GUWAHATI: A seismic base isolation technology has been developed by IIT-Guwahati to reduce the transmissibility of ground motion of high intensity earthquakes to structures, especially tall buildings.
The IIT-G team said that this is the first application of the high-damping prototype Fiber Reinforced Elastomeric Isolator (FREI) system in the world where carbon fibre fabric has been used in place of steel. FREI is a technology that involves using fiber in place of steel for reinforcement in elastometric isolators, which are multilayer composite pads.
The technology has been developed by a team headed by Sajal Kanti Deb, a professor at the department of civil engineering at IIT-G. Besides Deb, who was the principal investigator of the project, the research team comprised Professor Anjan Dutta and two former PhD students — Dr Animesh Das and Dr Ngo Van Thuyet.
“This is a laminated rubber bearing/isolator reinforced with bi-directional carbon fibre fabric in place of steel plate, which is generally used in conventional Steel Reinforced Elastomeric Isolators (SREIs). FREIs are light-weight and installation of the device does not require highly skilled manpower. It is, therefore, suitable for implementation in developing countries,” said Deb.
Deb added that the technology would ensure that the structural and the non-structural systems, like false ceilings and partition walls and even furniture, would be subjected to very low-level vibration. Therefore, there will be no damage or minor damage even during high intensity earthquakes.
He further said, “Additional cost for implementation of this technology would be approximately 10% of the cost of conventional building of similar typology. The extra cost may be reduced by an appropriate choice of structural system. We have already collaborated with an industry partner during development of this technology and hence the product is ready for commercialization.”