Seismic Base-Isolation Design of Multi-tower High-Rise Buildings with a Large Podium in Highly Seismic Zones

Normal isolator movement requires a wide isolation groove between adjacent base-isolated high-rise buildings, which is wasteful in terms of urban space. To solve this problem in China, large podiums are used in base-isolated multi-tower high-rise buildings. However, implementing the design procedure involves numerous difficulties. The podium needs to resist compression and shear forces due to significant differences in the dynamic characteristics of different towers. Other challenges include detailing the layout of the isolation system, selecting isolators to meet performance targets, analyzing the floor stress, and analyzing the temperature. The innovative base-isolation design procedures of multi-tower high-rise buildings with large podiums in highly seismic zones are validated. An ongoing project in Yunnan province, China, is taken as a case study, and the patented, high-performance rubber bearings for reducing the seismic response is used in this project, its effectiveness is verified through a series of experiments. This paper has guiding significance for similar engineering projects.