• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 2015

Physical and chemical weathering degrades rock, affecting its structural properties and thus the stability of stone buildings or other structures. Confocal laser scan microscopy (CLSM) is used here to observe temporal changes in the surface roughness of rock samples under simulated accelerated weathering. Samples were pressurized to 50, 55, or 70 MPa using a pressure frame, and subjected to freeze/thaw cycling controlled by a thermostat. The temperature was cycled from -20℃ to 40℃ and back. After each 20 cycles, CLSM was used to assess the change in surface roughness, and roughness factors were calculated to quantify the progression of the surface condition over time. Variations in cross-section line-roughness parameters and surface-roughness parameters were analyzed for specific parts of the sample surfaces at 5× and 50× magnification. The result reveals that the highest and lowest values of the roughness factors are changed according to elapsed time. Freezing/thawing at high pressure caused larger changes in the roughness factor than at low pressure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.73-91
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• 2015

The effectiveness of tuned mass dampers (TMDs) in reducing the seismic response of civil structures is still a debated issue. The few studies regarding TMDs on inelastic structures indicate that they would perform well under moderate earthquake loading, when the structure remains linear or weakly nonlinear, while tending to fail under severe ground shaking, when the structure experiences strong nonlinearities. TMD seismic efficiency should be therefore rationally assessed by considering to which extent moderate and severe earthquakes respectively contribute to the expected cost of damages and losses over the lifespan of the structure. In this paper, a method for evaluating, in a life-cycle cost (LCC) perspective, the seismic effectiveness of TMDs on inelastic building structures is presented and exemplified on the SAC LA 9-storey steel moment-resisting frame benchmark building. Results show that the LCC concept may provide an appropriate alternative to traditional performance criteria for the evaluation of the effectiveness of TMDs and that TMD installation on typical existing middle-rise buildings in high seismic hazard regions may significantly reduce building lifetime cost despite the poor control performance observed under the most severe seismic events.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.17 no.3_4
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• pp.539-556
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• 2004

In this paper, the design, fabrication and characterization of a piezoelectric friction damper are presented. It was sized with the proposed practical procedure to minimize the story drift and floor acceleration of an existing 1/4-scale, three-story frame structure under both near-fault and far-field earthquakes. The design operation friction force in kip was numerically determined to range from 2.2 to 3.3 times the value of the peak ground acceleration in g (gravitational acceleration). Experimental results indicated that the load-displacement loop of the damper is nearly rectangular in shape and independent of the excitation frequency. The coefficient of friction of the damper is approximately 0.85 when the clamping force on the damper is above 400 lbs. It was found that the friction force variation of the damper generated by piezoelectric actuators with 1000 Volts is approximately 90% of the expected value. The properties of the damper are insensitive to its ambient temperature and remain almost the same after being tested for more than 12,000 cycles.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.167-186
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• 2007

Ductility based design of reinforced concrete structures implicitly assumes certain damage under the action of a design basis earthquake. The damage undergone by a structure needs to be quantified, so as to assess the post-seismic reparability and functionality of the structure. The paper presents an analytical method of quantification and location of seismic damage, through system identification methods. It may be noted that soft ground storied buildings are the major casualties in any earthquake and hence the example structure is a soft or weak first storied one, whose seismic response and temporal variation of damage are computed using a non-linear dynamic analysis program (IDARC) and compared with a normal structure. Time period based damage identification model is used and suitably calibrated with classic damage models. Regenerated stiffness of the three degrees of freedom model (for the three storied frame) is used to locate the damage, both on-line as well as after the seismic event. Multi resolution analysis using wavelets is also used for localized damage identification for soft storey columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.243-264
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• 2008

This paper details a testing facility ("NATURAL FIRE FACILITY") that allows closely-controlled experimental testing on full-scale sub-frames while reproducing the spatially transient temperature conditions measured in real fires. Using this test facility, an experimental investigation of six steel sub-frames under a natural fire was carried out at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Coimbra. The main objective of these tests was to provide insight into the influence of these connection types on the behaviour of steel sub-structures under fire. The experimental layout is defined by two thermally insulated HEA300 columns and an unprotected IPE300 beam with 5.7 m span, supporting a composite concrete slab. Beam-to-column connections are representative of the most common joint type used on buildings: welded joints and extended, flush and partial depth plate. Finally, the available results are presented and discussed: evolution of the steel temperature; development of displacements and local deformations and failure modes on the joints zone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2010

