• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.7_spc
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• pp.453-460
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• 2016

The Gyeong-Ju earthquake in the magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scaleoccurred in September 12, 2016. Because there are many nuclear power plants (NPP) near the epicenter of the Gyeong-Ju earthquake, the seismic stability of nuclear power plants is becoming a social problem. In order to evaluate the safety of seismically isolated NPP, the seismic response of a NPP subjected to the Gyeong-Ju earthquake was compared with those of 30 sets of artificial earthquakes corresponding to the nuclear standard design spectrum (NSDS). A 2-node model and a simple beam-stick model were used for the seismic analysis of seismically isolated NPP structures. Using 2-node model, the effect of internal temperature rise, decrease of shear stiffness, increase of lateral displacement and decrease of vertical stiffness according to nonlinear behavior of lead-rubber bearing (LRB) were evaluated. The displacement response, the acceleration response, and the shear force response of the seismically isolated nuclear containment structure were evaluated using the simple beam-stick model. It can be observed that the seismic responses of the isolated nuclear structure subjected to Gyeong-Ju earthquake is significantly less than those to the artificial earthquakes corresponding to NSDS.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2019

In order to increase the seismic safety of nuclear power plant (NPP) structures, a technique to reduce the seismic load transmitted to the NPP structure by using a seismic isolation device such as a lead-rubber bearing has recently been actively researched. In seismic design of NPP structures, three directional (two horizontal and one vertical directions) artificial synthetic earthquakes (G0 group) corresponding to the standard design spectrum are generally used. In this study, seismic analysis was performed by using three directional artificial synthetic earthquakes (M0 group) corresponding to the maximum-minimum spectrum reflecting uncertainty of incident direction of earthquake load. The design basis earthquake (DBE) and the beyond design basis earthquakes (BDBEs are equal to 150%, 167%, and 200% DBE) of G0 and M0 earthquake groups were respectively generated for 30 sets and used for the seismic analysis. The purpose of this study is to compare seismic responses and seismic fragility curves of seismically isolated NPP structures subjected to DBE and BDBE. From the seismic fragility curves, the probability of failure of the seismic isolation system when the peak ground acceleration (PGA) is 0.5 g is about 5% for the M0 earthquake group and about 3% for the G0 earthquake group.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the significant duration of ground motions on responses of base-isolated nuclear power plants (NPPs). Two sets of ground motion records with short duration (SD) and long duration (LD) motions, scaled to match the target response spectrum, are used to perform time-history analyses. The reactor containment building in the Advanced Power Reactor 1400 (APR1400) NPP is numerically modeled using lumped-mass stick elements in SAP2000. Seismic responses of the base-isolated NPP are monitored in forms of lateral displacements, shear forces, floor response spectra of the containment building, and hysteretic energy of the lead rubber bearing (LRB). Fragility curves for different limit states, which are defined based on the shear deformation of the base isolator, are developed. The numerical results reveal that the average seismic responses of base-isolated NPP under SD and LD motion sets were shown to be mostly identical. For PGA larger than 0.4g, the mean deformation of LRB for LD motions was bigger than that for SD ones due to a higher hysteretic energy of LRB produced in LD shakings. Under LD motions, median parameters of fragility functions for three limit states were reduced by 12% to 15% compared to that due to SD motions. This clearly indicates that it is important to select ground motions with both SD and LD proportionally in the seismic evaluation of NPP structures.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.67-77
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• 2008

Seismic isolation has been studied continuously as a solution of the seismic engineering to reduce the sectional forces and the damages of structures caused by earthquakes. To certify reliable design and installation of the seismic isolation systems, seismic isolation bearings should be fabricated under well planned quality control process, and proper evaluation tests for their seismic performance should be followed. In this study, shear property evaluation tests for the lead rubber bearings(LRB) and the rubber bearings(RB) were implemented and the temperature dependency tests were also implemented to evaluate the changes of shear properties according to the changes of temperature. After evaluation tests, the measured shear properties were compared to their design values and their deviation was analyzed comparing with the allowable error ranges specified in Highway Bridge Design Specifications. These results showed that a considerable number of isolation bearings have so large deviations from their design values that their error ranges were over or very close to the allowable ranges. And the test results for temperature dependency showed that the shear properties of isolation bearings would be changed in great degree by the change of temperature during their service period. If these two types of changes in their shear properties are superposed, it would possible that the changes of shear properties from their original design values are over than 50%.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.603-623
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• 2015

