Locally Resonant Metamaterial Foundation for Masonry Structures: Numerical Models for Experimental Testing

This study presents the results obtained from numerical simulations of shaking-table experimental tests on a benchmark masonry structure, base-isolated by a novel concept of locally resonant metamaterial foundation. The foundation is an assembly of steel cells of circular shape, vertically stacked and mutually connected by circular steel laminated elastomeric bearings. The steel cell consists of a hollow steel cylinder, connected by a rubber ring to an annular steel ring, which acts as resonant unit oscillating in the horizontal plane. Detailed 3D finite element models of foundation and masonry structure are implemented in ABAQUS. Numerical results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed foundation.