• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.15-33
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• 2012

For an axially loaded box-shaped member, the width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements preferably should not be greater than 40 for Q235 steel grades in accordance with the Chinese code GB50017-2003. However, in practical engineering the plate width-to-thickness ratio is up to 120, much more than the limiting value. In this paper, a 3D nonlinear finite element model is developed that accounts for both geometrical imperfections and residual stresses and the ultimate capacity of welded built-up box columns, with larger width-to-thickness ratios of 60, 70, 80, and 100, is simulated. At the same time, the interaction buckling strength of these members is determined using the effective width method recommended in the Chinese code GB50018-2002, Eurocode 3 EN1993-1 and American standard ANSI/AISC 360-10 and the direct strength method developed in recent years. The studies show that the finite element model proposed can simulate the behavior of nonlinear buckling of axially loaded box-shaped members very well. The width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements in welded box section columns can be enlarged up to 100 for Q235 steel grades. Good agreements are observed between the results obtained from the FEM and direct strength method. The modified direct strength method provides a better estimation of the column strength compared to the direct strength method over the full range of plate width-to-thickness ratio. The Chinese code and Eurocode 3 are overly conservative prediction of column capacity while the American standard provides a better prediction and is slightly conservative for b/t = 60. Therefore, it is suggested that the modified direct strength method should be adopted when revising the Chinese code.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.235-244
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to offer information about the current river conditions and basic data of streams in Busan city, by selecting 20 underground streams and evaluating their multilateral stream assessment. Concerning the evaluation of streams, 4 sections including the general index, the bank index, the river characteristic index, and the ecological environment characteristic index were evaluated. Ahead of the evaluation, the study divided Busan city into 4 zone for a systematic river investigation. Then, the study allocated code names to each river, and conducted literature research and a field survey of streams. Based on this, the study applied the evaluation of multilateral stream assessment. As a result, out of 4 entire grades, there was no grade 1 or grade 2. Instead, 35% were grade 3, 60% were grade 4, and 5% were grade 5. When looking into the evaluation results by Zone, the Dongbusan Zone showed the highest index, and the Suyeonggang Zone, the Jungbusan Zone, and the Nakdonggang Zone followed, in order.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.257-271
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• 2011

The analysis of interfacial stresses in structural component has been the subject of several investigations but it still requires more effort and studies. In this study a general three-dimensional interface element has been formulated for stress and displacement analyses in the interfacial area between two adjacent plate bending element and brick element. Interface element has 16 nodes with 5 degrees of freedom (DOF) in each node adjacent to plate bending element and 3 DOF in each node adjacent to brick element. The interface element has ability to transfer three translations from each side of interface element and two rotations in the side adjacent to the plate element. Stiffness matrix of this element was formulated and implemented in three-dimensional finite element code. Application of this element to the reinforced concrete (RC) beam strengthened with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) including variation of deflection, slip between plate and concrete, normal and shear stresses distributions in FRP plates have been verified using experimental and numerical work of strengthened RC beams carried out by some researchers. The results show that this interface element is effective and can be used for structural component with these types of interface elements.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.233-250
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• 2014

In this paper, a three dimensional soil-structure interaction (SSI) is numerically simulated using finite element method in order to analyse the foundation moments in annular raft of tall slender chimney structures incorporating the effect of openings in the structure and the effect of soil flexibility, when the structure-soil system is subjected to El Centro (1940) ground motion in time domain. The transient dynamic analysis is carried out using LS-DYNA software. The linear ground response analysis program ProShake has been adopted for obtaining the ground level excitation for different soil conditions, given the rock level excitation. The radial and tangential bending moments of annular raft foundation obtained from this SSI analysis have been compared with those obtained from conventional method according to the Indian standard code of practice, IS 11089:1984. It is observed that tangential and radial moments increase with the increase in flexibility of soil. The analysis results show that the natural frequency of chimney decreases with increase in supporting soil flexibility. Structural responses increase when the openings in the structure are also considered. The purpose of this paper is to propose the need for an accurate evaluation of the soilstructure interaction forces which govern the structural response.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-57
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• 2017

An arbitrator in Pakistan is required to file an arbitral award in a civil court of competent jurisdiction for its recognition and enforcement if an arbitral award is domestic or before the concerned High Court if the arbitral award is international. The court of law is required to issue a decree upon submitted arbitral award if an interested party do not apply for modification or remission of an arbitral award and do not challenge it for setting it aside or for revocation of its recognition and enforcement within a prescribed time limit. The challenging process of an arbitral award can be started by the aggrieved party of an arbitration agreement at the seat of arbitration or at the place where recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award is sought. The aggrieved party to an arbitration agreement is required to challenge an arbitral award within a prescribed time limit if contracting parties have not excluded the right to challenge an arbitral award. Limitation for challenging an arbitral award in Pakistan is 30 days under article 158 of the Limitation Act 1908, starting from the date of service of notice of filling of an arbitral award before the court of law. Generally, 90 days are given for an appeal against decision of the civil court of law under section 96 of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908, it is therefore highly recommended that challenging time of an arbitral award should be increased from 30 to 90 days.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.557-570
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• 2017

