1891

1
Consulting Department, Engineering Division, Obayashi Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, E-mail:takachan@pub.obayashi.co.jp
2
Structural Engineering Department , Technical Research Institute , Obayashi Corporation
STUDY ON EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE CAHARACTERISTICS OF BASE-
ISOLATED BUILDING USING THE FRICTION DAMPERS WITH CONED DISC
SPRINGS
Nakamura TAKASHI
1
, Suzuki TETSUO
2
, Nobata ARIHIDE
2
, Suwa HITOSHI
2
And Inaba SATORU
2
SUMMARY
This report describes the static and dynamic characteristics of base-isolated building using friction
dampers with coned disc springs and laminated natural rubber bearings. The friction damper uses
coned disc springs to press down a sliding material vertically against a stainless steel plate
installed on the foundation horizontally. When the friction damper is moved horizontally by
earthquake or gale, then friction occurs between the sliding material and stainless steel plate, and
vibration energy is absorbed. The present coned disc springs are designed to obtain non-linear
characteristics, which always springs up a constant resilient force, without being affected by the
height variations of the laminated rubber bearings. Static and shaking table tests of base-isolation
model using the friction dampers and laminated rubber bearings were taken into practice to grasp
basic characteristics and functions of the friction damper. From the results of tests and analyses,
the following functions of the friction damper in base-isolation system were confirmed. (1) The
friction damper with coned disc springs resists the horizontal load of gale and restrains base-
isolation system to prevent the aggravation of dwelling ability by shake. (2) The friction damper
has such a stable damping efficiency without undergoing influence by height fluctuations of the
laminated rubber bearing caused by daily temperature expansion and contraction, creep and the
rocking vibration in case of the earthquake. (3) The friction damper has a function of supporting
load and securing the base-isolation system against emergent excessive earthquake input. The
example of the friction damper with coned disc springs applied in the actual base-isolated building
is presented in the end.
INTRODUCTION
The friction damper with coned disc springs was developed as a partner with laminated natural rubber bearing
for base-isolation system. In this paper, the mechanism of this friction damper is described at first. Next, the
static and shaking table tests and simulation analyses of base-isolated building model using the friction dampers
with coned disc springs and laminated natural rubber bearings are mentioned. After that, the dynamic
characteristics and functions of this friction damper are reported. Finally, the example of the friction damper
with coned disc springs applied in the actual base-isolated building is presented.
2. MECHANISM OF THE FRICTION DAMPER WITH CONED DISC SPRINGS
The temperature and the creep phenomenon change the height of laminated rubber bearing. Also, in case of the
earthquake, the height of laminated rubber bearing becomes lower with increase of the horizontal deformation.
To sum up all quantity of these height fluctuations each other, it is possible to estimate the amount of height
variation for 60 years of laminated rubber bearing applied for base-isolated buildings to be about 10 mm. As for
2
friction damper for base-isolation systems, the function to secure the stable efficiency without undergoing
influence of these height fluctuations of laminated rubber bearing is required. The principle of the friction
damper with coned disc springs is shown in Figure 1. This friction damper generates friction by pressing down
the plate of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWP) as the sliding material against the installed
stainless steel plate on the foundation horizontally by the vertical resilient force of coned disc springs. To
prevent slide sideways the multiples coned disc springs arranged in series and parallel and to transmit the
frictional force to the superstructure, a cylindrical guide is set inside of multiple coned disc springs (see Figure 9).
If the resilient force of coned disc springs and the frictional coefficient of the sliding material are constant, the
frictional force becomes constant, too. The load-deflection curve in which the resilient force is nearly constant
can be obtained by the special shape of coned disc spring.
[Superstructure]
[Foundation]
Stainless steel plate
The height of
laminated
rubber bearing
Horizontal frictional force : F=*N
Laminated rubber bearing Friction damper with coned disc springs
Sliding material(UHMWP)
Resilient force N of
coned disc springs
Coned disc springs
Figure 1. Principle of the friction damper with coned disc springs
3. SHAKING TABLE TESTS FOR THE BASE-ISOLATED MODEL
.
1200
1075 62.5 62.5
1
0
7
5
2
5
0
2
5
0
2
8
7
.5
2
8
7
.5
200
Shaking Table
Vibrational Direction
1500
1075 212.5 212.5
2
3
2
9
7
5
2
4
2
1
3
9
9
Disp.
Input Acc.
Rubber Bearing
Support
Horizontal Acc.
Vertical Acc. Vertical Acc.
1st Floor
(weight4.64tonf)
2nd Floor
(weight3.08tonf)
Friction Damper with
Coned Disk Springs
(Load Cell)
Rubber Bearing
Vertical Acc.
9
0
0
1
0
7
5
1
2
0
0
6
2
.5
6
2
.5
Disp.
Disp.
Horizontal Acc.
Vertical Acc.
[ Section B ]
[ SectionA]
Load Cell
Friction Damper with
Coned Disk Springs
[ Section A] [ Section B ]
Horizontal Acc.
Rubber Bearing
Photo of shaking table test model Outline of Shaking table test model
Figure 2. Shaking table test of base-isolated model
86
80
130
160
8
8
7
5
9
1
Rubber Sheet : 2.1mm 28=58.8mm
Steel Plate : 0.6mm 27=16.2mm
Unit : mm
-0.20
-0.15
-0.10
-0.05
0
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
load :1.5tonf
load : 2.0tonf
S
h
e
a
r

