• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.321-337
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• 2015

Existing building structures can easily present material mechanical properties which can largely vary even within a single structure. The current European Technical Code, Eurocode 8, does not provide specific instructions to account for high variability in mechanical properties. As a consequence of the high strength variability, at the occurrence of seismic events, the structure may evidence unexpected phenomena, like torsional effects, with larger experienced deformations and, in turn, with reduced seismic performance. This work is focused on the reduction in seismic performance due to the concrete strength variability. The analysis has been performed on a case-study, i.e., a 3D RC framed 4 storey building. A Normal distribution, compatible to a large available database, has been taken to represent the concrete strength domain. Different plan layouts, representative of realistic strength distributions, have been considered, and a statistical analysis has been performed on the induced reduction in seismic performance. The obtained results have been compared to the standard analysis as provided by Eurocode 8 for existing buildings. The comparison has shown that the Eurocode 8 provisions are not conservative for existing buildings having a large variability in concrete strength.

• 한국지진공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국지진공학회 1998년도 추계 학술발표회 논문집 Proceedings of EESK Conference-Spring 1998
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• pp.44-53
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• 1998

The objective of this paper is to review the current state of practice in the seismic codes in the U.S.A. and to investigate its trend in the development of performance-based seismic design for the 21st century. This study is supposed to be eventually utilized as a basis material to establish the new seismic code appropriate in our country having the moderate seismic hazard. To do this, the history of the seismic codes in U.S.A. is first briefly investigated and then the critical review on the recent codes is made. Finally, the conceptual framework of the performance-based seismic design and the development of the guideline documents to implement this to the rehabilitation of existing building structures are introduced.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.13-27
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• 2021

A new seismic design methodology has been developed for precast concrete diaphragms. Seismic design factors were used to be applied on top of diaphragm seismic design forces in the current code. These factors, established through extensive parametric studies, align diaphragm design strengths with different seismic performance targets. A simplified evaluation structure with a single-bay plan was used in the parametric studies. This simplified evaluation structure is reasonable and cost-effective as it can comprehensively cover structural geometries and design parameters. However, further verification and investigation are required to apply these design factors to prototype structures with realistic layouts. This paper presents diaphragm design of several precast concrete office buildings using the new design methodology. The applicability of the design factor to the office building was evaluated and verified through nonlinear time history analyses. The seismic behavior and performance of the diaphragm were investigated for the precast concrete office buildings. It was found that the design factor established for the new design methodology is applicable to the realistic precast concrete office buildings.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.83-94
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• 2022

In recent years, some studies have identified and quantified factors that can increase or decrease the seismic vulnerability of buildings. These modifier factors, related to the building characteristics and condition, are taken into account in the vulnerability assessment, by means of a numerical estimation resulting from the quantification of these modifiers through vulnerability indexes. However, views have differed on the definition and the quantification of modifiers. In this study, modifier parameters and scores of the Risk-UE Level 1 method are adjusted based on the Algerian seismic code recommendations and the reviews proposed in the literature. The adjusted modifiers and scores are applied to reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in Boumerdes city, in order to assess probable seismic damage. Comparison between estimated damage and observed damage caused by the 2003 Boumerdes earthquake is done, with the objective to (i) validate the model involving influence of the modifier parameters on the seismic vulnerability, and (ii) to define the relationship between modifiers and damage. This research may help planners in improving seismic regulations and reducing vulnerability of existing buildings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제83권6호
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• pp.811-824
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• 2022

Despite its disadvantages, soft story can reduce the damage to the upper floors by concentrating drift in that specific story provided that large drifts are avoided. Gapped-Inclined Brace (GIB) with reduced P-delta effects and the control of soft story stiffness makes it possible to take advantage of the soft story in buildings and increase their capacity for energy dissipation. OpenSees software is used in this study to validate and modify the GIB model's shortcomings. Also, the analysis method for this element is changed for design. The modified element is evaluated in 3D analysis. Finally, to retrofit an existing building, this element is used. Based on the Iranian seismic code, a six-story reinforced concrete building is modelled and studied with 3D analysis. In this building, the construction shortcomings and elimination of infills on the ground floor cause the formation of a soft story. Results of nonlinear static analysis, nonlinear dynamic, and incremental dynamic analysis using both components of seismic acceleration applied to the structure at different angles and the fragility curves indicate the improvement of the retrofitted structure's performance using the modified element to reach the required performance level following the retrofit code.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.565-581
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• 2018

