• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.41-62
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• 2013

A comprehensive experimental program of cyclic tests on 1:3-scale models of bridge piers is going to be carried out at the Laboratory of Structures and Materials of the University of Basilicata. The testing models include eight RC single shaft piers with hollow circular cross section. Four piers have been realised using corroded steel rebars. In this paper, the results of preliminary numerical simulation analyses of the cyclic behaviour of the piers, carried out with Opensees using fiber-based models, are presented. Pull-out and lap-splice effects of steel rebars have been taken into account in the numerical analyses. First, the experimental specimens and the test set up are presented. Next, the results of the numerical analyses are discussed. In the numerical analyses, different configurations and levels of corrosion have been considered. The effective stiffness and equivalent damping of the piers is reported as a function of pier ductility and pier drift.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.151-171
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• 2013

The current paper presents the numerical blind prediction of nonlinear seismic response of two full-scale, three dimensional, one-story reinforced concrete structures subjected to bidirectional earthquake simulations on shaking table. Simulations were carried out at the laboratories of LNEC (Laboratorio Nacional de Engenharia Civil) in Lisbon, Portugal. The study was motivated by participation in the blind prediction contest of shaking table tests, organized by the challenge committee of the 15th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering. The test specimens, geometrically identical, designed for low and high ductility levels, were subjected to subsequent earthquake motions of increasing intensity. Three dimensional nonlinear analytical models were implemented and subjected to the input base motions. Reasonably accurate reproduction of the measured displacement response was obtained through appropriate modeling. The goodness of fit between analytical and measured results depended on the details of the analytical models.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.259-269
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• 2019

The work aims at the comparison among commonly used research programs concerning moment-curvature ($M-{\chi}$) diagrams of confined R.C. members. The software considered in this work are Sap2000, SeismoStruct and Opensees. The curves provided by these software, given the same modelling, have been compared to those provided by a theoretical fiber model. A parametric analysis has been led on rectangular column sections with different level of axial load and different stirrups spacing. The accuracy of the modelling of the considered structural programs has been investigated by comparing their results with those obtained by applying the theoretical fiber model.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.353-365
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• 2023

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have emerged as a novel functional material that is being increasingly applied in diverse fields including medical, aeronautical and structural engineering to be used in the active, passive and semi-active structural control devices. This paper is mainly aimed at evaluating the ductility and response modification factor of the steel plate shear wall (SPSW) frames with and without the Ni-Ti shape memory alloys. To this end, different configurations were utilized, in which the walls were used in the first, third, middle, and all stories. The models were numerically analyzed using OpenSees Software. The obtained results indicate that improving the shape memory properties of alloys can greatly enhance the ductility and response modification factor. Furthermore, the model whose first and third stories are equipped with the SMA shear wall was found to be 290% more ductile, with a greater response modification factor compared to the unequipped frame.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.337-345
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• 2024

This research proposed a particle swarm optimization (PSO) based seismic retrofit design of moment frame structures using a steel frame assembly. Two full scale specimens of the steel frame assembly with different corner details were attached to one-story RC frames for seismic retrofit, and the lateral load resisting capacities of the retrofitted frames subjected to cyclic loads were compared with those of a bare RC frame. The open source software framework Opensees was used to develop an analytical model for validating the experimental results. The developed analytical model and the optimization scheme were applied to a case study structure for economic seismic retrofit design, and its seismic performance was assessed before and after the retrofit. The results show that the developed steel frame assembly was effective in increasing seismic load resisting capability of the structure, and the PSO algorithm could be applied as convenient optimization tool for seismic retrofit design of structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.127-138
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• 2024

In this paper, structural behavior under fire conditions is comprehensively examined, and a novel software interface for testing interfaces efficiently is developed and validated. In order to accurately assess the response of structures to fire scenarios, advanced simulation techniques and modeling approaches are incorporated into the study. This interface enables accurate heat transfer analysis and thermo-mechanical simulations by integrating software tools such as CSI ETABS, CSI SAP2000, and OpenSees. Heat transfer models can be automatically generated, simulation outputs processed, and structural responses interpreted under a variety of fire scenarios using the proposed technique. As a result of rigorous testing and validation against established methods, including Cardington tests on scales and hybrid simulation approaches, the software interface has been proven to be effective and accurate. The analysis process is streamlined by this interface, providing engineers and researchers with a robust tool for assessing structural performance under fire conditions.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.113-119
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• 2018

