• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.473-489
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• 2002

A static linear programming formulation for minimum weight design of frames that is based on a matrix displacement method is presented in this paper. According to elementary theory of plasticity, minimum weight design of frames can be carried out by using only the equilibrium equations, because the system is statically determinate when at an incipient collapse state. In the present formulation, a statically determinate released frame is defined by introducing hinges into the real frame and the bending moments in yield constraints are expressed in terms of unit hinge rotations and the external loads respectively, by utilizing the matrix displacement method. Conventional Simplex algorithm with some modifications is utilized for the solution of linear programming problem. As the formulation is based on matrix displacement method, it may be easily adopted to the weight optimization of frames with displacement and deformation limitations. Four illustrative examples are also given for comparing the results to those obtained in previous studies.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.243-262
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• 2012

Nonlinear static analysis as an essential part of performance based design is now widely used especially at design offices because of its simplicity and ability to predict seismic demands on inelastic response of buildings. Since the accuracy of nonlinear static procedures (NSP) to predict seismic demands of buildings affects directly on the entire performance based design procedure, therefore lots of research has been performed on the area of evaluation of these procedures. In this paper, one of the popular NSP, FEMA356, is evaluated and compared with modal pushover analysis. The ability of these procedures to simulate seismic demands in a set of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings is explored with two level of base acceleration through a comparison with benchmark results determined from a set of nonlinear time history analyses. According to the results of this study, the modal pushover analysis procedure estimates seismic demands of buildings like inter story drifts and hinges plastic rotations more accurate than FEMA356 procedure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제53권4호
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• pp.745-765
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• 2015

A nonlinear Finite Element (FE) algorithm is proposed to analyze the Reinforced Concrete (RC) columns subjected to Cyclic Loading (CL), Cyclic Oriented Lateral Force and Axial Loading (COLFAL), Monotonic Loading (ML) or Oriented Pushover Force and Axial Loading (OPFAL) in any direction. In the proposed algorithm, the following parameters are considered: uniaxial behavior of concrete and steel elements, the pseudo-plastic hinge produced in the critical sections, and global behavior of RC columns. In the proposed numerical simulation, the column is discretized into two Macro-Elements (ME) located between the pseudo-plastic hinges at critical sections and the inflection point. The critical sections are discretized into Fixed Rectangular Finite Elements (FRFE) in general cases of CL, COLFAL or ML and are discretized into Variable Oblique Finite Elements (VOFE) in the particular cases of ML or OPFAL. For pushover particular case, a fairly fast converging and properly accurate nonlinear simulation method is proposed to assess the behavior of RC columns. The proposed algorithm has been validated by the results of tests carried out on full-scale RC columns.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.623-642
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• 2008

While spatial plastic mechanism analysis has been widely and successfully applied to thinwalled steel structures to analyse the post-failure behaviour of sections and connections, there remains some contention in the literature as to the basic capacity of an inclined yield line. The simple inclined hinge commonly forms as part of the more complex spatial mechanism, which may involve a number of hinges perpendicular or inclined to the direction of thrust. In this paper some of the existing theories are compared with single inclined yield lines that form in flange outstands, by comparing the theories with plate tests of plates simply supported on three sides with the remaining (longitudinal) edge free. The existing mechanism theories do not account for different in-plane displacement gradients of the loaded edge, nor the slenderness of the plates, and produce conservative results. A modified theory is presented whereby uniform and non-uniform in-plane displacements of the loaded edge of the flange, and the slenderness of the flange, are accounted for. The modified theory is shown to compare well with the plate test data, and its application to flanges that are components of sections in compression and/or bending is presented.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제9권6호
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• pp.601-613
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• 2000

Existing models for the shear strength degradation of reinforced concrete members present varied conceptual approaches to interpreting test data. The relative superiority of one approach over the others is difficult to determine, particularly given the sparseness of ideal test data. Nevertheless, existing models are compared using a suite of test data that were used for the development of one such model, and significant differences emerge. Rather than relying purely on column test data, the body of knowledge concerning degradation of concrete as a material is considered. Confined concrete relations are examined to infer details of the degradation process, and to establish a framework for developing phenomenologically-based models for shear strength degradation in reinforced concrete members. The possibility of linking column shear strength degradation with material degradation phenomena is explored with a simple model. The model is applied to the results of 7 column tests, and it is found that such a link is sustainable. It is expected that models founded on material degradation phenomena will be more reliable and more broadly applicable than the current generation of empirical shear strength degradation models.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제3권5호
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• pp.445-462
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• 1995

