Seismic analysis of an isolated and a non-isolated light-frame timber building using artificial and natural accelerograms

Light-frame construction is used extensively for low and medium rise timber buildings. These buildings are light-weight and have a high dissipative capacity which, on the other hand, may imply significant structural and non-structural damage at the end of a high intensity earthquake ground motion, leading to potentially significant economic losses. Passive base isolation is by far the most effective way to reduce the effect of an earthquake on a structure. In this paper, the use of Friction Pendulum System isolators is investigated for a three-storey light-frame timber building. Two designs of the same building, with and without passive base isolation, were carried out according to Eurocodes 5 and 8 and the Italian technical regulation for construction. The buildings were then analysed using linear and non-linear methods. The seismic performance and cost of both solutions are compared, demonstrating the convenience of using passive base isolation.