• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2008

This study is concernsed with the effect of a chimney drainage system installed at the back of reinforced soil block on preventing the pore water pressure development. A series of finite-element analyses based on transient seepage analysis were performed for a number of cases with different patterns of the chimney drainage system. The results were thoroughly analyzed to get insight into the mechanism of pore water pressure reduction effect of the chimney drainage system. It is shown that a vertical drainage system installed at the back of reinforced zone can be an effective means of maintaining the wall stability during rainfall by preventing pore pressure increase in the reinforced as well as the backfill zones. Also shown is that the optimum height of the chimney drain is 50% of the wall height. Practical implications of the findings were discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.86 no.4
• /
• pp.547-571
• /
• 2023

To deeply probe the actual earthquake level and fragility of typical reinforced concrete (RC) structures under multiple intensity grades, considering diachronic measurement building stock samples and actual observations of representative catastrophic earth shocks in China from 1990 to 2010, RC structures were divided into traditional RC structures (TRCs) and bottom reinforced concrete frame seismic wall masonry (BFM) structures, and the empirical damage characteristics and mechanisms were analysed. A great deal of statistics and induction were developed on the historical experience investigation data of 59 typical catastrophic earthquakes in 9 provinces of China. The database and fragility matrix prediction model were established with TRCs of 4,122.5284×104 m² and 5,844 buildings and BFMs of 5,872 buildings as empirical seismic damage samples. By employing the methods of structural damage probability and statistics, nonlinear prediction of seismic vulnerability, and numerical and applied functional analysis, the comparison matrix of actual fragility probability prediction of TRC and BFM in multiple intensity regions under the latest version of China's macrointensity standard was established. A novel nonlinear regression prediction model of seismic vulnerability was proposed, and prediction models considering the seismic damage ratio and transcendental probability parameters were constructed. The time-varying vulnerability comparative model of the sample database was developed according to the different periods of multiple earthquakes. The new calculation method of the average fragility prediction index (AFPI) matrix parameter model has been proposed to predict the seismic fragility of an areal RC structure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.583-596
• /
• 2023

The interlayers, either softer or stiffer than the surrounding layers, are usually overlooked during field investigation due to the small thickness. They may be neglected through the analysis process for simplicity. However, they may significantly affect the dynamic behavior of the soil-foundation system. In this study, a series of 3D finite-element Direct-solution steady-state harmonic analyses were carried out using ABAQUS/CAE software to investigate the impacts of interlayers on the dynamic response of a cast in place pile group subjected to horizontal harmonic load. The experimental data of a 3×2 pile group testing was used to verify the numerical modeling. The effects of thickness, depth, and shear modulus of the interlayers on the dynamic response of the pile group are investigated. The simulations were conducted on both stiff and soft soils. It was found that the soft interlayers affect the frequency-amplitude curve of the system only in frequencies higher than 70% of the resonant frequency of the base soil. While, the effect of stiff interlayer in soft base soil started at frequency of 35% of the resonant frequency of the base soil. Also, it was observed that a shallow stiff interlayer increased the resonant amplitude by 11%, while a deep one only increased the resonant frequency by 7%. Moreover, a shallow soft interlayer increased the resonant frequency by 20% in soft base soils, whereas, it had an effect as low as 6% on resonant amplitude. Also, the results showed that deep soft interlayers increased the resonant amplitude by 17 to 20% in both soft and stiff base soils due to a reduction in lateral support of the piles. In the cases of deep thick, soft interlayers, the resonant frequency reduced significantly, i.e., 16 to 20%. It was found that the stiff interlayers were most effective on the amplitude and frequency of the pile group.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.85 no.4
• /
• pp.433-443
• /
• 2023

The current paper discusses the dynamic and stability responses of cross-ply composite laminated plates by employing a refined quasi-3D trigonometric shear deformation theory. The proposed theory takes into consideration shear deformation and thickness stretching by a trigonometric variation of in-plane and transverse displacements through the plate thickness and assures the vanished shear stresses conditions on the upper and lower surfaces of the plate. The strong point of the new formulation is that the displacements field contains only 4 unknowns, which is less than the other shear deformation theories. In addition, the present model considers the thickness extension effects (ε_z≠0). The presence of the Winkler-Pasternak elastic base is included in the mathematical formulation. The Hamilton's principle is utilized in order to derive the four differentials' equations of motion, which are solved via Navier's technique of simply supported structures. The accuracy of the present 3-D theory is demonstrated by comparing fundamental frequencies and critical buckling loads numerical results with those provided using other models available in the open literature.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.839-856
• /
• 2023

This work presents a simple four-unknown refined integral plate theory for mechanical and thermal buckling behaviors of functionally graded (FG) plates resting on Visco-Pasternak foundations. The proposed refined high order shear deformation theory has a new displacement field which includes indeterminate integral variables and contains only four unknowns in which any shear correction factor not used, with even less than the conventional theory of first shear strain (FSDT). Governing equations are deduced from the principle of minimum total potential energy and a Navier type analytical solution is adopted for simply supported FG plates. The Visco-Pasternak foundations is considered by adding the impact of damping to the usual foundation model which characterized by the linear Winkler's modulus and Pasternak's foundation modulus. The accuracy of the present model is demonstrated by comparing the computed results with those available in the literature. Some numerical results are presented to show the impact of material index, elastic foundation type, and damping coefficient of the foundation, on the mechanical and thermal buckling behaviors of FG plates.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.255-264
• /
• 2009

