Frictional heating in sliding seismic isolators

Frictional heating is a major issue affecting the durability and the performance of sliding isolation bearings, because large temperature rises can accelerate the wear of the sliding surfaces and considerably change the coefficient of friction of the isolator with respect to design values. This paper investigates, by means of finite element analyses, the influence of the displacement path experienced by the bearing on the frictional heat flux generated at the sliding interface and the effects on the force–displacement and damping characteristics of the isolation unit. The conclusions show the importance of the loading protocol for a correct assessment of the behavior of the bearings under real earthquake attacks.