This paper proposes a new analytical formulation for computing the seismic input at various levels of a structure in terms of floor response spectra. The approach, which neglects the dynamic interaction between primary structure and secondary element, is particularly useful for the seismic assessment of secondary and non-structural elements. The proposed formulation has a robust theoretical basis and it is based on few meaningful dynamic parameters of the main building. The method has been validated in the linear and nonlinear behavior of the main building through results coming from both experimental tests (available in literature) and parametric numerical analyses. The conditions, for which the Floor Spectrum Approach and its simplified assumptions are valid, have been derived in terms of specific interval ratios between the mass of the secondary element and the participant mass of the main structure. Finally, a practice-oriented formulation has been derived, which could be easily implementable also at code level.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.351-364
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• 2017

In this study effects of various parameters like a number of bays, the stiffness of the structure along with the height of the structure was examined. The fundamental period of vibration T of the building is an important parameter for evaluation of seismic base shear. Empirical equations which are given in the Indian seismic code for the calculation of the fundamental period of a framed structure, primarily as a function of height, and do not consider the effect of number of bays and stiffness of the structure. Building periods predicted by these expressions are widely used in practice, although it has been observed that there is scope for further improvement in these equations since the height alone is inadequate to explain the period variability. The aim of this study is to find the effects of a number of bays in both the directions, the stiffness of the structure and propose a new period equation which incorporates a number of bays, plan area, stiffness along with the height of the structure.

• 한국전산구조공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전산구조공학회 2003년도 가을 학술발표회 논문집
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• pp.479-486
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• 2003

The characteristics of harmonic phase angles and phase angle differences contained in earthquake ground motions such as El Centre 1940 NS, Taft1 1952 NS, Hachinohe 1968 NS and Mexico 1985 are figured, which have been mostly overlooked in contrast with the importance placed on harmonic amplitudes. Recently, performance based design method is used for seismic design and seismic retrofitting, which needs nonlinear response analysis, there must be earthquake ground accelerations which contain the phase angle, the phase angle difference and energy input spectrum characteristics of the zone considered to be constructed building structures. To make clear the importance of phase angle differences, responses of 4 recorded earthquake ground motions, 4-earthquake ground motions normalized by 110 gal and 4 artificial earthquake motions compatible to the seismic building code of Korea are compared.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제90권1호
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• pp.51-70
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• 2024

Poorly designed reinforced concrete (RC) columns of actual moment-resisting frame (MRF) buildings can undergo Axial Compression Ratios (ACR) so high as their demand exceeds their capacity, even for serviceability gravity load combinations, this lack commonly leads to insufficient seismic strength. Nonetheless, many seismic design codes do not specify limits for ACR. The main contribution of this research is to investigate the need to limit the ACR in seismic design. For this purpose, three prototype 6 and 11-story RC MRF buildings are analyzed in this paper, these buildings have columns undergoing excessive ACR, according to the limits prescribed by standards. To better that situation, three types of alterations are performed: retrofitting the abovementioned overloaded columns by steel jacketing, increasing the concrete strength, and reducing the number of stories. Several finite element analyses are conducted using the well-known software SAP2000 and the results are used for further calculations. Code-type and pushover analyses are performed on the original and retrofitted buildings, the suitability of the other modified buildings is checked by code-type analyses only. The obtained results suggest that ACR is a rather reliable indicator of the final building strength, hence, apparently, limiting the ACR in the standards (for early stages of design) might avoid unnecessary verifications.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.371-386
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• 2016

During the last decades, many destructive earthquakes occurred in Algeria, particularly in the northern part of the country (Chlef (1980), Constantine (1985), Tipaza (1989), Mascara (1994), Ain-Benian (1996), Ain Temouchent (1999), Beni Ourtilane (2000), and recently $Boumerd{\acute{e}}s$ (2003), causing enormous losses in human lives, buildings and equipments. In order to reduce this risk and avoid serious damages to the strategic existing buildings, the authorities of the country, aware of this risk and in order to have the necessary elements that let them to know and estimate the potential losses in advance, with an acceptable error, and to take the necessary countermeasures, decided to invest into seismic upgrade, strengthening and retrofitting of those buildings. To do so, seismic vulnerability study of this category of buildings has been considered. Structural analysis is performed based on the site investigation (inspection of the building, collecting data, materials characteristics, general conditions of the building, etc.), and existing drawings (architectural plans, structural design, etc.). The aim of these seismic vulnerability studies is to develop guidelines and a methodology for rehabilitation of existing buildings. This paper presents the methodology, based on non linear and seismic analysis of existing buildings, followed in this study and summarizes the vulnerability assessment and strengthening of one of the strategic buildings according to the new Algerian code RPA 99/version 2003. As a direct application of this methodology, both, static equivalent method and non linear dynamic analysis, of composite concrete masonry existing building in the city of "CONSTANTINE", located in the east side of ALGERIA, are presented in this paper.