• Wind and Structures
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.493-506
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• 2017

Wind-induced response behavior of long-span roof structures is very complicated, showing significant contributions of multiple vibration modes. The largest load effects in a huge number of members should be considered for the sake of the equivalent static wind loads (ESWLs). Studies on essential matters and necessary conditions of the universal ESWLs are discussed. An efficient method for universal ESWLs on long-span roof structures is proposed. The generalized resuming forces including both the external wind loads and inertial forces are defined. Then, the universal ESWLs are given by a combination of eigenmodes calculated by proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis. Firstly, the least squares method is applied to a matrix of eigenmodes by using the influence function. Then, the universal ESWLs distribution is obtained which reproduces the largest load effects simultaneously. Secondly, by choosing the eigenmodes of generalized resuming forces as the basic loading distribution vectors, this method becomes efficient. Meanwhile, by using the constraint equations, the universal ESWLs becomes reasonable. Finally, reproduced largest load effects by load-response-correlation (LRC) ESWLs and universal ESWLs are compared with the actual largest load effects obtained by the time domain response analysis for a long-span roof structure. The results demonstrate the feasibility and usefulness of the proposed universal ESWLs method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.305-321
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• 2000

This paper develops a simplified, but effective, algorithm in obtaining critical slab design moments for parking garages. Maintaining the uniformly distributed load concept generally adopted in the design of building structures, this paper also introduces the equivalent vehicle load factors, which can simulate the vehicle load effects without taking additional sophisticated numerical analyses. After choosing a standard design vehicle of 2.4 tons through the investigation of small to medium vehicles made in Korea, finite element analyses for concentrated wheel loads were conducted by referring to the influence surfaces. Based on the obtained member forces, we determined the equivalent vehicle load factors for slabs, which represent the ratios for forces under vehicle loads to these under uniformly distributed loads. In addition, the relationships between the equivalent vehicle load factors and sectional dimensions were also established by regression, and then used to obtain the proper design moments by vehicle loads. The member forces calculated by the proposed method are compared with the results of four different approaches mentioned in current design codes, with the objective to establish the relative efficiencies of the proposed method.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.421-447
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• 2004

This paper presents a time domain approach for predicting buffeting response of long suspension bridges under skew winds. The buffeting forces on an oblique strip of the bridge deck in the mean wind direction are derived in terms of aerodynamic coefficients measured under skew winds and equivalent fluctuating wind velocities with aerodynamic impulse functions included. The time histories of equivalent fluctuating wind velocities and then buffeting forces along the bridge deck are simulated using the spectral representation method based on the Gaussian distribution assumption. The self-excited forces on an oblique strip of the bridge deck are represented by the convolution integrals involving aerodynamic impulse functions and structural motions. The aerodynamic impulse functions of self-excited forces are derived from experimentally measured flutter derivatives under skew winds using rational function approximations. The governing equation of motion of a long suspension bridge under skew winds is established using the finite element method and solved using the Newmark numerical method. The proposed time domain approach is finally applied to the Tsing Ma suspension bridge in Hong Kong. The computed buffeting responses of the bridge under skew winds during Typhoon Sam are compared with those obtained from the frequency domain approach and the field measurement. The comparisons are found satisfactory for the bridge response in the main span.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.18-25
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• 2001

Analysis of prestressed box-girder bridges using the spline finite strip method is presented. In the present study, the spline finite strip method(FSM) is modified using the non-periodic B-spline interpolation. In the analysis of the prestressed box girder bridges, each tendon force is evaluated by summation of the adjacent segment forces. Once the equivalent forces acting on the structure at the tendon points are found, they are transformed into statically equivalent forces at the adjacent node or joints. Several examples were analyzed to verify the performance of present method using the non-periodic B-spline FSM. Good agreements were obtained when compared with the previous study.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.161-174
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• 1998

Wind forces on structures are usually schematized by the sum of their mean static part and a nil mean fluctuation generally treated as a stationary process randomly varying in space and time. The multi-variate and multi-dimensional nature of such a process requires a considerable quantity of numerical procedures to carry out the dynamic analysis of the structural response. With the aim of drastically reducing the above computational burden, this paper introduces a method by means of which the external fluctuating wind forces on slender structures and structural elements are schematized by an equivalent process identically coherent in space. This process is identified by a power spectral density function, called the Generalized Equivalent Spectrum, whose expression is given in closed form.