F
o
r
c
e

(
t
o
n
f
)
Hprizontal Displacement (cm)
Outline of the laminated natural rubber bearing Horizontal load-deflection curves of rubber bearing
3
Figure 3. The laminated natural rubber bearing for shaking table test model
2a=80
2b=41
H
=
4
.
8
t
=
2
.
1
h
=
2
.
7
Unit : mm
Cross section of coned disc spring
40.5
Ultra High Molecular
Weight Polyethylene
Inner Guide
Coned Disc Springs (four
columns of single disc)
Load Cell
Stainless Steel Plate
(3mmt)
7
6
1
9
.
2
2
5
2
5
2
1
7
.
2
Supporter (Height Adjuster)
7
2
190
160
130
Fix Flange

115
100
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
Test
V
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c
a
l

L
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a
d

(
t
o
n
f
)
Vertical Displacement (cm)
Initial Posistion
Y=1.38*X-1.24*X
2
+0.406*X
3
Y=-169+164*X
Outline of the friction damper with coned disc springs Vertical load-deflection curves of the friction damper
Figure 4. The friction damper with coned disc springs for shaking table test model
The photo and outline of shaking table test model of base-isolation building are shown in Figure 2. The
superstructure of the base-isolated model is a single-story steel-frame, having the first floor of 4.64ton and roof
floor of 3.08ton, then a total weight is about 8ton. The base-isolation devices are composed of four pairs of
laminated natural rubber bearing and friction damper with coned disc springs in parallel.
The outline of the laminated natural rubber bearing and its horizontal hysteresis characteristic in the condition of
supporting the load of 1.5ton and 2ton are shown in figure 3. For the shape of this laminated rubber bearing is
slender, the horizontal stiffness is roughly linear in the region of horizontal displacement of 2cm. The
horizontal stiffness becomes gradually weak in proportion to the increase of horizontal displacement, and there is
risk of buckling at the horizontal displacements of 4cm in the condition of supporting load of 2ton and at that of
5cm under supporting load of 1.5ton. If we support the superstructure with only four pieces of this laminated
rubber bearing, the supporting load of each laminated rubber bearing becomes 2ton, then there is risk of buckling
in laminated rubber bearing more than 4cm of horizontal displacements. As for this shaking table model, each
friction damper supports the long time loading of about 0.5 ton and each laminated rubber bearing supports that
of about 1.5 ton.
The outline of the friction damper with coned disc springs and its load-deflection curve in the vertical direction
are shown in figure 4. The material of the coned disc spring is SUP10 and the size of outside diameter is 80mm,
inside diameter is 41mm, the free height (h) is 2.7mm, and thickness (t) is 2.1mm. The load-deflection curve in
which the load is nearly constant is obtained when h is of the order of t 2 in coned disc spring. The friction
damper uses 4 sheets of coned disc springs top and bottom in series. To measure the supporting load, load cell is
contained in the friction damper. The friction damper with coned disc springs shows a non-linear load-deflection
curve, and generates the constant resilient force of 0.5ton approximately between the deflection of 0.7cm and
0.9cm. Then, the coned disc springs become flat at the deflection of 1.03cm and can support heavier load. When
excluding the load on the friction damper, the coned disc springs return to the original condition perfectly. The
deflection of coned disc springs in the friction damper is set at 0.8cm, then its resilient force becomes 0.5ton.
The friction damper generates friction by pressing down the sliding material of UHMWP against the installed
stainless steel plate on the foundation horizontally by the vertical resilient force of coned disc springs. The
frictional coefficient of the sliding material is about 0.15, so the frictional force is approximately 0.075ton. The
horizontal hysteresis characteristic models of the base-isolation devices are shown in figure 5. As for the base-
isolation devices of this shaking table test model, each friction damper supports the long time loading of about
0.5ton and each laminated rubber bearing supports that of about 1.5ton.
4
3.1 Static Load Test of the Base-isolated Model
Static tests with the jacks and simulation analyses were performed to investigate the basic characteristics of the
base-isolated building model on the shaking table. Figure 5 shows the analytical model for shaking table test
model and horizontal histeresis characteristics of base-isolation devices. The horizontal hysteresis loops and the
vertical displacement of the base-isolation system, and the supporting load of the friction dampers by the static
tests and simulation analyses are shown in figure 5, too.
KD=5tonf/cm
0.15cm 0
0.075tonf
Friction Damper with
Coned Disc Springs
Disp.(cm)
K
G1
=0.151tonf/cm
0
Shear Force (tonf)
Disp.(cm)
Natural Rubber Bearing
K
G2
=0.0858tonf/cm
K
G3
=0.225tonf/cm
2.49cm 5.09cm
Shear Force (tonf)
Analytical models of base-isolation devices
m
1
K
1
h
1
m
0
K
SG
X
0
X
1

