Preventing of earthquake-induced pounding between steel structures by using polymer elements - experimental study

Pounding between two, or more, adjacent buildings during earthquakes has been identified as one of the reasons for substantial damage or even total collapse of colliding structures, so it has been the subject of numerous studies in the recent years. A major reason leading to interactions between adjacent, insufficiently separated structures results from the differences in their dynamic properties. A number of different methods have been considered to mitigate earthquake-induced structural pounding. One of the techniques is linking structures which allow the forces to be transmitted between buildings and thus eliminate interactions. The aim of the present paper is to show the results of the experimental study focused on the application of polymer elements placed between the colliding members so as to mitigate earthquake-induced pounding between adjacent steel structures in series. In the study, three steel model towers with different dynamic parameters and various in-between distances were considered. The unidirectional shaking table was used in the experimental study. Models of steel towers were prepared and mounted to the platform of the shaking table. Additional mass was added at the top of each tower so as to obtain different dynamic characteristics of the structures. The results of the study indicate that earthquake-induced pounding may have a significant influence of the structural response. Moreover, the application of polymer elements between the structures can be an effective pounding mitigation technique. It allows us to prevent damaging collisions between adjacent structures during earthquakes. It also improves the structural behaviour leading to the reduction in vibrations under different seismic excitations. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.