• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.23-37
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• 2018

In this paper, seismic provisions related to built-up special concentrically braced frames (BSCBFs) are investigated under cyclic loading using non-linear finite element analysis of a single-bay single-story frame. These braces, which contain double angle and double channel brace sections, are considered in two types of single diagonal and X-braced frames. The results of this study show that current seismic provisions such as observing the 0.4 ratio for slenderness ratio of individual elements between stitch connectors are conservative in BSCBFs, and can be increased according to the type of braces. Furthermore, such increments will lead to decreasing or remaining the current middle protected zone requirements of each BSCBFs. Failure results of BSCBFs, which are related to the plastic equivalent strain growth of members and ductility capacity of the models, show that the behaviors of double channel back-to-back diagonal braces are more desirable than those of similar face-to-face ones. Also, for double angle diagonal braces, results show that the failure of back-to-back BSCBFs occurs faster in comparison with face-to-face similar braces. In X-braced frames, cyclic and failure behaviors of built-up face-to-face models are more desirable than similar back-to-back braces in general.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.91-106
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• 2018

This paper investigates the deflection of the steel-concrete composite truss beam (SCCTB) at the serviceability limit state. A precise solution for the distributed uplift force of the SCCTB, considering five different loading types, is first derived based on the differential and equilibrium equations. Furthermore, its approximate solution is proposed for practical applications. Subsequently, the shear slip effect corresponding to the shear stiffness of the stub connectors, uplift effect corresponding to the axial stiffness of the stub connectors and shear effect corresponding to the brace deformation of the steel truss are considered in the derivation of deflection. Formulae for estimating the SCCTB deflection are proposed. Moreover, based on the proposed formulae, a practical design method is developed to provide an effective and convenient tool for designers to estimate the SCCTB deflection. Flexure tests are carried out on three SCCTBs. It is observed that the SCCTB stiffness and ultimate load increase with an increase in the shear interaction factor. Finally, the reliability of the practical design method is accurately verified based on the available experimental results.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.487-498
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• 2018

Buckling-restrained braces are passive control devices with high level of energy dissipation ability. However, they suffer from low post-yield stiffness which makes them vulnerable to severe ground motions, especially near-field earthquakes. Among the several methods proposed to improve resistance of BRB frames, mega-brace configuration can be a solution to increase frame lateral strength and stiffness and improve distribution of forces to prevent large displacement in braces. Due to the limited number of research regarding the performance of such systems, the current paper aims to assess seismic performance of BRB frames with mega-bracing arrangement under near-field earthquakes via a detailed probabilistic framework. For this purpose, a group of multi-story mega-BRB frames were modelled by OpenSEES software platform. In the first part of the paper, simplified procedures including nonlinear pushover and Incremental Dynamic Analysis were conducted for performance evaluation. Two groups of near-fault seismic ground motions (Non-pulse and Pulse-like records) were considered for analyses to take into account the effects of record-to-record uncertainties, as well as forward directivity on the results. In the second part, seismic reliability analyses are conducted in the context of performance based earthquake engineering. Two widely-known EDP-based and IM-based probabilistic frameworks are employed to estimate collapse potential of the structures. Results show that all the structures can successfully tolerate near-field earthquakes with a high level of confidence level. Therefore, mega-bracing configuration can be an effective alternative to conventional BRB bracing to withstand near-field earthquakes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.197-211
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• 2020

Application of the steel ring as a type of seismic fuse has been one of the efforts made by researchers in recent years aiming to enhance the ductility of the bracing systems which in turn, possesses various advantages and disadvantages. Accordingly, to alleviate these disadvantages, an innovative bracing system with a diamond scheme equipped with a steel ring is introduced in this paper. In this system, the braces and yielding circular damper act in parallel whose main functionality is to increase ductility, energy absorption and mitigate drawbacks of the existing bracing systems, in which the braces and yielding circular damper act in parallel. To conduct the experimental tests, specimens with three types of rigid, semi-rigid and pinned connections were built and subjected to cyclic loading so that their performance could be analyzed. Promisingly, the results indicate both great applicability and efficiency of the proposed system in energy absorption and ductility. Moreover, it was concluded that as the braces and damper are in parallel, the use of a steel ring with smaller size and thickness would result in higher energy absorption and load-resisting capacity when compared to the other existing systems. Finally, to assess the potential of numerically modeling the proposed system, its finite element model was simulated by ABAQUS software and observed that there is a great agreement between the numerical and experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.93-114
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• 2011

