• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.387-394
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• 2017

Seismic probabilistic risk assessment (SPRA) requires a large number of simulations to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of structural and nonstructural components in nuclear power plants. The effect of structural modeling and analysis assumptions on dynamic analysis of 3D and simplified 2D stick models of auxiliary buildings and the attached nonstructural components is investigated. Dynamic characteristics and seismic performance of building models are also evaluated, as well as the computational accuracy of the models. The presented results provide a better understanding of the dynamic behavior and seismic performance of auxiliary buildings. The results also help to quantify the impact of uncertainties associated with modeling and analysis of simplified numerical models of structural and nonstructural components subjected to seismic shaking on the predicted seismic failure probabilities of these systems.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.1213-1232
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• 2016

This paper investigates the response of nonstructural components in the presence of nonlinear behavior of the primary structure considering the near-fault pulse-like ground motions. A database of 81 near-fault pulse-like ground motions is used to examine the effect of these ground motions on the response of nonstructural components. For comparison, a database of 573 non-pulse-like ground motions selected from the PEER database is also employed. The effects of peak ground velocity (PGV), maximum incremental velocity (MIV), primary structural degrading behavior and damping of nonstructural components are evaluated and discussed statistically. Results are presented in terms of amplification factor which quantifies the effect of inelastic deformations of the primary structure on subsystem responses. The results indicate that the near-fault pulse-like ground motions can significantly increase the amplification factors of nonstructural components with primary structural period and the magnitude of increase can reach 17%. The effect of PGV and MIV on amplification factors tends to increase with the increase of primary structural ductility. The near-fault pulse-like ground motions are more dangerous to components supported by structures with strength and stiffness degrading behavior than ordinary ground motions. A new simplified formulation is proposed for the application of amplification factors for design of nonstructural components for near-fault pulse-like ground motions.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.471-484
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• 2020

Previous earthquakes show that, structural safety evaluations should include the evaluation of nonstructural components. Failure of nonstructural components can affect the operational capacity of critical facilities, such as hospitals and fire stations, which can cause an increase in number of deaths. Additionally, failure of nonstructural components may result in economic, architectural, and historical losses of community. Accelerations and random vibrations must be under the predefined limitations in structures with high technological equipment, data centers in this case. Failure of server equipment and anchored server racks are investigated in this study. A probabilistic study is completed for a low-rise rigid sample structure. The structure is investigated in two versions, (i) conventional fixed-based structure and (ii) with a base isolation system. Seismic hazard assessment is completed for the selected site. Monte Carlo simulations are generated with selected parameters. Uncertainties in both structural parameters and mechanical properties of isolation system are included in simulations. Anchorage failure and vibration failures are investigated. Different methods to generate fragility curves are used. The site-specific annual hazard curve is used to generate risk curves for two different structures. A risk matrix is proposed for the design of data centers. Results show that base isolation systems reduce the failure probability significantly in higher floors. It was also understood that, base isolation systems are highly sensitive to earthquake characteristics rather than variability in structural and mechanical properties, in terms of accelerations. Another outcome is that code-provided anchorage failure limitations are more vulnerable than the random vibration failure limitations of server equipment.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.8-14
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• 2017

Nonstructural components, such as electrical equipment, have critical roles in the proper functionality of various infrastructure systems. Some of these devices in certain facilities should operate even under strong seismic shaking. However, it is challenging to define each mechanical and operational failure and determine system failure probabilities under seismic shaking due to the uncertainties in earthquake excitations and the diversity of electrical equipment, among other factors. Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective and practical probabilistic models for performance assessment of electrical equipment considering variations in equipment features and earthquakes. This study will enhance the understanding of the effect of rocking behavior on nonstructural equipment, and linear-to-nonlinear behavior of restrainers. In addition, this study will generate probabilistic seismic demand models of rigid equipment for a set of conventional and novel intensity measures.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.105-116
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• 2022

Seismic demand on nonstructural components (NSCs) is highly dependent on the coupled behavior of a combined supporting structure-NSC system. Because of the inherent complexities of the problem, many of the affecting factors are inevitably neglected or simplified based on engineering judgments in current seismic design codes. However, a systematic analysis of the key affecting factors should establish reasonable seismic design provisions for NSCs. In this study, an idealized 2-DOF model simulating the coupled structure-NSC system was constructed to analyze the parameters that affect the response of NSCs comprehensively. The analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of structure-NSC mass ratio, structure, and NSC nonlinearities on the peak component acceleration. Also, the appropriateness of component ductility factor (R_p) given by current codes was discussed based on the required ductility capacity of NSCs. It was observed that the responses of NSCs on the coupled system were significantly affected by the mass ratio, resulting in lower accelerations than the floor spectrum-based response, which neglected the interaction effects. Also, the component amplification factor (a_p) in current provisions tended to underestimate the dynamic amplification of NSCs with a mass ratio of less than 15%. The nonlinearity of NSCs decreased the component responses. In some cases, the code-specified R_p caused nonlinear deformation far beyond the ductility capacity of NSCs, and a practically unacceptable level of ductility was required for short-period NSCs to achieve the assigned amount of response reduction.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.486-491
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• 2002

