• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.299-314
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• 2013

This paper presents a nonlinear time series analysis technique for evaluating machine defect severity, based on the Recurrence Plot (RP) entropy. The RP entropy is calculated from the probability distribution of the diagonal line length in the recurrence plot, which graphically depicts a system's dynamics and provides a global picture of the autocorrelation in a time series over all available time-scales. Results of experimental studies conducted on a spindle-bearing test bed have demonstrated that, as the working condition of the bearing deteriorates due to the initiation and/or progression of structural damages, the frequency information contained in the vibration signal becomes increasingly complex, leading to the increase of the RP entropy. As a result, RP entropy can serve as an effective indicator for defect severity assessment of rolling bearings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.403-416
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• 2013

This paper describes new optimization strategy that offers significant improvements in performance over existing methods for geometry design of frame structures. In this study, an imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) and ant colony optimization (ACO) are combined to reach to an efficient algorithm, called Imperialist Competitive Ant Colony Optimization (ICACO). The ICACO applies the ICA for global optimization and the ACO for local search. The results of optimal geometry for three benchmark examples of frame structures, demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the new method presented in this work. The results indicate that the new technique has a powerful search strategies due to the modifications made in search module of ICACO. Higher rate of convergence is the superiority of the presented algorithm in comparison with the conventional mathematical methods and non hybrid heuristic methods such as ICA and particle swarm optimization (PSO).

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.119-135
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• 1993

The paper presents a generalized optimal active control algorithm for earthquake-resistant structures. The study included the weighting matrix configuration, stability, and time-delays for achieving control effectiveness and optimum solution. The sensitivity of various time-delays in the optimal solution is investigated for which the stability regions are determined. A simplified method for reducing the influence of time-delay on dynamic response is proposed. Numerical examples illustrate that the proposed optimal control algorithm is advantageous over others currently in vogue. Its feedback control law is independent of the time increment, and its weighting matrix can be flexibly selected and adjusted at any time during the operation of the control system. The examples also show that the weighting matrix based on pole placement approach is superior to other weighting matrix configurations for its self-adjustable control effectiveness. Using the time-delay correction method can significantly reduce the influence of time-delays on both structural response and required control force.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제12권6호
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• pp.641-659
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• 2013

In this paper is studied the influence of the uncertain mass distribution over the floors on the choice of the optimal parameters of a hybrid control system for tall buildings subjected to wind load. In particular, an optimization procedure is developed for the robust design of a hybrid control system that is based on an enhanced Monte Carlo simulation technique and the genetic algorithm. The large computational effort inherent in the use of a MC-based procedure is reduced by the employment of the Latin Hypercube Sampling. With reference to a tall building modeled as a multi degrees of freedom system, several numerical analyses are carried out varying the parameters influencing the floors' masses, like the coefficient of variation of the distribution and the correlation between the floors' masses. The procedure allows to obtain optimal designs of the control system that are robust with respect to the uncertainties on the distribution of the dead and live loads.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제67권6호
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• pp.603-616
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• 2018

In this study, the acceleration vector in each time step is assumed to be a mth order time polynomial. By using the initial conditions, satisfying the equation of motion at both ends of the time step and minimizing the square of the residual vector, the m+3 unknown coefficients are determined. The order of accuracy for this approach is m+1, and it has a very low dispersion error. Moreover, the period error of the new technique is almost zero, and it is considerably smaller than the members of the Newmark method. The proposed scheme has an appropriate domain of stability, which is greater than that of the central difference and linear acceleration techniques. The numerical tests highlight the improved performance of the new algorithm over the fourth-order Runge-Kutta, central difference, linear and average acceleration methods.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.321-331
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• 2010

A new technique is proposed for bridge structural damage detection based on spatial wavelet analysis of the time history obtained from vehicle body moving over the bridge, which is different from traditional detection techniques based on the bridge response. A simply-supported Bernoulli-Euler beam subjected to a moving spring-mass unit is established, with the crack in the beam simulated by modeling the cracked section as a rotational spring connecting two undamaged beam segments, and the equations of motion for the system is derived. By using the transfer matrix method, the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the cracked beam are determined. The responses of the beam and the moving spring-mass unit are obtained by modal decomposition theory. The continuous wavelet transform is calculated on the displacement time histories of the sprung-mass. The case study result shows that the damage location can be accurately determined and the method is effective.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.169-180
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• 2000

An optimization procedure has been prescribed for the minimum weight design of symmetrical parabolic arches subjected to arbitrary loading. The cross section is assumed to be a symmetrical box section with variable depth and flange areas. The webs are unstiffened and have constant thickness. The proposed sequential, iterative search technique determines the optimum geometrical configuration of the parabolic arch which includes the optimum depth profile and the optimum lengths and areas of the required flange plates corresponding to the prescribed number of curtailments. The study shows that the optimum value of rise to span ratio (h/L) of a parabolic arch is maximum at 0.41 for uniformly distributed loading over the entire span. For any other loading, the optimum value of h/L is less than 0.41.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.263-276
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• 2009

This paper is intended to investigate interaction response of a train running over a suspension bridge undergoing support settlements. The suspension bridge is modeled as a single-span suspended beam with hinged ends and the train as successive moving oscillators with identical properties. To conduct this dynamic problem with non-homogeneous boundary conditions, this study first divides the total response of the suspended beam into two parts: the static and dynamic responses. Then, the coupled equations of motion for the suspended beam carrying multiple moving oscillators are transformed into a set of nonlinearly coupled generalized equations by Galerkin's method, and solved using the Newmark method with an incremental-iterative procedure including the three phases: predictor, corrector, and equilibrium-checking. Numerical investigations demonstrate that the present iterative technique is available in dealing with the dynamic interaction problem of vehicle/bridge coupling system and that the differential movements of bridge supports will significantly affect the dynamic response of the running vehicles but insignificant influence on the bridge response.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제7권6호
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• pp.1025-1044
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• 2014

In this paper, a systematic technique is proposed for the optimal placement and design of nonlinear dampers for building structures. The concept of Output Frequency Response Function (OFRF) is applied to analytically represent the output frequency response of a building frame where nonlinear viscous dampers are fitted for suppression of vibration during earthquakes. An effective algorithm is derived using the analytical representation to optimally determine the locations and parameters of the nonlinear dampers. Various numerical examples are provided to verify the effectiveness of the optimal designs. A comparison of the vibration suppression performance with that of the frame structure under a random or uniform damping allocation is also made to demonstrate the advantages of the new designs over traditional solutions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.37-49
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• 2020

In this paper, free vibration finite element analysis of axially moving laminated composite beams subjected to axial tension is studied. It is assumed that the beam has a constant axial velocity and is subject to uniform axial tension. The analysis is based on higher-order theories that have been presented by Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF). In the CUF technique, the three dimensional (3D) displacement fields are expressed as the approximation of the arbitrary order of the displacement unknowns over the cross-section. This higher-order expansion is considered in equivalent single layer (ESL) model. The governing equations of motion are obtained via Hamilton's principle. Finally, several numerical examples are presented and the effect of the ply-angle, travelling speed and axial tension on the natural frequencies and beam stability are demonstrated.