In this study, the effects of ambient temperature on the horizontal mechanical performance of isolated rubber bearings were investigated using high-speed reciprocating loading methods. A comprehensive series of 54 experimental trials are performed on the full-scale (900 mm-diameter) isolation rubber bearings, encompassing a range of temperatures (−20 °C, 0 °C, and 23 °C), shear pressures (50%, 100%, and 250%), and frequencies (0.20 Hz, 0.25 Hz, and 0.30 Hz). Because the compression-shear tests were conducted at high velocities and pressures (specifically, vertical compressive stress of 15 MPa), the equipment used in these tests was capable of generating substantial inertial and frictional forces. Appropriate correction methodologies for the precise determination of mechanical performance metrics for bearings are presented. Then, a comprehensive investigation of the effects of various loading conditions on the characteristic strength, post-yield stiffness, horizontal equivalent stiffness, and equivalent damping ratio of LRB900 (lead-core rubber bearings 900 mm-diameter) and LNR900 (linear natural rubber bearings 900 mm-diameter) is conducted. The empirical results show a discernible relationship between these characteristics and ambient temperature as the number of loading cycles increases, except for the equivalent damping ratio. Finally, empirical fitting formulations incorporating the influence of ambient temperature are presented for each performance indicator. These formulas are intended to assist designers in performing seismic design analyses by allowing them to take into consideration the effects of ambient temperature comprehensively.

Seismic isolation is a technique that has been widely used around the world to decouple the superstructure from the ground motions during earthquakes. However, the attention of seismic isolation is mostly focused on the protection of the building structures. Acceleration-sensitive devices or equipment, which are in desperate need of seismic protection, are still not fully emphasized. Meanwhile, the stiffness and frequencies of the conventional rolling- and sliding-type isolation bearings demonstrate an upward trend as the isolation layer displacement increases, which may bring self-centering and resonance issues. Thus, a novel variable-frequency rolling pendulum bearing is developed for the protection of acceleration-sensitive equipment. The rolling-type isolation bearing is selected to enhance the self-centering capacity, and additional viscous dampers are incorporated to improve the system damping. Moreover, the theoretical formulas of several typical variable-frequency rolling pendulum bearings are derived and presented to figure out the dynamic characterization of the device. The isolation efficiency of the proposed device under different parameters is also validated using shake table tests. Test results demonstrate that the newly proposed devices show excellent isolation performance at reducing both acceleration and displacement responses. Finally, the numerical model of this isolation system is proposed in detail. The simulated results, including relative acceleration responses, relative displacement responses and movement locus of the upper plates, are consistent with test results, which demonstrates this simplified model could be used for further studies.

The mechanical behavior of lead/rubber bearings (LRBs) is strongly influenced by both ambient temperature and hysteretic heating under seismic loading; however, their coupled effects and underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study presents a systematic investigation of the thermo-mechanical response of LRBs through combined experimental and numerical approaches. Dynamic cyclic tests were conducted on full-scale LRBs (700 mm in diameter) over a wide range of ambient temperatures, revealing that ambient temperature and hysteretic heating jointly govern the evolution of key mechanical properties, including stiffness, characteristic strength, and energy dissipation capacity. Specifically, decreasing temperature leads to stiffness and strength enhancement, whereas hysteretic heating induced by cyclic plastic deformation of the lead core results in progressive softening and degradation of restoring force. Based on the experimental observations, a modified uniaxial Bouc–Wen constitutive model is developed, incorporating the coupled effects of ambient temperature, hysteretic heating, and large-strain hardening. The proposed model is implemented in a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) base-isolated system to evaluate the seismic response under different temperature conditions. The results reveal a competing mechanism between ambient temperature and hysteretic heating: low temperatures tend to increase base shear and reduce displacement, while hysteretic heating produces the opposite effect, with their relative dominance depending on temperature level and ground motion intensity. Neglecting such thermo-mechanical coupling may lead to significant misestimation of structural response, particularly under long-duration strong ground motions. This study provides new insights into the coupled temperature-dependent behavior of LRBs and establishes a robust modeling framework for the seismic analysis and design of isolation systems under complex service conditions.