Civil Engineering Dimension
Vol. 28 No. 2 (2026): SEPTEMBER 2026

Seismic Performance of Base-Isolated Buildings with Vertically Staggered Foundations on Hilly Terrain under Near- and Far-Field Earthquakes

Jyoti Ranjan Barik (Indian Institute of Technology Madras)
Aman Parashar (National Institute of Technology Rourkela)
Kishore Chandra Biswal (National Institute of Technology Rourkela)



Article Info

Publish Date
21 Sep 2026

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and limited land availability have encouraged construction on sloping terrains, where framed structures remain highly vulnerable to seismic damage. Base isolation provides a proven means of enhancing resilience. This study investigates staggered buildings equipped with isolation systems, specifically lead rubber bearings, under near-field and far-field earthquakes using ETABS models of isolated and non-isolated irregular structures. Results for regular buildings were validated against existing solutions. Slope angles between 0° and 45° were analyzed to assess seismic parameters including vibration period, base shear, storey displacement, drift, and overturning moment. Findings show that near-field earthquakes intensify slope effects, amplifying base shear, displacement, drift, and overturning moment, while far-field motions exhibit lower sensitivity. Base isolation consistently reduced force-based responses across slope angles, though displacement amplification was most pronounced in steep-slope buildings under near-field motions. Overall, base isolation demonstrates strong potential to improve seismic safety and resilience of staggered buildings in hilly terrains.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

civ

Publisher

Subject

Civil Engineering, Building, Construction & Architecture

Description

The Civil Engineering Dimension (Dimensi Teknik Sipil) is a refereed journal, published twice a year, in March and ...