Excessive　deformation　of　the　isolation　layer　in　midstory　isolated　structures　may　occur　under　strong　near-field　pulse-like　ground　motion,　which　would　result　in　the　overturning　collapse　of　the　superstructure.　The　objective　of　the　present　research　is　to　limit　excessive　deformation　of　the　isolation　layer　and　to　reduce　nonlinear　response　of　midstory　isolated　structures.　To　this　end,　a　protective　system　is　presented　to　limit　deformation　of　the　isolation　layer　by　soft　pounding.　Based　on　the　Kelvin　pounding　model,　a　mechanical　model　is　put　forward　for　this　protective　system.　In　addition,　a　new　method　has　been　proposed　that　synthesizes　artificial　near-field　pulse-like　ground　motion　by　combining　the　real　near-field　nonpulse　ground　motion　with　simple　equivalent　pulses.　Also,　the　impact　of　artificial　near-field　pulse-like　ground　motion　on　the　nonlinear　response　of　midstory　isolated　structures　and　the　deformation　of　the　isolation　layer　has　been　investigated.　The　effectiveness　of　the　midstory　isolation　with　the　protective　system　has　been　validated.　The　results　show　that　the　maximum　deformation　of　the　isolation　layer　significantly　exceeds　the　allowable　deformation　of　lead-rubber　bearings　when　subjected　to　near-field　pulse-like　ground　motion,　and　it　causes　the　lead-rubber　bearings　destruction.　The　proposed　protective　system　is　effective　in　restricting　the　excessive　deformation　of　the　isolation　layer　and　reducing　nonlinear　responses　of　the　isolated　structure,　preventing　collapse　of　the　superstructure.