• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제77권1호
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• pp.47-56
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• 2021

This paper deals with damage detection using a Gapped Smoothing Method (GSM) combined with deep learning. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is a model of deep learning. CNN has an input layer, an output layer, and a number of hidden layers that consist of convolutional layers. The input layer is a tensor with shape (number of images) × (image width) × (image height) × (image depth). An activation function is applied each time to this tensor passing through a hidden layer and the last layer is the fully connected layer. After the fully connected layer, the output layer, which is the final layer, is predicted by CNN. In this paper, a complete machine learning system is introduced. The training data was taken from a Finite Element (FE) model. The input images are the contour plots of curvature gapped smooth damage index. A free-free beam is used as a case study. In the first step, the FE model of the beam was used to generate data. The collected data were then divided into two parts, i.e. 70% for training and 30% for validation. In the second step, the proposed CNN was trained using training data and then validated using available data. Furthermore, a vibration experiment on steel damaged beam in free-free support condition was carried out in the laboratory to test the method. A total number of 15 accelerometers were set up to measure the mode shapes and calculate the curvature gapped smooth of the damaged beam. Two scenarios were introduced with different severities of the damage. The results showed that the trained CNN was successful in detecting the location as well as the severity of the damage in the experimental damaged beam.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제77권1호
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• pp.115-135
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• 2021

This paper focuses on examining the effects of span arrangements on displacement responses of plan-symmetric RC frame buildings designed using the direct displacement-based design (DDBD) method by employing non-linear analyses and the skew seismic attack. In order to show the desired performance of DDBD design approach, the force-based design approach is also used to examine the seismic performance of the selected structures. To realize this objective, 8-story buildings with different plans are selected. In addition, the dynamic behavior of the structures is evaluated by selecting 3, 7, and 12-story buildings. In order to perform non-linear analyses, OpenSees software is used for modeling buildings. Results of an experimental model are used to validate the analytical model implemented in OpenSees. The results of non-linear static and non-linear dynamic analyses indicate that changing span arrangements does not affect estimating the responses of structures designed using the DDBD approach, and the results are more or less the same. Next, in order to apply the earthquake in non-principle directions, DDBD structures, designed for one-way performance, are designed again for two-way performance. Time history analyses are performed under a set of artificial acceleration pairs, applied to structures at different angles. It is found that the mean maximum responses of earthquakes at all angles have very good agreement with the design-acceptable limits, while the response of buildings along the height direction has a relatively acceptable and uniform distribution. Meanwhile, changes in the span arrangements did not have a significant effect on displacement responses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제77권3호
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• pp.343-354
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• 2021

The frequencies formulas of the bridge are of great importance in the design process since these formulas provide insight dynamic characteristics of the structure, which guides the designers to parametric analyses and the layout of the bridge in conceptual or preliminary design. Continuous rigid frame bridge is popular in the mountainous area. Mostly, this type of bridge was simplified either as a girder or cantilever when calculating the frequency, however, studies showed that the different configuration of the bridge made the problem more complex, and there is no unified fundamental calculation pattern for this kind of bridge. In this study, an empirical frequency equation is proposed as a function of pier's height, stiffness of pier and the weight of the structure. A unified fundamental frequency formula is presented based on the energy principle, then the typical continuous rigid frame bridge is investigated by finite element method (FEM) to study the dynamic characteristics of the structure, and then several key parameters are investigated on the effect of structural frequency. These parameters include the number, position and stiffness of the tie beam. Nonlinear regression analyses are conducted with a comprehensive statistical study from plenty of engineering structures. Finally, the proposed frequency equation is validated by field test results. The results show that the fundamental frequency of the continuous rigid frame bridge increases more than 15% when the tie beams are set, and it increases with the stiffness ratio of tie beam to pier. The results also show that the presented unified fundamental frequency has an error of 4.6% compared with the measured results. The investigation can predicate the approximate longitudinal fundamental frequency of continuous ridged frame bridge, which can provide reference for the seismic response and dynamic impact factor design of the pier.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제83권3호
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• pp.327-340
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• 2022