Flange and web local buckling in beam plastic hinge regions of steel moment frames can prevent beam-column connections from achieving adequate plastic rotations under earthquake-induced forces. This threat is especially valid for existing steel moment frame buildings with beams that lack adequate flange/web slenderness ratios. As the use of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) have increased in strengthening and repair of steel members in recent years, using FRPs in stabilizing local instabilities have also attracted attention. Previous computational studies have shown that longitudinally oriented glass FRP (GFRP) strips may serve to moderately brace beam flanges against the occurrence of local buckling during plastic hinging. An experimental study was conducted at Izmir Institute of Technology investigating the effects of GFRP reinforcement on local buckling behavior of existing steel I-beams with flange slenderness ratios (FSR) exceeding the slenderness limits set forth in current seismic design specifications and modified by a bottom flange triangular welded haunch. Four European HE400AA steel beams with a depth/width ratio of 1.26 and FSR of 11.4 were cyclically loaded up to 4% rotation in a cantilever beam test set-up. Both bare beams and beams with GFRP sheets were tested in order to investigate the contribution of GFRP sheets in mitigating local flange buckling. Different configurations of GFRP sheets were considered. The tests have shown that GFRP reinforcement can moderately mitigate inelastic flange local buckling.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Educational Facilities
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.21-28
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• 2012

This study proposes a procedure for evaluating the seismic performance and retrofit of a typical reinforced building (R/C) school buildings contructed in the 1980s. The procedure is derived from the Japanese Standard for Evaluation of Seismic Capacity of Existing Reinforced Concrete Buildings and Nonlinear Static Procedure (NSP) specified in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA 356). In this study, the Japanese Standard was applied for evaluating the additionally required seismic performance in the existing school building. Cast-in-place (CIP) reinforced concrete infill walls and steel braces were used to seismically retrofit the existing school building located in the region of Hongsung in Chungnam. In the pushover analysis, i.e NSP, the hinge properties of columns, beams, infill walls and steel braces were carefully calibrated based on the existing experiment results in the available literatures. The predicted seismic performance for the retrofitted building was compared to that for the virgin building. Based on the seismic evaluation with the Japanese Standard and the FEMA 356 criteria, the addition of CIP reinforced concrete infill walls and steel braces have superior constructablility and can improve effectively the seismic performance of the existing school buildings constructed in 1980s.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.355-364
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• 2008

The Buckling-Restrained Braces (BRB) has been developed to inhibit buckling and exhibit stable behavior under both tensile and compressive cycles. In this study, an experimental has been conducted by using the strength of its members and loading protocols as parameters to evaluate the structural performance of BRB (without in-filled concrete). Specimens are composed of an inner core and an outer tube with different steel strengths. When high-strength steels were used as inner cores, the ductility of BRB decreasedm and the requirements (Cumulative Plastic Ductility) of the AISC Seismic Provisions were not satisfied. However, when high-strength steels were used as inner cores instead of conventional strength steel cores, the maximum capacity increased significantly and displayed similar performance in total energy dissipation.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.137-142
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study was to review on the need for early screening of scoliosis. Methods : We have researched and analyzed theories and literatures of scoliosis screening program. Result : The following results were obtained in this study. 1. Scoliosis screening should be carried out to improve middle and high school students's health and learning abilities. 2. The methods are the forward bending test, Moire test and X-Ray. 3. After the examination held by differentiating the degree of scoliosis, surgery or brace treatment for students should be carried out. 4. After the examination, appropriate acupuncture, exercise therapy and orthodontic treatment for students should be carried out. 5. Spinal health courses for young people should be held regularly to equip and encourage a healthy body and healthy mind and contribute to improve the learning efficiency. Conclusion : Scoliosis screening and early detection should be done in the Daejeon city middle school or high school students, and appropriate treatment should be performed as soon as possible.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.197-207
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• 2002

Energy dissipation capacity and earthquake responses of steel structures installed with unbonded braces(UB) were investigated. Parametric studies were performed for a single-degree-of-freedom structure under harmonic loads, and optimum yield strength of unbonded braces were derived. Nonlinear dynamic time history analyses were carried out to investigate the seismic response of multi-story model structures with UB having various size and strength. Various techniques were applied to determine proper story-wise distribution of UB in multi-story structures. The analysis results show that the maximum displacements of structures generally decrease as the stiffness of UB increases. However for some natural frequencies and seismic loads the maximum displacement and accumulated damage increases as the stiffness of UB increases.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.6 no.2 s.20
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• pp.61-68
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• 2006

In this thesis, a full-scale K shape damper test model was constructed in which a passive vibration control system. This passive vibration control system was incorporated with the use of a newly developed turbulent flow damper sealed by viscoelastic material. A series of tests and earthquake observation has been conducted in this test model. The purpose of the present thesis is to investigate the vibration response characteristics of the building and to verify the effectiveness of the vibration control system. By the static loading test, it was recognized that incorporation of the dampers had little influence on static horizontal stiffness of the building. Free vibration tests revealed that the dampers incorporated increased the damping ratio of the building up to 3 times compared with the undamped case. The effectiveness of the developed vibration control system was confirmed based on the excitation tests and earthquake response observation.