TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION FOR THE DESIGN OF

SEISMIC ISOLATION SYSTEM

Seismic Isolation System Engineer: Structural Engineer:

APRIL, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION 3
2.0 BUILDING INFORMATION 3
3.0 SEISMICITY 4
4.0 SEISMIC ISOLATION SYSTEM 5
4.1. TYPE OF ISOLATORS.................................................................................................. 5
4.2. ISOLATOR QUANTITY ................................................................................................. 5
4.3. CODES ..................................................................................................................... 5
4.4. LOADS & LOAD COMBINATIONS .................................................................................. 5
4.5. UPPER AND LOWER BOUNDS ..................................................................................... 6
4.6. DAMPING .................................................................................................................. 6
4.7. DISPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ISOLATORS ........................................................ 7
4.8. BASE SHEAR REQUIREMENTS FOR ISOLATORS ............................................................ 7
4.9. WIND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................... 7
4.10. CONNECTIONS .......................................................................................................... 7
4.11. BASE PLATE DESIGN FOR SLIDING BEARINGS ............................................................. 8
5.0 TESTING 8
5.1. PROTOTYPE TESTS ................................................................................................... 8
5.2. FACTORY PRODUCTION / CONTROL TESTS ................................................................. 9
5.3. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA ........................................................................................... 10
5.4. TESTING FACILITY REQUIREMENTS........................................................................... 10
6.0 MANUFACTURER QUALIFICATION 10
7.0 QUALITY CONTROL CERTIFICATES AND PRODUCT WARRANTY 10
8.0 DATA / DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED 11
9.0 APPENDIX 1: COORDINATES & LOADS ON ISOLATORS 12

ii
 1.0 INTRODUCTION
This technical specification is intended to identify the approximate cost of the isolators
required for -------------, foresee the delivery schedule and qualify the interested isolator
manufacturers.

2.0 BUILDING INFORMATION

---------- will be constructed within the scope of ------- by -------. The building
encompass a closed area of ----- m2.
The building is located in Ankara, Turkey (Lat. ------; Lon. -------)

Figure 1: Building geographic location

The building has ---- basement floors, ground floor and ----- floors. The primary
isolation interface is at the top of the ------- floor columns below the ----- floor slab (at
---m level).

Figure 2: A-A Section of the building

Figure 3: B-B Section of the building

 3.0 SEISMIC HAZARD
The site specific, 5% damped, maximum direction, horizontal acceleration
spectra to be used in the design of the seismic isolation system and the
structure is given at Figure 4 and Table 1.

Figure 4: Site specific acceleration response spectra

Table 1 : Site specific acceleration response spectra (tabular form)

DBE-475 Years MCE-2475 Years
T(s) a(g) T(s) a(g)
0.00 0.00

0.08 0.07

0.38 0.34

0.60 0.60

0.80 0.80

1.00 1.00

1.20 1.20

1.40 1.40

1.60 1.60

1.80 1.80

2.00 2.00

2.20 2.20

2.40 2.40

2.60 2.60

2.80 2.80

3.00 3.00

3.20 3.20

3.40 3.40

3.60 3.60

3.80 3.80

4.00 4.00

4.20 4.20

4.40 4.40
 4.60 4.60

4.80 4.80

5.00 5.00

4.0 SEISMIC ISOLATION SYSTEM

4.1. TYPE OF ISOLATORS
Following isolator types can be considered in the design of the Building seismic
isolation system design.
Friction pendulum isolators
Lead rubber bearing isolators (can be combined with a minimum number
of flat sliders, if strongly needed)
*Vertical stiffness of the isolators at all levels shall be similar to minimize the
differential vertical deflection between the isolators.
**Flat sliders shall be used strictly only at foundation level. No flat sliders are
allowed to be used at main isolation interface.
***Multiple lead core rubber isolators are preferred to single lead core isolators

4.2. ISOLATOR QUANTITY

The total isolator quantity needed currently needed is 30. The right to alter the
type and the quantity of the isolators in the final contract is reserved.
The manufacturers are requested to submit their proposal and quotation for
20% of this quantity.

4.3. CODES
The final isolation system will be designed following ASCE 7-10 with the additional
requirements given here.

4.4. LOADS & LOAD COMBINATIONS

Isolation system shall be designed considering the axial load combinations given
below.
1.4 G + 1.6 Q (LC-1)
1.2 G + Q Ed (LC-2)
0.9 G Ed (LC-3)

(LC= Load Case, G=Dead load, Q=Reduced Live Load and E d = Earthquake
Load)
The axial loads acting on each isolator at the MCE level earthquake considering
nominal isolator properties and the global coordinates of the isolators are
provided in Appendix 1.
In the case where isolation system vertical period is greater than 0.1s, vertical
component of the ground motion shall be considered in the design process as
described in ASCE 7-10 section 17.2.4.6.
Isolator manufacturer shall design a tension safe isolation system and prove the
efficiency of this system by calculations and adequate test reports.
Isolator manufacturers are suggested to submit their quotation considering 10%
variation of the provided loads.

