• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.661-667
• /
• 2011

In the famous equivalent elasticity modulus method proposed by Ernst for the geometrical nonlinear analysis of stay cables, the cable shape was assumed as a parabolic curve, and only a part of the gravity load normal to the chord was taken into account with the other part of gravity load parallel to the chord being ignored. Using the actual catenary curve and considering the entire gravity load of stay cables, the present study has derived the equivalent stiffness method to analyze the sag effect of stay cables in cable-stayed bridges. The derived equivalent stiffness can be degenerated into Ernst's equivalent elasticity modulus method with some approximations. Therefore, the Ernst's method is a special and approximate formulation of the present method. The derived equivalent stiffness provides a theoretical explanation for the famous Ernst's formula.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.735-751
• /
• 2014

In the previous paper, authors proposed the unified equivalent frame method (UEFM) for the lateral behavior analysis of the flat plate structure subjected to the combined gravity and lateral loads, in which the rotations of torsional members were distributed to the equivalent column and the equivalent slab according to the relative ratio of gravity and lateral loads. In this paper, the lateral behavior of the multi-span flat plate structures under various levels of combined gravity and lateral loads were analyzed by the proposed UEFM, which were compared with test results as well as those estimated by existing models. In addition, to consider the stiffness degradation of the flat plate system after cracking, the stiffness reduction factors for torsional members were derived from the test results of the interior and exterior slab-column connection specimens, based on which the simplified nonlinear push-over analysis method for flat plate structures was proposed. The simplified nonlinear analysis method provided good agreements with test results and is considered to be very useful for the practical design of the flat plate structures under the combined gravity and lateral loads.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.259-281
• /
• 2015

In this study, a structural identification method is proposed to assess the integrity of gravity-type caisson structures by analyzing vibration features. To achieve the objective, the following approaches are implemented. Firstly, a simplified structural model with a few degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) is formulated to represent the gravity-type caisson structure that corresponds to the sensors' DOFs. Secondly, a structural identification algorithm based on the use of vibration characteristics of the limited DOFs is formulated to fine-tune stiffness and damping parameters of the structural model. Finally, experimental evaluation is performed on a lab-scaled gravity-type caisson structure in a 2-D wave flume. For three structural states including an undamaged reference, a water-level change case, and a foundation-damage case, their corresponding structural integrities are assessed by identifying structural parameters of the three states by fine-tuning frequency response functions, natural frequencies and damping factors.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 1995.10a
• /
• pp.312-316
• /
• 1995

Flat-plate buildings are commonly modeled as two-dimensional frames to calculate lateral drift, unbalanced moments, and shear at slab-column connections. For gravity loads. the slab-column frames are analyzed using equivalent column approach, while equivalent beam approach is typical for lateral loads. The equivalent beam approach is convenient for computer analysis, but no rational procedure exists for determining the effective width of foor slabs. At present, the determination of the equivalent slab width and its stiffness is a matter of engineering judgement. To account for cracking, overly conservative assumptions are made regarding the stiffness of the slab. A rational approach is therefore needed to realistically estimate the equivalent slab width and its stiffness for unbalanced moment and lateral drift calculations. Based on the test results of 8 interior slab-column connections, an equivalent beam model is proposed in which columns are modeled conventionally as a function of column and slab aspect ratios and the magnitude of the gravity load. the proposed approach is verified with selected experimental results and is founded to be practical and convenient for analyzing flat-plate buildings subjected to gravity and lateral loading.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.2654-2659
• /
• 2003

In this paper, we present biomimetic hopping strategy which is more human-like for legged robot through stiffness modulation. Stiffness value is calculated from the motion of body center of gravity. This method enable to reduce impact force on touch-down, adaption on ground stiffness change and height modulation. Simple selected models will be used to validate this method. For general model, singular perturbation is used for control and simulation using stiffness modulation is presented.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.3-10
• /
• 2003

The use of frequency-dependent dynamic stiffness matrix (or spectral element matrix) in structural dynamics may provide very accurate solutions, while it reduces the number of degrees-of-freedom to improve the computational efficiency and cost problems. Thus, this paper develops a spectral element model for the thin plates moving with constant speed under uniform in-plane tension and gravity. The concept of Kantorovich method and the principle of virtual displacement is used in the frequency-domain to formulate the dynamic stiffness matrix. The present spectral element model is evaluated by comparing its solutions with the exact analytical solutions. The effects of moving speed, in-plane tension and gravity on the natural frequencies of the plate are numerically investigated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.9 no.4 s.33
• /
• pp.611-623
• /
• 1997

