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

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.215-226
• /
• 2020

A self-centering wall (SCW) is a lateral resistant rocking system that incorporates posttensioned (PT) tendons to provide a self-centering capacity along with dampers to dissipate energy. This paper investigates the rocking responses of a SCW with base viscous dampers under a sinusoidal-type pulse considering yielding and fracture behaviour of the PT tendon. The differences in the overturning acceleration caused by different initial forces in the PT tendon are computed by the theoretical method. The exact analytical solution to the linear approximate equation of motion is also provided for slender SCWs. Finally, the effects of the ductile behaviour of PT tendons on the rocking response of a SCW are analysed. The results demonstrate that SCWs exhibit two overturning modes under pulse excitation. The overturning region with Mode 1 in the PT force cases separates the safe region of the wall into two parts: region S1 with an elastic tendon and region S2 with a fractured tendon. The minimum overturning acceleration of a SCW with an elastic-brittle tendon becomes insensitive to excitation frequency as the PT force increases. After the plastic behaviour of the PT tendon is considered, the minimum overturning acceleration of a SCW is increased significantly in the whole range of the studied w_g/p.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.17 no.3_4
• /
• pp.573-591
• /
• 2004

A hybrid control system is presented for seismic-resistant building structures with and without soil-structure interaction (SSI). The hybrid control is a damper-actuator-bracing control system composed of passive and active controllers. An intelligent algorithm is developed for the hybrid system, in which the passive damper is designed for minor and moderate earthquakes and the active control is designed to activate when the structural response is greater than a given threshold quantity. Thus, the external energy for active controller can be optimally utilized. In the control of a multistory building, the controller placement is determined by evaluating the optimal location index (OLI) calculated from six earthquake sources. In the study, the soil-structure interaction is considered both in frequency domain and time domain analyses. It is found that the interaction can significantly affect the control effectiveness. In the hybrid control algorithm with intelligent strategy, the working stages of passive and active controllers can be different for a building with and without considering SSI. Thus SSI is essential to be included in predicting the response history of a controlled structure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.1017-1038
• /
• 2015

This paper presents a strengthening method that involves the use of ferrocement jackets and chamfers to relocate plastic hinge for non-seismically designed reinforced concrete exterior beam-column joints. An experimental study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening method. Four half-scale beam-column joints, including one control specimen and three strengthened specimens, were prepared and tested under quasi-static cyclic loading. Strengthening schemes include ferrocement jackets with or without skeleton reinforcements and one or two chamfers. Experimental results have indicated that the proposed strengthening method is effective to move plastic hinge from the joint to the beam and enhance seismic performance of beam-column joints. Shear stress and distortion within the joint region are also reduced significantly in strengthened specimens. Skeleton reinforcements in ferrocement provide limited improvement, except on crack control. Specimen strengthened by ferrocement jackets with one chamfer exhibits slight decrease in peak strength and energy dissipation but with increase in ductility as compared with that of two chamfers. Finally, a method for estimating moment capacity at beam-column interface for strengthened specimen is developed. The proposed method gives reasonable prediction and can ensure formation of plastic hinge at predetermined location in the beam.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.223-236
• /
• 2017

Seismic assessment and rehabilitation of Monumental Buildings constitute an important issue in many regions around the world to preserve cultural heritage. On the contrary, many recent earthquakes have demonstrated the high vulnerability of this type of structures. The high nonlinear masonry behaviour requires ad hoc refined finite element numerical models, whose complexity and computational costs are generally unsuitable for practical applications. For these reasons, several authors proposed simplified numerical strategies to be used in engineering practice. However, most of these alternative methods are oversimplified being based on the assumption of in-plane behaviour of masonry walls. Moreover, they cannot be used for modelling the monumental structures for which the interaction between plane and out-plane behaviour governs the structural response. Recently, an innovative discrete-modelling approach for the simulation of both in-plane and out of-plane response of masonry structures was proposed and applied to study several typologies of historic structures. In this paper the latter model is applied with reference to a real case study, and numerically compared with an advanced finite element modelling. The method is applied to the St.Venerio church in Reggiolo (Italy), damaged during the 2012 Emilia-Romagna earthquake and numerically investigated in the literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.11-21
• /
• 2017

