• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.595-603
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• 2018

Shake table testing has been regarded as one of the most effective experimental approaches to evaluate seismic response of structural systems subjected to earthquakes. However, reproducing a prescribed acceleration time history precisely over the frequency of interest is challenging because shake table test systems are eventually nonlinear by nature. In addition, interaction between the table and specimen could affect the control accuracy of shake table testing significantly. Various novel control algorithms have been proposed to improve the control accuracy of shake table testing; however, reference values for control performance assessment remain rare. In this study, reference values for control performance assessment of shake table testing are specified based on the statistical analyses of 1,209 experimental data provided by the Seismic Simulator Laboratory of National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering in Taiwan. Three individual reference values are considered for the assessment including the root-mean-square error of the achieved acceleration time history; the percentage of the spectral acceleration that exceeds the determined tolerance range over the frequency of interest; and the error-ratio of the achieved peak ground acceleration. Quartiles of the real experimental data in terms of the three objective variables are obtained, providing users with solid and simple references to evaluate the control performance of shake table testing. Finally, a set of experimental data of a newly developed control framework implementation for uni-axial shake tables are used as an application example to demonstrate the significant improvement of control accuracy according to the reference values provided in this study.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.141-161
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• 2014

This article presents a new generation of empirical ground motion models for the prediction of response spectral accelerations in soil conditions, specifically developed for the Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic source. The strong ground motion database from which the ground motion prediction model is derived consists of over 800 horizontal components of acceleration recorded from nine Vrancea intermediate-depth seismic events as well as from other seventeen intermediate-depth earthquakes produced in other seismically active regions in the world. Among the main features of the new ground motion model are the prediction of spectral ordinates values (besides the prediction of the peak ground acceleration), the extension of the magnitudes range applicability, the use of consistent metrics (epicentral distance) for this type of seismic source, the extension of the distance range applicability to 300 km, the partition of total standard deviation in intra- and inter-event standard deviations and the use of a national strong ground motion database more than two times larger than in the previous studies. The results suggest that this model is an improvement of the previous generation of ground motion prediction models and can be properly employed in the analysis of the seismic hazard of Romania.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.51-63
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• 2020

In this study, the model test of a reservoir was performed through a dynamic analysis method by using the data obtained from seismometers. Besides, we analyzed the behavior of the seismic acceleration amplification by reservoir height. To test the model, the data measured by the seismometers were applied at the foundation of the reservoir as input data, and the results from the analysis were compared with the data measured at the dam crest. The analysis results manifest that the peak values and the trend of the seismic wave obtained from the numerical analysis are in good agreement with the measured data. Also, the acceleration amplification ratio was proportional to the reservoir height and the magnitude of the earthquake. Through this study, the dynamic analysis method, which is based on the cyclic elastoplastic constitutive equation, can be considered as an appropriate technique to analyse the seismic behavior by the application of the data obtained from the seismometers installed in the reservoir. Also, the applicability of the seismometers can be enhanced through this technique in the future.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.199-208
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• 2023

Seismic performance analysis is one of the fundamental steps in the design of new or retrofitting buildings. In the seismic performance analysis, the adapted spectral acceleration curve for a given site mainly governs the seismic behavior of buildings. Since every soil site (class) has a different impact on the spectral accelerations of input motions, different spectral acceleration curves have to be involved for every soil class that the building is located on top of. Modern seismic design codes (e.g., Eurocode 8, EC8, or Turkish Building Earthquake Code, TBEC) provide design response spectra for all the soil classes to be used in the building design or retrofitting. This research aims to evaluate the EC8 and TBEC based design response spectra using the spectra of real earthquake input motions that occurred (and were recorded at only soil classes A, B and C, no recording is available at soil class D) in a specific area in Turkey. It also conducts response spectrum analyses of 5, 10 and 13 floor reinforced concrete building models under EC8, TBEC and actual spectral response curves. The results indicate that the EC8 and especially TBEC given design response spectra cannot be able to represent the mean actual spectral acceleration curves at soil classes A, B and C. This is particularly observed at periods higher than 0.3 s, 0.42 s and 0.55 s for the TBEC design response spectra, 0.54 s, 0.65 s and 0.84 s for the EC8 design response spectra at soil classes A, B and C, respectively. This is also reflected to the shear forces of three building models, as actual spectral acceleration curves lead to the highest shear forces, followed by the shear forces obtained from EC8 and, then, the TBEC design response spectra.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.159-169
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• 2020