Previous studies of a stepped cantilever with two straight segments under a suddenly applied constant force (a step load) applied at its tip have shown that the validity of deformation mechanisms is governed by certain geometrical restrictions. Single and double-hinge mechanisms have been proposed and it is shown in this paper that for a stepped cantilever with a stronger tip segment, i.e. $M_{0.1}$ > $M_{0.2}$, where $M_{0.1}$ and $M_{0.2}$ are the dynamic fully plastic bending moments of the tip and root segments, respectively, the family of possible yield mechanisms is expanded by introducing new double and triple-hinge mechanisms. With the aid of these mechanisms, it is shown that all initial deformations can be derived for a stepped cantilever regardless of its geometry and the magnitude of the dynamic force applied.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제1권3호
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• pp.307-326
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• 2010

This paper is concerned with the optimal seismic design of added viscous dampers in yielding plane frames. The total added damping is minimized for allowable values of local performance indices under the excitation of an ensemble of ground motions in both regular and irregular structures. The local performance indices are taken as the maximal inter-story drift of each story and/or the normalized hysteretic energy dissipated at each of the plastic hinges. Gradients of the constraints with respect to the design variables (damping coefficients) are derived, via optimal control theory, to enable an efficient first order optimization scheme to be used for the solution of the problem. An example of a ten story three bay frame is presented. This example reveals the following 'fully stressed characteristics' of the optimal solution: damping is assigned only to stories for which the local performance index has reached the allowable value. This may enable the application of efficient and practical analysis/redesign type methods for the optimal design of viscous dampers in yielding plane frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.383-407
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• 2012

A numerical approach to simulate the behaviour of timber shear walls under both static and dynamic loading is proposed. Because the behaviour of timber shear walls hinges on the behaviour of the nail connections, the force-displacement behaviour of sheathing-to-framing nail connections are first determined and then used to define the hysteretic properties of finite elements representing these connections. The model nails are subsequently implemented into model walls. The model walls are verified using experimental results for both monotonic and cyclic loading. It is demonstrated that the complex hysteretic behaviour of timber shear walls can be reasonably represented using model shear walls in which nonlinear material failure is concentrated only at the sheathing-to-framing nail connections.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.9-23
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• 1996

The behaviour of elasto-plastic planar arches subjected to dynamic loads in presented. The governing equations are formulated through the dynamic equations and compatibility conditions. The latter is established by applying the generalized conjugate segment analogy. Bending moments at the nodes and axial forces in the members are considered as primary variables in the elastic regime. They are supplemented by the rotations at the nodes and dislocations in the elements when plastic hinges occur. Newmark-${\beta}$ method is adopted in the time marching process. The interaction diagram of each element is treated as the yield surface for the element and the associated flow rule is enforced as plastic flow occurs. The method provides good prediction of dynamic response of elasto-plastic arches while requiring small core storage and short computer time.

• International Journal of Railway
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.73-82
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• 2010

Global and local behaviors of a lightly RC shear walls are investigated in this paper. For the sake of cyclic behaviors, nominal ground accelerations of 0.15 g, 0.40 g and 0.55 g which associated with natural periods of the walls are applied as listed in French CAMUS-2000 shake table test. Modified Kent & Park model, Drucker-Prager model for concrete material and $Giufr\acute{e}$-Menegotto-Pinto model for rebar are used for time history analyses using fiber/solids elements respectively. Alternatively, Eulerian beam analysis are discussed by imposing inelastic hinges at the most possible plastic hinge location using modified Takeda's trilinear model with stiffness reduction. Relative displacements, base shears, bending moments of 5-story shear building with 36-tons of mass under bi-lateral seismic excitation are extracted and compared with EC-8, PS-92 and KBC-09 provisions. Multi-scaled degradation process; material damage, elemental fracture and structural failure in turn is discussed in the view of numerical accuracy, efficiency and limitation depending on three different model-based analyses.