• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.205-215
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• 2010

Recently, earthquake proof technology has been widely applied to both new and existing structures and bridges. The analysis of bridge systems equipped with structural control devices, which possess large degrees of freedom and nonlinear characteristics, is a result in time-consuming task. Therefore, a piecewise exact solution is proposed in this study to simplify the seismic mitigation analysis process for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. In this study, the simplified system having two degrees of freedom, to reasonably represent the large number of degrees of freedom of a bridge, and is modeled to obtain a piecewise exact solution for system responses during earthquakes. Simultaneously, we used the nonlinear finite element computer program to analyze the bridge responses and verify the accuracy of the proposed piecewise exact solution for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. The conclusions derived by comparing the results obtained from the piecewise exact solution and nonlinear finite element analysis reveal that the proposed solution not only simplifies the calculation process but also provides highly accurate seismic responses of isolated bridges under earthquakes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.755-770
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• 2009

This study proposes a new smart base isolation system that employs Magneto-Rheological Elastomers (MREs), a class of smart materials whose elastic modulus or stiffness can be varied depending on the magnitude of an applied magnetic field. It also evaluates the dynamic performance of the MRE-based isolation system in reducing vibrations in structures subject to various seismic excitations. As controllable stiffness elements, MREs can increase the dynamic control bandwidth of the isolation system, improving its vibration reduction capability. To study the effectiveness of the MRE-based isolation system, this paper compares its dynamic performance in reducing vibration responses of a base-isolated single-story structure (i.e., 2DOF) with that of a conventional base-isolation system. Moreover, two control algorithms (linear quadratic regulator (LQR)-based control and state-switched control) are considered for regulating the stiffness of MREs. The simulation results show that the MRE-based isolation system outperformed the conventional system in suppressing the maximum base drift, acceleration, and displacement of the structure.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.577-609
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• 1995

Bacteria have been regarded as one of the most important factors in pulpal and periapical diseases. Streptococci are frequently isolated facultative anaerobes in infected root canals. Recently molecular biological techniques have been rapidly progressed. This study was designed to apply the molecular biological tools to the identification and classification of streptococci in the endodontic microbiology. Streptococci isolated from infected root canals were identified with both Vitek Systems and API 20 STREP. Identification results were somewhat different in several strains of streptococci. Eighteen streptococci and enterococcal was difficult so to digest plasmid DNA using Hind III and EcoRI to differentiate strains by restriction enzyme analysis of plasmid DNA. 16S rDNA of chromosome was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and then restricition fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) using several restriction enzymes was observed. The molecular mass of 16S rDNA of chromosomal DNA was approximately 1.4kb. There were three to five RFLP patterns using eight restriction enzymes. RFLP patterns digested with CfoI which recognizes four base sequences were identical in all stains. Hind III which recognizes six base sequences could not digest the 16S rDNA. Restriction enzymes which recognize five base sequences were suitable for RFLP pattern analysis. At least three different restriction enzymes were needed to compare each strains. 16S rDNA PCR-RFLP was simple and rapid to differentiate and classify strains and could be used in the epidemiological study of root canal infections.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.399-412
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• 2011

This study compares the performance of two smart isolation systems that utilize superelastic shape memory alloys (SMAs) for seismic protection of bridges using energy balance concepts. The first isolation system is a SMA/rubber-based isolation system (SRB-IS) and consists of a laminated rubber bearing that decouples the superstructure from the bridge piers and a SMA device that provides additional energy dissipation and re-centering capacity. The second isolation system, named as superelastic-friction base isolator (S-FBI), combines the superelastic SMAs with a flat steel-Teflon bearing rather than a laminated rubber bearing. Seismic energy equations of a bridge structure with SMA-based isolation systems are established by absolute and relative energy balance formulations. Nonlinear time history analyses are performed in order to assess the effectiveness of the isolation systems and to compare their performance. The program RSPMatch 2005 is employed to generate spectrum compatible ground motions that are used in time history analyses of the isolated bridge. Results indicate that SRB-IS produces higher seismic input energy, recoverable energy and base shears as compared to the S-FBI system. Also, it is shown that combining superelastic SMAs with a sliding bearing rather than rubber bearing significantly reduce the amount of the required SMA material.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.943-966
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• 2016

