NCEER-TAISEI CORPORATION RESEARCH PROGRAM ON SLIDING SEISMIC ISOLATION SYSTEMS FOR BRIDGES EXPERIMENTAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDY OF A SYSTEM CONSISTING OF LUBRICATED PTFE SLIDING BEARINGS AND MILD STEEL DAMPERS.

This report describes the results of an experimental study of the behavior of a bridge seismic isolation system consisting of lubricated flat sliding bearings and mild steel dampers. Earthquake simulator tests have been performed on a model bridge structure both isolated with this system and non-isolated. The experimental results demonstrate that the system is capable of maintaining the forces transmitted to the substructure at a preset limit, however at the expense of significant permanent displacements. Analytical techniques are used to predict the dynamic response of the system and the obtained results are in good agreement with the experimental results.