The scale and nature of the recent earthquakes in the world and the related earthquake disaster index coerce the concerned community to become anxious about it. Therefore, it is crucial that seismic lateral load effect will be appropriately considered in structural design. Application of seismic isolation system stands as a consistent alternative against this hazard. The objective of the study is to evaluate the structural and economic feasibility of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with base isolation located in medium risk seismic region. Linear and nonlinear dynamic analyses as well as linear static analysis under site-specific bi-directional seismic excitation have been carried out for both fixed based (FB) and base isolated (BI) buildings in the present study. The superstructure and base of buildings are modeled in a 3D finite element model by consistent mass approach having six degrees of freedom at each node. The floor slabs are simulated as rigid diaphragms. Lead rubber bearing (LRB) and High damping rubber bearing (HDRB) are used as isolation device. Change of structural behaviors and savings in construction costing are evaluated. The study shows that for low to medium rise buildings, isolators can reduce muscular amount of base shears, base moments and floor accelerations for building at soft to medium stiff soil. Allowable higher horizontal displacement induces structural flexibility. Though incorporating isolator increases the outlay, overall structural cost may be reduced. The application of base isolation system confirms a potential to be used as a viable solution in economic building design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.581-594
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• 2014

A feasibility study on the seismic design of nuclear reactor buildings with application of a seismic isolation system is introduced. After the Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake in Japan of 1995, seismic isolation technologies have been widely employed for commercial buildings. Having become a mature technology, seismic isolation systems can be applied to NPP facilities in areas of high seismicity. Two reactor buildings are discussed, representing the PWR and BWR buildings in Japan, and the application of seismic isolation systems is discussed. The isolation system employing rubber bearings with a lead plug positioned (LRB) is examined. Through a series of seismic response analyses using the so-named standard design earthquake motions covering the design basis earthquake motions obtained for NPP sites in Japan, the responses of the seismic isolated reactor buildings are evaluated. It is revealed that for the building structures examined herein: (1) the responses of both isolated buildings and isolating LRBs fulfill the specified design criteria; (2) the responses obtained for the isolating LRBs first reach the ultimate condition when intensity of motion is 2.0 to 2.5 times as large as that of the design-basis; and (3) the responses of isolated reactor building fall below the range of the prescribed criteria.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.3502-3507
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• 2013

If a sky-bridge is rigidly connected to adjacent buildings, the irregularity of the connected structures is increased resulting in providing a worse seismic behavior. Therefore, a friction pendulum system (FPS) or lead rubber bearing (LRB) is frequently used for the connection system between a sky-bridge and building structures. These connection systems should be carefully designed to prevent a skyfall of a sky-bridge subjected to severe seismic loads. In this paper, the inevitable structural design procedures for a sky-bridge connection system using a friction pendulum system without uplift resistance capacity have been investigated. To this end, Nuri Dream Square building structure is used as a example structure. The structural design process of a friction pendulum system for fail safe of a sky-bridge has been proposed in this paper by evaluating structural responses of the sky-bridge and building structures subjected to earthquake loads.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.73-84
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• 2008

The various systems as the seismic resistance systems are used to reduce the seismic response of structure. And the seismic isolation system among them is the system that reduces the seismic vibration to be transmitted from foundation to upper structure. The purpose of isolation system is to lengthen the period of structure and make its period shift from the dominant period of earthquake. In this study, the seismic behavior of arch structure with lead rubber bearing(LRB) and friction pendulum system(FPS) is analyzed. The arch structure is the simplest structure and has the basic dynamic characteristics among large spatial structures. Also, Large spatial structures have large vertical response by horizontal seismic vibration, unlike seismic behavior of normal rahmen structures. When horizontal seismic load is applied to the large spatial structure with isolation systems, the horizontal acceleration response of the large spatial structure is reduced and the vertical seismic response is remarkably reduced.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2017

This study has addressed to evaluate the effects of radius of curvature and skew angle on the negative reaction in a plate girder bridge with LRB (Lead Rubber Bearing) supports. As analytical parameters, various radius of curvatures and skew angles were selected and two seismic loads of El-Centro and artificial earthquakes were applied to the bridge in the longitudinal and transverse directions. As results of 3D analysis, the possibility of negative reaction is shown at the part of acute angle and inner side of the curved bridge, and becomes increased when seismic load is applied in the transverse direction. In addition, the occurrence of negative reaction is found to be increased as both radius of curvature and skew angle decrease, which means that curved bridge has higher possibility of negative reaction than straight one. Conclusively, all of earthquake wave, gradient, radius of curvature and skew angle should be considered together to investigate the possibility of negative reaction at the bridge support subject to seismic load.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5A
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• pp.685-690
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• 2008

Recently, as large structures become lighter and more flexible, the necessity of structural control for reducing excessive displacement and acceleration due to seismic excitation is increased. As a means to minimize seismic damages, various base isolation systems are adopted or considered for adoption. In this study, a base isolation system using hysteretic damper is shown to effectively protect structures against earthquakes. A mechanical model is determined that can effectively portray the behavior of a typical E-shape device. Comparison with experimental results for a hysteretic damper indicates that the model is accurate over a wide range of operating conditions and adequate for analysis. The seismic performance of hysteretic dampers are studied and compared with the conventional systems as a base isolation system. A five-story building is modeled and the seismic performance of the systems subjected to three different earthquake is compared. The results show that the hysteretic damper system can provide superior protection than the other systems for a wide range of ground motions.