• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 2011

The purpose of this research was to analyze the connections of the seismic-performance values for domestic-performance-based designs. Basic research on the performance design method has been increasing of late, along with performance-based organization investigations. These investigations concern the performance level state of steel structure buildings. According to the performance limit state, seismic-performance values should be presented as appropriate steel structure engineering amounts. The first step, based on the full-scale steel structure experiments, involves researching on the making of a basic document. The moment-rotation angle relationship results of the experiment on the moment-frame connection were used to assort the functional and undamaged limits, which were assumed to be less than the yield moment. Moreover, the repairable and safety limits, which were assumed to exist between the yield and maximum moments, were assorted by investigating the accumulated plastic deformation ratio.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.203-217
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• 2014

Due to the shift in paradigm from passive control to adaptive control, smart tuned mass dampers (STMDs) have received considerable attention for vibration control in tall buildings and bridges. STMDs are superior to tuned mass dampers (TMDs) in reducing the response of the primary structure. Unlike TMDs, STMDs are capable of accommodating the changes in primary structure properties, due to damage or deterioration, by tuning in real time based on a local feedback. In this paper, a novel adaptive-length pendulum (ALP) damper is developed and experimentally verified. Length of the pendulum is adjusted in real time using a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire actuator. This can be achieved in two ways i) by changing the amount of current in the SMA wire actuator or ii) by changing the effective length of current carrying SMA wire. Using an instantaneous frequency tracking algorithm, the dominant frequency of the structure can be tracked from a local feedback signal, then the length of pendulum is adjusted to match the dominant frequency. Effectiveness of the proposed ALP-STMD mechanism, combined with the STFT frequency tracking control algorithm, is verified experimentally on a prototype two-storey shear frame. It has been observed through experimental studies that the ALP-STMD absorbs most of the input energy associated in the vicinity of tuned frequency of the pendulum damper. The reduction of storey displacements up to 80 % when subjected to forced excitation (harmonic and chirp-signal) and a faster decay rate during free vibration is observed in the experiments.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.807-819
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• 2019

In recent earthquakes, the failure of ceiling systems has been one of the most widely reported damage and the major cause of functionality interruption in some buildings. In an effort to mitigate this damage, some scholars have studied a series of ceiling systems including plaster ceilings and mineral wool ceilings. But few studies have involved the backdrop metal ceiling used in some important constructions with higher rigidity and frequency such as the main control area of nuclear power plants. Therefore, in order to evaluate its seismic performance, a full-scale backdrop metal ceiling system, including steel runners and metal panels, was designed, fabricated and installed in a steel frame in this study. And the backdrop metal ceiling system with two perimeter attachments variants was tested: (i) the ends of the runners were connected with the angle steel to form an effective lateral constraint around the backdrop metal ceiling, (ii) the perimeter attachments of the main runner were retained, but the perimeter attachments of the cross runner were removed. In the experiments, different damage of the backdrop metal ceiling system was observed in detail under various earthquakes. Results showed that the backdrop metal ceiling had good integrity and excellent seismic performance. And the perimeter attachments of the cross runner had an adverse effect on the seismic performance of the backdrop metal ceiling under earthquakes. Meanwhile, a series of seismic construction measures and several suggestions that need to be paid attention were proposed in the text so that the backdrop metal ceiling can be better applied in the main control area of nuclear power plants and other important engineering projects.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2019

The structural system of domestic high-rise apartments can be divided into two parts; the core wall system, which is composed of walls concentrated in the center and the shear wall system, which comprises a great number of walls distributed in the plan. In order to analyze the lateral behavior of each system, buildings with typical domestic high-rise apartment plans were selected and nonlinear static analysis was performed to investigate the their collapse mechanism. From the force-displacement relation derived from nonlinear static analysis, response modification factor was evaluated by calculating the overstrengh and ductility factor, which are important in the seismic response. The ductility of core wall system is small, but as it is governed by wind load, its overstrength is greatly estimated, and its response modification factor is calculated by the overstrengh factor. Due to a large number of walls, shear wall system has a large ductility, making the response modification factor considerably large.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.443-456
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• 2019

Although numerous researchers demonstrated the significant difference in performance between the various beam-to-column connection types, most of the previous studies in the area of infilled steel frames focused on the behaviour of frames with welded connections. Therefore, there is a need for conducting studies on infilled steel frames with other common connection types (extended endplate with and without rib stiffeners, flush endplate and shear connections). In this paper, firstly, a two-dimensional finite-element model simulating the cyclic response of infilled steel frames was presented. The infill-frame interaction, as well as the interactions between connections' components, were properly modelled. Using the previously-validated model, a parametric study on infilled steel frames with five different beam-to-column connection types, under cyclic loading, was carried out. Several parameters, including infill material, fracture energy of masonry and infill thickness, were investigated. The results showed that the infilled frames with welded connections had the highest initial stiffness and load-carrying capacity. However, the infilled frames with extended endplate connections (without rib stiffeners) showed the greatest energy dissipation capacity and about 96% of the load-carrying capacity of frames with welded connections which indicates that this type of connection could have the best performance among the studied connection types. Finally, a simplified analytical model for estimating the stiffness and strength of infilled steel frames (with different beam-to-column connection types) subjected to lateral cyclic loading, was suggested.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2021