It has been observed in the past that, the reinforced concrete (RC) bridge columns are very often subjected to torsional moment in addition to flexure and shear during seismic vibration. Ignoring torsion in the design can trigger unexpected shear failure of the columns (Farhey et al. 1993). Performance based seismic design is a popular design philosophy which calls for accurate prediction of the hysteresis behavior of structural elements to ensure safe and economical design under earthquake loading. However, very few investigations in the past focused on the development of analytical models to accurately predict the response of RC members under cyclic torsion. Previously developed hysteresis models are not readily applicable for torsional loading owing to significant pinching and stiffness degradation associated with torsion (Wang et al. 2014). The present study proposes an improved polygonal hysteresis model which can accurately predict the hysteretic behavior of RC circular and square columns under torsion. The primary curve is obtained from mechanics based softened truss model for torsion. The proposed model is validated with test data of two circular and two square columns. A good correlation is observed between the predicted and measured torque-twist behavior and dissipated energy.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.12 no.5
• /
• pp.515-527
• /
• 2017

Recently, Friction dampers become popular due to the desirable performance in the energy dissipation of lateral loads. A lot of research which has been conducted on these dampers results in developing friction dampers with low sensitivity to the number of cycles and temperature increases. Friction dampers impose high residual drifts to the buildings because of low post-yield stiffness of the damper which results from increasing lateral displacement and period of buildings. This issue can be more critical under strong aftershocks which results in increasing of structural damages. In this paper, in addition to the assessment of aftershock on steel buildings equipped with friction dampers, methods for controlling residual drifts and decreasing the costs of retrofitting are investigated. Utilizing rigid connections as a lateral dual system and activating lateral stiffness of gravity columns by adding elastic braces are as an example of effective methods investigated in this research. The results of nonlinear time history analyses on the low to medium rise steel frames equipped with friction dampers illustrate a rise in residual drifts as the result of aftershocks. In addition, the results show that different slip loads of friction damper can affect the residual drifts. Furthermore, elastic stories in comparison to rigid connections can reduce residual drifts of buildings in an effective fashion, when most slip loads of friction dampers are considered.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.28-36
• /
• 2014

This study describes the development of innovative connections between steel beams and concrete-filled tube columns that utilize a combination of low-carbon steel and super-elastic shape memory alloy components. The intent is to combine the recentering behavior provided by the shape memory alloys to reduce building damage and residual drift after a major earthquake with the excellent energy dissipation of the low-carbon steel. The analysis and design of structures requires that simple yet accurate models for the connection behavior be developed. The development of a simplified 2D spring connection model for cyclic loads from advanced 3D FE monotonic studies is described. The implementation of those models into non-linear frame analyses indicates hat the recentering systems will provide substantial benefits for smaller earthquakes and superior performance to all-welded moment frames for large earthquakes.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.714-719
• /
• 2002

In The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the general yield brittle fractures were observed in beam-column connections of steel building frames. Among many influencing factors which affect the general yield brittle fracture, it can be considered that fracture toughness has substantial effects. Some studies are making clear the required toughness for the base metal and the weld metal, but general values are not proposed. Moreover, it seems that it is also important to pay attention to the toughness decrease in the weld heat affected zone (weld HAZ), because the toughness decrease occurs in the HAZs of mild steel. In this paper, the relationship between toughness of simulated HAZs of "the rolled steels for building structures (SN)" and the weld heat-input limit of the SN steel are investigated, in an attempt to provide the required toughness for HAZs. The relationships between the increase of the hardness value and toughness, and changes of microstructure after weld heat-input are also discussed. The main results are summarized as follows. 1) The SN400B can keep its toughness at higher heat-inputs compare to the SN490Bs. 2) The steel grade, which becomes harder than other steel grades at the same heat-input, has smaller absorbed energy and smaller limit of heat-input. 3) The weld heat-input limit of the SN400B and the SN490B are proposed separately for some required toughness values.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.691-708
• /
• 2016

Recently, number of smart material are investigated and widely used in civil construction and other industries. Present study investigates the application of smart semi-active piezoelectric friction damper (PFD) made with piezoelectric material for the seismic control of the horizontally curved bridge isolated with lead rubber bearing (LRB). The main aim of the study is to investigate the effectiveness of hybrid system and to find out the optimum parameters of PFD for seismic control of the curved bridge. The selected curved bridge is a continuous three-span concrete box girder supported on pier and rigid abutment. The PFD is located between the deck and abutments or piers in chord and radial directions. The bridge is excited with four different earthquake ground motions with all three components (i.e. two horizontal and a vertical) having different characteristics. It is observed that the use of semi-active PFD with LRB is quite effective in controlling the response of the curved bridge as compared with passive system. The incorporation of the smart damper requiring small amount of energy in addition with an isolation system can be used for effective control the curved bridge against the dynamic loading.