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Design and small-scale testing of 3D printed seismic isolators

Abstract:

3D printing is a versatile technology with applications spanning from toy production to biomedical devices. With the ability to bring small-scaled prototypes into the classroom, 3D printing offers educators an excellent opportunity to enhance the learning experience. However, in looking at its applications in engineering, civil/structural engineering still falls behind in taking full advantage of this technology which is not only accessible but also relatively inexpensive. This paper will focus on the design and testing process of 3D printed seismic isolators and the observations and lessons learned as part of a senior design project. Civil engineering students at San Francisco State University explore the use and effectiveness of seismic isolation by designing, printing, and testing an isolated system using a small scale shake table testing. The structural system is a balsa wood tower using 3D printed friction pendulum seismic isolators at the base. Through design work and dynamic testing, the students see first-hand how isolation works and identify means of sizing the isolators for optimum structural performance. Utilizing these prototype isolators not only reinforces seismic isolation theory but also allows for scaled testing otherwise inaccessible to most students due to the cost of real seismic isolators. This project establishes a foundation of work needed to develop 3D printing applications for civil/structural engineering topics for both classroom and outreach purposes.