• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.267-283
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• 2011

Although earthquakes generate random cyclic lateral loading on structures, a quasi-static cyclic loading pattern with gradually increasing amplitude has been commonly used in the laboratory tests because of its relatively low cost and simplicity compared with pseudo-dynamic and shake table tests. The number, amplitudes and sequence of cycles must be chosen appropriately as important parameters of a quasi-static cyclic loading pattern in order to account for cumulative damage matter. This paper aims to reach a new cyclic displacement pattern to be used in quasi-static tests of well-confined, flexure-dominated reinforced concrete (RC) columns. The main parameters of the study are sectional dimensions, percentage of longitudinal reinforcement, axial force intensity and earthquake types, namely, far-fault and near-fault.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.129-145
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• 2006

This paper provides an insight into the response of non-seismic reinforced concrete (RC) building frames to excitations of different frequencies through experimental investigation. The results of cyclic loading tests of six full-scale RC beam-column sub-assemblies are presented. The tested specimens did not have any transverse reinforcement inside the joint core, and they were subjected to quasi-static and dynamic loading with frequencies as high as 20 Hz. Some important differences between the cyclic responses of non-seismic and ductile RC frames are highlighted. The effect of excitation frequency on the behavior of non-seismic joints is also discussed. In the quasi-static tests, shear deformation of the joint panel accounted for more than 50% of the applied story drift. The test results also showed that higher-frequency excitations are less detrimental than quasi-static cyclic loads, and non-seismic frames can withstand a higher load and a larger deformation when they are applied faster.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2007

In this paper, experimental investigations on the inelastic seismic behavior of tunnel form buildings (i.e., box-type or panel systems) are presented. Two four-story scaled building specimens were tested under quasi-static cyclic lateral loading in longitudinal and transverse directions. The experimental results and supplemental finite element simulations collectively indicate that lightly reinforced structural walls of tunnel form buildings may exhibit brittle flexural failure under seismic action. The global tension/compression couple triggers this failure mechanism by creating pure axial tension in outermost shear-walls. This type of failure takes place due to rupturing of longitudinal reinforcement without crushing of concrete, therefore is of particular interest in emphasizing the mode of failure that is not routinely considered during seismic design of shear-wall dominant structural systems.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.247-259
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• 2008

The potential use of Cu-based shape memory alloys (SMA) in retrofitting historical monuments is investigated in this paper. This study is part of the ongoing work 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 present investigation consists of a finite element simulation, as a preliminary to an experimental study where a cantilever masonry wall, representing a part of a historical monument, is subjected to monotonic and quasi-static cyclic loadings around a horizontal axis at the base level. The wall was retrofitted with an array of copper SMA wires with different cross-sectional areas. A new model is proposed for heat-treated copper SMAs and is validated based on published experimental results. A series of nonlinear finite element analyses are then performed on the wall for the purpose of assessing the SMA device retrofitting capabilities. Simulation results show an improvement of the wall response for the case of monotonic and quasi-static cyclic loadings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.913-929
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• 2015

The ratcheting and strain cyclic behaviour of joined conical-cylindrical shells under uniaxial strain controlled, uniaxial and multiaxial stress controlled cyclic loading are investigated in the paper. The elasto-plastic deformation of the structure is simulated using Chaboche non-linear kinematic hardening model in finite element package ANSYS 13.0. The stress-strain response near the joint of conical and cylindrical shell portions is discussed in detail. The effects of strain amplitude, mean stress, stress amplitude and temperature on ratcheting are investigated. Under strain symmetric cycling, the stress amplitude increases with the increase in imposed strain amplitude. Under imposed uniaxial/multiaxial stress cycling, ratcheting strain increases with the increasing mean/amplitude values of stress and temperature. The abrupt change in geometry at the joint results in local plastic deformation inducing large strain variations in the vicinity of the joint. The forcing frequency corresponding to peak axial ratcheting strain amplitude is significantly smaller than the frequency of first linear elastic axial vibration mode. The strains predicted from quasi static analysis are significantly smaller as compared to the peak strains from dynamic analysis.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.298-307
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• 2000

