Analytical solution of seismic response of base‐isolated structure with supplemental inerter

Closed‐form solutions are derived for the modal characteristics and seismic response of a base‐isolated structure equipped with additional inerters. By simplifying the structure‐isolator‐inerter system in terms of the two‐degree‐of‐freedom (2DOF) model, the modal frequencies, mode shapes, damping ratios, and participation factors of the system are derived. Consequently, analytical seismic response solutions are formulated by the modal superposition method. Utilizing these analytical solutions, an extensive parametric study has been carried out to investigate the effect of supplement inerters on both the modal characteristics and seismic response of the structure‐isolator‐inerter system. There is a critical inertance leading to the zero second modal participation factor (ie, the disappearance of the second modal response). The associated critical inertance ratio is derived in closed form as well. Moreover, it is observed that the reduction of deformation of isolators by increasing the inertance may be offset by the increase in relative displacements of the superstructure. To circumvent this adverse effect, an optimal range of inertance is identified whereby both the deformation of isolators and the relative displacement of the superstructure are mitigated concurrently.