• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.173-194
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• 2016

This paper consists in a study of a new contructive sequence of road viaducts with Movable Scaffolding System (MSS) using numerical tools based on finite element method (FEM). Traditional and new sequences are being used in Spain to build viaducts with MSS. The new sequence permits an easier construction of one span per week but implies some other issues related to the need of two prestressing stages per span. In order to improve the efficiency of the new sequence by reducing the number of prestressing stages per span, two solutions are suggested in this study. Results show that the best solution is to introduce the 100% of the prestressing force at the self-supporting core in order to improve the road viaduct construction with movable scaffolding system by reducing execution time without increasing economic costs.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.47-56
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• 2014

This paper investigates the characteristics of unstable behaviour and critical buckling load by joint rigidity of framed large spatial structures which are sensitive to initial conditions. To distinguish the stable from the unstable, a singular point on equilibrium path and a critical buckling level are computed by the eigenvalues and determinants of the tangential stiffness matrix. For the case study, a two-free node example and a folded plate typed long span example with 325 nodes are adopted, and these adopted examples' nonlinear analysis and unstable characteristics are analyzed. The numerical results in the case of the two-free node example indicate that as the influence of snap-through is bigger; that of bifurcation buckling is lower than that of the joint rigidity as the influence of snap-through is lower. Besides, when the rigidity decreases, the critical buckling load ratio increases. These results are similar to those of the folded-typed long span example. When the buckling load ratio is 0.6 or less, the rigidity greatly increases.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.127-133
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• 2013

PURPOSES : The impact performance of flexible barrier system such as structural response, vehicular motion and occupant safety vary depending on the impact point. Thus, to properly evaluate the performance of a flexible barrier system, impact should be made to a point which will lead to the worst possible results. This point is called the Critical Impact Point (CIP). This paper presents the way to determine the CIP for a SB2 class flexible barrier system which is consisted of Thrie-Beam rail and circular hollow tube post of 2m span. METHODS: Barrier VII simulations were made for impact points; Case 1 at a post, Case 2 at 1/3 span downstream from a post, Case 3 at middle of the span, Case 4 at 2/3 span downstream from a post. For the structural performance (deflections), impact simulation of 8000kg-65km/h-15degree was used, and for vehicle motion and occupant safety, simulation of 1300kg-80km/h-20degree impact was made and analysed. RESULTS: Case 1 gave the largest dynamic deflection of 75.72cm and also gave the largest snag value of 44.3cm. Occupant safety and exit angle of the vehicle after the impact were not sensitive to the impact point and were all below the allowable limit. CONCLUSIONS : For the SB2 class flexible barrier system's CIP can be regarded as a post which is sufficiently away from the end of Length of Need in order to avoid the end-effect of the barrier system. It can be more economic in the long run because the normal concrete pavement material is likely to cost more due to higher probability of maintenance and repair and higher social cost due to traffic accident, etc.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2001

The objective of this study is to investigate the stability behavior of steel cable-stayed bridges by comparing the buckling loads obtained by means of finite element methods with eigen-solver. In recent days, cable-stayed bridges dramatically attract engineers' attention due to their structural characteristics and aesthetics. They require a number of design parameters and present a high degree of static indetermination, especially for long span bridges. Cable-stayed bridges exhibit several nonlinear behaviors concurrently under normal design loads due to the individual nonlinearity of substructures such as the pylons, stay cables, and bridge deck, and their interactions. The geometric nonlinearities arise mainly from large displacements of cables. Strong axial and lateral forces acting on the bridge deck and pylons cause structural nonlinear behaviors. The interaction is among the substructures. In this paper, a typical three-span steel cable-stayed bridge with a variety of design parameters has been investigated. The numerical results indicate that the design parameters such as the ratio of $L_1/L$ and $I_p/I_b$ are important for the structural behavior, where $L_1$ is the main span length, L is the total span length of the bridge, $I_p$ is the moment of inertia of the pylon, and $I_b$ is the moment of inertia of the bridge deck. When the ratio $I_p/I_b$ increases, the critical load decreases due to the lack of interaction among substructures. Cable arrangements and the height of pylon are another important factors for this type of bridge in buckling analysis. According to numerical results, the bridges supported by a pylon with harp-type cable arrangement have higher critical loads than the bridges supported by a pylon with fan-type cable arrangement. On contrary, the shape of the pylon does not significantly affect the critical load of this type of bridge. All numerical results have been non-dimensionalized and presented in both tabular and graphical forms.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2A
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• pp.93-102
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• 2010

The numerical analysis and safety assessment by construction stages were considered the essential examination particular in order to solving the unstability of long-span bridges in the middle a construction. When estimating structural response characteristics by the construction stage analysis of long-span bridges, the influence of the near-field ground motion (NFGM) would be evaluated as a critical factor for the seismic design because it indicates clearly different aspects from the existing input earthquake motion data. Therefore, this study re-examined the response aspect of long-span bridges considering NFGM characteristics based on the response spectrum result, and advanced the presented numerical analysis program by the related research for conducting the construction stage analysis and reliability assessment of long-span bridges efficiently. The excellency of various construction schemes was assessed using the time history analysis result of critical member considering NFGM characteristics. For evaluating quantitative safety level, the reliability analysis was conducted considering the influence of external uncertainties included in random variables, and presented the safety index and failure probability of the critical construction stage by NFGM characteristics. In addition, the reliability result was examined the influence of internal uncertainties using monte carlo simulation (MCS), and assessed the distribution aspect of the essential analysis result. It is expected that this study will provide the basic information for the construction safety improvement when performing seismic design of long-span bridges considering NFGM characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.31-41
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• 2024