4.5. UPPER AND LOWER BOUNDS

Isolator manufacturers are requested to provide upper and lower bound factors
for their products calculated by below equations.
Maximum displacement of the isolation system shall be calculated considering
lower bound properties while maximum base shear shall be calculated by upper
bound properties.
max [1 (0.75(ae,max 1))]test ,max spec,max
min [1 (0.75(ae,min 1))]test ,min spec ,min

FQ : Lead Rubber Bearing characteristic strength

k2 : Lead Rubber Bearing post elastic stiffness

: Friction Pendulum Bearing effective friction coefficient

ae : Aging and environmental factor including aging wear and contamination

test : testing effects factor including heating and cyclic effects

spec : Production variation factor

4.6. DAMPING
Damping coefficient shall be calculated as per ASCE 7-10 stipulations (Table 2).
 Table 2 : Damping coefficients

Effective
Damping, BD or BM Factor
D or M
2 0.8
5 1.0
10 1.2
20 1.5
30 1.7
40 1.9
50 2.0

4.7. DISPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR ISOLATORS

Isolator displacements shall be calculated considering lower bound properties at
MCE level.
The isolation system shall be designed to minimize the torsion effects.
The maximum total isolation system displacement shall not be more than 330 mm
including the additional displacement caused by torsion effects.
DTM 330 mm
For rubber isolators, maximum shear strain due to lateral displacement shall not
be more than 250% (ensuring stability and re-centering).

4.8. BASE SHEAR REQUIREMENTS FOR ISOLATORS

The maximum shear force transmitted calculated with upper bound properties of
the isolation system shall not be more than 12.5% of the seismic weight at the
DBE level earthquake. The seismic weight (W) of the building above the primary
isolation interface is --- kN. (Ersin bey, son deeri yazacak)
W = ------ kN
Vb 0.125 W

4.9. WIND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

The total wind force calculated for the building is ----kN. Total isolation system
displacement under wind loading is restricted with 25mm (ensuring recentering).

4.10. CONNECTIONS
Connection design for isolators shall be made with a factor of safety of 1.1.
1.1x(1.4 G + 1.6 Q) (LC-4)
1.1x(1.2 G + Q Ed) (LC-5)
 1.1x(0.9 G Ed) (LC-6)

4.11. BASE PLATE DESIGN FOR SLIDING BEARINGS

LRFD based end plate design procedure shall be followed for sliding bearings.
The manufacturer is kindly follow the procedure at Section 8 of the MCEER report
at given link here
(http://mceer.buffalo.edu/pdf/report/11-0004.pdf)
The characteristic concrete strength to be used is 40 MPa and the typical size of
the columns and pedestals supporting the isolators is 120x120cm. Confinement
factor shall be calculated considering given concrete strength and column size.
5.0 TESTING
5.1. PROTOTYPE TESTS
2 isolators of each type and size shall be tested. Tested isolators will not be used
in construction. The test procedure (Table 3 and Table 4) and the load
combinations are given below.

1.4 G + 1.6 Q (LC-7)

G + 0.5Q (LC-8)
1.2 G + 0.5 Q Ed (LC-9)
1.2 G + Q Ed (LC-10)
0.9 G Ed (LC-11)
 Table 3 : Prototype testing procedure for isolators
Lateral
Test Load Combination or
Displacement or Cycle No Time
No Displacement
Lateral Load

1 Static
Maximum LC-7 0 - (180 sec.)

Average LC-8 25mm or wind

2 20 TD
load per isolator
0.25 DD 3 TD
0.50 DD 3 TD
3 Average LC-8
1.00 DD 3 TD
1.00 DM 3 TM
0.25 DD 3 TD
0.50 DD 3 TD
4 Average LC-9 1.00 DD 3 TD
1.00 DM 3 TM
0.25 DD 3 TD
0.50 DD 3 TD
5 Average LC-11 1.00 DD 3 TD
1.00 DM 3 TM
6 Average LC-8 1.00 DTM 3 TM
7 Average LC-8 1.00 DTD 10 TD
8 Maximum LC-10 1.00 DTM Ramp -
9 Minimum LC-11 1.00 DTM Ramp -
Maximum opening
10* between upper and Ramp -
lower plates 1.00 DTM

*Valid in the case of tension or uplift at the isolators.

