All You Need To Know About Friction Pendulum Bearings (FPB) – The Hardcore Guardian in Building Seismic Resistance

In the seismic systems of major projects such as buildings, bridges and nuclear power plants, the Friction Pendulum Bearing (FPB for short) is undoubtedly a core component. Abandoning the traditional "rigid resistance" seismic concept, it relies on simple physical principles and stable mechanical properties to build a solid safety line for building structures in a "flexible defense" manner.

A friction pendulum bearing is a seismic isolation bearing designed based on the pendulum principle combined with sliding friction energy dissipation. Its core function is to "flexibly separate" the upper structure of a building from its foundation. Without complex electronic control equipment, it achieves multiple functions through three key actions:

1. Spherical oscillation: When an earthquake occurs, the upper structure oscillates along the spherical surface of the bearing, buffering seismic impact like a pendulum.
2. Friction energy dissipation: During oscillation, friction at the contact surfaces dissipates seismic energy transmitted to the structure, reducing damage to the building.
3. Gravity self-centering: Driven by its own gravity, the structure automatically returns to its original position after the earthquake without manual intervention.
4. In short, it integrates seismic isolation, energy dissipation and self-centering functions, effectively blocking seismic energy and quickly restoring structural stability after earthquakes.

Compared with rubber seismic isolation bearings and ordinary sliding bearings, FPB solves many pain points of traditional bearings with outstanding advantages:

(1) Ultra-high vertical bearing capacity

It can easily withstand vertical loads of thousands to tens of thousands of tons, fully adapting to heavy structures such as super high-rise buildings, long-span bridges and nuclear power facilities without bearing capacity issues.

(2) Excellent self-centering capability

Achieving automatic reset purely by gravity, it produces minimal residual structural displacement after earthquakes. No manual correction is required, allowing buildings to resume operation quickly and reduce downtime losses.

(3) Durability and stability

Made of special wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials, it resists weathering, aging and fatigue. Its service life matches that of the main building structure, requiring little maintenance and cutting long-term costs.

(4) Wide applicability

Unrestricted by building weight or site conditions, it performs effectively in both minor daily earthquakes and rare major earthquakes. It also adapts to complex working conditions such as structural deformation caused by temperature changes and uneven loads.

FPB is more than a simple support component – it is a "seismic insurance policy" for major engineering projects. It can reduce the structural acceleration response by 60%–80% during earthquakes, significantly minimizing damage to main components such as beams, columns and walls, and protecting internal equipment and personnel.

It is especially suitable for the following key buildings:

1. Lifeline projects: Hospitals, data centers and emergency command centers, which must remain functional during earthquakes.
2. Irreplaceable projects: Cultural relics buildings, cross-sea bridges and nuclear power plants, which require FPB to ensure maximum safety as reconstruction is not easily feasible.
3. In essence, the friction pendulum bearing applies the "pendulum" principle to engineering, solving the most stringent seismic challenges with the most fundamental laws of physics, making it a benchmark product in modern seismic isolation technology.