Recently, magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) material and its devices have been developed and attracted a good deal of attention for their potentials in vibration control. Among them, a highly adaptive base isolator based on MRE was designed, fabricated and tested for real-time adaptive control of base isolated structures against a suite of earthquakes. To perfectly take advantage of this new device, an accurate and robust model should be built to characterize its nonlinearity and hysteresis for its application in structural control. This paper first proposes a novel hysteresis model, in which a nonlinear hyperbolic sine function spring is used to portray the strain stiffening phenomenon and a Voigt component is incorporated in parallel to describe the solid-material behaviours. Then the fruit fly optimization algorithm (FFOA) is employed for model parameter identification using testing data of shear force, displacement and velocity obtained from different loading conditions. The relationships between model parameters and applied current are also explored to obtain a current-dependent generalized model for the control application. Based on the proposed model of MRE base isolator, a second-order sliding mode controller is designed and applied to the device to provide a real-time feedback control of smart structures. The performance of the proposed technique is evaluated in simulation through utilizing a three-storey benchmark building model under four benchmark earthquake excitations. The results verify the effectiveness of the proposed current-dependent model and corresponding controller for semi-active control of MRE base isolator incorporated smart structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.5
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• pp.627-644
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• 2022

In past major earthquakes (1994 Northridge, 1995 Kobe, Chi-Chi 1999, Kocaeli 1999), significant damages occurred in the liquid storage tanks. The basic failure patterns were observed to be the buckling of the tank wall and uplift of the anchorage system. The damages in the industrial facilities and nuclear power plants have caused the spread of toxic substances to the environment and significant fires. Seismic isolation can be used in liquid storage tanks to decouple the structure and decrease the structural demand in the superstructure in case of ground shaking. Previous studies on the use of seismic isolation systems on liquid storage tanks show that an isolation system reduces the impulsive response but might slightly increase the convective one. There is still a lack of understanding of the seismic response of seismically isolated liquid storage tanks considering the fluid-structure interaction. In this study, one broad tank, one medium tank, and one slender tank are selected and designed. Two- and three-dimensional elastomeric bearings are used as seismic isolation systems. The seismic performance of the tanks is then investigated through nonlinear dynamic time-history analyses. The effectiveness of each seismic isolation system on tanks' performance was investigated. Isolator tension forces, modal analysis results, hydrodynamic stresses, strains, sloshing heights and base shear forces of the tanks are compared. The results show that the total base shear is lower in 3D-isolators compared to 2D-isolators. Even though the tank wall stresses, and strains are slightly higher in 3D-isolators, they are more efficient to prevent the tension problem.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.463-472
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• 1994

A method of stochastic response analysis of base-isolated fluid-filled pool structures subject to random ground excitations is studied. Fluid-structure interaction effects between the flexible walls and contained fluid are taken into account in the form of added mass matrix derived by FEM modeling of the contained fluid motion. The stationary ground excitation is represented by Modified Clough-Penzien spectral model and the nonstationary one is obtained by imposing an envelope function on the stationary one. The stationary and nonstationary response statistics of the two different isolation systems are obtained by solving the governing Lyapunov covariance matrix differential equations.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2007

In this study, the performance of the modified sliding mode control proposed in the previous study is evaluated for seismic response control of nonlinear hysteretic structures. Modified sliding mode control(MSMC) utilizes the target derivative of Lyapunov function in order to calculate control force, and its performance was evaluated only lot linear structures in the previous study. However, considering that most structures subject to strong earthquake show nonlinear hysteretic behivior, the results from the previous study have limitations in practical application. The results from numerical analyses of single degree of freedom systems and base isolated system, which were described using Bouc-Wen model, indicate that the proposed MSMC algorithm shows better control performance than the existing sliding mode controller.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.641-656
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• 2017

The effects of vertical component of earthquakes on torsional amplification due to mass eccentricity in seismic responses of base-isolated structures subjected to near-field ground motions are studied in this paper. 3-, 6- and 9-story superstructures and aspect ratios of 1, 2 and 3 have been modeled as steel special moment frames mounted on Triple Concave Friction Pendulum (TCFP) bearings considering different period and damping ratios. Three-dimensional linear superstructures resting on nonlinear isolators are subjected to both 2 and 3 component near-field ground motions. Effects of mass eccentricity and vertical component of 25 near-field earthquakes on the seismic responses including maximum isolator displacement and base shear as well as peak superstructure acceleration are studied. The results indicate that the effect of vertical component on the responses of asymmetric structures, especially on the base shear is significant. Therefore, it can be claimed that in the absence of the vertical component, mass eccentricity has a little effect on the base shear increase. Additionally, the impact of this component on acceleration is remarkable so the roof acceleration of a nine-story structure has been increased 1.67 times, compared to the case that the structure is subjected to only horizontal components of earthquakes.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1989.07a
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• pp.237-240
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• 1989

This paper deals with the expert system for power system recognition of energized and deenergized system using circuit breaker information. The basic idea is isolating the system with the system matrix representing the system configuration and the states of the circuit breakers. The knowledge base is composed of these isolated systems and decision rules. The isolated system with the sources is recognized as the energized system and the system without the source as the deenergized system. The rules use the system matrix and the the inference scheme is simplified in a great deal. Above all, the overall searching labor of the rules is independent on the system size and it is possible to expand into the real system and the real time restoration can be carried out easily. The expert system is written in PROLOG.