Formwork is a temporary structure that supports its weight and that of fresh concrete as well as construction live loads. Scaffoling is a temporary frame used to support people and material in the construction or repair of buildings and other large structures. It is usually a modular system of metal pipes, although it can be made out of other materials. Bamboo is still used in some Asian countries like China. The purpose of a working scaffold is to provide a safe place of work with safe access suitable for the work being done. In construction site, steel pipes are usually used as scaffolds. In this study, scaffolding systems which is changed according to sleeper and joist space were measured by buckling test. Buckling load of respective scaffolding system was analyzed by structural analysis program(MIDAS). Buckling load of scaffold with/without wall connection and footboard was got by test and structural analysis. According to these results，we know that scaffolding system of case 3 is suitable. Buckling load of scaffold with wall connection is higher than without wall connection. So wall connection is important in scaffoling systems. Footboard in the scaffolding systems is not effective against promotion of buckling load. Finally, the present study results will be used to design scaffolding systems safely in the construction sites.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2011

Currently, office buildings in Korea tend to adopt as their outer wall the curtain wall structure which can be easily constructed and has beautiful external appearance as well. However, the problem is that the curtain wall structure does not have a uniform composition unlike the wall of existing reinforced concrete structures and has a frame made of metal with high heat conduction. Therefore, it is expected that the structure will be highly influenced by the thermal bridge. Thereupon, this study analyzes how to set up the composition of the wall system and heat transmission rate in consideration of the thermal characteristics of the curtain wall structure and applies it in practice by simulation in order to propose a guideline for the energy simulation method of the curtain wall structure and analyze its differences from existing simulation methods.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.828-835
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• 2017

Airtightness of buildings is one of critical aspects of its energy performance. To build up references of airtightness of wooden houses built in Korea, blower door tests have been carried out in 42 houses since 2006. Causes of air leakage were investigated recently. The average value of air change rate was $3.7h^{-1}$ for light frame house and $5.5h^{-1}$ for post-beam construction at ACH50 (air change per hour at 50 Pa air pressure difference). Foam type insulation was more advantageous in ensuring building airtightness than glass fiber batt. Airtightness of wooden houses which were constructed after 2010 was improved to have less than $1.5h^{-1}$ of ACH50, threshold for application of artificial air change. The average air change rate of CLT (cross laminated timber) houses showed the lowest value, $1.1h^{-1}$, among the tested structures.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.31-42
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• 2017

This study investigates how the spatial recognition structure is emerging through the case of rectangular plan combined with a combination of Dang-Sil(堂室) and Gong(工) shape roof, and identifies a type of architecture in the early Joseon Dynasty that has never been revealed. The conclusion of this study is as follows. First, the Dang and the Sil are connected to each other, but the architectural elements such as pillars, frame, and windows are distinguished and appear as separate buildings. Second, the distinction between Dang and Sil is evident by the difference in the number of ridges and the shape of the roof. In addition, the roof and roof framework of the independent rooms and the rooms were common in the right angled architecture where the direction and the expandability of each structure were maintained. Third, the construction of the Dang-Sil combined structure, in which two or more structure frameworks were combined with the rectangular combined flat roof structure, gradually changed into a single structure with a single ridge. Fourth, this change means that people of the early Joseon Dynasty recognized the Dang and Sil as separate architecture, but the strict sense of spatial separation has disappeared over time.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1171-1186
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• 2014

Damping is one of the parameters that control the performance of structures when they are subjected to seismic, wind, blast or other transient shock and vibration disturbances. By adding supplemental viscous dampers, the energy input from a transient deformation is absorbed, not only by the structure itself, but also by the supplemental dampers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the values of both damping and ductility reduction factors for steel moment resisting frames with supplemental linear viscous dampers. Two-dimensional finite element models have been established for a range of low to mid rise buildings with different parameters: number of floors; number of bays; and number of dampers with different supplemental damping ratios (from 5% to 30%). A parametric study has been performed using time history analyses and a well-documented research method (N2-method). In addition, an equation has been proposed for each reduction factor based on regression analysis for the obtained results. The results of the Time history analyses are compared with those of a modified N2-method. Moreover, a comparison with values specified in the European code EC8 and the Egyptian code ECP-201 has been performed.