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

<p dir="ltr">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.</p>