Development of Indigenous Base Isolation System for Seismic Protection of Unreinforced Masonry (URM) Buildings

Abstract

Base isolation technology has the potential to make medium-height masonry (stone or brick) or reinforced concrete structures earthquake resistant, protecting them and their occupants from significant damage and injury. Masonry buildings form an integral part of the building stock in many parts of the world. Masonry construction has many advantages over modern construction methods. However, its low seismic resistance is a major obstacle to its introduction in areas with active seismic activity. In this study, we propose different materials that can be used for base isolation to determine the best optimized material for this purpose.