• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-63
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• 2011

Referring to the formulation of physical stochastic optimal control of structures and the scheme of optimal polynomial control, a nonlinear stochastic optimal control strategy is developed for a class of structural systems with hysteretic behaviors in the present paper. This control strategy provides an amenable approach to the classical stochastic optimal control strategies, bypasses the dilemma involved in It$\hat{o}$-type stochastic differential equations and is applicable to the dynamical systems driven by practical non-stationary and non-white random excitations, such as earthquake ground motions, strong winds and sea waves. The newly developed generalized optimal control policy is integrated in the nonlinear stochastic optimal control scheme so as to logically distribute the controllers and design their parameters associated with control gains. For illustrative purposes, the stochastic optimal controls of two base-excited multi-degree-of-freedom structural systems with hysteretic behavior in Clough bilinear model and Bouc-Wen differential model, respectively, are investigated. Numerical results reveal that a linear control with the 1st-order controller suffices even for the hysteretic structural systems when a control criterion in exceedance probability performance function for designing the weighting matrices is employed. This is practically meaningful due to the nonlinear controllers which may be associated with dynamical instabilities being saved. It is also noted that using the generalized optimal control policy, the maximum control effectiveness with the few number of control devices can be achieved, allowing for a desirable structural performance. It is remarked, meanwhile, that the response process and energy-dissipation behavior of the hysteretic structures are controlled to a certain extent.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.93-115
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• 2013

This paper describes a study of the influence of a dynamically flexible building structure on pressures inside and net pressures on the roof of low-rise buildings with a dominant opening. It is shown that dynamic interaction between the flexible roof and the internal pressure results in a coupled system that is similar to a two-degree-of-freedom mechanical system consisting of two mass-spring-damper systems with excitation forces acting on both the masses. Two resonant modes are present, the natural frequencies of which can readily be obtained from the model. As observed with quasi-static building flexibility, the effect of increased dynamic flexibility is to reduce the first natural frequency as well as the corresponding peak value of the admittance, the latter being the result of increased damping effects. Consequently, it is found that the internal and net roof pressure fluctuations (RMS coefficients) are also reduced with dynamic flexibility. This model has been validated from experiments conducted using a cylindrical model with a leeward end flexible diaphragm, whereby good match between predicted and measured natural frequencies, and trends in peak admittances and RMS responses with flexibility, were obtained. Furthermore, since significant differences exist between internal and net roof pressure responses obtained from the dynamic flexibility model and those obtained from the quasi-static flexibility model, it is concluded that the quasi-static flexibility assumption may not be applicable to dynamically flexible buildings. Additionally, since sensitivity analyses reveal that the responses are sensitive to both the opening loss coefficient and the roof damping ratio, careful estimates should therefore be made to these parameters first, if predictions from such models are to have significance to real buildings.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.183-204
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• 2024

In current investigation, a novel beam finite element model is formulated to analyze the buckling and free vibration responses of functionally graded porous beams resting on Winkler-Pasternak elastic foundations. The novelty lies in the formulation of a simplified finite element model with only three degrees of freedom per node, integrating both C⁰ and C¹ continuity requirements according to Lagrange and Hermite interpolations, respectively, in isoparametric coordinate while emphasizing the impact of z-coordinate-dependent porosity on vibration and buckling responses. The proposed model has been validated and demonstrating high accuracy when compared to previously published solutions. A detailed parametric examination is performed, highlighting the influence of porosity distribution, foundation parameters, slenderness ratio, and boundary conditions. Unlike existing numerical techniques, the proposed element achieves a high rate of convergence with reduced computational complexity. Additionally, the model's adaptability to various mechanical problems and structural geometries is showcased through the numerical evaluation of elastic foundations, with results in strong agreement with the theoretical formulation. In light of the findings, porosity significantly affects the mechanical integrity of FGP beams on elastic foundations, with the advanced beam element offering a stable, efficient model for future research and this in-depth investigation enriches porous structure simulations in a field with limited current research, necessitating additional exploration and investigation.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.503-526
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• 2016

