• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.211-229
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• 2004

The main purpose of this paper is the numerical analysis of the non-linear seismic response of a RC building mock-up. The mock-up is subjected to different synthetic horizontal seismic excitations. The numerical approach is based on a 3D-model involving multilayered shell elements. These elements are composed of several single-layer membranes with various eccentricities. Bending effects are included through these eccentricities. Basic equations are first written for a single membrane element with its own eccentricity and then generalised to the multilayered shell element by superposition. The multilayered shell is considered as a classical shell element : all information about non-linear constitutive relations are investigated at the local scale of each layer, whereas balance and kinematics are checked afterwards at global scale. The non-linear dynamic response of the building is computed with Newmark algorithm. The numerical dynamic results (blind simulations) are considered in the linear and non linear cases and compared with experimental results from shaking table tests. Multilayered shell elements are found to be a promising tool for predictive computations of RC structures behaviour under 3D seismic loadings. This study was part of the CAMUS International Benchmark.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2021

Ground motions recorded in near-fault sites, where the rupture propagates toward the site, are significantly different from those observed in far-fault regions. In this research, finite element modeling is used to investigate the effect of pile cap stiffness on the seismic response of soil-pile-structure systems under near-fault ground motions. The Von Wolffersdorff hypoplastic model with the intergranular strain concept is applied for modeling of granular soil (sand) and the behavior of structure is considered to be non-linear. Eight fault-normal near-field ground motion records, recorded on rock, are applied to the model. The numerical method developed is verified by comparing the results with an experimental test (shaking table test) for a soil-pile-structure system. The results, obtained from finite element modeling under near-fault ground motions, show that when the value of cap stiffness increases, the drift ratio of the structure decreases, whereas the pile relative displacement increases. Also, the residual deformations in the piles are due to the non-linear behavior of soil around the piles.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.455-483
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• 2018

The study deals with physical modeling of a typical three storeyed building frame supported by a pile group of four piles ($2{\times}2$) embedded in cohesive soil mass using three dimensional finite element analysis. For the purpose of modeling, the elements such as beams, slabs and columns, of the superstructure frame; and that of the pile foundation such as pile and pile cap are descretized using twenty noded isoparametric continuum elements. The interface between the pile and the soil is idealized using sixteen node isoparametric surface element. The soil elements are modeled using eight nodes, nine nodes and twelve node continuum elements. The present study considers the linear elastic behaviour of the elements of superstructure and substructure (i.e., foundation). The soil is assumed to behave non-linear. The parametric study is carried out for studying the effect of soil- structure interaction on response of the frame on the premise of sub-structure approach. The frame is analyzed initially without considering the effect of the foundation (non-interaction analysis) and then, the pile foundation is evaluated independently to obtain the equivalent stiffness; and these values are used in the interaction analysis. The spacing between the piles in a group is varied to evaluate its effect on the interactive behaviour of frame in the context of two embedment depth ratios. The response of the frame included the horizontal displacement at the level of each storey, shear force in beams, axial force in columns along with the bending moments in beams and columns. The effect of the soil- structure interaction is observed to be significant for the configuration of the pile groups and in the context of non-linear behaviour of soil.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.1507-1516
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• 2001

An analytical method is presented for evaluation of the steady state periodic behavior of nonlinear structural systems. This method is based on the substructure synthesis formulation and a harmonic balance procedure, which is applied to the analysis of nonlinear responses. A complex nonlinear system is divided into substructures, of which equations are approximately transformed to modal coordinates including nonlinear term under the reasonable procedure. Then, the equations are synthesized into the overall system and the nonlinear solution for the system is obtained. Based on the harmonic balance method, the proposed procedure reduces the size of large degrees-of-freedom problem in the solving nonlinear equations. Feasibility and advantages of the proposed method are illustrated using the study of the nonlinear rotating machine system as a large mechanical structure system. Results obtained are reported to be an efficient approach with respect to nonlinear response prediction when compared with other conventional methods.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.393-404
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• 2023

This paper presents the application of hybrid-simulation-based adapter elements for the non-linear two-scale analysis of reinforced concrete frames with masonry infills under seismic-like demands. The approach provides communication and distribution of the computations carried out by two or more remote or locally distributed numerical models connected through the OpenFresco Framework. The modeling consists of a global analysis formed by macro-elements to represent frames and walls, and to reduce global degrees of freedom, portions of the structure that require advanced analysis are substituted by experimental elements and dimensional couplings acting as interfaces with their respective sub-assemblies. The local sub-assemblies are modeled by solid finite elements where the non-linear behavior of concrete matrix and masonry infill adopt a continuum damage representation and the reinforcement steel a discrete one, the conditions at interfaces between concrete and masonry are considered through a contact model. The methodology is illustrated through the analysis of a frame-wall system subjected to lateral loads comparing the results of using macro-elements, finite element model and experimental observations. Finally, to further assess and validate the methodology proposed, the paper presents the pushover analysis of two more complex structures applying both modeling scales to obtain their corresponding capacity curves.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.258-264
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• 2012

