Efficiency investigation of hybrid sliding rocking columns as elevated reservoirs supporting systems

In this paper, the possible application of the hybrid sliding rocking column as a supporting system of an elevated reservoir is investigated. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed system, a comparative analysis is conducted on an elevated reservoir with other common supporting systems. To this purpose, a benchmark tank model with a normal circular column is considered and modelled in the OpenSees platform. Then, other supporting systems are replaced with the exciting normal column in order to investigate the structural responses. Non-linear time history analyses with eight far-field and near-fault earthquake ground motions are performed on the considered models. The results show that hybrid sliding rocking columns are more effective than other solutions in reducing the structural base shear, as well as its damage potential towards both far-field and near-fault earthquake records.