• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-81
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• 2012

A ductility inverse-mapping method for SDOF systems including passive dampers is proposed which enables one to find the maximum acceleration of ground motion for the prescribed maximum response deformation. In the conventional capacity spectrum method, the maximum response deformation is computed through iterative procedures for the prescribed maximum acceleration of ground motion. This is because the equivalent linear model for response evaluation is described in terms of unknown maximum deformation. While successive calculations are needed, no numerically unstable iterative procedure is required in the proposed method. This ductility inverse-mapping method is applied to an SDOF model of bilinear hysteresis. The SDOF models without and with passive dampers (viscous, viscoelastic and hysteretic dampers) are taken into account to investigate the effectiveness of passive dampers for seismic retrofitting of building structures. Since the maximum response deformation is the principal parameter and specified sequentially, the proposed ductility inverse-mapping method is suitable for the implementation of the performance-based design.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.665-681
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• 2023

Liquefaction is one of the most devastating geotechnical phenomena that severely damage vital structures and lifelines. Before constructing structures on problematic ground, it is necessary to improve the site and solve the geotechnical problem. Among ground improvement methods dealing with liquefaction, gravel drain (GD) columns and deep soil mixing (DSM) columns are popular. In this study, the results of a series of seismic experiments in a 1g environment on a structure located over liquefiable ground with different thicknesses reinforced with GD and DSM techniques were presented. The dynamic response of the reinforced ground system was investigated based on the parameters of subsidence rate, excess pore water pressure ratio, and maximum acceleration. The time history of the input acceleration was applied harmonically with an acceleration range of 0.2g and at frequencies of 1, 2, and 3 Hz. The results show that the thickness of the liquefiable layer and the frequency of the input motion have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the improvement method and all responses. Among the two techniques used, DSM in thick liquefied layers was much more efficient than GD in controlling the subsidence and rupture of the soil under the foundation. Maximum settlement values, settlement rate, and foundation rotation in the thicker liquefied layer at the 1-Hz input frequency were higher than at other frequencies. At low thicknesses, the dynamic behavior of the GD was closer to that of the DSM.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2021

The design response spectrum presented in the seismic design standard reflects the characteristics of the tectonic environment at a site. However, since the design response spectrum does not represent the ground motion with a specific earthquake magnitude or distance, input ground motions for response history analysis need to be selected reasonably. It is appropriate to use observed ground motions recorded in Korea for the seismic design. However, recently recorded ground motions in the Gyeongju (2016) or Pohang (2017) earthquakes are not compatible with the design response spectrum. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the recorded ground motion in Korea to a model similar to the design response spectrum. In this study, several approaches to adjust the spectral acceleration level at each period range were tested. These are the intrinsic and scattering attenuation considering the earthquake environment, magnitude, distance change by the green function method, and a rupture propagation direction's directivity effect. Using these variables, the amplification ratio for the representative natural period was regressed. Finally, the optimum condition compatible with the design response spectrum was suggested, and the validation was performed by converting the recorded ground motion.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.869-887
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• 2012

Ground motion scaling techniques are actively debated in the earthquake engineering community. Considerations such as what amplitude, over what period range and to what target spectrum are amongst the questions of practical importance. In this paper, the effect of various ground motion scaling approaches are explored using three reinforced concrete prototypical building models of 8, 12 and 20 stories designed to respond nonlinearly under a design level earthquake event in the seismically active Southern California region. Twenty-one recorded earthquake motions are selected using a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis and subsequently scaled using four different strategies. These motions are subsequently compared to spectrally compatible motions. The nonlinear response of a planar frameidealized building is evaluated in terms of plasticity distribution, floor level acceleration and uncorrelated acceleration amplification ratio distributions; and interstory drift distributions. The most pronounced response variability observed in association with the scaling method is the extent of higher mode participation in the nonlinear demands.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.1391-1404
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• 2016

Peninsular Malaysia lying on the stable Sunda Plate has traditionally been considered safe with low to moderate seismicity. However, far field Sumatran mega-earthquakes have been shown to be capable of triggering ground motions felt in high rise structures in the major Malaysian cities while seismic impact from local earthquakes of moment magnitude 3.8 have reportedly induced nominal structural damages to nearby buildings. This paper presents an overview of the recent seismic activities in and around Peninsular Malaysia with reference to prominent earthquakes generated by far field interplate and local intraplate sources. Records of ground motion data and seismic hazard assessment (SHA) results available in the literature have been analyzed and discussed. The peak ground acceleration (PGA) values from historical records for few local intraplate events were observed to be higher than those for the events from Sumatran Subduction Zone. This clearly points to the need for a detailed and comprehensive SHA incorporating both far field and local sources. Such an analysis would contribute the knowledge required for secure and reliable infrastructure design and safeguard the Malaysian people and economy.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.551-562
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• 2021