In this study, the seismic performance levels of four bridges are determined using finite element modeling based on ambient vibration testing. The study includes finite element modeling, analytical modal analyses, ambient vibration testing and earthquake analyses of the bridges. For the purpose, four prestressed precast I beam bridges that were constructed for the Ankara-Sivas high speed railway line are selected for analytical and experimental studies. In the study, firstly a literature review related to the dynamic behavior of bridges especially precast beam bridges is given and then the formulation part related to ambient vibration testing and structural performance according to Turkish Seismic Code (2007) is presented. Next, 3D finite element models of the bridge are described and modeled using LARSA 4D software, and analytical dynamic characteristics are obtained. Then ambient vibration testing conducted on the bridges under natural excitations and experimental natural frequencies are estimated. Lastly, time history analyses of the bridges under the 1999 Kocaeli, 1992 Erzincan, and 1999 Duzce Earthquakes are performed and seismic performance levels according to TSC2007 are determined. The results show that the damage on the bridges is all under the minimum damage limit which is in the minimum damage region under all three earthquakes.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.631-639
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• 2017

This study experimentally investigated the flexural capacity of a concrete beam reinforced with a newly developed GFRP bar that overcomes the lower modulus of elasticity and bond strength compared to a steel bar. The GFRP bar was fabricated by thermosetting a braided pultrusion process to form the outer fiber ribs. The mechanical properties of the modulus of elasticity and bond strength were enhanced compared with those of commercial GFRP bars. In the four-point bending test results, all specimens failed according to the intended failure mode due to flexural design in compliance with ACI 440.1R-15. The effects of the reinforcement ratio and concrete compressive strength were investigated. Equations from the code were used to predict the deflection, and they overestimated the deflection compared with the experimental results. A modified model using two coefficients was developed to provide much better predictive ability, even when the effective moment of inertia was less than the theoretical $I_{cr}$. The deformability of the test beams satisfied the specified value of 4.0 in compliance with CSA S6-10. A modified effective moment of inertia with two correction factors was proposed and it could provide much better predictability in prediction even at the effective moment of inertia less than that of theoretical cracked moment of inertia.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.921-933
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• 2015

The aim of this study is to determine the earthquake performances of reinforced concrete (R/C) residential buildings in Turkey and to analyze the parameters that affect the performance. The performance of Turkish residential buildings, determined by their levels of damage, directly relates to their structural systems. Damage parameters observed from previous earthquakes define structural parameters selected to be used in the present study. Five different types of frame R/C buildings were modeled. For the analysis, the model buildings vary according to the number of stories, column sizes, and reinforcement and concrete strength parameters. The analyses consider gravity forces and earthquake loads through 1975 and 2007 Turkish design codes. In a total of 720 different R/C buildings were investigated for the analysis to obtain capacity curves. A performance evaluation was employed by considering the Turkish design code (TDC-2007). The current study ignores irregularities such as soft stories or short columns. The study's analysis considers a comparison of the parameters' influence on the structural performance of the model buildings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.427-437
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• 2018

Structural pounding is commonly observed phenomenon during major ground motion, which can cause both structural and architectural damages. To reduce the amount of damage from pounding, the best and effective way is to increase the separation distance. Generally, existing design procedures for determining the separation distance between adjacent buildings subjected to structural pounding are based on approximations of the buildings' peak relative displacement. These procedures are based on unknown safety levels. The aim of this research is to estimate probabilistic separation distance between adjacent structures by considering the variability in the system and uncertainties in the earthquakes characteristics through comprehensive numerical simulations. A large number of models were generated using a robust Monte-Carlo simulation. In total, 6.54 million time-history analyses were performed over the adopted models using an ensemble of 25 ground motions as seismic input within OpenSees software. The results show that a gap size of 50%, 70% and 100% of the considered design code for the structural periods in the range of 0.1-0.5 s, leads to have the probability of pounding about 41.5%, 18% and 5.8%, respectively. Finally, based on the results, two equations are developed for probabilistic determination of needed structural separation distance.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.463-482
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• 2016

Air Traffic Control (ATC) towers play significant role in the functionality of each airport. In spite of having complex dynamic behavior and major role in mitigating post-earthquake problems, less attention has been paid to the seismic performance of these structures. Herein, seismic response of an existing ATC tower with a wall-frame structural system that has been designed and detailed according to a local building code was evaluated through the framework of performance-based seismic design. Results of this study indicated that the linear static and dynamic analyses used for the design of this tower were incapable of providing a safety margin for the required seismic performance levels especially when the tower was subjected to strong ground motions. It was concluded that, for seismic design of ATC towers practice engineers should refer to a more sophisticated seismic design approach (e.g., performance-based seismic design) which accounts for inelastic behavior of structural components in order to comply with the higher seismic performance objectives of ATC towers.