This paper concerns the behavior of 2-Arch tunnel constructed under various conditions. A 2-Arch tunnel section adopted in a subway tunnel construction site is considered in this study. A calibrated 3D finite element model was adopted to conduct parametric studies on a variety of construction scenarios including lagged distance between left and right tunnels, overburden, and geological condition. The results of analyses were examined in terms of crown settlement, shotcrete lining stress, and load on center column in relation to the lagged distance, cover depth, and the ground condition. The results indicate that the shotcrete lining stress and the center pillar load are more influenced by the second tunnel excavation than the tunnel deformation. Also shown is that a greater lagged distance is required to minimize the interaction between two tunnels when the ground condition becomes weaker. Fundamental mechanisms of 2-arch tunnel were also discussed based on the results.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.75-85
• /
• 2023

This work utilizes simplified higher-order shear deformation beam theory (HSDBT) to investigate the vibration response for functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (CNTRC) beam. Novel to this work, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are distributed and aligned in a matrix of polymer throughout the beam, resting on a viscoelastic foundation. Four un-similar patterns of reinforcement distribution functions are investigated for the CNTRC beam. Porosity is another consideration taken into account due to its significant effect on functionally graded materials (FGMs) properties. Three types of uneven porosity distributions are studied in this study. The damping coefficient and Winkler's and Pasternak's parameters are considered in investigating the viscosity effect on the foundation. Moreover, the impact of different parameters on the vibration of the CNTRC beam supported by a viscoelastic foundation is discussed. A comparison to other works is made to validate numerical results in addition to analytical discussions. The findings indicate that incorporating a damping coefficient can improve the vibration performance, especially when the spring constant factors are raised. Additionally, it has been noted that the fundamental frequency of a beam increases as the porosity coefficient increases, indicating that porosity may have a significant impact on the vibrational characteristics of beams.

• Advances in concrete construction
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.153-167
• /
• 2022

The interaction between blast load and structures, as well as the interaction among structural members may well affect the structural response and damages. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse more realistic reinforced concrete structures in order to gain an extensive knowledge on the possible structural response under blast load effect. Among all the civilian structures, columns are considered to be the most vulnerable to terrorist threat and hence detailed investigation in the dynamic response of these structures is essential. Therefore, current research examines the effect of blast loads on the reinforced concrete columns via development of Pressure- Impulse (P-I) diagrams. In the finite element analysis, the level of damage on each of the aforementioned RC column will be assessed and the response of the RC columns when subjected to explosive loads will also be identified. Numerical models carried out using LS-DYNA were compared with experimental results. It was shown that the model yields a reliable prediction of damage on all RC columns. Validation study is conducted based on the experimental test to investigate the accuracy of finite element models to represent the behaviour of the models. The blast load application in the current research is determined based on the Lagrangian approach. To develop the designated P-I curves, damage assessment criteria are used based on the residual capacity of column. Intensive investigations are implemented to assess the effect of column dimension, concrete and steel properties and reinforcement ratio on the P-I diagram of RC columns. The produced P-I models can be applied by designers to predict the damage of new columns and to assess existing columns subjected to different blast load conditions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.83-100
• /
• 2022

Timber is one of the few natural, renewable building materials and glulam is a type of engineering wood product. In the present work, timber-based braces are applied for retrofitting midrise Special Moment Resisting Frame (SMRF) using two types of timber base braces (Timber base glulam, and hybrid Timber-Steel-BRB) as alternatives for retrofitting by traditional steel bracings. The improving effects of adding the bracings to the SMRF on seismic characteristics of the frame are evaluated using load-bearing capacity, energy dissipation, and story drifts of the frame. For evaluating the retrofitting effects on the seismic performance of SMRF, a five-story SMRF is considered unretofitted and retrofitted with steel-hollow structural section (HSS) brace, Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam) brace, and hybrid Timber-Steel BRB. Using OpenSees structural analyzer, the performance are investigated under pushover, cyclic, and incremental loading. Results showed that steel-HSS, timber base Glulam, and hybrid timber-steel BRB braces have more significant roles in energy dissipation, increasing stiffness, changing capacity curves, reducing inter-story drifts, and reducing the weight of the frames, compared by steel bracing. Results showed that Hybrid BRB counteract the negative post-yield stiffness, so their use is more beneficial on buildings where P-Delta effects are more critical. It is found that the repair costs of the buildings with hybrid BRB will be less due to lower residual drifts. As a result, timber steel-BRB has the best energy dissipation and seismic performance due to symmetrical and stable hysteresis curves of buckling restrained braces that can experience the same capacities in tension and compression.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.721-740
• /
• 2022

In this paper, an accurate kinematic model has been developed to study the mechanical response of functionally graded (FG) sandwich beams, mainly covering the bending, buckling and free vibration problems. The studied structure with homogeneous hardcore and softcore is considered to be simply supported in the edges. The present model uses a new refined shear deformation beam theory (RSDBT) in which the displacement field is improved over the other existing high-order shear deformation beam theories (HSDBTs). The present model provides good accuracy and considers a nonlinear transverse shear deformation shape function, since it is constructed with only two unknown variables as the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory but complies with the shear stress-free boundary conditions on the upper and lower surfaces of the beam without employing shear correction factors. The sandwich beams are composed of two FG skins and a homogeneous core wherein the material properties of the skins are assumed to vary gradually and continuously in the thickness direction according to the power-law distribution of volume fraction of the constituents. The governing equations are drawn by implementing Hamilton's principle and solved by means of the Navier's technique. Numerical computations in the non-dimensional terms of transverse displacement, stresses, critical buckling load and natural frequencies obtained by using the proposed model are compared with those predicted by other beam theories to confirm the performance of the proposed theory and to verify the accuracy of the kinematic model.