Numerical Analysis of a Novel Hybrid Seismic Isolator

It is investigated that with different steel damper devices the novel hybrid systems improves dissipative energy ability of the system. There are shape memory alloy wires, ADAS dampers and slit steel dampers as steel damper device. In this paper, seismic isolator coupled with U or S shape steel dampers (SSSDs) called novel hybrid seismic isolation system, is proposed and investigated. The mechanical property is improved and the displacement of the superstructure decreases compared with the common isolation system. Based on numerical analysis, the 3D models of seismic isolators with and without different steel damper devices are established in ABAQUS. Meanwhile, numerical analyses under quasistatic cyclic loading tests are performed. The simulation results show that seismic isolator without steel dampers usually has advantages in absorbing the energy, but the deformation is larger. S-shaped steel dampers showed greater dissipative energy capacity and damping ratio than U-shaped steel dampers in novel hybrid system, significantly better than common seismic isolator. Therefore, it can be a good way to solve the problem of safety in the engineering practice.