The behavior of a unreinforced cement brick building structure subjected to earthquake loading was experimentally investigated. for this four full size wall specimens were tested under quasi-static in-plane cyclic loading. Experimental observations indicate that the failure modes of unreinforced masonry walls are principally governed by sliding or/and rocking depending on the aspect ration and magnitude of axial loading. Also found was the flexure or shear mode resulting from the degraded strength of brick and/or mortar due to the cyclic loading effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2013

Structural insulated panels, structurally performed panels consisting of a plastic insulation bonded between two structural panel facings, are one of emerging products with a viewpoint of its energy and construction efficiencies. These components are applicable to fabricated wood structures. In Korea, there are few technical documents regulated structural performance and engineering criteria in domestic market. This study was conducted to identify fundamental performance of both monotonic load and quasi static cyclic load for SIPs in shear wall application. Static test results showed that maximum load was 44.3kN, allowable shear load was 6.1kN/m, shear stiffness was 1.23 M N/m, and ductility ratio was 3.6. Cyclic test was conducted by two kinds of specimens : single panel and double panels. Cyclic test results, which were equivalent to static test results, showed that maximum load was 45.42kN, allowable shear load was 6.3kN/m. Furthermore the accumulated energy dissipation capability for double panels was as 2.3 times as that for single panel. From performance of structural tests, it was recommended that the allowable shear load for panels was at least 6.1kN/m.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.21-28
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• 2002

Ductile behavior and strength of concrete-filled steel(CFS) piers was supported by many quasi-static cyclic loading tests. This test method, however, only estimates the member′s deformation capacity under escalating and repetitive displacement and ignores dynamic and random aspects of an earthquake load. Therefore, to understand complete seismic behavior of the structure against an earthquake, dynamic tests such as shaking table test and pseudo-dynamic tests are required as well as quasi-static tests. In this paper, following "Seismic Performance of Concrete-Filled Steel Piers Part I : Quasi-Static Cyclic Loadint Test", the seismic behavior of CFS and steel piers designed for I-Soo overpass in Seoul in investigated by the pseudo-dynamic test. In addition, the residual strength of both piers after an earthquake is estimated by the quasi-static test. The results show that both piers have satisfactory ductility and strength against well-known EI Centro earthquake although the CFS pier has better strength and energy dissipation than the steel pier.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.629-647
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• 2013

Loading protocols have been developed for quasi-static cyclic testing of structures and components. However, it is uncertain if protocols developed for conditions of intense ground shaking in regions of high seismicity would also be applicable to regions of low-moderate seismicity that are remote from the tectonic plate boundaries. This study presents a methodology for developing a quasi-static cyclic displacement loading protocol for experimental bracing evaluation of cold-formed steel stud shear walls. Simulations presented in the paper were based on conditions of moderate ground shaking (in Australia). The methodologies presented are generic in nature and can be applied to other regions of similar seismicity conditions (which include many parts of China, Korea, India and Malaysia). Numerous response time histories including both linear and nonlinear analyses have been generated for selected earthquake scenarios and site classes. Rain-flow cycle counting method has been used for determining the number of cycles at various ranges of normalized displacement amplitude. It is found that the number of displacement cycles of the loading protocol increases with increasing intensity of ground shaking (associated with a longer return period).

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-85
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• 2004

The novel form of composite walling system consists of two skins of profiled steel sheeting with an in-fill of concrete. Such walling system can be used as shear elements in steel framed building subjected to lateral load. This paper presents the results of small-scale model tests on composite wall and its components manufactured from very thin sheeting and micro-concrete tested under monotonic and cyclic shear loading conditions. The heavily instrumented small-scale tests provided information on the load-deformation response, strength, stiffness, strain condition, sheet-concrete interaction and failure modes. Analytical models for shear strength and stiffness are derived with some modification factor to take into account the effect of quasi-static cycling loading. The performance of design equations is validated through experimental results.