The utilization of buildings can be improved by extending them vertically. However, the added load of the extension might require building foundations to be underpinned; otherwise, the loads on the foundations might exceed their bearing capacity. In this study, a preloading method was presented aiming at transferring partial loads from existing piles to underpinning piles. A pneumatic-type model preloading device was developed and used to carry out centrifuge experiments to evaluate the load-displacement behavior of piles, the pile-soil interaction during preloading, and the additional loading caused by vertical extension. The results showed that the preloading devices effectively transfer load from existing piles to underpinning piles. In the additional loading test of group piles, the load-sharing ratio of a pile increased with its stiffness. The load-sharing ratio of a preloaded micropile was less than that of a non-preloaded micropile as a result of the reduction in axial stiffness caused by preloading before additional loading. Therefore, a slight reduction of the load-sharing capacity of an underpinning pile should be considered if the preloading method is applied. Further, two full scale preloading devices was developed. The devices preload underpinning piles and thereby produce reaction forces on a reaction frame to jack existing piles upward, thus transferring load from the existing piles to the underpinning piles. Specifically, screw-type and hydraulic-jack type devices were developed for the practical application of foundation underpinning during vertical extension, and their operability and load transfer effect verified via full-scale structural experiments.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.457-472
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• 2021

Reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in Taiwan have suffered failure from strong earthquakes, which was magnified by the non-ductile detailing frames. Inadequate reinforcement as a consequence of the design philosophy prior to the introduction of current standards resulted in severe damage in the column and beam-column joint (BCJ). This study establishes a finite element analysis (FEA) of the non-ductile detailing RC column, BCJ, and three-story building that was previously tested through a tri-axial shaking table test. The results were then validated to laboratory specimens having the exact same dimensions and properties. FEA simulation integrates the concrete damage plasticity model and the elastic-perfectly plastic model for steel. The load-displacement responses of the column and BCJ specimens obtained from FEA were in a reasonable agreement with the experimental curves. The resulting initial stiffness and maximum base shear were found to be a close approximation to the experimental results. Also, the findings of a dynamic analysis of the three-story building showed that the time-history data of acceleration and displacement correlated well with the shaking table test results. This indicates the FEA implementation can be effectively used to predict the RC frame performance and failure mode under seismic loads.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.613-625
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• 2021

Non-seismically designed eccentric reinforced concrete beam-column joints were extensively used in existing reinforced concrete frame buildings, which were found to be vulnerable to seismic action in many incidences. To provide a fundamental understanding of the seismic performance and failure mechanism of the joints, three 2/3-scale exterior beam-column joints with non-seismically designed details were cast and tested under reversed cyclic loads simulating earthquake excitation. In this investigation, particular emphasis was given on the effects of the eccentricity between the centerlines of the beam and the column. It is shown that the eccentricity had significant effects on the damage characteristics, shear strength, and displacement ductility of the specimens. In addition, shear deformation and the strain of joint hoops were found to concentrate on the eccentric face of the joint. The results demonstrated that the specimen with an eccentricity of 1/4 column width failed in a brittle manner with premature joint shear failure, while the other specimens with less or no eccentricity failed in a ductile manner with joint shear failure after beam flexural yielding. Test results are compared with those predicted by three seismic design codes and two non-seismic design codes. In general, the codes do not accurately predict the shear strength of the eccentric joints with non-seismic details.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.121-131
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• 2007

This study is to investigate the damage assessment of adjacent structures due to excavation in urban environment. Model tests were carried out for 2 story masonry building and frame structures in various shapes and locations. The damage level of adjacent structures were very differently estimated in accordance with the shape ratio (L/h) of structures, construction stages, and various locations. Therefore the most weak part (bay) of structure must be heavily instrumented and monitored in more details at early stage of constructions. The progressive crack development mechanism at various construction stages was revealed through model tests and crack size indicated more conservative side of damage level on the damage level graph.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.317-331
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• 2023

The buckling-restrained braced frames with eccentric configurations (BRBFECs) are stable cyclic behavior and high energy absorption capacity. Furthermore, they have an architectural advantage for creating openings like eccentrically braced frames (EBFs). In the present study, it has been suggested to use the performance-based plastic design (PBPD) method to calculate the design base shear of the BRBFEC systems. Moreover, in this study, to reduce the required steel material, it has been suggested to use the performance-based practical design (PBPD) method instead of the force-based design (FBD) method for the design of this system. The 3-, 6-, and 9-story buildings with the BRBFEC system were designed, and the finite element models were modeled. The seismic performance of the models was investigated using two suits of ground motions representing the maximum considered earthquake (MCE) and design basis earthquake (DBE) seismic hazard levels. The results showed that the models designed with the suggested method, which had lower weights compared to those designed with the FBD method, had a desirable seismic performance in terms of maximum story drift and ductility demand under earthquakes at both MCE and DBE seismic hazard levels. This suggests that the steel weights of the structures designed with the PBPD method are about 13% to 18% lesser than the FBD method. However, the residual drifts in these models were higher than those in the models designed with the FBD method. Also, in earthquakes at the DBE hazard level, the residual drifts in all models except the PBPD-6s and PBPD-9s models were less than the allowable reparability limit.