Z
Z
g
K
VG
K
SD
K
VD
X
g
Vibrational Direction
[ Section A ] [ Section B ]
Laminated Rubber Bearing
Friction Damper with
Coned Disc Springs
g
0
g
1
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Test
Analysis
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(
t
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f
)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
Analytical model for shaking table test model Hysteresis loop of the base-isolation system (Static)
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Test
Analysis
V
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D
i
s
p
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a
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m
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(
c
m
)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Test
Analysis
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p
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L
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(
t
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n
f
)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
Vertical displacement of rubber bearings (Static) Total supporting load of the friction dampers (Static)
Figure 5. Analytical model for shaking table test and static test results
As for the horizontal hysteresis characteristic of the model, the horizontal stiffness of rubber bearing is linear in
the region of horizontal displacement of 2cm, and with frictional force of the friction damper, the hysteresis
characteristic shows the hysteresys loop of perfect elasto-plasticity. The frictional force shows nearly constant
0.3ton in the region of horizontal displacement 2cm to 5cm where the total resilient force of the coned disc
springs is approximately constant 2ton. The friction damper supports the load of equivalent to the resilient force
by the contained coned disc springs, then the supporting load of the laminated rubber bearing is reduced.
5
The vertical displacement of the laminated rubber bearing becomes nearly 0.2cm at 5cm of horizontal
displacement, and the coned disc spring becomes flat condition, then the weight of superstructure gradually
shifts onto the friction dampers and friction force increases.
The total weight 8ton of the superstructure is supported by the friction dampers at 9cm that is larger than the
diameter of the rubber bearing, and the vertical displacement becomes to be convergent. The friction damper
prevents buckling of rubber bearing in excessive deformation and it controls displacement of base-isolation
system. The superstructure is restored to its original position by the restoring force of rubber bearings, even after
excessive deformation. The analytical values shown with broken lines in figure 5 agree well with the test results.
3.2 Shaking Table Test of the Base-isolated Model
The shaking table test results of sine wave input are presented in this paper. Sine wave in the period of 0.8second
and acceleration increases gradually to maximum 250gal is inputted to the base-isolation building model on the
shaking table in horizontal direction. The measured waveforms of input acceleration, displacement of the base-
isolation system and the response acceleration of the superstructure are shown in Figure 6.
The horizontal displacement of the base-isolation devices comes up to approximately 8cm, that is nearly equal to
the diameter of the laminated rubber bearing. The displacement of the base-isolation system doesn't occur under
about 70gal input. This is because the frictional force of the friction damper with coned disc springs is bigger
than the horizontal force by the earthquake, then the friction damper functions as the trigger which restrains
base-isolation system from sliding by gales. The response acceleration of superstructure is nearly confined
within 500gal.
The relation of the horizontal displacement and the shearing force of the product of the response acceleration and
the weight of the superstructure is shown in hysteresis loop of the base-isolation system in figure 7. The
characteristic of the vertical displacement of the laminated rubber bearings and the supporting load of the friction
damper is shown in figure 7, too.
-1000
-500
0
500
1000
0 20 40 60 80 100
2
F

