Towards seismic design of structures accounting for rocking-flexure interaction

Abstract

Uplifting of a structure is a seismic isolation technique: it works as a structural fuse limiting the maximum base moment (rocking foundation) or base shear (rocking podium) transferred to the foundation. To use uplifting in performance-based seismic design, the interaction between rocking and flexure must be understood well. Ideally, surrogate models to predict the seismic response of such systems should be also available to facilitate design. This paper presents the equations of motion and an analytical expression to calculate the uplifted vibration properties of a dynamic surrogate model that features rocking-flexure interaction.