Isolation System Model Subjected to Random Vibrations

The construction of bridges or viaduct structures represents major infrastructure works of vital importance for human communities, and therefore they must be made to with‐ stand both the traffic and the seismic events. Therefore, all necessary measures should be taken so that these structures can remain functional even after the action of earthquakes of considerable magnitude. A high level of safety for these structures can be ensured if within the resistance structure some special mechanical systems are mounted, which will be able to improve the building assembly behaviour when an earthquake occurs. This kind of mechanical system capable of ensuring a high level of safety for the isolated struc‐ ture is described in this paper. The isolation system assembly consists of a rolling pendu‐ lum device combined with elastomeric system. This system was built and experimentally tested at random vibrations. The experimental results are presented regarding motion pa‐ rameters recorded at the pier and superstructure level. The combination between effects of the two dissipating system types represents the optimum solution intended to achieve an improved response of the isolated structure when subjected at dynamic actions. There‐ fore, it represents a special system which can be successfully used in the endowment of bridge or viaduct structural type.