A
c
c
.
(
g
a
l
)
Time (sec.)
-10
-5
0
5
10
0 20 40 60 80 100
1
F

D
i
s
p
.
(
c
m
)
Time(sec.)
-300
-200
-100
0
100
200
300
0 20 40 60 80 100
I
n
p
u
t

A
c
c
.
(
g
a
l
)
Time (sec.)
Figure 6. Waveforms of shaking table test of sine wave input
6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
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(
t
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f
)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
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(
t
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f
)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
Hysteresis loop of the base-isolation system (Test) Hysteresis loop of the base-isolation system (Analysis)
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
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(
c
m
)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
-0.5
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
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c
m
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Horizontal Displacement (cm)
Vertical displacement of rubber bearings (Test) Vertical displacement of rubber bearings (Analysis)
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
S
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(
t
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)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
S
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(
t
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f
)
Horizontal Displacement (cm)
Total supporting load of the friction dampers (Test) Total supporting load of the friction dampers (Analysis)
Figure 7. Shaking table test (Sine wave input)
In figure 7, total supporting load of the friction dampers is constant about 2ton in the region of horizontal
displacement of 5cm, and the vertical displacement of laminated rubber bearings is in the region of 0cm to
0.2cm. This is because the coned disc springs generate constant resilient force and the fluctuation of load by the
rocking vibration doesn't have the influence on the friction damper with the coned disc springs. The coned disc
springs becomes a flat condition in equal or more than horizontal displacement of 5cm, and as the horizontal
displacement increases, the supporting load increases. The fluctuation by rocking vibration is seen in the
supporting load of the friction damper. As supporting load is shifts to the friction damper with coned disc
springs, the frictional force increases in the horizontal hysteresis loop of the base-isolation system. The result of
the earthquake response analysis of the sine wave input is shown in figure 7, too. The vertical displacement of
7
the base-isolation devices by the analysis shows the influence of the fluctuation of the supporting load of the
laminated rubber bearing by the rocking vibration. The hysteresis loop of the base-isolation system, the vertical
displacement of the base-isolation devices and total supporting load of the friction dampers of the earthquake
response analysis shows good agreement with the shaking table test.
4. EXAMPLE OF THE FRICTION DAMPER WITH CONED DISC SPRINGS APPLIED IN ACTUAL
BASE-ISOLATION BUILDING
The photo of the friction damper with coned disc springs applied in the actual base-isolation building is shown in
Figure 8 and outline is shown in Figure 9. This friction dampers with coned disc springs are used to resist the
horizontal load of gale by the setting of frictional force and restrain base-isolation system to prevent the
aggravation of dwelling ability by shaking of the building. The material of the coned disc spring is SUP10 and
the size of outside diameter is 420mm, inside diameter is 190mm, the free height (h) is 14.7mm, and thickness (t)
is 10.6mm. The constant resilient force of this coned disc spring is about 123kN. In this damper, four sets of
double coned disc springs are combined in series.
The vertical load-deflection curves and horizontal hysteresis loop by the dynamic test of the friction damper is
shown in Figure 10. In the vertical-deflection curves, the resilient force of this friction damper becomes twice
and deflection stroke becomes about four times compare with those of a single coned disc spring. The vertical
load-deflection curves by analyses show good agreement with the results of static vertical load test. In this
