• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.77-89
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• 2015

As the exploitation of oil and gas resources advances into deeper waters and harsher environments, the design and analysis of the flexible risers has become the research focus in the offshore engineering filed. Due to the complexity of the components and the sliding between the adjacent layers, the bending response of the flexible risers is highly non-linear. This paper presents the finite element analysis of the flexible risers under bending loads. The detailed finite element model of the flexible riser is established in ABAQUS software. This finite element model incorporates all the fine details of the riser to accurately predict its nonlinear structural behavior. Based on the finite element model, the bending moment-curvature relationships of a flexible riser under various axisymmetric loads have been investigated. The results have been compared with the analytical ones obtained from the literature and good agreements have been found. Moreover, the stress of the tendon armors has been studied. The non-linear relationship between the armor tendons' stress and the bending loads has been obtained.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.647-656
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• 2017

This paper presents an experimental study on the behaviour of steel beams with different types of web openings. Steel beams with web openings became progressively more accepted as a well-organized structural form in steel construction since their existence. Their complicated design and profiling method provides better flexibility in beam proportioning for strength, depth, size and location of holes. The objective of this study is to carry out the experiments on steel beams with different types of web openings and performed non-linear finite element (FE) analysis of the beams that were considered in the experimental study in order to determine their ultimate load capacity and failure modes for comparison. Ten full scale models of steel beam with web openings have been tested in the experimental investigation. The finite element method has been used to predict their entire response to increasing values of external loading until they lose their load carrying capacity. FE model of each specimen that is utilized in the experimental studies is carried out. These models are used to simulate the experimental work to verify test results and to investigate the nonlinear behaviour of failure modes such as local buckling, lateral torsional buckling, web-post buckling, shear buckling and Vierendeel bending of beams.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.3 s.49
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• pp.77-84
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• 2006

Unlike homogeneous material structure, the behavior of masonry structure is not perfectly elastic even in the range of small deformations because it is a non-homogeneous and anisotropic composite structural material, consisting of masonry units, mortar, and grout. This paper proposes a simplified way of investigating the evolution of the deformation and damage of the structure subjected to a series of successive ground motions with varying shaking. Especially, the most simple but useful algorithm of Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) has been adopted to investigate the evolution of the deformation and damage of the structure tested on the shaking table. Moreover, the development of a hi-linear curve for an equivalent SDOF system which is obtained by exploiting the frequency and stiffness relationship was discussed. Finally, some important findings related to inelastic properties of the URM are summarized.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.561-573
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• 2010

The potential of the liquid column vibration absorber (LCVA) as a seismic vibration control device for structures has been explored in this paper. In this work, the structure has been modeled as a linear, viscously damped single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system. The governing differential equations of motion for the damper liquid and for the coupled structure-LCVA system have been derived from dynamic equilibrium. The nonlinear orifice damping in the LCVA has been linearized by a stochastic equivalent linearization technique. A transfer function formulation for the structure-LCVA system has been presented. The design parameters of the LCVA have been identified and by applying the transfer function formulation the optimum combination of these parameters has been determined to obtain the most efficient control performance of the LCVA in terms of the reduction in the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) displacement response of the structure. The study has been carried out for an example structure subjected to base input characterized by a white noise power spectral density function (PSDF). The sensitivity of the performance of the LCVA to the coefficient of head loss and to the tuning ratio have also been examined and compared with that of the liquid column damper (LCD). Finally, a simulation study has been carried out with a recorded accelerogram, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the LCVA.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-55
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• 2013

An important issue in the design of soil-nailing systems, as long-term retaining walls, is to assess their stability during seismic events. As such, this study is aimed at simulating the dynamic behavior and failure pattern of nailed structures using two series of numerical analyses, namely dynamic time history and pseudo-static. These numerical simulations are performed using the Finite Difference Method (FDM). In order to consider the actual response of a soil-nailed structure, nonlinear soil behaviour, soil-structure interaction effects, bending resistance of structural elements and construction sequences have been considered in the analyses. The obtained results revealed the efficiency of both analysis methods in simulating the seismic failure mechanism. The predicted failure pattern consists of two sliding blocks enclosed by three slip surfaces, whereby the bottom nails act as anchors and the other nails hold a semi-rigid soil mass. Moreover, it was realized that an increase in the length of the lowest nails is the most effective method to improve seismic stability of soil-nailed structures. Therefore, it is recommended to first estimate the nails pattern for static condition with the minimum required static safety factor. Then, the required seismic stability can be obtained through an increase in the length of the lowest nails. Moreover, placement of additional long nails among lowest nails in existing nailed structures can be considered as a simple retrofitting technique in seismic prone areas.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.293-302
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• 2020