Acceleration amplification factors, which are variables used in the seismic design of power facilities installed inside substation structures, are presented in the seismic design standards of the United States (US), Japan, and Korea. Unlike the coefficients presented in the design standards of the US and Japan, those presented in domestic design standards can be obtained only by performing dynamic analysis when the substation structure has more than four floors. Because most substation structures in Korea have 4-5 stories, the existing acceleration amplification factor is insufficient to be applied to actual substation structures. To suggest an acceleration amplification factor suitable for domestic substation structure types, the acceleration amplification factor was evaluated for seven representative substation structures. The acceleration amplification factors were evaluated by constructing in-structure response spectra based on a study of far-field and near-fault earthquakes. In general, the acceleration amplification coefficients α_J and α_A according to the US and Japan seismic design criteria tend to be overestimated compared with the acceleration amplification factors obtained through dynamic analysis based on the study of near-fault and far-field earthquakes.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2018

In this study, seismic performance of geotechnical seismic isolation system capable of primary seismic isolation in the ground was evaluated. 1-G shaking table test was used to assess the performance of Teflon or steel slag as geotechnical seismic isolation systems installed beneath superstructure foundation. Response acceleration and response spectra were analyzed considering different input motions. The results were compared with those of fixed foundation structure without seismic isolation system. The steel slag-type seismic isolation system showed significant reduction in acceleration. The teflon-type seismic isolation system did not show significant effects on acceleration reduction in low-to-moderate seismicity condition, but it did show better effects in case of strong seismic condition. As input motion was transferred to the upper mass, the response spectrum of the fixed foundation structure was amplified in the short period range. In contrast, the response spectrum of the structure with seismic isolation using teflon or steel slag amplified in the long period range. It is found that the change of periodicity and the friction characteristics between isolation materials and foundations affected acceleration reduction.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.821-835
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• 2013

The acceleration that the electrical equipment experiences on a structure can be several times the ground acceleration. Currently, substation support structures are being designed according to ASCE (Substation Structure Design Guide 2008), without any consideration about effects of these structures on dynamic behavior of mounted equipment. In this paper, a parametric study is implemented in order to improve seismic design of candlestick substation structures based on this design guide. To do this, dynamic amplification factor (DAF) of different candlestick support-equipment combinations is evaluated and compared to the target DAF presented in IEEE STD 693 (2006). Based on this procedure, a new criterion is developed to restrict maximum acceleration at support-equipment intersection.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.523-540
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• 2015

Based on limit equilibrium principles, this study presents a theoretical derivation of a new analytical formulation for estimating magnitude and lateral earth pressure distribution on a retaining wall subjected to seismic loads. The proposed solution accounts for failure wedge inclination, unit weight and friction angle of backfill soil, wall roughness, and horizontal and vertical seismic ground accelerations. The current analysis predicts a nonlinear lateral earth pressure variation along the wall with and without seismic loads. A parametric study is conducted to examine the influence of various parameters on lateral earth pressure distribution. Findings reveal that lateral earth pressure increases with the increase of horizontal ground acceleration while it decreases with the increase of vertical ground acceleration. Compared to classical theory, the position of resultant lateral earth force is located at a higher distance from wall base which in turn has a direct impact on wall stability and economy. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the computations of lateral earth pressure distribution based on the suggested analytical method.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.67 no.7
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• pp.884-891
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• 2018

In this paper, we propose an automatic earthquake P-wave detection algorithm based on the variations of the impact momentum derived from the seismic acceleration signals. The amount of change in the impact momentum induced by the acceleration refers to the influence of buildings or facilities on the earthquake, The proposed algorithm can effectively detect the seismic P-wave by simultaneously considering the amplitude and the frequency change of the seismic wave when the earthquake occurs. Computer simulations using the observed seismic signals were performed to evaluate the validity of the induced impact momentum variation and the superiority of the proposed algorithm.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.357-372
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• 2008

This study investigates effect of uncertainty in natural vibration period on the seismic demand. It is shown that since this uncertainty affects the acceleration and displacement responses differently, two ratios, one relating peak acceleration responses and the other relating the peak displacement responses, are not equal and both must be employed in evaluating and defining the critical seismic demand. The evaluation of the ratios is carried out using more than 200 strong ground motion records. The results suggest that the uncertainty in the natural vibration period impacts significantly the statistics of the ratios relating the peak responses. By using the statistics of the ratios, a procedure and sets of empirical equations are developed for estimating the probability consistent seismic demand for both linear and nonlinear systems.