• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.9-16
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• 1995

A new three-dimensional transition solid element with drilling degrees of freedom is presented. The proposed transition element is established by adding variable nodes to a basic 8-node element for an effective connection between the refined region and the coarse. The derivation of the element in this paper is based on the variational principles in which the drilling rotations are introduced as independent variables. This element was also improved through the addition of modified non-conforming modes. Numerical examples show that performance of the element and the applicability to 3D adaptations are satisfactory.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.447-470
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• 2014

Numerical simulation of the non-linear behavior of (RC) structural walls subjected to severe earthquake ground motions requires a reliable modeling approach that includes important material characteristics and behavioral response features. The objective of this paper is to optimize a simplified method for the assessment of the seismic response and damage development analyses of an RC structural wall building using macro-element model. The first stage of this study investigates effectiveness and ability of the macro-element model in predicting the flexural nonlinear response of the specimen based on previous experimental test results conducted in UCLA. The sensitivity of the predicted wall responses to changes in model parameters is also assessed. The macro-element model is next used to examine the dynamic behavior of the structural wall building-all the way from elastic behavior to global instability, by applying an approximate Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA), based on Uncoupled Modal Response History Analysis (UMRHA), setting up nonlinear single degree of freedom systems. Finally, the identification of the global stiffness decrease as a function of a damage variable is carried out by means of this simplified methodology. Responses are compared at various locations on the structural wall by conducting static and dynamic pushover analyses for accurate estimation of seismic performance of the structure using macro-element model. Results obtained with the numerical model for rectangular wall cross sections compare favorably with experimental responses for flexural capacity, stiffness, and deformability. Overall, the model is qualified for safety assessment and design of earthquake resistant structures with structural walls.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.261-274
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• 2014

An accurate finite element (FE) model of a structure is essential for predicting reliably its dynamic characteristics. Such a model is used to predict the effects of structural modifications for dynamic design of the structure. These modifications may be imposed by design alterations for operating reasons. Most of the model updating techniques neglect damping and so these updated models can't be used for accurate prediction of vibration amplitudes. This paper deals with the basic formulation of damped finite element model updating method and its use for structural dynamic modifications. In this damped damped finite element model updating method, damping matrices are updated along with mass and stiffness matrices. The damping matrices are updated by updating the damping coefficients. A case involving actual measured data for the case of F-shaped test structure, which resembles the skeleton of a drilling machine is used to evaluate the effectiveness of damped FE model updating method for accurate prediction of the vibration levels and thus its use for structural dynamic modifications. It can be concluded from the study that damped updated FE model updating can be used for structural dynamic modifications with confidence.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.477-490
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• 1999

The uncertainties associated with structural parameters and dynamic loading are identified and discussed. Structural parametric uncertainties are treated as random variables and dynamic wind load is simulated as a random process. Dynamic wind-induced responses of structures with parametric uncertainties are investigated by using stochastic finite element method. The formulas for structural dynamic reliability analysis considering the randomness of structural resistance and loading are proposed. Two numerical examples of high-rise structures are presented to illustrate the proposed methodology. The calculated results demonstrate that the variation in structural parameters indeed influences the dynamic response and the first passage probability evaluation of structures.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.234-241
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• 1999

In this study, an improved 8-node flat shell element is presented for the analysis of shell structure, by combining 8-node membrane element with drilling degree-of-freedom and 8-node plate bending element based on the recently presented technique. Firstly, 8-node membrane element designated as CLM8 is presented in this paper. The element has drilling degree-of.freedom in addition to transitional degree-of-freedom. Therefore the element possesses 3 degrees-of-freedom per each node which as well as the improvement of the element behavior, permits an easy connection to other element with rotational degree-of -freedom. Secondly. 8-node flat shell element was composed by adding 8-node Mindlin plate bending element to the membrane element. The behavior of the introduced plate bending element is further improved by combined use of nonconforming displacement modes, selectively reduced integration scheme and assumed shear strain fields. The element passes in the patch test, doesn't show spurious mechanism and doesn't produce shear locking phenomena. Finally, Numerical examples are presented to show the performance of flat shell element developed in the present study.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2012

