• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-38
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• 2022

The RC private constructions represent a large part of the housing stock in the north part of Algeria. For various reasons, they are mostly built without any seismic considerations and their seismic vulnerability remains unknown for different levels of seismic intensity possible in the region. To support future seismic risk mitigation efforts in northern Algeria, this document assesses the seismic vulnerability of typical private RC constructions built after the Boumerdes earthquake (May 21, 2003) without considering existing seismic regulation, through the development of analytical fragility curves. The fragility curves are developed for four representative RC frames in terms of slight, moderate, extensive, and complete damage states suggested in HAZUS-MH 2.1, using nonlinear time history analyses. The numerical simulation of the nonlinear seismic response of the structures is performed using the SeismoStruct software. An original intensity measure (IM) is proposed and used in this study. It is the zone acceleration coefficient "A", through which the seismic hazard level is represented in the Algerian Seismic Regulations. The efficiency, practicality, and proficiency of the choice of IM are demonstrated. Incremental dynamic analyses are conducted under fifteen ground motion accelerograms compatible with the elastic target spectrum of the Algerian Seismic Regulations. In order to cover all the seismic zones of northern Algeria, the accelerograms are scaled from 0.1 to 2.5 in increments of 0.1. The results mainly indicate that private constructions built after the Boumerdes earthquake in the moderate and high seismic zones with four (04) or more storeys are highly vulnerable.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.31-40
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• 2017

In this study, a simple method to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of river levees was examined considering the structural characteristic of river levee, that is long, and the functional characteristic of river levee that performs temporary function against flood but is a permanent structure in the ordinary way. Considering the fact that one of the main failure modes of the levee during the earthquake are the settlement due to the strength reduction of the ground caused by the increase of the excess pore pressure in the levee body and foundation and the settlement due to liquefaction, the 2-dimensional section of the levee was regarded as the 1-dimensional section and the liquefaction potential index (LPI) for the regarded section was estimated. The estimated LPI was correlated with the seismic vulnerability of river levees. The relationship between the displacement of the levee crest caused by the earthquake and the seismic vulnerability of the levees was obtained from the results of previous researches and the correlation between the displacements of the levee crest computed by 2-dimensional dynamic coupled analyses and LPIs based on the results of 1-dimensional seismic response analyses was investigated. In connection with this correlation, as a result of examination of the correlation between LPI and the seismic vulnerability of the levee, it was concluded that the method for evaluation of the seismic vulnerability of the Korean river levee using LPI is applicable.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 2019

As the impacts of climate change have been emerged all the way through society, the potential risks specifically on agricultural water and facilities are recently getting concerned. Evaluating vulnerability of agriculture to climate change on is a time-tested strategy. While a number of researches on the adaption and mitigation of climate change were performed in various aspects for sustainable agricultural production, the vulnerability of management system for agricultural water and infrastructure has not been investigated yet. This study is aimed to clarify the definition of vulnerability to climate change, find the major indicators able to presume the vulnerability, and finally determine the relative importance of the indicators based on the specialist questionnaire survey and its analyses. The lists of indicators for major parts of agricultural water management such as, water use, flood control, reservoir related issues, and pumping and drainage systems are initialized referring to the related precedent studies. The primary survey was conducted in the form of Delphi to complement the list and methods and the main survey was then conducted using AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) technique to quantitatively prioritize the indicators. The results derived in this study would be directly adopted in weighting importance of indicators to investigate the indicator-based vulnerability analysis to climate change in agricultural water and infrastructure management.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.773-775
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• 2011

We analysed privacy, attack model and vulnerability with light-weight RFID System. A specific system's vulnerability depends on its implementation and the applied countermeasures. We can build an RFID system with a satisfactory security level even in a high-risk application area. To do so, however, we must pay attention to the implementation of proportional security measures.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.367-392
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• 2020

The specific characteristics of near-field earthquake records can lead to different dynamic responses of bridges compared to far-field records. However, the effect of near-field strong ground motion has often been neglected in the seismic performance assessment of the bridges. Furthermore, damage to horizontally curved multi-frame RC box-girder bridges in the past earthquakes has intensified the potential of seismic vulnerability of these structures due to their distinctive dynamic behavior. Based on the nonlinear time history analyses in OpenSEES, this article, assesses the effects of near-field versus far-field earthquakes on the seismic performance of horizontally curved multi-frame RC box-girder bridges by accounting the vertical component of the earthquake records. Analytical seismic fragility curves have been derived thru considering uncertainties in the earthquake records, material and geometric properties of bridges. The findings indicate that near-field effects reasonably increase the seismic vulnerability in this bridge sub-class. The results pave the way for future regional risk assessments regarding the importance of either including or excluding near-field effects on the seismic performance of horizontally curved bridges.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.8
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• pp.2696-2707
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of various structural modeling schemes for evaluating seismic performances and fragility of the reactor containment building (RCB) structure in the advanced power reactor 1400 (APR1400) nuclear power plant (NPP). Four structural modeling schemes, i.e. lumped-mass stick model (LMSM), solid-based finite element model (Solid FEM), multi-layer shell model (MLSM), and beam-truss model (BTM), are developed to simulate the seismic behaviors of the containment structure. A full three-dimensional finite element model (full 3D FEM) is additionally constructed to verify the previous numerical models. A set of input ground motions with response spectra matching to the US NRC 1.60 design spectrum is generated to perform linear and nonlinear time-history analyses. Floor response spectra (FRS) and floor displacements are obtained at the different elevations of the structure since they are critical outputs for evaluating the seismic vulnerability of RCB and secondary components. The results show that the difference in seismic responses between linear and nonlinear analyses gets larger as an earthquake intensity increases. It is observed that the linear analysis underestimates floor displacements while it overestimates floor accelerations. Moreover, a systematic assessment of the capability and efficiency of each structural model is presented thoroughly. MLSM can be an alternative approach to a full 3D FEM, which is complicated in modeling and extremely time-consuming in dynamic analyses. Specifically, BTM is recommended as the optimal model for evaluating the nonlinear seismic performance of NPP structures. Thereafter, linear and nonlinear BTM are employed in a series of time-history analyses to develop fragility curves of RCB for different damage states. It is shown that the linear analysis underestimates the probability of damage of RCB at a given earthquake intensity when compared to the nonlinear analysis. The nonlinear analysis approach is highly suggested for assessing the vulnerability of NPP structures.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.615-626
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• 2013