In this study, the generalized intensity measure (IM) named I_Npg is analyzed. The recently proposed proxy of the spectral shape named N_pg is the base of this intensity measure, which is similar to the traditional N_p based on the spectral shape in terms of pseudo-acceleration; however, in this case the new generalized intensity measure can be defined through other types of spectral shapes such as those obtained with velocity, displacement, input energy, inelastic parameters and so on. It is shown that this IM is able to increase the efficiency in the prediction of nonlinear behavior of structures subjected to earthquake ground motions. For this work, the efficiency of two particular cases (based on acceleration and velocity) of the generalized I_Npg to predict the peak floor acceleration demands on steel frames under 30 earthquake ground motions with respect to the traditional spectral acceleration at first mode of vibration Sa(T₁) is compared. Additionally, a 3D reinforced concrete building and an irregular steel frame is used as a basis for comparison. It is concluded that the use of velocity and acceleration spectral shape increase the efficiency to predict peak floor accelerations in comparison with the traditional and most used around the world spectral acceleration at first mode of vibration.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.411-429
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• 2017

A Spectral Element Method for 3D seismic wave propagation simulation is derived based on the three-dimensional fluctuating elastic dynamic equation. Considering the 3D real terrain and the attenuation characteristics of the medium, the topographic effect of Wenchuan earthquake is simulated by using the Spectral Element Method (SEM) algorithm and the ASTER DEM model. Results show that the high PGA (peak ground acceleration) region was distributed along the peak and the slope side away from the epicenter in the epicenter area. The overall distribution direction of high PGA and high PGV (peak ground velocity) region is parallel to the direction of the seismogenic fault. In the epicenter of the earthquake, the ground motion is to some extent amplified under the influence of the terrain. The amplification effect of the terrain on PGA is complicated. It does not exactly lead to amplification of PGA at the ridge and the summit or attenuation of PGA in the valley.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.39-46
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• 2002

In this study, vertical acceleration of center of mass was observed along normal gait phases in 9 healthy male volunteers (aged $25.7{\pm}2.18$). The developed wireless accelerometric device was attached on the intervertebral space between L3 and L4 using a semi-elastic waist belt. A three-dimensional motion analysis system, synchronized with the accelerometry, was used for detecting gait phases. There was no significant correlation between the body weight and the acceleration. The first peak curve covered loading response phase. The second downward peak point was matched accurately with the opposite toe-off. In mid-stance and terminal stance, the acceleration curve highly resembled the vertical ground reaction force curve. There was no significant difference in timing between the final upward peak point and the initial contact. Therefore, the developed accelerometry system would be helpful in determining determine temporal gait pattems in patients with gait disorders.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.33-39
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• 2009

Impact force to a body during walking depends on walking speed, walking steps, the condition of the floors and shoes, and weight. The ground reaction force and the foot pressure can be measured instantaneous force easily, but it's difficult to find out the amount of transferring forces to the body. On the other hand, the acceleration has an advantage for analyzing the amount of transferring forces. However, most of studies about impact forces to the ground reaction during exercise have been limited to analyze instantaneous forces. The important thing is to evaluate characters and the amount of the impact force rather than the magnitude. Therefore, this study analyze the impact force using 3 axis acceleration in three dimensions (x; anterior-posterior, y; left-right and z; longitudinal axis) using three axis acceleration. As working speed increased, impact forces increased significantly. Impact forces on x axis and z axis are higher at lower limb than that of upper limb. However, impact force at the knee is higher than that of other parts on y axis regardless of walking speed significantly. In addition, relations of the impact forces as interaction of experiment factors as well as effect of each factor are analyzed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.43-49
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• 2018

Seismic hazard assessments are performed on a variety of infrastructure projects. One component of a seismic hazard assessment is the attenuation relationship. Several attenuation relationships have been developed over the decades to predict peak ground acceleration under a variety of site conditions. For example, many attenuation relationships were designed to estimate peak ground acceleration, as well as other intensity measures, under a variety of soil conditions, mostly using the average shear wave velocity for the upper 30 m of earth material as a classification scheme. However, certain types of infrastructure, such as tunnels and nuclear power plants, are typically founded on and in bedrock. Using data from Japan, we developed a simple correlation to estimate peak ground acceleration for rock sites and compare the results from another popular attenuation relationship. Results indicate the popular attenuation relationship to be less than the proposed model for distances less than 200 km.