• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.527-536
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• 2020

The paper represents an optimization algorithm for reinforced concrete retaining wall design. The proposed method, called Rao-3 optimization algorithm, is a recently developed algorithm. The total weight of the steel and concrete, which are used for constructing the retaining wall, were chosen as the objective function. Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-05) and Rankine's theory for lateral earth pressure were considered for structural and geotechnical design, respectively. Number of the design variables are 12. Eight of those express the geometrical dimensions of the wall and four of those express the steel reinforcement of the wall. The safety against overturning, sliding and bearing capacity failure were regarded as the geotechnical constraints. The safety against bending and shear failure, minimum and maximum areas of reinforcement, development lengths of steel reinforcement were regarded as structural constraints. The performance of proposed algorithm was evaluated with two design examples.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1195-1211
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• 2016

In this study, seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete buildings using the pushover and incremental dynamic analysis method was investigated. A numerical study was performed for a reinforced concrete frame building. Pushover analysis according to uniform and triangular load shapes and incremental dynamic analyses were performed for selected building. For the nonlinear analysis, three ground motion records were selected to ensure compatibility with the design spectrum defined in the Turkish Seismic Code. The maximum response, dynamic pushover curve, capacity curves, interstorey drifts and moment rotation curves for various element ends of the selected building were obtained. Results were compared each other and good correlation was obtained between the dynamic analyses envelope with static pushover curves for the building.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2007

Bridge decks are one of the main structural components that are most suitable for utilizing the advantages of FRP materials due to the high strength weight ratio of FRP materials. Design codes for the design of FRP bridge decks should be established to apply FRP materials for bridge decks effectively. At present, design codes are relatively well established for the use of FRP materials as reinforcements in concrete structures. However, design codes have not yet been provided for the structures made of FRP as a main construction material. In this study, for the purpose of preparing design code provisions, reliability analyses were performed to evaluate target level of safety and serviceability on GFRP decks. Based on the results, several guidelines for the development of design codes are suggested.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.83-96
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• 2000

Due to their high corrosion and chemical resistance, fiber reinforced plastics (FRP) are becoming widely used as the main structural material for industrial chimneys. However, no national code currently exists for the design of such type of chimneys. The purpose of this study is to investigate analytically the response of FRP chimneys to wind loads. The classical lamination theory is used to substitute the angle-ply laminate of a FRP chimney with an equivalent orthotropic material that provides the same stiffness. Dynamic wind loads are applied to the equivalent chimney to evaluate its response to both along and across wind loads. A parametric study is then conducted to identify the material and geometric parameters affecting the response of FRP chimneys to wind loads. Unlike the across-wind response, the along-wind tip deflection is found to be highly dependent on the angle of orientation of the fibers. In general, the analysis shows that FRP chimneys are very vulnerable to across-wind oscillations resulting from the vortex shedding phenomenon.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.449-467
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• 2006

Most existing concrete structures in Taiwan are considered nonductile due to insufficient transverse reinforcement and poor detailing of frame elements. Such features are fairly typical for buildings constructed prior to 1997, at which time the local building code was revised based on ACI 318-95. Among these structures, many contain perimeter or partition walls made of concrete or clay brick for architectural purposes. These walls, though treated as non-structural components in common design practice, could affect the structural behavior of the buildings during an earthquake. To study the behavior of such structures under seismic load, experiments were conducted on concrete frames of various configurations to show the force-deformation relationships, damage patterns, and other characteristics of the frames. For further interest, similar units with columns jacketed by carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) were also tested to illustrate the effectiveness of this technique in the retrofit of concrete frames.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.317-334
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• 2014

The work is concerned with an investigation of the advantages stemming from the use of lightweight aggregate concrete in earthquake-resistant reinforced concrete construction. As the aseismic clauses of current codes make no reference to lightweight aggregate concrete beams made of lightweight aggregate concrete but designed in accordance with the code specifications for normal weight aggregate concrete, together with beams made from the latter material, are tested under load mimicking seismic action. The results obtained show that beam behaviour is essentially independent of the design method adopted, with the use of lightweight aggregate concrete being found to slightly improve the post-peak structural behaviour. When considering the significant reduction in deadweight resulting from the use of lightweight aggregate concrete, the results demonstrate that the use of this material will lead to significant savings without compromising the structural performance requirements of current codes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.237-243
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• 2002

It is well known that torsionally unbalanced buildings are more vulnerable to earthquake hazards than are the regular structural systems. In this paper, a parametric investigation is presented, in order to observe the amplification in the internal forces, when increased eccentricities are used instead of the ones corresponding to the 5% accidental eccentricity. A series of five, ten-story framed and walled structures, with rather high torsional irregularity coefficients, are selected and a numerical test procedure is applied. Numerical results show that the maximum amplification in the internal forces at the most critical beams and columns at the flexible sides of the structures is about 10%. It is concluded that, more serious measures in the codes are needed in the case of this rather dangerous type of irregularity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.95-113
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• 1998

The extensive use of honeycomb sandwich structures has led to the need to understand and analyze their low velocity impact response. Commercially available finite element software provides a possible analysis tool for this type of problem, but the validity of their material properties models for honeycomb materials must be investigated. Three different problems that focus on the effect of differences in honeycomb material properties on static and dynamic response are presented and discussed. The first problem considered is a linear elastic static analysis of honeycomb sandwich beams. The second is a nonlinear elastic-plastic analysis of a circular honeycomb sandwich plate. The final problem is a dynamic analysis of circular honeycomb sandwich plates impacted by low velocity projectiles. Results are obtained using the ABAQUS final element code and compared against experimental results. The comparison indicates that currently available material properties models for honeycomb materials can be used to obtain a good approximation of the behavior of honeycomb sandwich structures under static and dynamic loading conditions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.453-469
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• 2004

In this article, a genetic algorithm based optimum design method is presented for non-linear steel frames with semi-rigid connections. The design algorithm obtains the minimum weight frame by selecting suitable sections from a standard set of steel sections such as European wide flange beams (i.e., HE sections). A genetic algorithm is employed as optimization method which utilizes reproduction, crossover and mutation operators. Displacement and stress constraints of Turkish Building Code for Steel Structures (TS 648, 1980) are imposed on the frame. The algorithm requires a large number of non-linear analyses of frames. The analyses cover both the non-linear behaviour of beam-to-column connection and $P-{\Delta}$ effects of beam-column members. The Frye and Morris polynomial model is used for modelling of semi-rigid connections. Two design examples with various type of connections are presented to demonstrate the application of the algorithm. The semi-rigid connection modelling results in more economical solutions than rigid connection modelling, but it increases frame drift.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.421-445
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• 2010

In this paper the formulation of an efficient frame element applicable for nonlinear analysis of 3D reinforced concrete (RC) frames is outlined. Interaction between axial force and bending moment is considered by using the fibre element approach. Further, section warping, effect of normal and tangential forces on the torsional stiffness of section and second order geometrical nonlinearities are included in the model. The developed computer code is employed for nonlinear static analysis of RC sub-assemblages and a simple approach for extending the formulation to dynamic cases is presented. Dynamic progressive collapse assessment of RC space frames based on the alternate path method is undertaken and dynamic load factor (DLF) is estimated. Further, it is concluded that the torsional behaviour of reinforced concrete elements satisfying minimum standard requirements is not significant for the framed structures studied.