Shock Absorption
Shock absorption mechanisms absorb and dissipate seismic energy before it can damage the structure. Unlike lateral-force resisting systems (which keep the building standing), these mechanisms reduce the forces that the building has to resist in the first place.
Without these mechanisms, a building would feel the full force of an earthquake. With them, the building moves less, accelerates less, and experiences significantly less damage to both structural and non-structural components.
This research evaluated two main categories of shock absorption mechanisms:
When combined, seismic isolators and passive dampers create a hybrid seismic protection system — the isolators handle the large, slow movements while the dampers control the smaller, faster vibrations.
For a deeper dive on how each mechanism works and which performs best for soft clay and immediate occupancy, explore the pages above or review the full comparison matrices.