Design, manufacturing and evaluation of the performance of steel like fiber reinforced elastomeric seismic isolators

In this research, specimens of fiber reinforced elastomeric seismic isolators have been designed, manufactured and their dynamic and mechanical characteristics have then been studied by performing vertical and horizontal (compression–shear) tests. For the sake of comparison, one steel reinforced elastomeric isolator specimen has also been designed, manufactured and subjected to similar tests. In design of fiber reinforced isolators, the tensile and bending flexibility of the fiber cords reinforcement have been considered. Results of the experiments show that the behavior of the fiber reinforced elastomeric isolators is very similar to that of the steel reinforced specimen with regard to shear deformation and dynamic and mechanical characteristics including vertical stiffness, effective horizontal stiffness and damping. Therefore, this type of fiber reinforced isolator which has been named “steel like fiber reinforced elastomeric isolators” (SLFREI) can be used in seismic isolation of structures. The advantages of SLFREI are that they are lighter and simpler to manufacture, compared to steel reinforced elastomeric isolators.