Research, Development and Implementation of Rubber Bearings for Seismic Isolation

Abstract

This paper summarizes the results of research and development of rubber bearings for seismic isolation carried out by the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo and Bridgestone Corporation. A series of static tests has been carried out for normal types of rubber bearings of rated loads of 98 kN, 490 kN, 980 kN and 2450 kN. Fundamental characteristics of the rubber bearings such as horizontal and vertical stiffness and capacities of deformations have been clarified by the tests. The same types of rubber bearing have already been implemented in seven base-isolated buildings in Japan. This paper describes the static tests including the breaking tests for the rubber bearings of the 980 kN-rated load. Furthermore, this paper refers to the durability and cluality control of the natural rubber bearings, and the examples of practical implementation in buildings.