NEHRP Clearinghouse
- Title
- Draft Guidelines for Quality Control Testing of Sliding Seismic Isolation Systems.
- File
- PB94161957.pdf
- Author(s)
- Shenton, H. W.
- Source
- March 1994, 33 p.
- Identifying Number(s)
- NISTIR-5371
- Abstract
- Seismic isolation systems designed according to the 1991 Uniform Building Code, or the 1991 AASHTO Guide Specification for Seismic Isolation Design are required to undergo a series of prototype and quality control tests before being installed in the structure. At the present time, however, standards do not exist for conducting these tests, consequently, results are subject to unknown variability. The document represents the initiation of the process to develop standards for quality control testing of seismic isolation systems built in the U.S. The guidelines are devoted specifically to quality control testing of sliding systems (another report is devoted to quality control testing of elastomeric isolation systems). The guidelines address component part and material tests to be conducted during production, and tests on completed isolation units or components. Production tests are outlined in broad terms for a generic pure sliding device. Two completed isolation unit tests are outlined: sustained compression, and effective stiffness and energy dissipation. Complete details of the test set-up, test procedure, data acquisition, analysis and reporting of results are given in the guidelines. Performance criteria are established for all tests; systems that do not meet these criteria may not perform satisfactorily in service and should be set aside for disposition by the engineer of record.
- Keywords
- ; Bridges (Structures); Earthquake resistant structures; Standards; Structural vibration; Test methods; Dynamic response; Earthquake engineering; Energy dissipation; Vibration damping; Quality control; Displacement; Vibration isolators; Building codes; Dynamic structural analysis