Simplified Model and Energy Dissipation Characteristics of a Rectangular Liquid-Storage Structure Controlled with Sliding Base Isolation and Displacement-Limiting Devices

Sliding base isolation can achieve independence between the seismic isolation period and the liquid sloshing period. Additionally, it has dissipation advantages for liquid-storage structures. However, when earthquake actions are large, the isolation layer displacement exceeds the limit value, which can lead to auxiliary pipeline damage and liquid leakage. Therefore, a corresponding displacement-limiting study is necessary. Considering the liquid-solid interaction, a simplified model of a rectangular liquid-storage structure (RLSS) with arc displacement-limiting devices is established, and its validity is verified using numerical calculations. Based on the structural safety and deformation capacity of the displacement-limiting device, the limit of the isolation layer displacement is defined. The factors affecting the hysteretic energy dissipation of the displacement-limiting device and the dynamic responses of the RLSSs are studied. The results indicate that the section size and radius of the arc limiting device considerably influence its hysteretic energy dissipation, but the effects of the cross section shape are extremely small. When the friction coefficient is reasonably designed, the wall tensile stress and liquid sloshing height of the sliding base-isolated RLSS with limiting devices can be effectively reduced. This new damping method is of great significance for the prevention and control of the two common types of failure modes for concrete RLSSs, namely, wall cracking and liquid overflow. (C) 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.