Performance of Seismically Isolated Buildings in Taiwan During the M L 7.2 Hualien Earthquake on April 3, 2024

ABSTRACT On April 3, 2024, the Hualien earthquake significantly impacted Taiwan's Eastern and Northwestern regions. Post‐earthquake inspections of seismically isolated buildings indicated no structural damage and only minor nonstructural damage due to the effective functioning of seismic isolation systems. This study conducts an in‐depth investigation of two seismically isolated buildings: the Civil Engineering Research Building of the National Taiwan University, featuring a mid‐story isolation design, and the He Xin building of the Hualien Tzu Chi Medical Center, which employs a base isolation design. The seismic performance of these buildings is assessed through comprehensive structural inspections, monitoring data analysis, and nonlinear dynamic response history analysis. The findings indicate that their actual seismic responses closely align with design expectations and simulation results. Despite these findings, the inspections highlight the importance of ensuring user safety during seismic events and maintaining ongoing structural monitoring as critical priorities for the future.