Abstract
In order to decrease a relative displacement between ground and a s superstructure during an earthquake, the semi-active seismic isolation system using a controllable friction damper was developed. However, if the actuators of the controllable friction damper break down when a great earthquake occurs, it can't demonstrate its full performance. In this case, the superstructure acts as a low damping seismic isolation system, and the relative displacement becomes great. In this study, a new controllable friction damper using piezoelectric actuators with a fail-safe mechanism is proposed. This paper outlines the simulation results for the seismic isolation effect, the relative displacement reduction effect, and the performance of the fail-safe mechanism of the new controllable friction damper.
