Experimental and numerical study on long-span reticulate structure with multidimensional high-damping earthquake isolation devices

Abstract Multidimensional high-damping earthquake isolation device (MHEID) for long-span reticulate structure is an innovative passive vibration control device. In this paper, the results of horizontal and vertical property tests are presented first and then effects of excitation frequency, displacement on MHEID are studied. In order to consider the effects of excitation frequency, displacement amplitude and temperature on MHEID, a new mathematical model, i.e., fractional-derivative equivalent standard solid model, is put forward to describe the dynamic properties of MHEID precisely in both horizontal and vertical directions. Then, horizontal and vertical pseudo-dynamic tests on structures with and without MHEID are conducted. It can be seen from the experimental results that MHEID can obviously reduce the displacement responses, acceleration responses and input forces of the long-span reticulate structure. In order to analyze the earthquake isolation effect of MHEID on long-span reticulate structures, the dynamic responses are simulated by using a new dynamic response analysis method. The numerical results fit well with the experimental results and it is indicated that the proposed method can simulate the dynamic responses of the long-span reticulate structure.