• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.361-374
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• 2011

Two types of numerical modeling techniques were considered for the dynamic response of a structure subjected to a ground acceleration. One technique is based on the equation of motion relative to ground motion, and the other is based on the equation of absolute motion of the structure and the ground. The analytic background of the former is well established while the latter has not yet been extensively verified. The latter is called a large mass method, which allocates an appropriate large mass to the ground so that it causes the ground to move according to a given acceleration time history. In this paper, through the use of a single degree-of-freedom spring-mass system, the equations of motion of the two techniques were analyzed and useful theorems are provided on the large mass method. Using simple examples, the numerical results of the two modeling techniques were compared with analytic solutions. It is shown that the theorems provide a clear insight on the large mass method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2006

Nowadays it is very necessary to generate artificial accelerograms because of lack of adequate earthquake records and vast usage of time-history dynamic analysis to calculate responses of structures. According to the lack of natural records, the best choice is to use proper artificial earthquake records for the specified design zone. These records should be generated in a way that would contain seismic properties of a vast area and therefore could be applied as design records. The main objective of this paper is to present a new method based on wavelet theory to generate more artificial earthquake records, which are compatible with target spectrum. Wavelets are able to decompose time series to several levels that each level covers a specific range of frequencies. If an accelerogram is transformed by Fourier transform to frequency domain, then wavelets are considered as a transform in time-scale domain which frequency has been changed to scale in the recent domain. Since wavelet theory separates each signal, it is able to generate so many artificial records having the same target spectrum.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1193-1203
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• 2016

This paper focuses on the analytical behavior of modular circular concrete-filled tubular (CFT) column with enhanced bracing details. To design a full-scale bridge pier of multiple circular concrete-filled tubes, numerical analysis was used to evaluate structural performance according to load directivity. In previous research (Ma et al. 2012, Shim et al. 2014), low cycle fatigue failure at bracing joints was observed, so enhanced bracing details to prevent premature failure are proposed in this analysis. The main purpose of this research is to investigate seismic performance for the diagonal direction load without premature failure at the joints when the structure reaches the ultimate load. The ABAQUS finite-element software is used to evaluate experimental performance. A quasi-static loading condition on a modular bridge pier is introduced to investigate structural performance. The results obtained from the analysis are evaluated by comparing with load-displacement responses from experiments. The concrete-filled tubes with enhanced bracing details showed higher energy dissipation capacity and proper performance without connection failure for a diagonal load.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.755-770
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• 2009

This study proposes a new smart base isolation system that employs Magneto-Rheological Elastomers (MREs), a class of smart materials whose elastic modulus or stiffness can be varied depending on the magnitude of an applied magnetic field. It also evaluates the dynamic performance of the MRE-based isolation system in reducing vibrations in structures subject to various seismic excitations. As controllable stiffness elements, MREs can increase the dynamic control bandwidth of the isolation system, improving its vibration reduction capability. To study the effectiveness of the MRE-based isolation system, this paper compares its dynamic performance in reducing vibration responses of a base-isolated single-story structure (i.e., 2DOF) with that of a conventional base-isolation system. Moreover, two control algorithms (linear quadratic regulator (LQR)-based control and state-switched control) are considered for regulating the stiffness of MREs. The simulation results show that the MRE-based isolation system outperformed the conventional system in suppressing the maximum base drift, acceleration, and displacement of the structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.775-792
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• 2014

Static loading tests were carried out in this study to investigate the effect of bar cutoff on the resistance of RC beam-column sub-assemblages under column loss. Two specimens were designed with continuous main reinforcement. Four others were designed with different types of bar cutoff in the mid-span and/or the beam-end regions. Compressive arch and tensile catenary responses of the specimens under gravitational loading were compared. Test results indicated that those specimens with approximately equal moment strength at the beam ends had similar peak loading resistance in the compressive arch phase but varied resistance degradation in the transition phase because of bar cutoff. The compressive bars terminated at one-third span could help to mitigate the degradation although they had minor contribution to the catenary action. Among those cutoff patterns, the K-type cutoff presented the best strength enhancement. It revealed that it is better to extend the steel bars beyond the mid-span before cutoff for the two-span beams bridging over a column vulnerable to sudden failure. For general cutoff patterns dominated by gravitational and seismic designs, they may be appropriately modified to minimize the influence of bar cutoff on the progressive collapse resistance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.139-149
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• 2018

