Seismic performance improvement using bolt-on isolators on interconnected slender electrical equipment.

The slender electrical equipment in substations is fragile to damage during earthquakes owing to the seismically sensitive structure, low material strength, and coupling effects from interconnected equipment. To improve the seismic performance of the slender electrical equipment in the interconnected circuit system, the design and characterization of an assembled isolation system were recommended. The solution was based on a novelty combination application of bolt-on isolators and a support block by reducing the bending stiffness of slender equipment to achieve vibration isolation function. The isolation function test was performed on isolators from characteristics of stiffness variation and damping. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed isolation system was proved in seismic performance improvement of interconnected slender electrical equipment using a comparison shaking table test, which was performed on a full-scale interconnected circuit, consisting of two ± 800 kV composite pillar insulators connected by a tubular busbar. Therefore, thus isolation system can provide effective seismic protection for interconnected slender equipment in proper design. • An isolation for improving seismic performance of electrical equipment is proposed. • The isolation mitigates acceleration, strain, and displacement response. • Performance of the isolation increases as the amplitude of earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]