Earthquake Protection Technologies for Structural and Non-Structural Applications: Case Studies Worldwide

Abstract

Seismic hazards pose significant risks to the built environment, demanding effective mitigation measures. In recent years, there has been a surge in seismic control technology development, highlighting its crucial role in earthquake protection. High-level seismic design strategies, such as seismic isolation and vibration control (dampers) designs, have played a vital role in this progress. This paper provides an overview of earthquake protection technologies, focusing on real-world case studies. It covers applications of seismic isolation in newly constructed and retrofitted buildings in New Zealand, along with the use of non-structural isolation to protect critical equipment and high-value artwork. Additionally, the paper showcases examples of damper applications in seismically isolated and retrofitted buildings, with a particular emphasis on case studies from Japan.