The Influence of Mexico City Soils on the Seismic Performance of Friction Damped and Base Isolated Structures

The seismic performance of hypothetical low and high-rise steel framed structures founded on both soft and stiff soils in Mexico City and equipped with (i) friction damping devices, (ii) base isolators and (iii) a combination of base isolators and friction damping devices is compared. The response of the three structural systems, including soil- structure interaction, is examined for two specific sites in Mexico City: the stiff hills zone and the soft lake bed zone. The results of the study show that although soil-structure interaction can be beneficial for some base isolated structures, friction damping alone provides a more consistent way of protecting structures in Mexico City against earthquakes.