• Wind and Structures
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.609-627
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• 2013

The Yingxian wooden tower in China is currently the tallest wooden tower in the world. It was built in 1056 AD and is 65.86 m high. Field measurements of wind speed and wind-induced response of this tower are conducted. The wind characteristics, including the average wind speed, wind direction, turbulence intensity, gust factor, turbulence integral length scale and velocity spectrum are investigated. The power spectral density and the root-mean-square wind-induced acceleration are analyzed. The structural modal parameters of this tower are identified with two different methods, including the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) combined with the Random Decrement Technique (RDT) and Hilbert transform technique, and the stochastic subspace identification (SSI) method. Results show that strong wind is coming predominantly from the West-South of the tower which is in the same direction as the inclination of the structure. The Von Karman spectrum can describe the spectrum of wind speed well. Wind-induced torsional vibration obviously occurs in this tower. The natural frequencies identified by EMD, RDT and Hilbert Transform are close to those identified by SSI method, but there is obvious difference between the identified damping ratios for the first two modes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.273-289
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• 2020

Due to the unique construction method of modular steel buildings (MSBs) with units prefabricated fully off the site and assembled quickly on the site, the inter-module connection for easy operation and overall performance of the system were key issues. However, it was a lack of relevant research on the system-level performance of MSBs. This study investigated the seismic performance of two-storey modular steel structure with a proposed vertical rotary inter-module connection. Three full-scale quasi-static tests, with and without corrugated steel plate and its combination, were carried out to evaluate and compare their seismic behaviour. The hysteretic performance, skeleton curves, ductile performance, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation capacity, and deformation pattern were clarified. The results showed that good ductility and plastic deformation ability of such modular steel structures. Two lateral-force resistance mechanisms with different layout combinations were also discussed in detail. The corrugated steel plate could significantly improve the lateral stiffness and bearing capacity of the modular steel structure. The cooperative working mechanism of modules and inter-module connections was further analyzed. When the lateral stiffness of upper and lower modular structures was close, limited bending moment transfer may be considered for the inter-module connection. While a large lateral stiffness difference existed initially between the upper and lower structures, an obvious gap occurred at the inter-module connection, and this gap may significantly influence the bending moments transferred by the inter-module connections. Meanwhile, several design recommendations of inter-module connections were also given for the application of MSBs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.761-769
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• 2017

Accurately extracting the axle distribution information of a passing vehicle from bridge dynamic responses experiences a key and challenging step in non-pavement bridge weigh-in-motion (BWIM). In this article, the wavelet transformation is adopted and the wavelet coefficient curve is used as a substitute for dynamic response. The driving frequency is introduced and expanded to multi-axle vehicle, and the wavelet coefficient curve on specific scale corresponding to the driving frequency is confirmed to contain obvious axle information. On this basis, an automatic method for axle distribution information identification is proposed. The specific wavelet scale can be obtained through iterative computing, and the false peaks due to bridge vibration can be eliminated through cross-correlation analysis of the wavelet coefficients of two measure points. The integrand function that corresponds to the maximum value of the cross-correlation function is used to identify the peaks caused by axles. A numerical application of the proposed axle information identification method is carried out. Numerical results demonstrate that this method acquires precise axle information from the responses of an axle-insensitive structure (e.g., girder) and decreases the requirement of sensitivity structure of BWIM. Finally, an experimental study on a full-scale simply supported bridge is also conducted to verify the effectiveness of this method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.517-532
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• 2023

Tower structures have been widely used in communication and transmission engineering. The failure of joints is the leading cause of structure failure, which make it play a crucial role in tower structure engineering. In this study, the aluminum alloy three tube tower structure is taken as the prototype, and the middle joint of the tower was selected as the research object. Three different stainless steel-aluminum alloy composite joints (SACJs), denoted by TA, TB and TC, were designed. Finite element (FE) modeling analysis was used to compare and determine the TC joint as the best solution. Detail requirements of fasteners in the TC stainless steel-aluminum alloy composite joint (TC-SACJ) were designed and verified. In order to systematically and comprehensively study the mechanical properties of TC-SACJ under multi-directional loading conditions, the full-scale experiments and FE simulation models were all performed for mechanical response analysis. The failure modes, load-carrying capacities, and axial load versus displacement/stain testing curves of all full-scale specimens under tension/compression loading conditions were obtained. The results show that the maximum vertical displacement of aluminum alloy tube is 26.9mm, and the maximum lateral displacement of TC-SACJs is 1.0 mm. In general, the TC-SACJs are in an elastic state under the design load, which meet the design requirements and has a good safety reserve. This work can provide references for the design and engineering application of aluminum alloy tower structures.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.179-204
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• 2009

