• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제77권4호
• /
• pp.463-472
• /
• 2021

Fully rigid floor diaphragm is one of the main assumptions that are widely used in common practices due to its simple application. However, determining the exact degree of diaphragms flexibility cannot be easily accomplished without finite element modeling, which is an expensive and time-consuming procedure. Therefore, it is always possible that apparently rigid diaphragms, based on prescriptive limitations of seismic codes, experience some degrees of flexibility during the earthquakes. Since diaphragm flexibility has more uncertainties in asymmetric-plan structures, this study focuses on errors resulting from probable floor diaphragm flexibility of torsionally restrained structures. The analytical models used in this study were single-story buildings with asymmetric plan and RC shear walls. Although floor system is not considered explicitly, a wide range of considered diaphragm flexibility, from fully rigid to quite flexible, allows the results to be generalizable to a lot of lateral load resisting systems as well as floor systems. It has been shown that in addition to previously known effects of diaphragm flexibility, presence of orthogonal side elements during design procedure with rigid diaphragm assumption and rapid reduction in their absorbed forces can also be an important source to increase errors due to flexibility. Accordingly, from the obtained results the authors suggest designers to consider the possibility of diaphragm flexibility and its adverse effects, especially in torsionally restrained systems in their common designs.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제54권8호
• /
• pp.2801-2808
• /
• 2022

The synergistic effect of ZrC nanoparticle pining and Re solution in W matrix on the thermal stability of tungsten was studied by investigating the evolution of the microstructure, hardness and tensile properties after annealing in a temperature range of 1000-1700 ℃. The results of metallography, electron backscatter diffraction pattern and Vickers micro-hardness indicate that the rolled W-1wt%Re-0.5 wt% ZrC alloy has a higher recrystallization temperature (1600 ℃-1700 ℃) than that of the rolled pure W (1200 ℃), W-0.5 wt%ZrC (1300 ℃), W-0.5 wt%HfC (1400-1500 ℃) and W-K-3wt%Re alloy fabricated by the same technology. The molecular dynamics simulation results indicated that solution Re atoms in W matrix can slow down the self-diffusion of W atoms and form dragging effect to delay the growth of W grain, moreover, the diffusion coefficient decrease with increasing Re content. In addition, the ZrC nanoparticles can pin the grain boundaries and dislocations effectively, preventing the recrystallization. Therefore, synergistic effect of solid solution Re element and dispersed ZrC nanoparticles significantly increase recrystallization temperature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제81권3호
• /
• pp.317-333
• /
• 2022

Visco-Plastic Damper (VPD) as a passive energy dissipation device with dual behavior has been recently numerically studied. It consists of two bent steel plates and segments with a viscoelastic solid material in between, combining and improving characteristics of both displacement-dependent and velocity-dependent devices. In order to trust the performance of VPD, for the 1st time this paper experimentally investigates prototype damper behavior under a wide range of frequency and amplitude of dynamic loading. A high-axial damping rubber is innovatively proposed as the viscoelastic layer designed to withstand large axial strains and dissipate energy accordingly. Test results confirmed all assumptions about VPD. The behavior of VPD subjected to low levels of excitation is elastic while with increasing levels of excitation, a significant source of energy dissipation is provided through the yielding of the steel elements in addition to the viscoelastic energy dissipation. The results showed energy dissipation of 99.35 kN.m under a dynamic displacement with 14.095 mm amplitude and 0.333 Hz frequency. Lateral displacement at the middle of the device was created with an amplification factor obtained ranging from 2.108 to 3.242 in the rubber block. Therefore, the energy dissipation of viscoelastic material of VPD was calculated 18.6 times that of the ordinary viscoelastic damper.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제47권2호
• /
• pp.185-201
• /
• 2023

