Mitigation of Rocking and Sliding Motion of a Free-Standing Structure Subjected to Base Excitation Using Coaxial Circular Cylinders Containing Highly Viscous Liquid in Annular Spaces

Abstract

In this study, the effectiveness of coaxial circular cylinders containing a highly viscous liquid in annular spaces for reduction of rocking motion of a free-standing structure is investigated both analytically and experimentally. First, an analytical model of coupled rocking and sliding motions of a free-standing structure, including the coaxial circular cylinders, subjected to seismic input was derived. The free-standing structure was modeled as a free-standing rigid body. The cylinders were attached to the bottom of the rigid body as a damping device. We then experimentally derived the friction coefficients, inertia moments, and a damping coefficient in the rotating direction. Furthermore, using these parameters, the effectiveness of this system in suppressing the rocking motion is investigated analytically. The proposed method was determined to be very effective in suppressing the rocking motion of a rigid body subjected to a seismic input by the experiment.