• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.6
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• pp.683-697
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• 2019

The reinforced concrete (RC) structures usually suffer large residual displacements under strong motions. The large residual displacements may substantially reduce the anti-seismic capacity of structures during the aftershock and increase the difficulty and cost of structural repair after an earthquake. To reduce the adverse residual displacement, several self-centering energy dissipation braces (SCEBs) have been proposed to be installed to the RC structures. To investigate the seismic responses of the RC structures with SCEBs under the earthquake excitation, an extended Bouc-Wen model with degradation and self-centering effects is developed in this study. The extended model realized by MATLAB/Simulink program is able to capture the hysteretic characteristics of the RC structures with SCEBs, such as the energy dissipation and the degradation, especially the self-centering effect. The predicted hysteretic behavior of the RC structures with SCEBs based on the extended model, which used the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) for parameter identification, is compared with the experimental results. Comparison results show that the predicted hysteretic curves can be in good agreement with the experimental results. The nonlinear dynamic analyses using the extended model are then carried out to explore the seismic performance of the RC structures with SCEBs. The analysis results demonstrate that the SCEB can effectively reduce the residual displacements of the RC structures, but slightly increase the acceleration.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.671-690
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• 2021

Seismic responses of RC core wall with two outriggers are investigated in this study. In the models analyzed here, one of the outriggers is fixed at the top of the building and the second is placed at different levels along the height of the system. Each of the systems resulting from the placement of the outrigger at different locations is designed according to the prescriptive codes. The location of the outrigger changes along the height. Linear design of all the structures is accomplished by using prescriptive codes. Buckling restrained braces (BRBs) are used in the outriggers and forward directivity near fault and far fault earthquake record sets are used at maximum considered earthquake (MCE) level. Results from nonlinear time history analysis demonstrate that BRB outriggers can change the seismic responses like force distribution and deformation demand of the RC core-walls over the height and lead to the new plastic hinge arrangement over the core-wall height. Plasticity extension in the RC core wall occurs at the base as well as adjacent to the outrigger levels. Considering the maximum inter-story drift ratio (IDR) demand as an engineering parameter, the best location for the second outrigger is at 0.75H, in which the maximum IDR at the region upper the second outrigger level is approximately equal to the corresponding value in the lower region.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2022

Scoliosis is defined as a condition in which the spine curves more than 10 degrees in frontal plane. However, it is complicated because it involves transverse and sagittal components as well as the frontal plane. Curvature can progress to growing children and cause serious problems. Treatments of Scoliosis, including observation, are casting, braces, physical therapy, exercise, and surgery. The goal of scoliosis management is to achieve minimal asymmetry by maintaining low angle values. However, it is difficult for adolescents to receive continuous treatment due to study and lack of time. We report cases of scoliosis that have experienced improvement of Cobb's angle through spinal thermal massage management at home.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.6
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• pp.811-824
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• 2022

Despite its disadvantages, soft story can reduce the damage to the upper floors by concentrating drift in that specific story provided that large drifts are avoided. Gapped-Inclined Brace (GIB) with reduced P-delta effects and the control of soft story stiffness makes it possible to take advantage of the soft story in buildings and increase their capacity for energy dissipation. OpenSees software is used in this study to validate and modify the GIB model's shortcomings. Also, the analysis method for this element is changed for design. The modified element is evaluated in 3D analysis. Finally, to retrofit an existing building, this element is used. Based on the Iranian seismic code, a six-story reinforced concrete building is modelled and studied with 3D analysis. In this building, the construction shortcomings and elimination of infills on the ground floor cause the formation of a soft story. Results of nonlinear static analysis, nonlinear dynamic, and incremental dynamic analysis using both components of seismic acceleration applied to the structure at different angles and the fragility curves indicate the improvement of the retrofitted structure's performance using the modified element to reach the required performance level following the retrofit code.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.31-38
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• 2021

The precast-buckling restrained braces(PC-BRB) reinforced with engineering plastics that can compensate for the disadvantages in the manufacturing process of the existing buckling restrained brace. In this study, to examine the applicability of PC-BRB to actual structures, example structures similar to school facilities were selected and the reinforcement effect was analyzed analytically according to the damping design procedure of PC-BRB. Load-displacement curve through the incremental loading test appeared similar to the bilinear curve. Applying test result, Analytical model of PC-BRB model was constructed and applied to the example structure. As a result of the analysis, the PC-BRB showed stable hysteresis behavior without lowering the strength, and the inter story drift ratio and the shear force were reduced due to the damping effect. In addition, the reduction ratio of the shear force was similar to the reduction ratio assumed when designing the damping device.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.157-170
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• 2022

