• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.621-642
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• 2011

Passive tuned mass dampers (TMDs) efficiently suppress vibrations induced by quasi-stationary dynamic inputs, such as winds, sea waves or traffic loads, but may prove of little use against pulse-like excitations, such as near-field (NF) ground motions. The extent of such impairment is however controversial, partly due to the different evaluation criteria adopted within the literature, partly to the limited number of seismic records used in most investigations. In this study, three classical techniques and two new variants for designing a TMD on an SDOF structure are tested under 338 NF records from the PEER NGA database, including 156 records with forward-directivity features. Percentile response reduction spectra are introduced to statistically assess TMD performance, and TMD robustness is verified through Monte Carlo simulations. The methodology is extended to a variety of MDOF bending-type and shear-type frames, and simulated on a case study building structure recently constructed in Central Italy.Results offer an interesting insight into the performance of TMDs against NF earthquakes, ultimately showing that, if properly designed and sufficiently massive, TMDs are effective and robust even in the face of pulse-like ground motions. The two newly proposed design techniques are shown to generally outperform the classical ones.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.695-717
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• 2012

Seismic resiliency of new buildings has improved over the years due to better seismic codes and design practices. However, there is still large number of vulnerable and seismically deficient buildings. It is not economically feasible to retrofit and upgrade all vulnerable buildings, thus there is a need for rapid screening tool. Many factors contribute to the damageability of buildings; this makes seismic evaluation a complex multi-criteria decision making problem. Many of these factors are noncommensurable and involve subjectivity in evaluation that highlights the use of fuzzy-based method. In this paper, a risk-based framework earlier proposed by Tesfamariam and Saatcioglu (2008a) is extended using Fuzzy-TOPSIS method and applied to develop an evaluation and ranking scheme for steel buildings. The ranking is based on damageability that can help decision makers interpret the results and take appropriate decision actions. Finally, the application of conceptual model is demonstrated through a case study of 1994 Northridge earthquake data on seismic damage of steel buildings.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.87-103
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• 2014

This study investigated the effect of soil-structure interaction (SSI) on the response of base-isolated buildings. Seismic isolation can significantly reduce the induced seismic loads on a relatively stiff building by introducing flexibility at its base and avoiding resonance with the predominant frequencies of common earthquakes. To provide a better understanding of the movement behavior of multi-story structures during earthquakes, this study analyzed the dynamic behavior of multi-story structures with high damping rubber bearing (HDRB) behavior base isolation systems that were built on soft soil. Various models were developed, both with and without consideration of SSI. Both the superstructure and soil were modeled linearly, but HDRB was modeled non-linearly. The behavior of the specified models under dynamic loads was analyzed using SAP2000 computer software. Erzincan, Marmara and Duzce Earthquakes were chosen as the ground motions. Following the analysis, the displacements, base shear forces, top story accelerations, base level accelerations, periods and maximum internal forces were compared in isolated and fixed-base structures with and without SSI. The results indicate that soil-structure interaction is an important factor (in terms of earthquakes) to consider in the selection of an appropriate isolator for base-isolated structures on soft soils.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.147-168
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• 2011

To ensure safety and long term performance, structural control has rapidly matured over the past decade into a viable means of limiting structural responses to strong winds and earthquakes. Nonlinear response history analysis requires rigorous procedure to compute seismic demands. Therefore the simplified nonlinear analysis procedures are useful to determine performance of the structure. In this investigation, application of improved capacity demand diagram method in the control of structural system is presented for the first time. Developed pole assignment method (DPAM) in structural systems control is introduced. Genetic algorithm (GA) is employed as an optimization tool for minimizing a target function that defines values of coefficient matrices providing the placement of actuators and optimal control forces. The ground acceleration is modified under induced control forces. Due to this, performance of structure based on improved nonlinear demand diagram is selected to threshold of nonlinear behavior of structure. With small energy consumption characteristics, semi-active devices are especially attractive solutions for limiting earthquake effects. To illustrate the efficiency of DPAM, a 30-story steel moment frame structure employing the semi-active control devices is applied. In comparison to the widely used linear quadratic regulation (LQR), the DPAM controller was shown to be just as effective and better in the reduction of structural responses during large earthquakes.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.37-50
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• 1992

Liquefaction leads to severe damage to earth structures after an earthquake. In this study, shaking table tests were performed on model waterfront structures as a countermeasure against liquefaction. The waterfront structure was reinforced by a compacted Bone, which was investigated for its effectiveness in protecting the structure from excessive deformation induced by the lateral pressure of liquefied ground. Through the tests . on embankment, double sheet pile wall, and anchor sheet pile wall, good quantitative information on the behavior of flow failure and the extent of reinforcement was obtained. The extent of a compacted zone for the protection of the structure depends on the magnitude of the acceleration during the shaking. The measured deformation was represented in terms of the extent of the compacted zone and the magnitude of the input acceleration.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.5
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• pp.599-612
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• 2020

