Application of MR elastomers for improving seismic protection of base-isolated structures

This study experimentally evaluates the seismic performance of a newly proposed smart base-isolation system. The proposed system employs magneto-rheological (MR) elastomers whose modulus or stiffness can be changed by the magnitude of an applied magnetic field. Hence, as controllable stiffness elements, MR elastomers are capable of improving seismic protection of base-isolated structures. In this study, a small-scale MR elastomer-based base isolation system is designed and fabricated. Installed in a single-story shear building structure, the dynamic characteristics and responses of the smart base-isolated structure under harmonic loadings are examined. The test results show that the smart base-isolation system outperforms an equivalent conventional passive-type base isolation system in reducing the responses of the scaled building structure.