Purpose: This review aims at introducing 3 modeling approaches classified into 3 categories based on the purpose (estimation or prediction), structure (linear or non-linear) and phase (steady-state or dynamic-state); 1) statistical approaches, 2) kinetic modeling and 3) mechanistic modeling. We hope that this review can be a useful guide in the model-based approach of calcium metabolism as well as illustrates an application of engineering tools in studying biosystems. Background: The meaning of biosystems has been expanded, including agricultural/food system as well as biological systems like genes, cells and metabolisms. This expansion has required a useful tool for assessing the biosystems and modeling has arisen as a method that satisfies the current inquiry. To suit for the flow of the era, examining the system which is a little bit far from the traditional biosystems may be interesting issue, which can enlarge our insights and provide new ideas for prospective biosystem-researches. Herein, calcium metabolic models reviewed as an example of application of modeling approaches into the biosystems. Review: Calcium is an essential nutrient widely involved in animal and human metabolism including bone mineralization and signaling pathways. For this reason, the calcium metabolic system has been studied in various research fields of academia and industries. To study calcium metabolism, model-based system analyses have been utilized according to the purpose, subject characteristics, metabolic sites of interest, and experimental design. Either individual metabolic pathways or a whole homeostasis has been modeled in a number of studies.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.487-494
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• 2017

The present paper deals with a theoretical study of delamination fracture in the Crack Lap Shear (CLS) functionally graded beam configuration. The basic purpose is to analyze the fracture with taking into account the material non-linearity. The mechanical behavior of CLS was described by using a non-linear stress-strain relation. It was assumed that the material is functionally graded along the beam height. The fracture was analyzed by applying the J-integral approach. The curvature and neutral axis coordinate of CLS beam were derived in order to solve analytically the J-integral. The non-linear solution of J-integral obtained was verified by analyzing the strain energy release rate with considering material non-linearity. The effects of material gradient, crack location along the beam height and material non-linearity on fracture behavior were evaluated. The J-integral non-linear solution derived is very suitable for parametric studies of longitudinal fracture in the CLS beam. The results obtained can be used to optimize the functionally graded beam structure with respect to the fracture performance. The analytical approach developed in the present paper contributes for the understanding of delamination fracture in functionally graded beams exhibiting material non-linearity.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-109
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• 1995

This paper compared four knowledge acquisition methods (namely, neural network, case-based reasoning, discriminant analysis, and covariance structure modeling) for allergic rhinitis. The data were collected from 444 patients with suspected allergic rhinitis who visited the Otorlaryngology Deduring 1991-1993. Among four knowledge acquisition methods, the discriminant model had the best overall diagnostic capability (78%) and the neural network had slightly lower rate(76%). This may be explained by the fact that neural network is essentially non-linear discriminant model. The discriminant model was also most accurate in predicting allergic rhinitis (88%). On the other hand, the CSM had the lowest overall accuracy rate (44%) perhaps due to smaller input data set. However, it was most accuate in predicting non-allergic rhinitis (82%).

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.549-580
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• 2022

This paper assesses the influences of modeling assumptions and uncertainties on the performance of the non-linear finite element (FE) model updating procedure and model clustering method. The results of a shaking table test on a four-story steel moment-resisting frame are employed for both calibrations and clustering of the FE models. In the first part, simple to detailed non-linear FE models of the test frame is calibrated to minimize the difference between the various data features of the models and the structure. To investigate the effect of the specified data feature, four of which include the acceleration, displacement, hysteretic energy, and instantaneous features of responses, have been considered. In the last part of the work, a model-based clustering approach to group models of a four-story frame with similar behavior is introduced to detect abnormal ones. The approach is a composition of property derivation, outlier removal based on k-Nearest neighbors, and a K-means clustering approach using specified data features. The clustering results showed correlations among similar models. Moreover, it also helped to detect the best strategy for modeling different structural components.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 2011

This paper deals with the modeling of the plane frame structure-foundation-soil system. The superstructure along with the foundation beam is idealized as beam bending elements. The soil medium near the foundation beam with stress concentrated is idealized by isoparametric finite elements, and infinite elements are used to represent the far field of the soil media. This paper presents the modeling of shear wall structure-foundation and soil system using the optimal membrane triangular, super and conventional finite elements. Particularly, an alternative formulation is presented for the optimal triangular elements aimed at reducing the programming effort and computational cost. The proposed model is applied to a plane frame-combined footing-soil system. It is shown that the total settlement obtained from the non-linear interactive analysis is about 1.3 to 1.4 times that of the non-interactive analysis. Furthermore, the proposed model was found to be efficient in simulating the shear wall-foundation-soil system, being able to yield results that are similar to those obtained by the conventional finite element method.