| Title | Teflon Bearings in Aseismic Base Isolation: Experimental Studies and Mathematical Modeling |
| Authors | Mokha, Anoop; Constantinou, Michalakis; Reinhorn, Andrei |
| Publication | Technical Report NCEER-88-0038, National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, SUNY, Buffalo, December 5, 1988. |
| Objectives | To establish a database of frictional properties of Teflon-steel interfaces for use in the design of base-isolated structures. |
| Abstract | This report describes the frictional properties of Teflon-steel interfaces in relation to their application in sliding bearings for base isolated buildings and bridge structures. A number of laboratory tests have been conducted to determine the effect of sliding velocity, sliding acceleration, bearing pressure, type of Teflon, and surface finish on the frictional characteristics of sliding bearings. Aspects of mathematical modeling and application of results in the analysis of sliding isolation systems are considered. It was found that the type of test (sinusoidal or sawtooth displacement input) has an insignificant effect on the value of the sliding coefficient of friction; the effect of relative accelerations at the sliding interface is not important; sliding velocity has an important effect on the coefficient of sliding friction; and friction decreases with increasing bearing pressure. Furthermore, mathematical models of friction were developed and shown to be capable of reproducing the behavior observed in the laboratory. Application of these models in the analysis of sliding isolation systems has shown that the use of Teflon bearings at low bearing pressure may be advantageous over the use of bearings at high pressure. |
