Design Guidelines for Base‐Isolated Buildings with Energy Dissipators

Abstract Base isolation is a design strategy founded on the premise that a structure can be substantially decoupled from damaging horizontal components of earthquake motions, significantly reducing levels of force and acceleration in the structure. This paper provides the basis of a practical base isolation system which includes energy dissipation in special purpose mechanical devices. Topics covered include basic elements of base isolation, feasibility, design philosophy and code considerations. Design procedures based on a series of design charts are presented and an example of their use on a 12‐story structure is detailed.