Directional sliding pendulum seismic isolation systems and articulated sliding assemblies therefor

A sliding assembly used in a bi-directional sliding pendulum seismic isolation system, the sliding assembly comprising:

• a main body;
• a lower slider provided at a lower portion of the main body, the lower slider sliding along a lower sliding channel of a lower sliding plate of the bi-directional sliding pendulum seismic isolation system;
• an upper slider provided at an upper portion of the main body, the upper slider sliding along an upper sliding channel of an upper sliding plate of the bi-directional sliding pendulum seismic isolation system;
• wherein the lower and upper sliders include a slider support and a slider core mounted at an end of the slider support to freely rotate with respect to the slider support, the slider core being in frictional contact with the sliding channels in such a manner that the area contacted with the sliding channels is maintained even though the sliding assembly is located in a random position in the sliding channels;
• and
• wherein the slider core has an upper surface of a shape corresponding to radius of curvature of the sliding channels and a lower surface of a semicircular plate type having a predetermined thickness and radius of curvature, and rotates with respect to the slider support when the lower surface is mounted in the slider support.