Structural performance of a base‐isolated reinforced concrete building subjected to seismic pounding

SUMMARY The effects of seismic pounding on the structural performance of a base‐isolated reinforced concrete (RC) building are investigated, with a view to evaluate the influence of adjacent structures and separation between structures on the pounding response. In particular, seismic pounding of a typical four‐story base‐isolated RC building with retaining walls at the base and with a four‐story fixed‐base RC building is studied. Three‐dimensional finite element analyses are carried out considering material and geometric nonlinearities. The structural performance of the base‐isolated building is evaluated considering various earthquake excitations. It is found that the performance of the base‐isolated building is substantially influenced by the pounding. The investigated base‐isolated building shows good resistance against shear failure and the predominant mode of failure due to pounding is flexural.