This paper provides the results of an experimental and analytical study performed on the beam to Concrete Filled Circular Steel Column connections with the external stiffener rings under the gravity loads. Specimens are modeled as a 1/4 scale of the beam-columns as gravity loads are applied to a multi-story frame. Important parameters in this study are the width of the external rings, the diameter-thickness ratios of column and whether or not the external rings are welded to the circular column. A total of 20 specimens are tested to clarify the structural behavior of the CFT column connections with the external stiffener rings. The test results are summarized for the yield and maximum strength and stiffness. The existing design equations for the allowable and yield load capacities are referred to verify the structural characteristics for the connections.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2003.03a
• /
• pp.302-310
• /
• 2003

Cracking of slabs will be caused by applied load and volume changes during the life of a structure and thus it reduces flexural stiffness of slabs. The effect of slab cracking must be considered for appropriate modeling of the flexural stiffness for frame members used in structural analysis. Analytical and experimental study was undertaken to estimate the stiffness reduction of slabs. In the analytical approach, the trend of slab stiffness reduction related to gravity and lateral loads is found and the stiffness reduction factor ranged from a half to a quarter in ACI building code is reasonable when defining range. Analyzing results of the test by Hwang and Moehle for 0.5% drift show that the differences of rotational stiffness on the connection types is found and good results of lateral stiffness using the value of one-third is obtained.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.183-204
• /
• 2012

Several issues regarding the structural idealization of steel buildings with perimeter moment resisting steel frames (MRSFs) and interior gravity frames (GFs) are studied. Results indicate that the contribution of GFs to the lateral structural resistance may be significant. The contribution increases when the stiffness of the connection of the GFs is considered and is larger for inelastic than for elastic behavior. The interstory shears generally increase when the connections stiffness is taken into account. Resultant stresses at some base columns of MRSFs also increase in some cases but to a lesser degree. For columns of the GFs, however, the increment is significant. Results also indicate that modeling the building as planes frames may result in larger interstory shears and displacements and resultant stresses than those obtained from the more realistic 3-D formulation. These differences may be much larger when semi-rigid (SR) connections are considered. The conservativism is more for resultant stresses. The differences observed in the behaviour of each structural representation are mainly due to a) the elements that contribute to strength and stiffness and b) the dynamics characteristics of each structural representation. It is concluded that, if the structural system under consideration is used, the three-dimensional model should be used in seismic analysis, the GFs should be considered as part of the lateral resistance system, and the stiffness of the connections should be included in the design of the GFs. Otherwise, the capacity of gravity frames may be overestimated while that of MRSFs may be underestimated.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.11-22
• /
• 2017

There are two methods to model the plastification of members comprising lumped and distributed plasticity. When a reinforced concrete member experiences inelastic deformations, cracks tend to spread from the joint interface resulting in a curvature distribution; therefore, the lumped plasticity methods assuming plasticity is concentrated at a zero-length plastic hinge section at the ends of the elements, cannot model the actual behavior of reinforced concrete members. Some spread plasticity models including uniform, linear and recently power have been developed to take extended inelastic zone into account. In the aforementioned models, the extended inelastic zones in proximity of critical sections assumed close to connections are considered. Although the mentioned assumption is proper for the buildings simply imposed lateral loads, it is not appropriate for the gravity load effects. The gravity load effects can influence the inelastic zones in structural elements; therefore, the plasticity models presenting the flexibility distribution along the member merely based on lateral loads apart from the gravity load effects can bring about incorrect stiffness matrix for structure. In this study, the linear flexibility distribution model is improved to account for the distributed plasticity of members subjected to both gravity and lateral load effects. To do so, a new model in which, each member is taken as one structural element into account is proposed. Some numerical examples from previous studies are assessed and outcomes confirm the accuracy of proposed model. Also comparing the results of the proposed model with other spread plasticity models illustrates glaring error produced due to neglecting the gravity load effects.