Application of Isolation to High-Rise Buildings: A Japanese Design Case Study through a U.S. Design Code Lens

Base isolation of high-rise buildings has been growing in popularity in Japan, yet it is uncommon in most of the world. While tall buildings already have long periods and thus lower input accelerations, the addition of isolation can decrease inter-story drifts and greatly decrease floor acceleration, protecting building content. By protecting building content, high-rises can be kept fully operational and occupiable after earthquakes. The …