A combination of a gravity wall and an anchor beam is widely used to support the high soil deposit on rock mass. In this study, two groups of shaking table test were performed to investigate the responses of such combined retaining structure, where the rock masses were shaped with a flat surface and a curved surface, respectively. Meanwhile, the dynamic numerical analysis was carried out for a comparison or an extensive study. The results were studied and compared between the combined retaining structures with different shaped rock masses with regard to the acceleration response, the earth pressure response, and the axial anchor force. The acceleration response is not significantly influenced by the surface shape of rock mass. The earth pressure response on the combined retaining structure with a flat rock surface is more intensive than the one with a curved rock surface. The anchor force is significantly enlarged by seismic excitation with a main earthquake-induced increment at the first intensive pulse of Wenchuan motion. The value of anchor force in the combined retaining structure with a flat rock surface is generally larger than the one with a curved rock surface. Generally, the combined retaining structure with a curved rock surface presents a better seismic performance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.263-275
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• 2015

This study presents conceptual information of newly optimized shapes and connectivity of the so-called outrigger truss system for modern tall buildings that resists lateral loads induced by wind and earthquake forces. In practice, the outrigger truss consists of triangular or Vierendeel types to stiffen tall buildings, and the decision of outrigger design has been qualitatively achieved by only engineers' experience and intuition, including information of structural behaviors, although outrigger shapes and the member's connectivity absolutely affect building stiffness, the input of material, construction ability and so on. Therefore the design of outrigger trusses needs to be measured and determined according to scientific proofs like reliable optimal design tools. In this study, at first the shape and connectivity of an outrigger truss system are visually evaluated by using a conceptual design tool of the classical topology optimization method, and then are quantitatively investigated with respect to a structural safety as stiffness, an economical aspect as material quantity, and construction characteristics as the number of member connection. Numerical applications are studied to verify the effectiveness of the proposed design process to generate a new shape and connectivity of the outrigger for both static and dynamic responses.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.717-733
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• 2016

Trapezoidal Cemented Sand and Gravel Dam, namely Trapezoid CSG, is a new type of dam. Due to lack of dynamic studies in the field of CSG dam, this research was performed to analyze Trapezoidal CSG dam using dynamic Finite element method with ABAQUS Software. To investigate possible earthquake-induced damages, fragility curves are plotted based on damage index, the length of the cracks created at the dam base and the area of cracked elements in the dam. The seismic analysis indicated that minimum and maximum tensions are generated in the heel and toe of the dam, respectively. According to the fragility curves, with increase in PGA, the possibility of the exceeding the defined limit state is increased. However, the rate of increment is significantly reduced after PGA=0.4 g. Also, the same result is achieved for the second limit state. The "area of cracked elements" is more conservative criterion than the "crack length at the dam base", especially at PGA<0.4 g. As conclusion, CSG dams, despite of being made of poor materials in comparison with concrete dams, show good resistance, and even in some situations, better performance than the weighted concrete dams.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2006

Fukuoka earthquake on March 20, 2005 showed the potential hazard of large events out of S. Korea. From the viewpoint of seismic hazard, seismic amplitude decrease Q-1 is very important. Related to the crustal cracks induced by the earthquakes, the value of Q-1- high Q-1 regions are more attenuating than low Q-1 regions - shows a correlation with seismic activity; relatively higher values of Q-1 have been observed in seismically active areas than in stable areas. For the southeastern and central S. Korea, we first simultaneously estimated QP-1 and QS-1 by applying the extended coda-normalization method to KIGAM and KNUE network data. Estimated QP-1 and QS-1 values are 0.009 f-1.05 and 0.004 f-0.70 for southeastern S. Korea and 0.003 f -0.54 and 0.003 f -0.42 for central S. Korea, respectively. These values agree with those of seismically inactive regions such as shield. The low QLg-1 value, 0.0018f -0.54 was also obtained by the coda normalization method. In addition, we studied QLg-1 by applying the source pair/receiver pair (SPRP) method to both domestic and far-regional events. The obtained QLg-1 for all Fc is less than 0.002, which is reasonable value for a seismically inactive region.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.33-40
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• 2019

A seismic isolation system is one of the most effective control devices used for mitigating the structural responses due to earthquake loads. This system is generally used as a type of base isolation system for low- and mid-rise building structures. If the base isolation technique is applied to high-rise buildings, a lot of problems may be induced such as the movement of isolation bearings during severe wind loads, the stability problem of bearings under large compression forces. Therefore, a mid-story isolation system was proposed for seismic protection of high-rise buildings. Residence-commerce complex buildings in Korea have vertical irregularity because shear wall type and frame type structures are vertically connected. This problem can be also solved by the mid-story isolation system. An effective analytical method using super elements and substructures was proposed in this study. This method was used to investigate control performance of mid-story isolation system for residence-commerce complex buildings subjected to seismic loads. Based on numerical analyses, it was shown that the mid-story isolation system can effectively reduce seismic responses of residence-commerce complex tall buildings.