Seismic Performance of Low Rise Bulidings with Elastic Materials Energy Absorbing System at the Foundation

The aim of current research is to design inexpensive natural materials, especially energy-absorbing slipping or sliding motion at the foundation of low rise buildings. Dimensions and kind of materials were input to the software and results were compared to the conventional and designed structure based on existing codes. The current system and method would cause structures built with conventional and existing codes, last during severe earthquakes and remain in safe position. The main goal is to provide a low cost base isolation system with natural materials available in the market and its formulation and specifications for a new system structural performance. After an earthquake, a new system structural performance would achieve to IO (immediate occupancy) level. Applications including overall objectives of the projects presenting organizations would involve in crisis management manuals used by contractors to provide innovative style design and construction of such structures. The research models were simulated by finite element and nonlinear dynamic softwares such as SAP and ABAQUS. Numerical and mathematical calculations and conclusions were compared to the results obtained from buildings with natural seismic isolation and conventional designs. In fact the aim is to propose seismic control of structure with the current system. The results have shown that this system would maintain seismic parameters such as drift, maximum roof acceleration and maximum stresses in main members at the optimum range.