• 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.75 no.5
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• pp.541-557
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• 2020

A novel family of controllable, dissipative structure-dependent integration methods is derived from an eigen-based theory, where the concept of the eigenmode can give a solid theoretical basis for the feasibility of this type of integration methods. In fact, the concepts of eigen-decomposition and modal superposition are involved in solving a multiple degree of freedom system. The total solution of a coupled equation of motion consists of each modal solution of the uncoupled equation of motion. Hence, an eigen-dependent integration method is proposed to solve each modal equation of motion and an approximate solution can be yielded via modal superposition with only the first few modes of interest for inertial problems. All the eigen-dependent integration methods combine to form a structure-dependent integration method. Some key assumptions and new techniques are combined to successfully develop this family of integration methods. In addition, this family of integration methods can be either explicitly or implicitly implemented. Except for stability property, both explicit and implicit implementations have almost the same numerical properties. An explicit implementation is more computationally efficient than for an implicit implementation since it can combine unconditional stability and explicit formulation simultaneously. As a result, an explicit implementation is preferred over an implicit implementation. This family of integration methods can have the same numerical properties as those of the WBZ-α method for linear elastic systems. Besides, its stability and accuracy performance for solving nonlinear systems is also almost the same as those of the WBZ-α method. It is evident from numerical experiments that an explicit implementation of this family of integration methods can save many computational efforts when compared to conventional implicit methods, such as the WBZ-α method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.455-473
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• 2016

Methods for the seismic demands evaluation of structures require iterative procedures. Many studies dealt with the development of different inelastic spectra with the aim to simplify the evaluation of inelastic deformations and performance of structures. Recently, the concept of inelastic spectra has been adopted in the global scheme of the Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) through Capacity-Spectrum Method (CSM). For instance, the Modal Pushover Analysis (MPA) has been proved to provide accurate results for inelastic buildings to a similar degree of accuracy than the Response Spectrum Analysis (RSA) in estimating peak response for elastic buildings. In this paper, a simplified nonlinear procedure for evaluation of the seismic demand of structures is proposed with its applicability to multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems. The basic concept is to write the equation of motion of (MDOF) system into series of normal modes based on an inelastic modal decomposition in terms of ductility factor. The accuracy of the proposed procedure is verified against the Nonlinear Time History Analysis (NL-THA) results and Uncoupled Modal Response History Analysis (UMRHA) of a 9-story steel building subjected to El-Centro 1940 (N/S) as a first application. The comparison shows that the new theoretical approach is capable to provide accurate peak response with those obtained when using the NL-THA analysis. After that, a simplified nonlinear spectral analysis is proposed and illustrated by examples in order to describe inelastic response spectra and to relate it to the capacity curve (Pushover curve) by a new parameter of control, called normalized yield strength coefficient (${\eta}$). In the second application, the proposed procedure is verified against the NL-THA analysis results of two buildings for 80 selected real ground motions.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.55-79
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• 2010

The effect of soil-structure interaction on a single-storey, two-bay space frame resting on a pile group embedded in the cohesive soil (clay) with flexible cap is examined in this paper. For this purpose, a more rational approach is resorted to using the finite element analysis with realistic assumptions. Initially, a 3-D FEA is carried out independently for the frame on the premise of fixed column bases in which members of the superstructure are discretized using the 20-node isoparametric continuum elements. Later, a model is worked out separately for the pile foundation, by using the beam elements, plate elements and spring elements to model the pile, pile cap and soil, respectively. The stiffness obtained for the foundation is used in the interaction analysis of the frame to quantify the effect of soil-structure interaction on the response of the superstructure. In the parametric study using the substructure approach (uncoupled analysis), the effects of pile spacing, pile configuration, and pile diameter of the pile group on the response of superstructure are evaluated. The responses of the superstructure considered include the displacement at top of the frame and moments in the columns. The effect of soil-structure interaction is found to be quite significant for the type of foundation considered in the study. Fair agreement is observed between the results obtained herein using the simplified models for the pile foundation and those existing in the literature based on a complete three dimensional analysis of the building frame - pile foundation - soil system.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.231-253
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• 2013

The impact of spar-nacelle-blade coupling on edgewise dynamic responses of spar-type floating wind turbines (S-FOWT) is investigated in this paper. Currently, this coupling is not considered explicitly by researchers. First of all, a coupled model of edgewise vibration of the S-FOWT considering the aerodynamic properties of the blade, variable mass and stiffness per unit length, gravity, the interactions among the blades, nacelle, spar and mooring system, the hydrodynamic effects, the restoring moment and the buoyancy force is proposed. The aerodynamic loads are combined of a steady wind (including the wind shear) and turbulence. Each blade is modeled as a cantilever beam vibrating in its fundamental mode. The mooring cables are modeled using an extended quasi-static method. The hydrodynamic effects calculated by using Morison's equation and strip theory consist of added mass, fluid inertia and viscous drag forces. The random sea state is simulated by superimposing a number of linear regular waves. The model shows that the vibration of the blades, nacelle, tower, and spar are coupled in all degrees of freedom and in all inertial, dissipative and elastic components. An uncoupled model of the S-FOWT is then formulated in which the blades and the nacelle are not coupled with the spar vibration. A 5MW S-FOWT is analyzed by using the two proposed models. In the no-wave sea, the coupling is found to contribute to spar responses only. When the wave loading is considered, the coupling is significant for the responses of both the nacelle and the spar.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.813-822
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• 2002

The purpose of the present study is first to refine the mathematical material models for moisture and temperature distributions in early-age concrete and then to incorporate those models into finite element procedure. The three dimensional finite element program developed in the present study can determine the degree of hydration, temperature and moisture distribution in hardening concrete. It is assumed that temperature and humidity fields are fully uncoupled and only the degree of hydration is coupled with two state variables. Mathematical formulation of degree of hydration Is based on the combination of three rate functions of reaction. The effect of moisture condition as well as temperature on the rate of reaction is considered in the degree of hydration model. In moisture transfer, diffusion coefficient is strongly dependent on the moisture content in pore system. Many existing models describe this phenomenon according to the composition of mixture, especially water to cement ratio, but do not consider the age dependency. Microstructure is changing with the hydration and thus transport coefficients at early ages are significantly higher because the pore structure in the cement matrix is more open. The moisture capacity and sink are derived from age-dependent desorption isotherm. Prediction of a moisture sink due to the hydration process, i.e. self-desiccation, is related to autogenous shrinkage, which may cause early-age cracking in high strength and high performance concrete. The realistic models and finite element program developed in this study provide fairly good results on the temperature and moisture distribution for early-age concrete and correlate very well with actual test data.