uilding-Moving Base Isolation Improvement Method Implemented on a Laboratory Building of Kansai University

Base isolation system installed after moving the whole building eight meters while maintaining a workable environment inside the building Takenaka Corporation At the Senriyama Campus of Kansai University located in Suita City, Takenaka Corporation (Head office: Osaka, President: Toichi Takenaka) moved the Faculty of Engineering's No. 1 Laboratory Building, an existing structure (a reinforced concrete four-story structure with a total weight of approximately 2,000 tons, dimensions of 16.4 x 29.1 meters, and height of 13.6 meters), approximately eight meters to the west, to install a base isolation system. This is called the building-moving base isolation improvement method. Using this method it is possible to achieve base isolation improvements while maintaining the building in a normal state that allows the building to function normally while work is being carried out. This No. 1 Laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering was completed in 1973, and was built according to old building standards, so the decision was made to improve earthquake resistance, thereby improving the standard of safety in the campus. The method chosen to do so was to move the building. The moving of the building is to be carried out in 15 hours over two days on November 16 and 17. The installation of the base isolation system is to be carried out from mid-December to midJanuary. In the installation of base isolation systems for existing buildings in the past there has been a number of cases where moving of buildings has been carried out, but this is the first case in Japan where a building has been moved as far as eight meters while the building continues to be used.

Construction procedure for the Building-Moving Base Isolation Improvement Method

(1) Earth retaining and pile work Earth retaining H-shaped steel piles will be put in place to prevent collapse of the ground surrounding the site where the building is to be moved. Some 44 new piles will be put in place where the building is to be moved.

(2) Excavation work The earthen floor slab of the first floor will be broken up, and a new structural slab laid, strengthened with beams. Excavation will be carried out while strengthening existing piles on the base under the existing building and the new site of the building. (3) Cut existing piles and construct foundations Foundations in areas except around existing piles will be constructed. A temporary base will be installed, the existing piles cut, and then new foundations constructed around existing piles.

(4) Building-moving work A roller-lift device will be installed, and the temporary base removed. The building will then be moved approximately eight meters by eight 50-ton propelled hydraulic jacks on the transfer roadbed. The stroke of the jacks is 20 centimeters, and they require approximately five minutes to extend. After the building moves 20 centimeters, the jacks will be reset, and this process repeated. (5) Base isolation work After installing a temporary base and removing the rolling device, the base isolation system - rubber bearings (diameter 600 millimeters, seven locations), sliding bearings (diameter 450 to 30 millimeters, 11 locations) and oil dampers (four locations) will be installed under the existing foundations, with the gap to be filled in with concrete, and the temporary base removed.

(6) Completion The remaining retaining walls will be completed, and the surrounds of the building closed off with expanding metal plates.

Current state of methods to improve earthquake resistance

'With the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 as a turning point, the Earthquake-Resistance Improvement Promotion Law was enacted to promote improvements to existing buildings which do not meet current earthquake-resistance standards. This law makes it mandatory to carry out earthquake-resistance diagnosis and earthquake-resistance improvements on existing buildings of a given size and greater which do not meet standards. In addition, for school facilities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, in addition to diagnosing earthquake resistance, a system has been established to subsidize improvements to strengthen earthquake resistance. Methods of improving the earthquake resistance of reinforced concrete buildings include strengthening columns and walls, installing additional earthquake-resistant studs and diagonal bracing, and installing base isolation systems. Base isolation involves using base isolation systems installed underneath buildings to hinder the transfer of seismic force from the ground to the building. The base isolation system installed in this case comprises rubber lamina of rubber and steel plate laid alternately, sliding bearings which allows the building to slide freely on the support surface, and dampers which perform a damping function. There are two techniques to improve the earthquake resistance of buildings to enable them to withstand major earthquakes, without stopping the function of the building: quakeresistance/structural control improvements and base isolation improvements. When carrying out either type of improvements, Takenaka adopts low vibration, low-noise and low-dust methods to minimize the impact on the living and working environments of building users. Takenaka's track record of installing base isolators while existing buildings are being used includes the Head Office of Himeji Shinkin Bank (Himeji), and Tokyo Dia Building, which is currently in progress. This is the first time that Takenaka has used this building-moving base isolation improvement method.