Many practical engineering problems are associated with nonlinear systems subjected to nonstationary random excitations. Equivalent linearization methods are commonly used to seek for approximate solutions to this kind of problems. Compared to various approaches developed in the frequency and mixed time-frequency domains, though directly solving the system equation of motion in the time domain would improve computation efficiency, only limited studies are available. Considering the fact that the orthogonal functions have been widely used to effectively improve the accuracy of the approximated responses and reduce the computational cost in various engineering applications, an orthogonal-function-based equivalent linearization method in the time domain has been proposed in the current paper for nonlinear systems subjected to nonstationary random excitations. In the numerical examples, the proposed approach is applied to a SDOF system with a set-up spring and a SDOF Duffing oscillator subjected to stationary and nonstationary excitations. In addition, its applicability to nonlinear MDOF systems is examined by a 3DOF Duffing system subjected to nonstationary excitation. Results show that the proposed method can accurately predict the nonlinear system response and the formulation of the proposed approach allows it to be capable of handling any general type of nonstationary random excitations, such as the seismic load.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.551-559
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• 2017

A large number of isolation systems are designed without considering the non-uniform friction distribution in space. In order to analyze the effects of non-uniform friction distribution on the structural response of isolation system, this paper presented a simplified rolling-damper-spring isolation system and analyzed the structural responses under earthquakes. The numerical results indicate that the calculation errors related to the peak values of structural acceleration, relative displacement and residual displacement are sequentially growing because of the ignorance of non-uniform friction distribution. However, the influence rule may be weakened by the spring and damper actions, and the unreasonable spring constant may lead to the sympathetic vibration of isolation system. In the case when the friction variability is large and the damper action is little, the non-uniform friction distribution should be taken into consideration during the calculation process of the peak values of structural acceleration and relative displacement. The non-uniform friction distribution should be taken into full consideration regardless of friction variability degree in calculating the residual displacement of isolation system.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.463-475
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• 2019

In this paper, a procedure to develop fragility curves of structures equipped with semi-active tuned mass dampers (SATMDs) considering multiple failure criteria has been presented while accounting for the uncertainties of the input excitation, structure and control device parameters. In this procedure, Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) method has been employed to generate 30 random SATMD-structure systems and nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) has been conducted under 20 earthquakes to determine the structural responses, where failure probabilities in each intensity level have been evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method. For numerical analysis, an eight-story nonlinear shear building frame with bilinear hysteresis material behavior has been used. Fragility curves for the structure equipped with optimal SATMDs have been developed considering single and multiple failure criteria for different performance levels and compared with that of uncontrolled structure as well as structure controlled using passive tuned mass damper (TMD). Numerical analysis has shown the capability of SATMDs in significant enhancement of the seismic fragility of the nonlinear structure. Also, considering multiple failure criteria has led to increasing the fragility of the structure. Moreover, it is observed that the influence of the uncertainty of input excitation with respect to the other uncertainties is considerable.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.988-1003
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• 2021

Existing elastic analysis methods cannot be adhered to in order to assess the structural integrity of a reactor vessel and internals for a beyond design basis earthquake. Elasto-plastic analysis methods are required, and the factors that affect the elasto-plastic behavior of reactor materials should be taken into account. In this study, a material behavior model was developed that considers the irradiation embrittlement effect, which affects the elasto-plastic behavior of the reactor material. This was used to perform the elasto-plastic time history analyses of the reactor vessel and its internals for beyond design basis earthquake. For this investigation, appropriate beyond design basis earthquakes and reliable finite element models were used. Based on the analysis results, consideration was given to the load reduction effect and the margin change. These were transferred to the internals due to the plastic deformation of the reactor vessel.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.403-414
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• 2019

Offshore drilling has become a key process for obtaining oil. Offshore platforms have many applications, including oil exploration and production, navigation, ship loading and unloading, and bridge and causeway support. However, vibration problems caused by severe environmental loads, such as ice, wave, wind, and seismic loads, threaten the functionality of platform facilities and the comfort of workers. These concerns may result in piping failures, unsatisfactory equipment reliability, and safety concerns. Therefore, the vibration control of offshore platforms is essential for assuring structural safety, equipment functionality, and human comfort. In this study, an optimal multiple tuned mass damper (MTMD) system was proposed to mitigate the excessive vibration of a three-dimensional offshore platform under ice and earthquake loadings. The MTMD system was designed to control the first few dominant coupled modes. The optimal placement and system parameters of the MTMD are determined based on controlled modal properties. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed MTMD system can effectively reduce the displacement and acceleration responses of the offshore platform, thus improving safety and serviceability. Moreover, this study proposes an optimal design procedure for the MTMD system to determine the optimal location, moving direction, and system parameters of each unit of the tuned mass damper.