• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.569-581
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• 2017

The Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) based seismic fragility analysis (SFA) approach allows defining more realistic relationship between failure probability and seismic intensity. However, the approach requires simulating large number of nonlinear dynamic analyses of structure for reliable estimate of fragility. It makes the approach computationally challenging. The response surface method (RSM) based metamodeling approach which replaces computationally involve complex mechanical model of a structure is found to be a viable alternative in this regard. An adaptive moving least squares method (MLSM) based RSM in the MCS framework is explored in the present study for efficient SFA of existing structures. In doing so, the repetition of seismic intensity for complete generation of fragility curve is avoided by including this as one of the predictors in the response estimate model. The proposed procedure is elucidated by considering a non-linear SDOF system and an existing reinforced concrete frame considered to be located in the Guwahati City of the Northeast region of India. The fragility results are obtained by the usual least squares based and the proposed MLSM based RSM and compared with that of obtained by the direct MCS technique to study the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.887-904
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• 2016

An efficient, economical and practical strengthening method for hollow brick infill walls was proposed and investigated in the present study, experimentally and numerically. This method aims at increasing the overall lateral strength and stiffness of the structure by increasing the contribution of the infill walls and providing the non-bearing components of the structure with the capability of absorbing earthquake-induced energy to minimize structural damage during seismic excitations. A total of eleven full-scale infill walls strengthened with expanded mild steel plates were tested under diagonal monotonic loading to simulate the loading condition of the non-bearing walls during an earthquake. The contact surface between the plates and the wall was increased with the help of plaster. Thickness of the plates bonded to both faces of the wall and the spacing of the bolts were adopted as test parameters. The experiments indicated that the plates were able to carry a major portion of the tensile stresses induced by the diagonal loads and provided the walls walls with a considerable confining effect. The composite action attained by the plates and the wall until yielding of the bolts increased the load capacities, rigidities, ductilities and energy-absorption capacities of the walls, considerably.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the influence of landscaping pavements on WBGT(Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature) of outdoor spaces that lack ventilation and shade at summer midday. The relative humidity(RH), dry-bulb temperature(DT) and globe temperature(GT) were recorded every minute from June to October 2009 at a height of 1.2m above ten experimental beds with different pavements, by a measuring system consisting of an electric humidity sensor(GHM-15), resistance temperature detector(RTD, Pt-100), standard black globe(${\phi} 150mm$) and data acquisition systems(National Instrument's Labview and Compact FieldPoint). Additionally, the surface dry-bulb temperatures also were recorded and compared. The area of each experimental bed was 1.5m(W)${\times}$2.0m(L) and ten different kinds of pavement were used including grass, grass+cubic stone, grass+porous brick, brick, stone panels, cubic stone, interlocking blocks, clay brick, naked soil, gravel and concrete. To prevent interference from ventilation, a 1.5m height cubic steel frame was established around each bed and each vertical side of the frame was covered with transparent polyethylene film. Based on the records of the hottest period from noon to 3 PM on 26 days with a peak dry-bulb temperature over $30^{\circ}C$ at natural condition, the wet-bulb temperature(WT) and WBGT were calculated and compared. The major findings were as follows: 1. The average surface DT was $40.1^{\circ}C$, which is $9^{\circ}C$ higher than that of the natural condition. The surface DT of the pavements with grass were higher than those of concrete and interlocking block. The peak DT of the surface almost every pavement rose to above $50^{\circ}C$ during the hottest time. 2. The averages of DT, WT and GT were $40.1^{\circ}C$, $27.5^{\circ}C$ and $49.1^{\circ}C$, and the peak values rose to $48.1^{\circ}C$, $45.8^{\circ}C$ and $59.5^{\circ}C$, respectively. In spite of slight differences that resulted according to pavements, no coherent differentiating factor could be found. 3. The average WBGT of grass was the highest at $34.3^{\circ}C$ while the others were similar in the range of around $33{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. Meanwhile, the peak WBGT was highest with stone panel at $47.9^{\circ}C$. Though there were some differences according to pavements, and while grass seemed to be worst in terms of WBGT, it seems difficult to say ablolutely that grass was the worst because the measurement was conducted without ventilation and shade during summer daytime hours only, which had temperatures that rose to a dangerous degree(above $45^{\circ}C$ WBGT), withering the grass during the hottest period. The average WBGT resulted also showed that the thermal environment of the pavement without ventilation and shade were at an intolerable level for humans regardless of the pavement type. In summary, the results of this study show that ventilation and shade are more important factor than pavement type in terms of outdoor thermal comfort in summer daylight hours.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

Site coefficient and amplification factor of current domestic Seismic Design Code based on American Seismic Code, have no consideration for the domestic ground condition in which the base rock is normally placed within 30m form the surface. By previous studies, the measured spectral acceleration of the result of dynamic centrifugal test and analysis was smaller than the design spectral acceleration for the period over 1.5 sec. Accordingly, in this study structural analysis and design using dynamic centrifugal test result for pile foundation were achieved, and the quantity of concrete and reinforcement of wall frame was compared with each other. Comparison results of cost using KBC the design spectral acceleration of SC, SD site and SDS, the quantity of reinforcement using SDS for SD site was 17~23% smaller than using the design code SD site.