The basic function of buildings is to provide a structurally sound and environmentally controlled space for its occupants. Bridges are a critical component of a nation's infrastructure, making it possible to ship raw materials and finished goods to factories, warehouses, suppliers, distributors, stores, and end-consumers.
Achieving a high resilience of lifeline buildings like Hospitals and Bridges to earthquakes is of paramount importance. Even if the damage induced is repairable, the primary function of the structure is impaired while the necessary strengthening is being done.
Resistoflex Seismic Isolation Systems provide an attractive alternative to conventional earthquake resistance design, and have the potential for significantly reducing seismic risk without compromising safety, reliability, and economy of bridge structures. The purpose of an Isolation system is to provide an additional means of energy dissipation, thereby reducing the transmitted acceleration into the superstructure.
Seismic isolators provide the superstructure with enough flexibility so the natural period of the superstructure differentiates as much as possible from the natural period of the earthquake avoiding resonance. Additional damping induced by the isolation system plays a key role in dissipation of the earthquake induced energy, thereby protecting the primary structural and non-structural elements