Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Seismically Base-Isolated Structures by a Novel OpenSees Hysteretic Material Model

The complex response characterizing elastomeric isolation bearings is reproduced by employing a novel uniaxial hysteretic model that has been recently formulated and successfully implemented in OpenSees. Such OpenSees material offers several advantages with respect to differential models typically available commercial software products for structural analysis, such as 3D-BASIS CSi programs. Firstly, it based on set of only five parameters have clear mechanical significance; property not allows one drastically simplify the identification process, but also be used practice. In addition, does require numerical methods evaluation restoring force since latter computed solving an algebraic equation. To encourage researchers designers adopt proposed research practical purposes, we demonstrate its accuracy performing some tests particular, first employ compute nonlinear dynamic seismically base-isolated structure and, subsequently, compare results those obtained modeling seismic isolators BoucWen model, most popular accurate currently