Connections play a significant role in strength of structures against earthquake-induced loads. According to the post-seismic reports, connection failure is a cause of overall failure in reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Connection failure results in a sudden increase in inter-story drift, followed by early and progressive failure across the entire structure. This article investigated the cyclic performance and behavioral improvement of shape-memory alloy-based connections (SMA-based connections). The novelty of the present work is focused on the effect of shape memory alloy bars is damage reduction, strain recoverability, and cracking distribution of the stated material in RC moment frames under seismic loads using 3D nonlinear static analyses. The present numerical study was verified using two experimental connections. Then, the performance of connections was studied using 14 models with different reinforcement details on a scale of 3:4. The response parameters under study included moment-rotation, secant stiffness, energy dissipation, strain of bar, and moment-curvature of the connection. The connections were simulated using LS-DYNA environment. The models with longitudinal SMA-based bars, as the main bars, could eliminate residual plastic rotations and thus reduce the demand for post-earthquake structural repairs. The flag-shaped stress-strain curve of SMA-based materials resulted in a very slight residual drift in such connections.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.211-230
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• 2002

The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamic behavior of elastic beams subjected to moving loads. Although analytical methods are available, they have limitations with respect to complicated structures. The use of computer technology in recent years is an effective way to solve the problem; thus using the latest technology this study establishes a finite-element solution procedure to investigate dynamic behaviors of a typical elastic beam having a set of constant geometric properties and various span lengths. Both the dead load of the beam and traffic load are applied in which the traffic load is considered a concentrated moving force with various traveling passage speeds on the beam. Dynamic behaviors including deflection, shear, and bending moment due to moving loads are obtained by both analytical and finite element methods; for simple structures, they have an excellent agreement. The numerical results show that based on analytical methods the fundamental mode is good enough to estimate the dynamic deflection along the beam, but is not sufficient to simulate the total response of the shear force or the bending moment. The linear dynamic behavior of the elastic beams subjected to multiple exciting loads can easily be found by linear superposition, and the geometric nonlinear results caused by large deformation and axial force of the beam are always underestimated with only a few exceptions which are indicated. In order to make the results useful, they have been nondimensionalized and presented in graphical form.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.95-110
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• 2011

This paper presents a tri-uniform bond stress model for predicting the lap splice strength of reinforcing bar at the critical bond splitting failure. The proposed bond distribution model consists of three zones, namely, splitting zone, post-splitting zone and yielding zone. In each zone, the bond stress is assumed to be constant. The models for bond strength in each zone are adopted from previous studies. Combining the equilibrium, strain-slip relation and the bond strength model in each zone, the steel stress-slip model can be derived, which can be used in the nonlinear frame analysis of the column. The proposed model is applied to derive explicit equations for predicting the strength of the lap splice strengthened by fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) in both elastic and post-yield ranges. For design purpose, a procedure to calculate the required FRP thickness and the number of FRP sheets is also presented. A parametric investigation was conducted to study the relation between lap splice strength and lap splice length, number and thickness of FRP sheets and the ratio of concrete cover to bar diameter. The study shows that the lap splice strength can be enhanced by increasing one of these parameters: lap splice length, number or thickness of FRP sheets and concrete cover to bar diameter ratio. Verification of the model has been conducted using experimental data available in literature.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.155-171
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• 2019

In this study, Semi-active Tuned Mass Dampers (STMDs) are employed in order to cover the prevailing uncertainties and promote the efficiency of the Tuned Mass Dampers (TMDs) to mitigate undesirable structural vibrations. The damping ratio is determined using type-1 and type-2 Fuzzy Logic Controllers (T1 and T2 FLC) based on the response of the structure. In order to increase the efficiency of the FLC, the output membership functions are optimized using genetic algorithm. The results show that the proposed FLC can reduce the sensitivity of STMD to excitation records. The obtained results indicate the best operation for T1 FLC among the other control systems when the uncertainties are neglected. According to the irrefutable uncertainties, three supplies for these uncertainties such as time delay, sensors measurement noises and the differences between real and software model, are investigated. Considering these uncertainties, the efficiencies of T1 FLC, ground-hook velocity-based, displacement-based and TMD reduce significantly. The reduction rates for these algorithms are 12.66%, 26.43%, 20.98% and 21.77%, respectively. However, due to nonlinear behavior and considering a range of uncertainties in membership functions, T2 FLC with 7.2% reduction has robust performance against uncertainties compared to other controlling systems. Therefore, it can be used in actual applications more confidently.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2018

This study compares true stress-true strain curves obtained by tensile tests of various piping materials with bi-linear stress-strain approximation suggested in the JSME Code Case(CC) Draft, a guideline for piping seismic inelastic response analysis. Based on the comparisons, the reliability of the bi-linear approximation is evaluated. It is found that bi-linear stress-strain curve of TP316 stainless steel is in good agreement with its true stress-true strain curve. However, Bi-linear stress-strain curves of TP304 stainless steel and carbon steels determined by the approximation cannot appropriately estimate their stress-strain behavior. Accordingly new bi-linear approximations for carbon steels and low-alloy steels are proposed. The proposed bi-linear approximations for carbon and low-alloy steels, which include the temperature effect on strength and hardening of material, estimate their stress-strain behavior reasonably well.