In-plane and out-of-plane free vibration analysis of Timoshenko curved beams is addressed based on the isogeometric method, and an effective scheme to avoid numerical locking in both of the two patterns is proposed in this paper. The isogeometric computational model takes into account the effects of shear deformation, rotary inertia and axis extensibility of curved beams, and is applicable for uniform circular beams, and more complicated variable curvature and cross-section beams as illustrated by numerical examples. Meanwhile, it is shown that, the $C^{p-1}$-continuous NURBS elements remarkably have higher accuracy than the finite elements with the same number of degrees of freedom. Nevertheless, for in-plane or out-of-plane vibration analysis of Timoshenko curved beams, the NURBS-based isogeometric method also exhibits locking effect to some extent. To eliminate numerical locking, the selective reduced one-point integration and $\bar{B}$ projection element based on stiffness ratio is devised to achieve locking free analysis for in-plane and out-of-plane models, respectively. The suggested integral schemes for moderately slender models obtain accurate results in both dominated and non-dominated regions of locking effect. Moreover, this strategy is effective for beam structures with different slenderness. Finally, the influence factors of structural parameters of curved beams on their natural frequency are scrutinized.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.359-371
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• 2021

A tumor immune interaction is a main topic of interest in the last couple of decades because majority of human population suffered by tumor, formed by the abnormal growth of cells and is continuously interacted with the immune system. Because of its wide range of applications, many researchers have modeled this tumor immune interaction in the form of ordinary, delay and fractional order differential equations as the majority of biological models have a long range temporal memory. So in the present work, tumor immune interaction in fractional form provides an excellent tool for the description of memory and hereditary properties of inter and intra cells. So the interaction between effector-cells, tumor cells and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are modeled by using the definition of Caputo fractional order derivative that provides the system with long-time memory and gives extra degree of freedom. Moreover, in order to achieve more efficient computational results of fractional-order system, a discretization process is performed to obtain its discrete counterpart. Furthermore, existence and local stability of fixed points are investigated for discrete model. Moreover, it is proved that two types of bifurcations such as Neimark-Sacker and flip bifurcations are studied. Finally, numerical examples are presented to support our analytical results.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 2022

In this work the numerical results of the flow around a 5:1 rectangular cylinder at Reynolds numbers 3 000 and 40 000, zero angle of attack and smooth incoming flow condition are presented. Implicit Large Eddy Simulations (ILES) have been performed with a high-order accurate spatial scheme and an implicit high-order accurate time integration method. The spatial approximation is based on a discontinuous Galerkin (dG) method, while the time integration exploits a linearly-implicit Rosenbrock-type Runge-Kutta scheme. The aim of this work is to show the feasibility of high-fidelity flow simulations with a moderate number of DOFs and large time step sizes. Moreover, the effect of different parameters, i.e., dimension of the computational domain, mesh type, grid resolution, boundary conditions, time step size and polynomial approximation, on the results accuracy is investigated. Our best dG result at Re=3 000 perfectly agrees with a reference DNS obtained using Nek5000 and about 40 times more degrees of freedom. The Re=40 000 computations, which are strongly under-resolved, show a reasonable correspondence with the experimental data of Mannini et al. (2017) and the LES of Zhang and Xu (2020).

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.495-508
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• 2018

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit superelasticity given the ambient temperature is above the austenite finish temperature threshold, the magnitude of which significantly depends on the metal ingredients though. For the monocrystalline CuAlBe SMAs, their superelasticity was found being maintained even when the ambient temperature is down to $-40^{\circ}C$. Thus this makes such SMAs particularly favorable for outdoor seismic applications, such as the framed structures located in cold regions with substantial temperature oscillation. Due to the thermo-mechanical coupling mechanism, the hysteretic properties of SMAs vary with temperature change, primarily including altered material strength and different damping. Thus, this study adopted the monocrystalline CuAlBe SMAs as the kernel component of the SMA braces. To quantify the seismic response characteristics at various temperatures, a wide temperature range from -40 to $40^{\circ}C$ are considered. The middle temperature, $0^{\circ}C$, is artificially selected to be the reference temperature in the performance comparisons, as well the corresponding material properties are used in the seismic design procedure. Both single-degree-of-freedom systems and a six-story braced frame were numerically analyzed by subjecting them to a suite of earthquake ground motions corresponding to the design basis hazard level. To the frame structures, the analytical results show that temperature variation generates minor influence on deformation and energy demands, whereas low temperatures help to reduce acceleration demands. Further, attributed to the excellent superelasticity of the monocrystalline CuAlBe SMAs, the frames successfully maintain recentering capability without leaving residual deformation upon considered earthquakes, even when the temperature is down to $-40^{\circ}C$.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.397-413
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• 2017

