reinforced elastomeric isolators: Finite element analysis.” Compos. Struct. 93 (2): 850–859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2010.07.009.
Tsai, H.-C., and J. M. Kelly. 2001. Stiffness analysis of fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center, College of Engineering, Univ. of California.
Turer, A., and B. Özden. 2008. “Seismic base isolation using low-cost scrap tire pads (STP).” Mater. Struct. 41 (5): 891–908. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-007-9292-3.
Van Engelen, N. C. 2019. “Fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators: A review.” Soil Dyn. Earthquake Eng. 125: 105621. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOILDYN.2019.03.035.
Van Engelen, N. C., P. M. Osgooei, M. J. Tait, and D. Konstantinidis. 2015. “Partially bonded fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators (PB-FREIs).” Struct. Control Health Monit. 22 (3): 417–432. https://doi.org/10.1002/stc.1682.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 29 • Issue 7 • July 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 7, 2023
Accepted: Feb 2, 2024
Published online: Apr 16, 2024
Published in print: Jul 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Sep 16, 2024
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.