This paper details the findings of an experimental program that assessed the seismic performances of a novel low-cost base isolation device. The proposed bearings are referred to as recycled rubber–fiber-reinforced bearings (RR-FRBs). Devices composed of a low-cost recycled elastomer and reinforced with fiber sheets were manufactured and tested. The main revolutionary concepts investigated in this study are as follows: low-performance elastomers can be used to produce rubber isolators, and vulcanization can be prevented by bonding different layers with an elastic compound. This study addresses all design and technical aspects related to the implementation of the proposed base isolation system. Shaking table tests showed a significant improvement in the seismic performance of an RR-FRB isolated building with respect to a corresponding fixed-base structure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Over the last decade, significant efforts have been dedicated to develop novel low-cost seismic protection systems that could be used on a large scale in developing regions of the world. In the attempt of reducing the cost of conventional base isolation devices, the feasibility of using flexible reinforcements to replace the steel sheets of traditional steel-reinforced elastomeric isolators (SREIs) has been validated. It has also been verified that these bearings can be installed in unbonded configurations. Previous research has verified the performance of fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators in unbounded configuration (U-FREIs) using recycled elastomers. The use of recycled rubber to manufacture U-FREIs is very appealing because of its low-cost and its limited environmental impact. In this paper a thorough comparison of the performance of natural-rubber unbounded fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators (NU-FREIs) and that of recycled rubber bearings (RU-FREIs) is proposed. To this end, the paper discusses the manufacturing and the main features of the two different technologies, as well as the results of experimental tests on the devices and small-scale structures tested on a shaking-table. Overall, the performance of NU-FREIs was found to be better than that of RU-FREIs. Nevertheless, recycled rubber devices are very promising when it comes to protecting non-engineered constructions from moderate to high seismic inputs at a fraction of the cost of conventional technologies.

The use of elastomeric bearings for base isolation is well established through several studies. This paper is mainly focused on an innovative Fiber-Reinforced Bearing (FRB) developed using recycled rubber (RR-FRBs) and glass fabric reinforcement. These bearings tend to have better dissipation capacity, low weight and reduced cost in comparison with conventional Laminated Rubber Bearings (LRBs). In the present study, accelerated aging tests were carried out to understand the effect of aging on RR-FRBs and their long-term performance. Results of the investigations are compared with the outcomes of tests performed on Neoprene (N-FRBs) and conventional LRBs.