Vibration isolators are able to protect buildings, bridges and equipments against earthquakes and prevent strong vibrations from getting transmitted to buildings.
Utilizing these vibration isolators in bridges is an appropriate solution for addressing the challenge of the bridge deck’s thermal expansion and contraction. It is also the best way to improve the safety of high profile buildings such as hospitals, relief centers and communications headquarters.
Vibration isolators, designed and produced in Sharif University of Technology, work like a flexible bumper between the foundation and the structure, and while bearing the weight of the building, prevent the transfer of strong vibrations from the earth to the constructions.
Although these isolators have a simple design, their production requires complicated technology.
Dr. Ali Bakhshi, head of the project, explained “97 percent of this isolator is composed of natural rubber. Rubber alone cannot hold under the weight of the building, however, so we had to find a way to stop the rubber from getting crushed at the same time as we had to make sure it was flexible enough to absorb horizontal vibrations.”
Engineer Vahid Valadoost, a member of the project, noted that the most difficult technical part is to integrate the reinforcement plates with rubber and said, “steel plates have a high strength and a low price but cannot be easily integrated with rubber and are quickly corroded in chemical environments.”
Using carbon fiber is another solution which is quite costly but integrates with rubber much easier and is very resistant to corrosion.
Polyamide fiber was another alternative that was used for the first time in this project and led to desirable results.
The technology of vibration isolators that have undergone initial design, prototype production and final product manufacture in Sharif University of Technology is now in the industrial exploitation phase and can be provided to applicants.
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