Hybrid simulation tests evaluating the seismic performance of lead high-damping rubber bearings at low temperatures

As a hybrid rubber isolation bearing, the lead high-damping rubber bearing (LHB) exhibits enhanced seismic isolation and energy dissipation performance by combining lead cores and high-damping rubber (HDR) in a single device. However, at low temperatures, the LHB exhibits the same hardening and self-heating problems as conventional lead rubber bearings (LRBs) and HDR bearings. The complicated thermo-mechanical coupled behavior of the LHB is difficult to predict and is an obstacle for designing and applying it in cold earthquake-prone areas. In this study, the mechanical characteristic variations of the LHB owing to a low temperature were evaluated in the cyclic loading tests, and the low temperature effect on the seismic behavior of a bridge isolated with LHBs was investigated in hybrid simulation tests using a loading system that can control the ambient temperature of the bearing.