Despite the high lateral stiffness and strength of the Concentrically Braced Frame (CBF), due to the buckling of its diagonal members, it is not a suitable system in high seismic regions. Among the offered methods to overcome the shortcoming, utilizing a metallic damper is considered as an appropriate idea to enhance the behavior of Concentrically Braced Frames (CBFs). Therefore, in this paper, an innovative steel damper is proposed, which is investigated experimentally and numerically. Moreover, a parametrical study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the mechanism (shear, shear-flexural, and flexural) considering buckling mode (elastic, inelastic, and plastic) on the behavior of the damper. Besides, the necessary formulas based on the parametrical study were presented to predict the behavior of the damper that they showed good agreement with finite element (FE) results. Both experimental and numerical results confirmed that dampers with the shear mechanism in all buckling modes have a better performance than other dampers. Accordingly, the FE results indicated that the shear damper has greater ultimate strength than the flexural damper by 32%, 31%, and 56%, respectively, for plates with elastic, inelastic, and plastic buckling modes. Also, the shear damper has a greater stiffness than the flexural damper by 43%, 26%, and 53%, respectively, for dampers with elastic, inelastic, and plastic buckling modes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제32권4호
• /
• pp.453-462
• /
• 2023

Designing pile foundations subjected to the uplift forces such as buildings, oil platforms, and anchors is becoming increasingly concerned. In this paper, the conceptual design of a new type of driven piles called expanding pile is presented and assessed. Some grooves have been created in the shaft of the novel pile, and some moveable arms have been designed at the pile tip. At first, static analyses using the finite element method were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the innovative pile on the axial bearing capacity. Then its effect on seismic behavior of moment frame is considered. Results show that the expanding arms were provided an ideal anchorage system because of the soil's noticeable locking-up effect increasing uplift bearing capacity. For example at the end of the static tensile loading procedure, displacement decrement up to 55 percent is observed. In addition, comparing the uplift bearing capacity of the usual and new pile with different lengths in sand and clay layers shows noticeable effect and sharp increase up to about two times especially in longer piles. Besides, a sensible reduction in the seismic response and the stresses in the beam-column connection between 23-36 percent are achieved that ensures better seismic behavior of the structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제45권3호
• /
• pp.455-466
• /
• 2022

Despite the considerable lateral stiffness and strength of the Concentrically Braced Frame (CBF), it suffers from low ductility and low seismic dissipating energy capacity. The buckling of the diagonal members of the CBF systems under cyclic loading ended up to the shortcoming against seismic loading. Comprehensive researches have been performing to achieve helpful approaches to prevent the buckling of the diagonal member. Among the recommended ideas, metallic damper revealed a better success than other ideas to enhance the behavior of CBFs. While metallic dampers improve the behavior of the CBF system, they increase constructional costs. Therefore, in this paper, a new steel damper with flexural mechanism is proposed, which is investigated experimentally and numerically. Also, a parametrical revision was carried out to evaluate the effect of thickness, slenderness ratio, angle of the main plate, and height of the main plates on the proposed damper. For the parametrical study, 45 finite element models were analyzed and considered. Experimental results, as well as the numerical results, indicated that the proposed damper enjoys a stable hysteresis loop without any degradation up to a high rotation equal to around 31% that is significantly considerable. Moreover, it showed a suitable performance in case of ductility and energy dissipating. Besides, the necessary formulas to design the damper, the required relations were proposed to design the elements outside the damper to ensure the damper acts as a ductile fuse.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제44권4호
• /
• pp.587-602
• /
• 2022

In this study, the classical J₂ flow theory is explicitly proved to be inappropriate to describe the plastic behaviour of structural steels under different stress states according to the reported test results. A numerical framework of the characterization of the strain hardening and ductile fracture initiation involving the effect of stress states, i.e., stress triaxiality and Lode angle parameter, is proposed based on the mechanical response of structural steels under monotonic loading. Both effects on strain hardening are determined by correction functions, which are implemented as different modules in the numerical framework. Thus, other users can easily modify them according to their test results. Besides, the ductile fracture initiation is determined by a fracture locus in the space of stress triaxiality, Lode angle parameter, and fracture strain. The numerical implementation of the proposed model and the corresponding code are provided in this paper, which are also available on GitHub. The validity of the numerical procedure is examined through single element tests and the accuracy of the proposed model is verified by existing test results.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제37권1호
• /
• pp.21-29
• /
• 2024

