Sustainable geotechnical seismic isolation material from the recycling of waste thermoplastic elastomers

Earthquakes pose significant risks to structures, particularly in rapidly expanding urban areas. This study investigates the use of recycled thermoplastic elastomers, such as polyurethane-coated rubber (PUcR), as sustainable geotechnical seismic isolation (GSI) material to mitigate earthquake vibrations and safeguard infrastructure. Laboratory tests demonstrated that PUcR-soil mixtures exhibit enhanced damping properties, reduced leaching of heavy metals, and reduced carbon emissions. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of these materials can be accurately predicted using artificial intelligence-based gene expression programming models. This research provides a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution to enhance earthquake resilience while addressing the global challenge of polymer waste.