The probabilistic seismic safety assessment is one of the methodology to evaluate the seismic safety of the nuclear power plants. The site characteristics of the nuclear power plant should be reflected when evaluating the seismic safety of the nuclear power plant. The Korea seismic characteristics are strong in high frequency region and may be different from NRC Regulatory Guide 1.60, which is the design spectrum of nuclear power plants. In this study, seismic response of a nuclear power plant structure by Pohang earthquake (2017.11.15. (KST)) is investigated. The Pohang earthquake measured at the Cheongsong seismic observation station (CHS) is scaled to the peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.2 g and the seismic acceleration time history curve corresponding to the design spectrum is created. A nuclear power plant of the containment building and the auxiliary buildings are modeled using OPENSEES to analyze the seismic response of the Pohang earthquake. The seismic behavior of the nuclear power plant due to the Pohang earthquake is investigated. And the seismic performances of the equipment of a nuclear power plant are evaluated by the HCLPF. As a result, the seismic safety evaluation of nuclear power plants should be evaluated based on site-specific characteristics of nuclear power plants.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.173-186
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• 2017

Conceptual configuration and seismic performance of high-rise steel frame-brace structure are studied. First, the topology optimization problem of minimum volume based on truss-like material model under earthquake action is presented, which is solved by full-stress method. Further, conceptual configurations of 20-storey and 40-storey steel frame-brace structure are formed. Next, the 40-storeystructure model is developed in Opensees. Two common configurations are utilized for comparison. Last, seismic performance of 40-storey structure is derived using nonlinear static analysis and nonlinear dynamic analysis. Results indicate that structural lateral stiffness and maximum roof displacement can be improved using brace. Meanwhile seismic damage can also be decreased. Moreover, frame-brace structure using topology optimization is most favorable to enhance lateral stiffness and mitigate seismic damage. Thus, topology optimization is an available way to form initial conceptual configuration in high-rise steel frame-brace structure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.495-505
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• 2009

Bridges form crucial links in the transportation network especially in high seismic risk regions. This research aims to provide a quantitative methodology for post-earthquake performance evaluation of the bridges. The experimental portion of the research involved shake table tests of a 4-span bridge which was subjected to progressively increasing amplitudes of seismic motions recorded from the Northridge earthquake. As part of this project, a high resolution long gauge fiber optic displacement sensor was developed for post-seismic evaluation of damage in the columns of the bridge. The nonlinear finite element model was developed using Opensees program to simulate the response of the bridge and the abutments to the seismic loads. The model was modified to predict the bent displacements of the bridge commensurate with the measured bent displacements obtained from experimental analysis results. Following seismic events, the tangential stiffness matrix of the whole structure is reduced due to reduction in structural strength. The nonlinear static push over analysis using current damaged stiffness matrix provides the longitudinal and transverse ultimate capacities of the bridge. Capacity loss in the transverse and longitudinal directions following the seismic events was correlated to the maximum displacements of the deck recorded during the events.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1369-1388
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• 2016

This study is an effort to clearly recognize the seismic damages occurred in strap-braced cold formed steel frames. In order to serve this purpose, a detailed investigation was conducted on 9 full scale strap-braced CFS walls and the required data were derived from the results of the experiments. As a consequence, quantitative and qualitative damage indices have been proposed in three seismic performance levels. Moreover, in order to assess seismic performance of the strap-braced CFS frames, a total of 8 models categorized into three types are utilized. Based on the experimental results, structural characteristics are calculated and all frames have been modeled as single degree of freedom systems. Incremental dynamic analysis using OPENSEES software is utilized to calculate seismic demand of the strap-braced CFS walls. Finally, fragility curves are calculated based on three damage limit states proposed by this paper. The results showed that the use of cladding and other elements, which contribute positively to the lateral stiffness and strength, increase the efficiency of strap-braced CFS walls in seismic events.