In this study, spatial patterns of the urban flood vulnerability index in Seoul are examined by considering climate exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability associated with floodings for recent 5 year (2006~2010) period by the smallest administrative unit called Dong. According to the results of correlation analyses based on the IPCC(Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)'s vulnerability model, among many variables associated with urban flooding, rainwater tank capacity, 1-day maximum precipitation and flood pumping station capacity have statistically-significant, and relatively-high correlations with the number of flood damage in Seoul. The flood vulnerability map demonstrates that the extensive areas along Anyang and Joongnang streams show relatively high flood vulnerability in Seoul due to high sensitivity. Especially in case of Joongnang stream areas, climatic factors also contribute to the increase of flood vulnerability. At local scales, several Dong areas in Gangdong-gu and Songpa-gu also show high flood vulnerability due to low adaptability, while those in Gangnam-gu do due to high sensibility and climate factor such as extreme rainfall events. These results derived from the flood vulnerability map by Dong unit can be utilized as primary data in establishing the adaptation, management and proactive policies for flooding prevention within the urban areas in more detail.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2008

A methodology for the seismic vulnerability assessment of historical monuments is presented in this paper. The ongoing work has been conducted in Tunisia within the framework of the FP6 European Union project (WIND-CHIME) on the use of appropriate modern seismic protective systems in the conservation of Mediterranean historical buildings in earthquake-prone areas. The case study is the five-century-old Zaouia of Sidi Kassem Djilizi, located downtown Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. Ambient vibration tests were conducted on the case study using a number of force-balance accelerometers placed at selected locations. The Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD) technique was applied to extract the dynamic characteristics of the monument. A 3-D finite element model was developed and updated to obtain reasonable correlation between experimental and numerical modal properties. The set of parameters selected for the updating consists of the modulus of elasticity in each wall element of the finite element model. Seismic vulnerability assessment of the case study was carried out via three-dimensional time-history dynamic analyses of the structure. Dynamic stresses were computed and damage was evaluated according to a masonry specific plane failure criterion. Statistics on the occurrence, location and type of failure provide a general view for the probable damage level and mode. Results indicate a high vulnerability that confirms the need for intervention and retrofit.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.201-216
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• 2014

In this paper the vulnerability of the confined masonry buildings is evaluated analytically. The proposed approach includes the nonlinear dynamic analysis of the two-story confined masonry buildings with common plan as a reference structure. In this approach the damage level is calculated based on the probability of exceedance of loss vs a specified ground motion in the form of fragility curves. The fragility curves of confined masonry wall buildings are presented in two levels of limit states corresponding to elastic and maximum strength versus PGA based on analytical method. In this regard the randomness of parameters indicating the characteristics of the building structure as well as ground motion is considered as likely uncertainties. In order to develop the analytical fragility curves the proposed analytical models of confined masonry walls in a previous investigation of the authors, are used to specify the damage indices and responses of the structure. In order to obtain damage indices a series of pushover analyses are performed, and to identify the seismic demand a series of nonlinear dynamic analysis are conducted. Finally by considering various mechanical and geometric parameters of masonry walls and numerous accelerograms, the fragility curves with assuming a log normal distribution of data are derived based on capacity and demand of building structures in a probabilistic approach.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.689-713
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• 2014

The seismic vulnerability of stone masonry buildings is studied on the basis of their fragility curves. In order to account for out-of-plane failure modes, normally disregarded in past studies, linear static Finite Element analysis in 3D of prototype regular buildings is performed using a nonlinear biaxial failure criterion for masonry. More than 1100 analyses are carried out, so as to cover the practical range of the most important parameters, namely the number of storeys, percentage of side length in exterior walls taken up by openings, wall thickness, plan dimensions and number of interior walls, type of floor and pier height-to-length ratio. Results are presented in the form of damage and fragility curves. The fragility curves correspond well to the damage observed in masonry buildings after strong earthquakes and are in good agreement with other fragility curves in the literature. They confirm what is already known, namely that buildings with stiff floors or higher percentage of load-bearing walls are less vulnerable, and that large openings, taller storeys, larger number of storeys, higher wall slenderness and higher ratio of clear height to horizontal length of walls increase the vulnerability, but show also by how much.