Multi-body Inverse Dynamical Model to Simulate the Protoype Testing of the Dccss Seismic Isolation Bearing: Conformal Sliding With Thermo-mechanical Coupling

The Double Concave Curved Surface Sliders (DCCSSs) are anti-seismic bearings composed of the juxtaposition of three rigid bodies, which give rise to two sliding kinematic pairs. The study of the DCCSSs requires to use the theory of Dynamics of Constrained Multi-Bodies, including some sliding kinematic constraints that are holonomic, rheonomic, and non-ideal, due to the presence of friction. The horizontal generalized coordinate of the Rigid Body in contact with the underlying ground, is subjected to a cyclic kinematic time history, by the earthquake. From a tribological point of view, the assumptions are made that Coulomb’s Frictional Law applies along the Sliding Interfaces, and that Conformal Sliding takes place. To contribute to a better understanding of the dynamical behavior of these devices, and to properly design them for practical applications, a Multi-Body Inverse Dynamical Model was developed to simulate the typical prototype-tests that are currently carried out, in compliance with technical standards, to dynamically characterize them before their installation underneath buildings or bridges. The complete set of Solving Equations , encompassing Kinematics , Dynamics and Thermo-Mechanical Coupling , are derived and presented in detail, along with the necessary logical operations, for the immediate applicability of the proposed model. The validity of the Model is ascertained by comparison between the numerical force-displacement hysteretic curves and those obtained experimentally, for a series of test results retrieved in the most recent scientific literature. Finally, the proposed model is applied to clarify the importance of some parameters, among which: supported mass, and both frequency and duration of the seismic signal.