Precast concrete (PC) members are currently being employed for general construction or partial replacement to reduce construction period. As assembly work in PC construction requires connecting PC members accurately, measuring the 6-DOF (degree of freedom) relative displacement is essential. Multiple planar markers and camera-based displacement measurement systems can monitor the 6-DOF relative displacement of PC members. Conventional methods, such as direct linear transformation (DLT) for homography estimation, which are applied to calculate the 6-DOF relative displacement between the camera and marker, have several major problems. One of the problems is that when the marker is partially hidden, the DLT method cannot be applied to calculate the 6-DOF relative displacement. In addition, when the images of markers are blurred, error increases with the DLT method which is employed for its estimation. To solve these problems, a hybrid method, which combines the advantages of the DLT and MCL (Monte Carlo localization) methods, is proposed. The method evaluates the 6-DOF relative displacement more accurately compared to when either the DLT or MCL is used alone. Each subsystem captures an image of a marker and extracts its subpixel coordinates, and then the data are transferred to a main system via a wireless communication network. In the main system, the data from each subsystem are used for 3D visualization. Thereafter, the real-time movements of the PC members are displayed on a tablet PC. To prove the feasibility, the hybrid method is compared with the DLT method and MCL in real experiments.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.375-393
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• 2006

Under high velocity, pulse type near source earthquakes semi-active control systems are very effective in reducing seismic response base isolated structures. Semi-active control systems can be classified as: 1) independently variable stiffness, 2) independently variable damping, and 3) combined variable stiffness and damping systems. Several researchers have studied the effectiveness of independently varying damping systems for seismic response reduction of base isolated structures. In this study effectiveness of a combined system consisting of a semi-active independently variable stiffness (SAIVS) device and a magnetorheological (MR) damper in reducing seismic response of base isolated structures is analytically investigated. The SAIVS device can vary the stiffness, and hence the period, of the isolation system; whereas, the MR damper enhances the energy dissipation characteristics of the isolation system. Two separate control algorithms, i.e., a nonlinear tangential stiffness moving average control algorithm for smooth switching of the SAIVS device and a Lyapunov based control algorithm for damping variation of MR damper, are developed. Single and multi degree of freedom systems consisting of sliding base isolation system and both the SAIVS device and MR damper are considered. Results are presented in the form of nonlinear response spectra, and effectiveness of combined variable stiffness and variable damping system in reducing seismic response of sliding base isolated structures is evaluated. It is shown that the combined variable stiffness and variable damping system leads to significant response reduction over cases with variable stiffness or variable damping systems acting independently, over a broad period range.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.265-287
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• 2016

The change of the global performance of a turret-moored FPSO (Floating Production Storage Offloading) with DP (Dynamic Positioning) control is simulated, analyzed, and compared for two different internal turret location cases; bow and midship. Both collinear and non-collinear 100-yr GOM (Gulf of Mexico) storm environments and three cases (mooring-only, with DP position control, with DP position+heading control) are considered. The horizontal trajectory, 6DOF (degree of freedom) motions, fairlead mooring and riser tension, and fuel consumptions are compared. The PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controller based on LQR (linear quadratic regulator) theory and the thrust-allocation algorithm which is based on the penalty optimization theory are implemented in the fully-coupled time-domain hull-mooring-riser-DP simulation program. Both in collinear and non-collinear 100-yr WWC (wind-wave-current) environments, the advantage of mid-ship turret is demonstrated by the significant reduction in heave at the turret location due to the minimal coupling with pitch mode, which is beneficial to mooring and riser design. However, in the non-collinear WWC environment, the mid-turret case exhibits unfavorable weathervaning characteristics, which can be reduced by employing DP position and heading controls as demonstrated in the present case studies. The present study also reveals the plausible cause of the failure of mid-turret Gryphon Alpha FPSO in milder environment than its survival condition.