In　this　paper,　mechanical　properties　of　periodic　foundation　made　of　concrete　and　rubber　are　investigated　by　a　parametric　study　using　the　finite　element　method　(FEM).　Periodic　foundation　is　a　special　type　of　seismic　isolation　foundation　used　in　civil　engineering,　which　is　inspired　by　the　meso-scale　structure　of　phononic　crystals　in　solid-state　physics.　This　type　of　foundation　is　capable　of　reducing　the　seismic　wave　propagating　though　the　foundation,　therefore　providing　additional　protection　for　the　structures.　In　the　FEM　analysis,　layered　periodic　foundation　is　frequently　modelled　due　to　its　simplicity　in　numerical　modeling.　However,　the　isolation　effect　of　periodic　foundation　on　nuclear　power　plant　has　not　been　fully　discussed　to　the　best　knowledge　of　authors.　In　this　work,　we　construct　four　numerical　models　of　nuclear　power　plant　with　different　foundations　to　investigate　the　seismic　isolation　effects　of　periodic　foundations.　The　results　show　that　the　layered　periodic　foundation　can　increase　the　natural　period　of　the　nuclear　power　plant　like　traditional　base　isolation　systems,　which　is　beneficial　to　the　structures.　In　addition,　the　seismic　response　of　the　nuclear　power　plant　can　also　be　effectively　reduced　in　both　vertical　and　horizontal　directions　when　the　frequencies　of　the　incident　waves　fall　into　some　specific　frequency　bandgaps　of　the　periodic　foundation.　Furthermore,　it　is　demonstrated　that　the　layered　periodic　foundation　can　reduce　the　amplitude　of　the　floor　response　spectrum,　which　plays　an　important　role　in　the　protection　of　the　equipment.　©　2023　Techno-Press,　Ltd.