The Collapse Margin Ratio (CMR) is a notable index used for seismic assessment of the structures. As proposed by FEMA P695, a set of analyses including the Nonlinear Static Analysis (NSA), Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA), together with Fragility Analysis, which are typically time-taking and computationally unaffordable, need to be conducted, so that the CMR could be obtained. To address this issue and to achieve a quick and efficient method to estimate the CMR, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Response Surface Method (RSM), and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) will be introduced in the current research. Accordingly, using the NSA results, an attempt was made to find a fast and efficient approach to derive the CMR. To this end, 5016 IDA analyses based on FEMA P695 methodology on 114 various Reinforced Concrete (RC) frames with 1 to 12 stories have been carried out. In this respect, five parameters have been used as the independent and desired inputs of the systems. On the other hand, the CMR is regarded as the output of the systems. Accordingly, a double hidden layer neural network with Levenberg-Marquardt training and learning algorithm was taken into account. Moreover, in the RSM approach, the quadratic system incorporating 20 parameters was implemented. Correspondingly, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) has been employed to discuss the results taken from the developed model. Additionally, the essential parameters and interactions are extracted, and input parameters are sorted according to their importance. Moreover, the ANFIS using Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy system was employed. Finally, all methods were compared, and the effective parameters and associated relationships were extracted. In contrast to the other approaches, the ANFIS provided the best efficiency and high accuracy with the minimum desired errors. Comparatively, it was obtained that the ANN method is more effective than the RSM and has a higher regression coefficient and lower statistical errors.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제81권3호
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• pp.281-292
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• 2022

This study aimed to analyze the dynamic punching shear performance of slab-column joints under cyclic loads with the use of double-hooked end (5D) steel fibers. Structural systems such as slab-column joints are widely found in infrastructures. The susceptibility to collapse of such structures when submitted to seismic loads is highly dependent on the structural performance of the slab-column connections. For this reason, the punching capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) structures has been the subject of a great number of studies. Steel fibers are used to achieve a certain degree of ductility under seismic loads. In this context, 5D steel hooked fibers provide high levels of fiber anchoring, tensile strength and ductility. However, only limited research has been carried out on the performance under cyclic loads of concrete structural members containing steel fibers. This study covers this gap with experimental testing of five different full-scale subassemblies of RC slab-column joints: one without punching reinforcement, one with conventional punching reinforcement and three with 5D steel fibers. The subassemblies were tested under cyclic loading, which consisted of applying increasing lateral displacement cycles, such as in seismic situations, with a constant axial load on the column. This set of cycles was repeated for increasing axial loads on the column until failure. The results showed that 5D steel fiber subassemblies: i) had a greater capacity to dissipate energy, ii) improved punching shear strength and stiffness degradation under cyclic loads; and iii) increased cyclic loading capacity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제80권6호
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• pp.749-765
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• 2021

Suspension bridges bear large eccentric live loads in rush hours when most vehicles travel in one direction on the left or right side of the bridge. With the increasing number and weight of vehicles and the girder widening, the eccentric live load effect on the bridge behavior, including bending and distortion of the main girder, gets more pronounced, even jeopardizing bridge safety. This study proposes an analytical algorithm based on multi-catenary theory for predicting the suspension bridge responses to eccentric live load via the nonlinear generalized reduced gradient method. A set of governing equations is derived to solve the following unknown values: the girder rigid-body displacement in the longitudinal direction; the horizontal projection lengths of main cable's segments; the parameters of catenary equations and horizontal forces of the side span cable segments and the leftmost segments of middle span cables; the suspender tensions and the bearing reactions. Then girder's responses, including rigid-body displacement in the longitudinal direction, deflections, and torsion angles; suspenders' responses, including the suspender tensions and the hanging point displacements; main cables' responses, including the horizontal forces of each segment; and the longitudinal displacement of the pylons' tower top under eccentric load can be calculated. The response of an exemplar suspension bridge with three spans of 168, 548, and 168 m is calculated by the proposed analytical method and the finite element method in two eccentric live load cases, and their results prove the former's feasibility. The nonuniform distribution of the live load in the lateral direction is shown to impose a greater threat to suspension bridge safety than that in the longitudinal direction, while some other specific features revealed by the proposed method are discussed in detail.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제80권6호
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• pp.701-709
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• 2021

The paper aims at improving the understanding and mitigating the effects of tunnel fires that may breakout due to the burning fuel and/or explosion within the tunnel. This study particularly focuses on the behavior of the commonly used horse shoe geometry of tunnel systems. The problem has been obtained using an adequate well-established program incorporating the Lagrangian approach. A transient-thermo-coupled static structural analysis is carried out. The effects of radiation and convection to the outer walls of the tunnel is studied. The paper also presents the impact of the hazard on the structural integrity of the tunnel. A methodology is proposed to study the tunnel fire using a model which uses equivalent steel sheet to represent the presence of reinforcements to improve the computational efficiency with adequate validation. A parametric study has been carried out and the effect of suitable lining property for mitigating the fire hazard is arrived at. Detailed analysis is done for the threshold limits of the properties of the lining material to check if it is acceptable in all aspects for the integrity of the tunnel. The study may prove useful for developing insights for ensuring tunnel fire safety. To conduct such studies experimentally are tremendously costly but are required to gain confidence. But, scaled models, as well as loading and testing conditions, cannot be studied by many trials experimentally as the cost will shoot up sharply. In this context, the results obtained from such computational studies with a feasible variation of various combinations of parameters may act as a set of guidelines to freeze the adequate combination of various parameters to conduct one or two costly experiments for confidence building.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제82권3호
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• pp.295-312
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• 2022