friction damper, vertical deflection of the coned disc springs is used in the region of 35mm to 45, and the
resilient force of friction damper is about 250kN. As the friction coefficient of sliding material is nearly 0.2,then
the friction force of horizontal hysteresis loop by the dynamic test is about 50kN.
Figure 8. Photo of the friction damper with the coned disc springs in the actual base-isolation building
189.5
420
680
3
7
3
.
2
1
7
0
9
0
400
(2)
(1)
1
1
3
.
2
(1) Stainless Steel Plate
(2) UHMWPE
(3) Flange
(4) Shaft (Inner Guide)
(5) Coned Disc Springs (4 columns of double discs)
Outer diameter:420mm, Inside diameter;190mm,
Thickness:10.6mm, Free height:14.7mm
(5)
(3)
(3)
(4)
Figure 9. Outline of the friction damper with the coned disc springs in the actual base-isolation building
8
0
100
200
300
400
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Test
C.O. & Niepage (
R
=0.22,
M
=0.05)
available range
Vertical Displacement (cm)
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(
k
N
)
-120
-80
-40
0
40
80
120
-200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200
F
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(
k
N
)
Horizontal displacement (mm)
Vertical load-deflection curves of the friction damper Horizontal hysteresis loops of the friction damper
Figure 10. Hysteresis characteristic of the actual friction damper with the coned disc springs
5. CONCLUSIONS
It confirmed the following dynamic characteristic and numerous functions of the friction damper with coned disc
springs by the shaking table test and the analysis of the base-isolated building model.
1) The friction damper with coned disc springs resists the horizontal load of gale by the setting of frictional
force and restrains base-isolation system to prevent the aggravation of dwelling ability by shaking of the
building.
2) The friction damper has such a stable damping with hysteretic characteristic of perfect elasto-plasticity
without undergoing influence by height fluctuations of the laminated rubber bearing caused by daily
temperature expansion and contraction, creep and the rocking vibration in case of the earthquake.
3) The friction damper supports the load of equivalent to the resilient force by the contained coned disc
springs, then the supported load of the laminated rubber bearing is reduced. If we use more smaller size
laminated rubber bearing with the friction damper, the total horizontal stiffness of the base-isolation system
becomes small, and the base-isolation period becomes longer consequently and we can more improve the
base-isolation efficiency.
4) When the large displacement occurs in the laminated rubber bearing by the excessive earthquake input and
the subsidence becomes large, the friction damper supports the load of the laminated rubber bearing
substitutionally as the safety device. As the weight of superstructure gradually shifts onto the friction
damper, the frictional force gradually increases and the displacement of the base-isolation system can be
controlled and safety is secured
REFERENCES
1. Almen, J.O. and Laszlo, A. (1936) The Uniform-Section Disk Spring. Trans. ASME, 58, pp.305-314.
2. Curti,G. und Orland,M. (1979) Ein neues Berechnungsverfahren fr Tellerfedern, DRAHT 30-1, pp.17-
21.
3. Niepage,P. (1984) ber den Einflu der Reibung und kreiskegelfrmiger Lasteinleitungselemente auf
die Kennlinie von Einzeltellerfedern und Tellerfederpaketen, Konstruktion, 36-10,pp.379-384.
4. Nakamura T., Suzuki T. and Inaba S. (1998) An Experimental Study on the Restoring Force
Characteristics of the Friction Damper with Coned Disc Springs for Base-isolation System. Journal of
Structural Engineering, AIJ, No.510, pp.75-82.
5. Nakamura T., Suzuki T. and Okada H. (1998) Aging Characteristics of Natural Rubber Bearings in
actual Base-isolated Building. Journal of Architecture and Building Science, AIJ, Vol.113 No.1429,
pp.23-26.
6. Nakamura T., Suwa H., Nobata A. and Suzuki T. (1998) Earthquake Response Characteristics of Base-
isolated Building Using The Friction Damper With Coned Disc Springs. Proceedings of The 10th
Earthquake Engineering Symposium, Volume 3, pp.2901-2906.
7. Nakamura T., Suzuki T., Nobata A., Suwa H. and Inaba S. (1999) Shaking Table Tests for Base-
isolated Model Using the Friction Damper with Coned Disc Springs. Journal of Structural Engineering,
AIJ, No.522, pp.37-44.