This paper strongly addresses to the problem of the mechanical systems in which parameters are uncertain and bounded. Interval calculation is used to find sharp bounds of the structural parameters for infilled frame system modeled with finite element method. Infill walls are generally treated as non-structural elements considerably to improve the lateral stiffness, strength and ductility of the structure together with the frame elements. Because of their complex nature, they are often neglected in the analytical model of building structures. However, in seismic design, ignoring the effect of infill wall in a numerical model does not accurately simulate the physical behavior. In this context, there are still some uncertainties in mechanical and also geometrical properties in the analysis and design procedure of infill walls. Structural uncertainties can be studied with a finite element formulation to determine sharp bounds of the structural parameters such as wall thickness and Young's modulus. In order to accomplish this sharp solution as much as possible, interval finite element approach can be considered, too. The structural parameters can be considered as interval variables by using the interval number, thus the structural stiffness matrix may be divided into the product of two parts which correspond to the interval values and the deterministic value.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.605-619
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• 2009

This paper presents the details of finite element (FE) modeling and analysis of an external prestressing technique to strengthen a prestressed concrete (PSC) end block. Various methods of external prestressing techniques have been discussed. In the proposed technique, transfer of external force is in shear mode on the end block creating a complex stress distribution. The proposed technique is useful when the ends of the PSC girders are not accessible. Finite element modeling issues have been outlined. Brief description about material nonlinearity including key aspects in modeling inelastic behaviour has been provided. Finite element (FE) modeling including material, loading has been explained in depth. FE analysis for linear and nonlinear static analysis has been conducted for varying external loadings. Various responses such as out-of-plane deformation and slip have been computed and compared with the corresponding experimental observations. From the study, it has been observed that the computed slope and slip of the steel bracket under external loading is in good agreement with the corresponding experimental observations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.503-518
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• 2001

In this paper, the procedure for deriving an infinite element that is compatible with the quadrilateral Q8 element is first summarized. Enhanced by a self mesh-expansion procedure for generating the impedance matrices of different frequencies for the region extending to infinity, the infinite element is used to simulate the far field of the soil-structure system. The structure considered here is of the box type and the soils are either homogeneous or resting on a bedrock. Using the finite/infinite element approach, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of open and in-filled trenches in reducing the structural vibration caused by a train passing nearby, which is simulated as a harmonic line load. The key parameters that dominate the performance of wave barriers in reducing the structural vibrations are identified. The results presented herein serve as a useful guideline for the design of open and in-filled trenches concerning wave reduction.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.575-593
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• 2002

Based on the Mindlin plate theory, a refined discrete 15-DOF triangular laminated composite plate finite element RDTMLC with the re-constitution of the shear strain is proposed. For constituting the element displacement function, the exact displacement function of the Timoshenko's laminated composite beam as the displacement on the element boundary is used to derive the element displacements. The proposed element can be used for the analysis of both moderately thick and thin laminated composite plate, and the convergence for the very thin situation can be ensured theoretically. Numerical examples presented show that the present model indeed possesses the properties of higher accuracy for anisotropic laminated composite plates and is free of locking even for extremely thin laminated plates.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.327-335
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• 2018

This paper presents structural assessment of a steel railway bridge for current condition using modal parameter to upgrade finite element modeling in order to gather accurate result. An adequate monitoring, such as acceleration, displacement, strain monitoring, is important tool to understand behavior and to assess structural performance of the structure under surround vibration by means of the dynamic analysis. Evaluation of conditions of an existing steel railway bridge consist of 4 decks, three of them are 14 m, one of them is 9.7 m, was performed with a numerical analysis and a series of dynamic tests. Numerical analysis was performed implementing finite element model of the bridge using SAP2000 software. Dynamic tests were performed by collecting acceleration data caused by surrounding vibrations and dynamic analysis is performed by Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) using collected acceleration data. The acceleration response of the steel bridge is assumed to be governing response quantity for structural assessment and provide valuable information about the current statute of the structure. Modal identification determined based on response of the structure play significant role for upgrading finite element model of the structure and helping structural evaluation. Numerical and experimental dynamic properties are compared and finite element model of the bridge is updated by changing of material properties to reduce the differences between the results. In this paper, an existing steel railway bridge with four spans is evaluated by finite element model improved using operational modal analysis. Structural analysis performed for the bridge both for original and calibrated models, and results are compared. It is demonstrated that differences in natural frequencies are reduced between 0.2% to 5% by calibrating finite element modeling and stiffness properties.