This study investigates the effects of nano silica (NS) and micro steel fiber on the properties of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC). The experimental consists of three groups, each one with five percentages of NS content (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) in addition to the 20% silica fume and 20% quartz powder proportioned according to the weight of cement added to the mixtures. In addition, three percentages of micro steel fibers (0%, 1% and 2%) were considered. Different mixtures with varying percentages of NS and micro steel fibers were prepared to set the water-to-binder ratio, such as 0.16% and 1.8% superplasticizer proportioned according the weight of the binder materials. The fresh properties, mechanical properties and elevated temperatures of the mixtures were calculated. Then, the results from the microstructure analyses were compared with that of the reference mixtureand it was found that 6% replacement of cement with NS was optimum replacement level. When the NS content was increased from 0% to 6%, the air content and permeability of the mixture decreased by 35% and 39%, the compressive and tensile strength improved by 21% and 18% and the flexural strength and modulus of elasticity increased by 20% and 11.5%, respectively. However, the effect of micro steel fibres on the compressive strength was inconclusive. The overall results indicate that micro steel fibres have the potential to improve the tensile strength, flexure strength and modulus of elasticity of the UHPC. The use of 6% NS together with 1% micro-steel fiber increased the concrete strength and reduce the cost of concrete mix.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제84권5호
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• pp.633-649
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of circle tunnel on the force distribution around underground rectangular gallery was investigated using theoretical approach, experimental test and Particle flow code simulation (PFC). Gypsum model with dimension of 1500×1500 mm was built. Tensile strength of material was 1 MPa. Dimension of central gallery was 100 mm×200 mm and diameter of adjacent tunnel in its right side was 20 mm, 40 mm and 60 mm. Horizontal distance between tunnel wall and gallery edge were 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 mm. using beam theory, the effect of tunnel diameter and distance between tunnel and gallery on the induced force around gallery was analyzed. In the laboratory test, the rate of loading displacement was set to 0.05 millimeter per minute. Also sensitivity analysis has been done. Using PFC2D, interaction between tunnel and gallery was simulated and its results were compared with experimental and theoretical analysis. The results show that the tensile force concentration has maximum value in center of the rectangular space. The tensile force concentration at the right side of the axisymmetric line of gallery has more than its value in the left side of the galleries axisymmetric line. The tensile force concentration was decreased by increasing the distance between tunnel and rectangular space. In whole of the configurations, the angles of micro cracks fluctuated between 75 and 105 degrees, which mean that the variations of tunnel situation have not any influence on the fracture angle.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제85권1호
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• pp.105-118
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• 2023

The present work is an attempt to develop a simple and accurate finite element formulation for the assessment of thermal shock/thermally induced vibrations in pretwisted and tapered functionally graded material thin (FGM) blades obtained from Voigt and local representative volume elements (LRVE) homogenization models, based on neutral surface approach. The neutral surface of the FGM blade does not coincide with its mid-surface. A finite element model (FEM) is developed using first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and the FGM turbine blade is modelled according to the shallow shell theory. The top and the bottom layers of the FGM blade are made of pure ceramic and pure metal, respectively and temperature-dependent material properties are functionally graded in the thickness direction, the position of the neutral surface also depends on the temperature. The material properties are estimated according to two different homogenization models viz., Voigt or LRVE. The top layer of the FGM blade is subjected to high temperature and the bottom surface is either thermally insulated or kept at room temperature. The solution of the nonlinear profile of the temperature in the thickness direction is obtained from the Fourier law of heat conduction in the unsteady state. The results obtained from the present FEM are compared with the benchmark examples. Next, the effect of angle of twist, intensity of thermal shock, variable chord and span and volume fraction index on the transient response due to thermal shock obtained from the two homogenization models viz., Voigt and LRVE scheme is investigated. It is shown that there can be a significant difference in the transient response calculated by the two homogenization models for a particular set of material and geometric parameters.