Spikelet number and its components of rice plant are closely associated with nitrogen accumulation and biomass production during panicle formation stage. To elucidate this relationship and also compare the differences of the sink formation efficiency among cultivars, spikelet number, its components, nitrogen content, nonstructural carbohydrate content, and plant dry matter were investigated under 5 nitrogen levels with two split application methods and shading treatments by using three rice varieties. The nitrogen amount in shoot at panicle initiation stage and at 15 days after panicle initiation showed significant positive correlation with primary rachis branches per square meter, and that at 15 days after panicle initiation and at heading stage with secondary rachis branches per square meter, Primary and secondary rachis branches per square meter showed positive significant correlation with the shoot dry weight at panicle initiation stage and at 15 days after panicle initiation stage, respectively, The amount of degenerated secondary rachis branches and spikelets per square meter showed significant negative correlation with the dry weight and nonstructural carbohydrate increase of stem during 15days after panicle initiation, and the contents of nonstructural carbohydrate at 15 days after panicle initiation. Spikelets per unit area showed significant positive correlation with nitrogen amount in shoot and shoot dry weight at heading stage. The sink formation efficiency expressed as the spikelet number produced by the unit amount of nitrogen in shoot at heading stage was higher in Nampoongbyeo than Choocheongbyeo and Hwaseongbyeo. Sink formation efficiency was negatively correlated with the dry weight increase of shoot and stem during reproductive stage. but not significantly with that of leaf in all varieties. Sink formation efficiency was not significantly correlated with nonstructural carbohydrate, but was significantly negatively correlated with structural carbohydrate increase during reproductive stage.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2013

The construction costs for nonstructural systems such as mechanical/electrical equipment, ceiling system, and piping system occupy a significant proportion of the total cost. These nonstructural systems can also cause considerable economic losses and loss of life during and after an earthquake. Therefore, reduction of seismic risk of nonstructural components has been emerging as a key aspect of research in recent year. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the seismic performance of a single-story and multi-story piping system installed in low-rise building and to identify the seismic vulnerability of the current piping systems. The seismic performance evaluation of the piping systems was conducted with 5 different earthquakes to account for the ground motion uncertainty and the preliminary results demonstrated that the maximum displacements of each floor in the multi-story piping system increased linearly with increasing floor level in the building system. This study revealed that the current design piping systems are significantly sensitive to the effect of floor height, which stress the necessity to improve the seismic performance of the current piping systems by, for example, strengthening with seismic sway bracing using transverse/longitudinal bracing cables or hangers.

• Magazine of the Korea Institute for Structural Maintenance and Inspection
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.48-56
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• 2014

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2021

The main purpose of this study is to assess the safety of the fixed anchorages subjected to the seismic motion for an operating facilities in the actual power plant. Thus, the experimental study was conducted to investigate the load response in the event of an actual seismic to the anchorages of a nonstructural components. Since there are economic and spatial constraints to study nonstructural components that actually have various forms, alternative test specimens of steel frames with mass were built and the shaking table test was carried out. In order to evaluate the dynamic characteristics and seismic performance, the natural frequency of the target structure was identified through the shaking table test and then the load response characteristics of the anchorage were evaluated by generating an artificial seismic effect like actual seismic. Finally, the structural stiffness was reinforced by fixing the steel frame to the test specimen using bolts, thereby reducing the load transmitted to the anchorage. It will be carried out on the reliability verification of the experiments and areas that have not been carried out due to the site conditions through the analytical approach in the future.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.87-100
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• 2022

Limiting the displacement of seismic isolators causes a pounding phenomenon under severe earthquakes. Therefore, the ASCE 7-16 has provided minimum criteria for the design of the isolated building. In this research the seismic response of isolated buildings by Triple Friction Pendulum Isolator (TFPI) under the impact, expected, and unexpected mass eccentricity was evaluated. Also, the effect of different design parameters on the seismic behavior of structural and nonstructural elements was found. For this, a special steel moment frame structure with a surrounding moat wall was designed according to the criteria, by considering different response modification coefficients (RI), and 20% mass eccentricity in one direction. Then, different values of these parameters and the damping of the base isolation were evaluated. The results show that the structural elements have acceptable behavior after impact, but the nonstructural components are placed in a moderate damage range after impact and the used improved methods could not ameliorate the level of damage. The reduction in the RI and the enhancement of the isolator's damping are beneficial up to a certain point for improving the seismic response after impact. The moat wall reduces torque and maximum absolute acceleration (MAA) due to unexpected enhancement of mass eccentricity. However, drifts of some stories increase. Also, the difference between the response of story drift by expected and unexpected mass eccentricity is less. This indicates that the minimum requirement displacement according to ASCE 7-16 criteria lead to acceptable results under the unexpected enhancement of mass eccentricity.