• International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.56-62
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• 2007

An analytical method to predict the post-weld deformation at the heat-affected zone (HAZ) is presented in this paper. The method was based on the assumption that the post-weld deformation is caused by external forces resulting from the inherent strain, which is defined as the irrecoverable strain after removing structural restraints and loadings. In general, the equivalent loading method can be used to analyze distortions in welding areas because it is efficient and effective. However, if additional loads are applied after welding, it is difficult to determine the final strain on a welded structure. To determine the final strain of a welded structure at the HAZ more accurately, we developed a modified equivalent loading method based on the inherent strain that incorporated hardening effects. The proposed method was applied to calculate the residual stress at the HAZ. Experiments were also conducted on welded plates to evaluate the validity of the proposed method.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.95-115
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• 2015

Wind effects on roofs are usually considered by equivalent static wind loads based on the equivalence of displacement or internal force for structural design. However, for large-span spatial structures that are prone to dynamic instability under strong winds, such equivalent static wind loads may be inapplicable. The dynamic stability of spatial structures under unsteady wind forces is therefore studied in this paper. A new concept and its corresponding method for dynamic instability-aimed equivalent static wind loads are proposed for structural engineers. The method is applied in the dynamic stability design of an actual double-layer cylindrical reticulated shell under wind actions. An experimental-numerical method is adopted to study the dynamic stability of the shell and the dynamic instability originating from critical wind velocity. The dynamic instability-aimed equivalent static wind loads of the shell are obtained.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.565-583
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• 2014

Using synchronous surface pressures from the wind tunnel test, the three dimensional wind load models of high-rise buildings are established. Furthermore, the internal force responses of symmetric high-rise buildings in along-wind, across-wind and torsional directions are evaluated based on mode acceleration method, which expresses the restoring force as the summation of quasi-static force and inertia force components. Accordingly the calculation methods of equivalent static wind loads, in which the contributions of the higher modes can be considered, of symmetric high-rise buildings in along-wind, across-wind and torsional directions are deduced based on internal forces equivalence. Finally the equivalent static wind loads of an actual symmetric high-rise building are obtained by this method, and compared with the along-wind equivalent static wind loads obtained by China National Standard.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.369-383
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• 2022

Wind tunnel experiment was carried out to study the cross-wind layer forces on a square cross-section building model using a synchronous multi-pressure sensing system. The stationarity of measured wind loadings are firstly examined, revealing the non-stationary feature of cross-wind forces. By converting the measured non-stationary wind forces into an energetically equivalent stationary process, the characteristics of local wind forces are studied, such as power spectrum density and spanwise coherence function. Mathematical models to describe properties of cross-wind forces at different layers are thus established. Then, a conditional simulation method, which is able to ex-tend pressure measurements starting from experimentally measured points, is proposed for the cross-wind loading. The method can reproduce the non-stationary cross-wind force by simulating a stationary process and the corresponding time varying amplitudes independently; in this way the non-stationary wind forces can finally be obtained by combining the two parts together. The feasibility and reliability of the proposed method is highlighted by an ex-ample of across wind loading simulation, based on the experimental results analyzed in the first part of the paper.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2015

Because of the high stress concentration near the toe of a welded joint, the calculation of local stress using the finite element method which is relevant to the fatigue strength of the weld toe crack, is a challenging task. This is mainly caused by the sensitivity of finite element analysis, which usually occurs near the area of a dramatically changing stress field. This paper presents a novel numerical method through which a less mesh-sensitive local stress calculation can be achieved based on the 3D solid finite element, strictly sticking to the original definition of hot spot stress. In order to achieve the goal, a traction stress, defined at 0.5t and 1.5t away from the weld toe, was calculated using either a force-equivalent or work-equivalent approach, both of which are based on the internal nodal forces on the imaginary cut planes. In the force-equivalent approach, the traction stress on the imaginary cut plane was calculated using the simple force and moment equilibrium, whereas the equivalence of the work done by both the nodal forces and linearized traction stress was employed in the work-equivalent approach. In order to confirm the validity of the proposed method, five typical welded joints widely used in ships and offshore structures were analyzed using five different solid element types and four different mesh sizes. Finally, the performance of the proposed method was compared with that of the traditionally used surface stress extrapolation method. It turned out that the sensitivity of the hot spot stress for the analyzed typical welded joints obtained from the proposed method outperformed the traditional extrapolation method by far.