State-of-the-Art on Development and Applications of Seismic Isolation and Passive Energy Dissipation in the European Union

Summarized in this paper are some of the most recent studies performed in Europe on the innovative anti-seismic techniques, partly funded by the European Commission (EC) or sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Some information on new ongoing applications of such techniques is also provided. More precisely, the paper deals with the following topics: (1) progress of detailed numerical analyses of elastomeric isolators, performed in Italy in the framework of the IAEA Coordinated Research Program (CRP) on Intercomparison of Analysis Methods for Seismically Isolated Nuclear Structures; (2) experimental and numerical studies, performed in Austria for the characterization of elastomeric bearings including cavitation; (3) development of design guidelines for isolated nuclear plants applicable in the EC countries and Russian Federation; (4) analysis of the benefits of floor seismic isolation (SI) of civil buildings with modular steel-frame structure; (5) records of an aftershock of the 1997 Marche & Umbria earthquake on a seismically isolated building; (6) promotion of pilot applications of innovative anti-seismic techniques to both new constructions and existing buildings in Italy; (7) evaluation of the benefits of applying SI to chemical plant components; (8) progress of studies performed in the framework of the EC- funded REEDS Project; (9) some important features and results of studies performed in the framework of the EC-funded ISTECH Project for improving stability; (10) new and recent applications of the innovative anti-seismic techniques in Europe, which are known to the authors.