Modelling the Response of Isolation Rubber Bearings with Variable Axial Loading

Seismic base isolation systems protect thousands of structures and infrastructures all over the world. Its effectiveness for seismic protection is widely recognized owing acceleration reduction and minimization of the ‘panic’ effects for the occupants. This aspect has recently recognized of special interests also for strategic structures and facilities for which superior performances expected. This work deals with the development of a modified model for simulating the horizontal response of rubber bearings, extending the existent procedures to variable axial loading. laboratory tests serve as the target for developing the numerical formulation.