A New Approach to Seismic Isolation: Possible Application in Space Structures

Pendulum is one of the basic methods of seismic isolation. In this paper, full-scale tests using a floor isolated by a pendulum system, model tests of paddle isolators, and analytical studies on pendulum isolators applied in high-rise buildings and space structures were described. Isolating device with long period such as 4 second may be realized in a relatively simple way if pendulum isolators are used. Also clarified was that when pendulum isolators are adopted in space structures, they would reduce vertical response induced by input horizontal load quite efficiently.