• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.611-631
• /
• 2012

The passive energy dissipation technology has been proven to be reliable and robust for recent practical applications. Various dampers or energy dissipation devices have been widely used in building structures for enhancing their performances during earthquakes, windstorm and other severe loading scenarios. This paper presents a simplified seismic design procedure for retrofitting earthquake-damaged frames with viscous dampers. With the scheme of designing the main frame and the supplemental viscous dampers respectively, the seismic analysis model of damped structure with viscous dampers and braces was studied. The specific analysis process was described and approach to parameter design of energy dissipation components was also proposed. The expected damping forces for damped frame were first obtained based on storey shear forces; and then they were optimized to meet different storey drift requirements. A retrofit project of a RC frame school building damaged in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake was introduced as a case study. This building was retrofitted by using viscous dampers designed through the simplified design procedure proposed in this paper. Based on the case study, it is concluded that this simplified design procedure can be effectively used to make seismic retrofit design of earthquake-damaged RC frames with viscous dampers, so as to achieve structural performance objectives under different earthquake risk levels.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.66 no.6
• /
• pp.749-759
• /
• 2018

Aiming at widely used high-pier bridges in Sichuan-Tibet Railway, this paper presents an investigation to design and evaluate the seismic vibration reduction effects of several measures, including viscous damper (VD), friction pendulum bearing (FPB), and tuned mass damper (TMD). Primarily, according to the detailed introduction of the concerned bridge structure, dynamic models of high-pier bridges with different seismic vibration reduction (SVR) measures are established. Further, the designs for these SVR measures are performed, and the optimal parameters of these measures are investigated. On this basis, the vibration reduction effects of these measures are analyzed and assessed subject to actual earthquake excitations in Wenchuan Earthquake (M=8.0), and the most appropriate SVR measure for high-pier bridges in Sichuan-Tibet Railway is determined at the end of the work. Results show that the height of pier does not obviously affect the performances of the concerned SVR measures. Comprehensively considering the vibration absorption performance, installation and maintenance of all the employed measures in this paper, TMD is the best one to absorb vibrations induced by earthquakes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.411-429
• /
• 2017

A Spectral Element Method for 3D seismic wave propagation simulation is derived based on the three-dimensional fluctuating elastic dynamic equation. Considering the 3D real terrain and the attenuation characteristics of the medium, the topographic effect of Wenchuan earthquake is simulated by using the Spectral Element Method (SEM) algorithm and the ASTER DEM model. Results show that the high PGA (peak ground acceleration) region was distributed along the peak and the slope side away from the epicenter in the epicenter area. The overall distribution direction of high PGA and high PGV (peak ground velocity) region is parallel to the direction of the seismogenic fault. In the epicenter of the earthquake, the ground motion is to some extent amplified under the influence of the terrain. The amplification effect of the terrain on PGA is complicated. It does not exactly lead to amplification of PGA at the ridge and the summit or attenuation of PGA in the valley.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.387-399
• /
• 2022

To study the seismic damage of masonry structures and understand the characteristics of the multi-intensity region, according to the Dujiang weir urbanization of China Wenchuan earthquake, the deterioration of 3991 masonry structures was summarized and statistically analysed. First, the seismic damage of multistory masonry structures in this area was investigated. The primary seismic damage of components was as follows: Damage of walls, openings, joints of longitudinal and transverse walls, windows (lower) walls, and tie columns. Many masonry structures with seismic designs were basically intact. Second, according to the main factors of construction, seismic intensity code levels survey, and influence on the seismic capacity, a vulnerability matrix calculation model was proposed to establish a vulnerability prediction matrix, and a comparative analysis was made based on the empirical seismic damage investigation matrix. The vulnerability prediction matrix was established using the proposed vulnerability matrix calculation model. The fitting relationship between the vulnerability prediction matrix and the actual seismic damage investigation matrix was compared and analysed. The relationship curves of the mean damage index for macrointensity and ground motion parameters were drawn through calculation and analysis, respectively. The numerical analysis was performed based on actual ground motion observation records, and fitting models of PGA, PGV, and MSDI were proposed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.877-888
• /
• 2021

This study used three types of temporary shelters, tents, and prefabricated houses provided by the Chinese government for victims after the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 as case study objects. Through literature review, 12 evaluation items were selected from the social, economic, and environmental elements of the sustainability of residential space design to analyze and evaluate three types of temporary shelters, and derive their respective characteristics and problems. The analysis results show that the temporary centralized settlements and tents had problems such as imperfect infrastructure, poor sanitation, narrow living space, no personal space, and inconvenience in life. Prefabricated houses had problems such as high construction costs, non-environmentally friendly building materials, occupation of arable land, low recycling rate of materials, and environmental pollution by waste. The common problem of the three types of shelters was that the government took the lead in the construction and distribution of shelters, and the disaster victims passively accept government support. Therefore, disaster victims were not actively involved in the construction and management of temporary communities. Secondly, the designs of all three types of temporary shelters did not fully consider the psychological needs of the victims, especially the need for safe and hygienic personal space. Finally, this research proposes improvement plans for the problems in the sustainable design of three temporary shelters and the construction and management of temporary communities.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.73 no.5
• /
• pp.599-612
• /
• 2020

A combination of a gravity wall and an anchor beam is widely used to support the high soil deposit on rock mass. In this study, two groups of shaking table test were performed to investigate the responses of such combined retaining structure, where the rock masses were shaped with a flat surface and a curved surface, respectively. Meanwhile, the dynamic numerical analysis was carried out for a comparison or an extensive study. The results were studied and compared between the combined retaining structures with different shaped rock masses with regard to the acceleration response, the earth pressure response, and the axial anchor force. The acceleration response is not significantly influenced by the surface shape of rock mass. The earth pressure response on the combined retaining structure with a flat rock surface is more intensive than the one with a curved rock surface. The anchor force is significantly enlarged by seismic excitation with a main earthquake-induced increment at the first intensive pulse of Wenchuan motion. The value of anchor force in the combined retaining structure with a flat rock surface is generally larger than the one with a curved rock surface. Generally, the combined retaining structure with a curved rock surface presents a better seismic performance.