A biomimetic sliding–stretching approach to seismic isolation

Abstract There is growing demand in industrialized and developing countries to provide people structures with effective earthquake protection. Here, we employ architectured material concepts a bio-inspired approach trail-blaze new path seismic isolation. We develop novel isolator whose unit cell formed by linkages that replicate the bones of human limbs. Deformable tendons connect limb members central post carrying vertical load, which can slide against bottom plate system. While displacement capacity device depends only on geometry limbs, its vibration period tuned dynamically stretching nonlinear stress–strain regime, so as avoid resonance excitations. This biomimetic, sliding–stretching be scaled seismically protect infrastructure, buildings, artworks equipment customized properties sustainable materials. It does not require heavy industry or expensive materials easily assembled from metallic parts 3D-printed components.