This study aims to investigate the seismic response of a large span thin shell structures and assess their displacement under seismic loads. The study employs finite element analysis to model a thin shell structure subjected to seismic excitation. The analysis includes eigenvalue analysis and time history analysis to evaluate the natural frequencies and displacement response of the structure under seismic loads. The findings show that the seismic response of the large span thin shell structure is highly dependent on the frequency content of the seismic excitation. The eigenvalue analysis reveals that the tenth mode of vibration of the structure corresponds to a large-span mode. The time history analysis further demonstrates, with 5% damping, that the displacement response of the structure at the critical node number 4920 increases with increasing seismic intensity, reaching a maximum displacement of 49.87mm at 3.615 seconds. Nevertheless, the maximum displacement is well below the allowable limit of the thin shell. The results of this study provide insight into the behaviour of complex large span thin shell structures as elevated foundations for buildings under seismic excitation, based on the displacement contours on different modes of eigenvalues. The findings suggest that the displacement response of the structure is significant for this new application of thin shell, and it is recommended to enhance the critical displacement area in the next design phase to align with the findings of this study to resist the seismic impact.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.553-564
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• 2013

By using the nonlinear aerostatic stability theory together with the method of mean wind decomposition, a method for nonlinear aerostatic stability analysis is proposed for long-span suspension bridges under yaw wind. A corresponding program is developed considering static wind load nonlinearity and structural nonlinearity. Taking a suspension bridge with three towers and double main spans as an example, the full range aerostatic instability is analyzed under wind at different attack angles and yaw angles. The results indicate that the lowest critical wind speed of aerostatic instability is gained when the initial yaw angle is greater than $0^{\circ}$, which suggests that perhaps yaw wind poses a disadvantage to the aerostatic stability of a long span suspension bridge. The results also show that the main span in upstream goes into instability first, and the reason for this phenomenon is discussed.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.89-106
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• 2005

For estimating the vortex excited vibrations of overhead transmission lines, the Energy Balance Principle (EBP) is well established for spans damped near the ends. Although it involves radical simplifications, the method is known to give useful estimates of the maximum vibration levels. For very long spans, there often is the need for a large number of in-span fittings, such as in-span Stockbridge dampers, aircraft warning spheres etc. This adds complexity to the problem and makes the energy balance principle in its original form unsuitable. In this paper, a modified version of EBP is described taking into account in-span damping and in particular also aircraft warning spheres. In the first step the complex transcendental eigenvalue problem is solved for the conductor with in-span fittings. With the thus determined complex eigenvalues and eigenfunctions a modified energy balance principle is then used for scaling the amplitudes of vibrations at each resonance frequency. Bending strains are then estimated at the critical points of the conductor. The approach has been used by the authors for studying the influence of in-span Stockbridge dampers and aircraft warning spheres; and for optimizing their positions in the span. The modeling of the aircraft warning sphere is also described in some detail.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.267-284
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• 1999

Multiple tuned mass dampers are proposed to suppress the vertical and torsional buffeting and to increase the aerodynamic stability of long-span bridges. Each damper has vertical and torsional frequencies, which are tuned to the corresponding frequencies of the structural modes to suppress the resonant effects. These proposed dampers maintain the advantage of traditional multiple mass dampers, but have the added capability of simultaneously controlling vertical and torsional buffeting responses. The aerodynamic coupling is incorporated into the formulations, allowing this model to effectively increase the critical speed of a bridge for either single-degree-of-freedom flutter or coupled flutter. The reduction of dynamic response and the increase of the critical speed through the attachment of the proposed dampers to the bridge are also discussed. Through a parametric analysis, the characteristics of the multiple tuned mass dampers are studied and the design parameters - including mass, damping, frequency bandwidth, and total number of dampers - are proposed. The results indicate that the proposed dampers effectively suppress the vertical and the torsional buffeting and increase the structural stability. Moreover, these tuned mass dampers, designed within the recommended parameters, are not only more effective but also more robust than a single TMD against wind-induced vibration.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.603-615
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• 2017

This experimental research presents the seismic performance of steel reinforced high-strength concrete (SRHC) short columns. Eleven SRHC column specimens were tested under simulated earthquake loading conditions, including six short column specimens and five normal column specimens. The parameters studied included the axial load level, stirrup details and shear span ratio. The failure modes, critical region length, energy dissipation capacity and deformation capacity, stiffness and strength degradation and shear displacement of SRHC short columns were analyzed in detail. The effects of the parameters on seismic performance were discussed. The test results showed that SRHC short columns exhibited shear-flexure failure characteristics. The critical region length of SRHC short columns could be taken as the whole column height, regardless of axial load level. In comparison to SRHC normal columns, SRHC short columns had weaker energy dissipation capacity and deformation capacity, and experienced faster stiffness degradation and strength degradation. The decrease in energy dissipation and deformation capacity due to the decreasing shear span ratio was more serious when the axial load level was higher. However, SRHC short columns confined by multiple stirrups might possess good seismic behavior with enough deformation capacity (ultimate drift ratio ${\geq}2.5%$), even though a relative large axial load ratio (= 0.38) and relative small structural steel ratio (= 3.58%) were used, and were suitable to be used in tall buildings in earthquake regions.