Seismic Isolation of Museum Artefacts: Experimental Validation Through Shake Table Tests

Museum artefacts experience significant rocking and may overturn and collapse under moderate-to-large magnitude earthquakes. Use of base isolation (BI) is a viable strategy to enhance the resilience of such artefacts. However, experimental studies aimed at further investigating the effects of ground motion parameters on the response of statues/busts with BI are still scarce. This study illustrates comprehensive shake table tests to demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of double concave curved surface slider isolators (DCCSSs) as viable means to protect museum artistic contents. Different geometries and weights of typical bust-pedestal systems were considered during the tests. Uni- and bi-axial records with varying amplitudes and frequency contents were considered as inputs. Using DCCSS significantly reduces peak accelerations on the isolated platform. Bidirectional input has a weak influence on the response of artefacts with BI. Typical seismological integral parameters were utilized as engineering demand parameters (EDPs) to quantify the seismic response of the BI system. The ratio of integral parameters for isolated platform and shake table is an effective measure to quantify the response of DCCSS. Dynamic modification factors (DMFs) and component amplification factors (CAFs) were also selected as response parameters for isolated and non-isolated components, respectively. For solid systems it was found that values of DMFs are lower than CAFs, which, in turn, are higher typically than 1.5. Ratios of CAF/DMF for hollow systems are higher than solid counterparts. Further numerical investigations are required to validate the reliability of the multiple response parameter analysis illustrated in this study, namely, peak quantities and integral parameters.