2 - Rubber bearings

Rubber bearings are made from layers of rubber with thin steel plates between them, and a thick steel plate on the top and bottom.

The bearings are placed between the bottom of a building and its foundation .

The bearings are designed to be very stiff and strong for vertical load, so that they can carry the weight of the building. However, they are designed to be much weaker for horizontal loads, so that they can move sideways during an earthquake.

Rubber bearings have been used to protect the Museum of New Zealand from large earthquakes.


Museum of New Zealand

Museum of New Zealand photographs courtesy of ARUP

Rubber bearing in place before the building is constructed above it.

   

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from Bristol University