Development of a novel multi-layer MRE isolator for suppression of building vibrations under seismic events

•The laminated structure enabled the MRE isolator to maintain high vertical support.•Hybrid magnetic system widens the stiffness variation range of the isolator.•Hybrid magnetic system enables the isolator system consume less power.•The effectiveness of the isolator is evaluated with a scaled building test.

Protecting civil engineering structures from uncontrollable events such as earthquakes while maintaining their structural integrity and serviceability is very important; this paper describes the performance of a stiffness softening magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) isolator in a scaled three storey building. In order to construct a closed-loop system, a scaled three storey building was designed and built according to the scaling laws, and then four MRE isolator prototypes were fabricated and utilised to isolate the building from the motion induced by a scaled El Centro earthquake. Fuzzy logic was used to output the current signals to the isolators, based on the real-time responses of the building floors, and then a simulation was used to evaluate the feasibility of this closed loop control system before carrying out an experimental test. The simulation and experimental results showed that the stiffness softening MRE isolator controlled by fuzzy logic could suppress structural vibration well.