The effective management of damage in tunnels is crucial for ensuring their safety, longevity, and operational efficiency. In this paper, we propose an educational management model tailored specifically for addressing damage in tunnels, utilizing numerical solution techniques. By leveraging advanced computational methods, we aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to tunnel damage and to establish proactive measures for mitigation and repair. The proposed model integrates principles of tunnel engineering, structural mechanics, and numerical analysis to facilitate a systematic approach to damage assessment, diagnosis, and management. Through the application of numerical solution techniques, such as finite element analysis, we demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed model in simulating various damage scenarios and predicting their impact on tunnel performance. Additionally, the educational component of the model provides valuable insights and training opportunities for tunnel management personnel, empowering them to make informed decisions and implement effective strategies for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of tunnel infrastructure. Overall, the proposed educational management model represents a significant advancement in tunnel management practices, offering a proactive and knowledge-driven approach to addressing damage and enhancing the resilience of tunnel systems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.277-293
• /
• 2024

Shored Mechanically Stabilized Earth (SMSE) walls are types of soil retaining structures that increase soil stability under static and dynamic loads. The damage caused by an earthquake can be determined by evaluating the probabilistic seismic response of SMSE walls. This study aimed to assess the seismic performance of SMSE walls and provide fragility curves for evaluating failure levels. The generated fragility curves can help to improve the seismic performance of these walls through assessing and controlling variables like backfill surface settlement, lateral deformation of facing, and permanent relocation of the wall. A parametric study was performed based on a non-linear elastoplastic constitutive model known as the hardening soil model with small-strain stiffness, HSsmall. The analyses were conducted using PLAXIS 2D, a Finite Element Method (FEM) program, under plane-strain conditions to study the effect of the number of geogrid layers and the axial stiffness of geogrids on the performance of SMSE walls. In this study, three areas of damage (minor, moderate, and severe) were observed and, in all cases, the wall has not completely entered the stage of destruction. For the base model (Model A), at the highest ground acceleration coefficient (1 g), in the moderate damage state, the fragility probability was 76%. These values were 62%, and 54%, respectively, by increasing the number of geogrids (Model B) and increasing the geogrid stiffness (Model C). Meanwhile, the fragility values were 99%, 98%, and 97%, respectively in the case of minor damage. Notably, the probability of complete destruction was zero percent in all models.

• 정보처리학회논문지D
• /
• 제14D권6호
• /
• pp.585-596
• /
• 2007

일반적으로 XML 데이터는 트리 형태의 계층적인 구조를 가지고 있으며, XML 데이터의 저장 및 검색도 이러한 특성을 반영한다. 따라서 XML 데이터를 데이터베이스화 할 때에 XML 엘리먼트 간의 이러한 계층 관계를 반영하여 XML 데이터를 구조화하여 저장하고, 사용자의 검색을 지원하기 위해서는 질의에 명세 된 엘리먼트 구조 간의 계층 관계를 계산하여 처리하는 방법이 필요하다. 구조적 조인(structural joins) 연산은 이 문제의 한 해결책으로서 노드 번호 매기기 방식(node numbering scheme)에 기반한 XML 데이터베이스에 대하여 효율적인 계층 관계 연산 기법을 제시하고 있다. 하지만 계층 관계가 복잡하게 중첩되어 있는 트리 구조의 XML 질의를 처리하려면 여전히 다수의 구조적 조인을 수행해야 하기 때문에 질의 처리 비용이 많이 드는 또 다른 문제를 갖게 된다. 이에 본 논문에서는 선행 연구에서 제안된 트리 구조의 XML 질의 처리시에 필요한 다수의 중첩된 구조적 조인들의 수행비용을 효과적으로 줄이기 위한 사전 처리 방법으로서 동등 클래스 개념을 적용한 정규 표현식(regular expression)으로 된 경로 질의(path query)의 길이를 단축하는 경로식 단축 알고리즘을 소개하며 특히 분기 노드(branch node)가 포함된 경로식 단축 알고리즘을 제안한다. 제안한 알고리즘이 XML 경로식 질의 처리 시간을 평균적으로 1/3로 단축할 수 있음을 실험을 통해서 확인한다.