SEISMIC ISOLATION AND OTHER ANTI-SEISMIC SYSTEMS:WORLDWIDE APPLICATION AND CONDITIONS FOR THEIR CORRECT USE

Over 10,000 structures have been protected in the world by anti-seismic systems and devices, namely by seismic isolation and energy dissipation systems, shape memory alloy devices and shock transmitter units. Such structures are located mostly in Japan, but they are more or less numerous in over 30 other countries as well—for example, in the Peoples’ Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the United States, Italy and even countries with very a limited population like Armenia and New Zealand. The number of such systems and devices is increasing everywhere, although the extent of their use is strongly influenced by earthquake experience and the features of the design rules used. Applications have been developed for both new and existing structures of all kinds: bridges and viaducts, civil and industrial buildings, cultural heritage and industrial components and installations, including some high risk plants. The use of such systems in a civil context already includes not only strategic and public structures, but also residential buildings and even many small private houses. This paper provides a short overview on the dissemination of such applications worldwide, based on the most recent information available to the authors. Particular attention is paid to the isolated buildings in Italy, in the context of recent seismic events (e.g. the 2002 Molise & Puglia and the 2009 Abruzzo events). Based on the Italian experience, some important conditions for the correct use of the anti-seismic systems are also stressed in the Conclusions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Seismic Isolation ، Energy Dissipation ، New Constructions ، Retrofits