A physical and numerical steady flow impinging jet has been used to simulate the bulk characteristics of a downburst-like wind field. The influence of downdraft tilt and surface roughness on the ensuing wall jet flow has been investigated. It was found that a simulated downdraft impinging the surface at a non-normal angle has the potential for causing larger structural loads than the normal impingement case. It was also found that for the current impinging jet simulations, surface roughness played a minor role in determining the storm maximum wind structure, but this influence increased as the wall jet diverged. However, through comparison with previous research it was found that the influence of surface roughness is Reynolds number dependent and therefore may differ from that reported herein for full-scale downburst cases. Using the current experimental results an empirical model has been developed for laboratory-scale impinging jet velocity structure that includes the influence of both jet tilt and surface roughness.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.633-656
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• 2001

In this paper, modal control with direct output feedback is formulated in a systematic manner for easy implementation. Its application to the seismic protection of structural systems is verified by a shaking table test, which involves a full-scale building model and an active bracing system as the control device. Two modal control cases, namely, one full-state feedback and one direct output feedback control were tested and compared. The experimental result shows that in mitigating the seismic response of building structures, modal control with direct output feedback can be as effective and efficient as that with full-state feedback control. For practical concerns, the control performance of the proposed method in the presence of sensor noise and stiffness modeling error was also investigated. The numerical result shows that although the control force may be increased, the maximum floor displacements of the controlled structure are very insensitive to sensor noise and modeling error.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2004

The discovery of biochemical and cellular functions of unannotated gene products begins with a database search of proteins with structure/sequence homologues based on known genes. Very recently, a number of frontier groups in structural biology proposed a new paradigm to predict biological functions of an unknown protein on the basis of its three-dimensional structure on a genomic scale. Structural proteomics (genomics), a research area for structure-based functional discovery, aims to complete the protein-folding universe of all gene products in a cell. It would lead us to a complete understanding of a living organism from protein structure. Two major complementary experimental techniques, X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, combined with recently developed high throughput methods have played a central role in structural proteomics research; however, an integration of these methodologies together with comparative modeling and electron microscopy would speed up the goal for completing a full dictionary of protein folding space in the near future.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.659-678
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• 2014

The study is aimed at investigating the feasibility of a high TRL solution for a wing flap segment characterized by morphable camber airfoil and properly tailored to be implemented on a real-scale regional transportation aircraft. On the base of specific aerodynamic requirements in terms of target airfoil shapes and related external loads, the structural layout of the device was preliminarily defined. Advanced FE analyses were then carried out in order to properly size the load-carrying structure and the embedded actuation system. A full scale limited span prototype was finally manufactured and tested to: ${\bullet}$ demonstrate the morphing capability of the conceived structural layout; ${\bullet}$ demonstrate the capability of the morphing structure to withstand static loads representative of the limit aerodynamic pressures expected in service; ${\bullet}$ characterize the dynamic behavior of the morphing structure through the identification of the most significant normal modes. Obtained results showed high correlation levels with respect to numerical expectations thus proving the compliance of the device with the design requirements as well as the goodness of modeling approaches implemented during the design phase.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.522-529
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• 2017

Air gun shock system is used as an alternative energy source as part of the attempt to overcome the restrictions of economical expense and environmental damage, etc., due to the use of explosives for the UNDerwater EXplosion (UNDEX) shock test. The objectivity of this study is to develop the simulation technique of air gun shock test for the design of model-scale one for the near field non-explosive UNDEX test through its verification with full-scale SERCEL shock test result. Underwater blasting response analysis of full-scale air gun shock test was carried out using highly advanced M&S (Modeling & Simulation) system of FSI (Fluid-Structure Interaction) analysis technique of LS-DYNA code, and was verified by comparing its shock characteristics and behaviors with the results of air gun shock test.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.393-409
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• 2014

Across-wind response is often the cause of significant structural vibrations that in turn cause fatigue damage to welded and other connections. The efficacy of low-cost helical strakes to mitigate such adverse response is presented for a traffic signal structure. Field observations are made on a prototype structure in a natural wind environment without and with helical strakes installed on the cantilevered arm. Through continuous monitoring, the strakes were found to be effective in reducing across-wind response at wind speeds less than 10 m/s. Estimates of fatigue life are made for four different geographical locations and wind environments. Results for the class of traffic signal structure show that helical arm strakes are most effective in locations with benign wind environments where the average annual wind speed is not more than the vortex shedding wind speed, which for this investigation is 5 m/s. It is concluded that while strakes may be effective, it is not the panacea to mitigating connection fatigue at all locations.