This paper explains about structural planning and structural design of the high-rise building in Toranomon-Azabudai Project (A Block) which is now under construction. The building is about 330 meters high, has 4.2 aspect ratio, and the outline of the building has shallow curve. We adopted seismic response control structure. The building is a steel rigid frame structure with braces, and it has enough stiffness to obtain its primary natural period to be less than about seven seconds, in consideration of wind response, seismic response and inhabitability for the wind shaking. In terms of business continuity plan, the building has a high seismic performance; value of story drift angle shall be 1/150 or less and members of the building remain almost undamaged while or after a large earthquake. Active mass dumper shall be installed at the top of the building to improve inhabitability while strong wind is blowing.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.325-337
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• 2022

In this research, an earthquake-resistant structural system consisting of a pin-connected steel frame and a bracing with metallic fuses is proposed. Contrary to the conventional braced frames, the main structural elements are deemed to remain elastic under earthquakes and the seismic energy is efficiently dissipated by the damper-braces with an amplification mechanism. The superiority of the proposed damping system lies in easy manufacture, high yield capacity and energy dissipation, and an effortless replacement of damaged fuses after earthquake events. Furthermore, the stiffness and the yield capacity are almost decoupled in the proposed damper-brace which makes it highly versatile for performance-based seismic design compared to most other dampers. A special attention is paid to derive the theoretical formulation for nonlinear behavior of the proposed damper-brace, which is verified using analytical results. Next, a direct displacement-based design procedure is provided for the proposed system and an example structure is designed and analyzed thoroughly to check its seismic performance. The results show that the proposed system designed with the provided procedure satisfies the given performance objective and can be used for developing highly efficient low-damage structures.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.7-20
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• 2023

The construction method of scaffolding structures is different from Mortise and Tenon and bucket arch structure of traditional large woodwork. It forms an independent construction system-fixing nodes with knots, a large number of diagonal braces are used to fix shelves and the structures mostly contain X-shape and triangular shape details. Simple ones include stalls, sheds, rain sheds, altars, lamp racks etc. But the scaffolding with larger scale and more complicated structure are modeled on archways, theatres and other buildings which are used in commercial and festival activities. At present, Macao, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Sichuan, Shanxi and other places in China have retained the custom of using scaffolding structures in important festival activities, but their uses, techniques and building types are slightly different from place to place. Due to building and demolishing at any time, the construction and service cycle is short. As a result, there are almost no physical objects left. We can only deduce the use and technical characteristics of ancient scaffolding skills through the colorful building styles that have been preserved with folk activities in various parts of China, the craftsmanship handed down from generation to generation by the scaffolding guild and artisans, and the description of cultural and historical materials and the mutual corroboration of visual materials.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.523-537
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• 2023

This paper proposed a new self-centering brace (SCB), which consists of four post-tensioned (PT) high strength steel strands and energy absorbing steel plate (EASP) clusters. First, analytical equations were derived to describe the working principle of the SCB. Then, to investigate the hysteretic performance of the SCB, four full-size specimens were manufactured and subjected to the same cyclic loading protocol. One additional specimen using only EASP clusters was also tested to highlight the contribution of PT strands. The test parameters varied in the testing process included the thickness of the EASP and the number of EASP in each cluster. Testing results shown that the SCB exhibited nearly flag-shape hysteresis up to expectation, including excellent recentering capability and satisfactory energy dissipating capacity. For all the specimens, the ratio of the recovered deformation is in the range of 89.6% to 92.1%, and the ratio of the height of the hysteresis loop to the yielding force is in the range of 0.47 to 0.77. Finally, in order to further understand the mechanism of the SCB and provide additional information to the testing results, the high-fidelity finite element (FE) models were established and the numerical results were compared against the experimental data. Good agreement between the experimental, numerical, and analytical results was observed, and the maximum difference is less than 12%. Parametric analysis was also carried out based on the validated FE model to evaluate the effect of some key parameters on the cyclic behavior of the SCB.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2023

Buckling Restrained Braces can not only express the strength considered at the time of design, but also reduce the seismic load by energy dissipation according to the plastic behavior after yield deformation of the steel core. The physical characteristics and damping effect may be different according to the buckling prevention method of the steel core by the lateral restraint element. Accordingly, in this study, To compare hysteresis characteristics, Specimen(BRB-C) filled with mortar, specimen(BRB-R) combined with a buckling restraint ring and Specimen(BRB-EP) filled with engineering plastics was fabricated, and a cyclic loading test was performed. As a result of the cyclic loading test, the maximum compressive strength, cumulative energy dissipation and ductility of each test specimen was similar. But in case of the cumulative energy dissipation and ductility, BRB-C filled with the mortar specimen showed the lowest. This is considered to be because the gap between the steel core and the reinforcing material for plastic deformation was not uniformly formed by pouring mortar around the core part.