5.2. FACTORY PRODUCTION / CONTROL TESTS

Factory production control tests will be applied to all of the isolators (100%). In
the case where factory production control tests cannot be conducted at required
speed, prototype test no.3 shall be repeated at the speed of factory production
control test rig and the results shall be appropriately corrected.
 Table 4 : Factory production control testing procedure for isolators
Lateral
Test Load Combination or
Displacement or Cycle No Time
No Displacement
Lateral Load

1 Static
Maximum LC-7 0 - (180 sec.)
1.00 DD 3
2 Average LC-8 TD

5.3. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Stability of the isolators shall be kept during and after any test. Force-Displacement
curve will have a positive slope at any test.
Acceptance criteria will be based on ASCE 7-10 requirements and be provided prior
to the tests.

5.4. TESTING FACILITY REQUIREMENTS

All tests are preferred to be executed at an independent testing facility.
In the case where the tests are to be executed at the manufacturers facility, all tests
will be inspected by 3rd party experts assigned or approved by -------.
It is tenderers responsibility to ensure the testing facility is capable to run the tests
specified as at Table 3 and Table 4. This responsibility will be reflected in terms of
appropriate penalties in the final contract, in event of incapability of the testing facility.

6.0 MANUFACTURER QUALIFICATION

In the last five years, the isolation bearing manufacturer should have successfully
designed, manufactured and tested at least 500 seismic isolation bearings similar in
size to those that will be used in the construction of the Building
The isolation bearing manufacturer should provide the list of seismically isolated
buildings, for which, the manufacturer manufactured, tested and supplied the seismic
isolation bearings.
The seismic isolation bearing manufacturer should not have any failure history of
producing, delivering or meeting the test requirements of its seismic isolation
bearings in application to any structure in the last five years.

7.0 QUALITY CONTROL CERTIFICATES AND PRODUCT WARRANTY

The seismic isolation bearing Manufacturer should provide all the certificates
pertaining to the isolator and its subassemblies together with detailed information
about the manufacturers quality control procedure and system and product warranty
documents covering a warranty period of at least 10 years starting from the delivery
of the last isolator unit to the site.
8.0 DATA / DOCUMENTATION TO BE SUBMITTED
i. Capacity and qualification information of the testing facilities where prototype
and factory production test will be executed.
ii. The upper and lower bound property modification factors used in the design
as well as the resulting lower and upper bound isolation system parameters
(characteristic strength and post-elastic stiffness).
iii. Production capacity and the speed of production of the isolators proposed for
the Building
iv. The isolation unit and system properties.
For lead rubber isolator units: nominal shear modulus at 20o C, bonded area
and height of the rubber, area of lead core and nominal strength of the lead.
Hysteresis curve at DBE and MCE level displacements, vertical stiffness,
effective stiffnesses and damping ratios.
For curved sliding isolator units: number of sliding interfaces, radius of each
interface, effective radius and the fraction coefficient of the isolation system
as a whole, slider size and pressure under seismic weight (dead load and 30%
of live load), plot of the variation of friction coefficient as a function of pressure,
nominal dynamic friction coefficient. Hysteresis curve at DBE and MCE level
displacements, effective stiffnesses and damping ratios.
Hysteresis curve at DBE and MCE level displacements, vertical stiffness,
effective stiffnesses and damping ratios of the overall isolation system.
v. The maximum force (as a percentage of the building seismic weight W) and
maximum displacement as well as the effective stiffness and damping for the
475 and 2475 years return period earthquakes.
vi. Velocity dependent characteristics of the isolation system to be used in
nonlinear time history analyses.
vii. All calculations, details, and the method statement of the anchorages, plates,
and other members necessary for the installation of each isolator type to the
main structural system,
viii. Technical drawings and details pertaining to the proposed seismic isolators.
ix. The bearing manufacturer should submit any performance/material
certificates, test results approved by an independent reliable agency for the
proposed seismic isolation system or its components, as well as quality control
certificates and fire resistance certificates with the related tests and
documents.,
x. Technical drawings and information describing the installation of the seismic
isolators. The document that will be submitted should include detailed
information about the pre-installation storage conditions, required mounting
surface characteristics, precautions and protective measures that need to be
exercised during the isolator mounting process and construction to prevent
damage to the isolators as well as the provisions, protection measures, and
 the rules that should be followed during the installation of the isolators at the
construction site so that the performance of the isolation system would be in
compliance with the targeted performance in the design.
xi. Service life of the isolators as documented by tests if any.
xii. Replacement procedure for the isolators
xiii. Technical specifications about maintenance and periodical check
requirements for the purpose of meeting the targeted seismic and fire
performance throughout the warranty period and the service life of the
isolation system.
xiv. Quality control documents of the isolator and its components.
xv. Manufacturers product warranty documents,
xvi. A proper thermal insulation and fire protection should be designed and
provided for the isolators unless the isolators are proven to function as
intended at high and low temperature levels
xvii. Suggestions for ensuring the post-earthquake operability of the emergency
elevators that crosses the isolation layers.

9.0 APPENDIX 1: COORDINATES & LOADS ON ISOLATORS

(Provided as spreadsheet in electronic form)