A Study on the Use of Orthogonal Pairs of Rods on Concave Beds (OPRCB) as a Base Isolation Device for Buildings Systems

A somehow new isolating device consisted of an Orthogonal Pairs of Rods on Concave Beds, which does not need high manufacturing technology, is investigated. Rolling rods installed in two orthogonal directions make possible the movement of the superstructure in all horizontal directions, and the concave beds give the system a hardening stiffness and the re-centering capability. The results of experimental and numerical studies of the device’s mechanical features are presented. These include experimental loaddisplacement relationship of rollers and verification of the finite element models under vertical loads up to 70.0 tonf, almost equivalent to the columns’ loads of 5-story buildings.