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Author
Martin, J. W.
Title
Long Term Performance of Rubber in Seismic and Non-Seismic Bearings: A Literature Review.
Coporate
National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
Report
NISTIR 4613, June 1991, 29 p.
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Keywords
elastomeric bearings | isolation bearings | long-term performance | materials | rubber bearings | seismic isolator | lifelines
Abstract
The use of seismic isolation bearings to decouple buildings and lifeline structures from strong ground motion has received an increased amount of attention in recent years. While several types of seismic isolation bearings have been developed and proposed for use, the most common type is the laminated rubber (elastomeric) bearing. Because the design lifetime of these bearings is expected to be on the order of 50 to 100 years, the long-term performance of the rubber must be addressed. Therefore, a literature review was conducted to identify potential limits on the long-term performance of rubbers used in bearings. Several issues, including the need for consensus performance standards and for additional research on the effects of creep, aging, temperature, and high-energy radiaiton on the properties of rubber, were identified.