Study the effects of ambient temperature on full-scale rubber bearings

This study investigates the impact of ambient temperature on the horizontal mechanical behaviour of rubber bearings through the utilisation of high-speed loading apparatus. A comprehensive series of 54 experimental trials is conducted on the rubber bearings with a diameter of 900 mm. These trials encompassed a wide range of temperatures (-20 degrees C, 0 degrees C, 23 degrees C), shear strain amplitudes (50 %, 100 %, 250 %), and frequencies (0.20 Hz, 0.25 Hz, 0.30 Hz). This work comprehensively examines the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties of rubber seismic isolation bearings, after addressing the impacts of inertial and friction forces, as well as the correlation with shear strain amplitudes. Meanwhile, the MATLAB software is employed for a numerical investigation of single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) base-isolated structures, considering the effects of temperature and shear strain amplitudes. The parameters of the Bouc-Wen model employed to capture the hysteretic features of rubber bearings are calibrated using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The analytical results indicate that ambient temperature substantially affects peak acceleration, displacement of the isolation layer, and base shear force. Incorporating temperature impacts into seismic resilience design is essential for ensuring the safety of base-isolated structures in cold areas.