• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.383-397
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• 2018

Traditional base isolation systems focus on isolating the seismic response of a structure in the horizontal direction. However, in regions where the vertical earthquake excitation is significant (such as near-fault region), a traditional base-isolated building exhibits a significant vertical vibration. To eliminate this shortcoming, a rocking-isolated system named Telescopic Column (TC) is proposed in this paper. Detailed rocking and isolation mechanism of the TC system is presented. The seismic performance of the TC is compared with the traditional elastomeric bearing (EB) and friction pendulum (FP) base-isolated systems. A 4-storey reinforced concrete moment-resisting frame (RC-MRF) is selected as the reference superstructure. The seismic response of the reference superstructure in terms of column axial forces, base shears, floor accelerations, inter-storey drift ratios (IDR) and collapse margin ratios (CMRs) are evaluated using OpenSees. The results of the nonlinear dynamic analysis subjected to multi-directional earthquake excitations show that the superstructure equipped with the newly proposed TC is more resilient and exhibits a superior response with higher margin of safety against collapse when compared with the same superstructure with the traditional base-isolation (BI) system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2001

An investigation into the response statistics of a spring-pendulum system whose base oscillates randomly along vertical and horizontal line is made. The spring-pendulum system with internal resonance examined is known to be a good model for a variety of engineering systems, including ship motions with nonlinear coupling between pitching and rolling motions. The Fokker-Planck equation is used to generate a general first-order differential equations for the random responses of the system are reduced to a system of autonomous ordinary differential equations. In view of equilibrium solutions of this system and their stability, the response statistics is examined. It is seen that increase in horizontal excitation level leads to a decreased width of the internal resonance region.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.1237-1251
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• 2016

Although the horizontal component of an earthquake response can be significantly reduced through the use of conventional seismic isolators, the vertical component of excitation is still transmitted directly into the structure. Records from instrumented structures, and some recent tests and analyses have actually seen increases in vertical responses in base isolated structures under the combined effects of horizontal and vertical ground motions. This issue becomes a great concern to facilities such as a Nuclear Power Plants (NPP), with specialized equipment and machinery that is not only expensive, but critical to safe operation. As such, there is considerable interest worldwide in vertical and three-dimensional (3D) isolation systems. This paper examines several vertical and 3D isolation systems that have been proposed and their potential application to modern nuclear facilities. In particular, a series of case study analyses of a modern NPP model are performed to examine the benefits and challenges associated with 3D isolation compared with horizontal isolation. It was found that compared with the general horizontal isolators, isolators that have vertical frequencies of no more than 3 Hz can effectively reduce the vertical in-structure responses for the studied NPP model. Among the studied cases, the case that has a vertical isolation frequency of 3 Hz is the one that can keep the horizontal period of the isolators as the first period while having the most flexible vertical isolator properties. When the vertical frequency of isolators reduces to 1 Hz, the rocking effect is obvious and rocking restraining devices are necessary.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1040-1053
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• 2002

This research deals with the influence of nonlinearities associated with impact and sliding upon the rocking behavior of a rigid block, which is subjected to two-dimensional horizontal and vertical excitation. Nonlinearities in the vibration were found to depend strongly on the effect of the impact between the block and the base, which involves an abrupt reduction in the system's kinetic energy. In particular, when sliding occurs, the rocking behavior is substantially changed. Response analysis using a non-dimensional rocking equation was carried out for a variety of excitation levels and excitation frequencies. The chaos responses were observed over a wide response region, particularly, in the cases of high vertical displacement and violent sliding motion, and the chaos characteristics appear in the time histories, Poincare maps, power spectra and Lyapunov exponents of the rocking responses. The complex behavior of chaotic response, in phase space, is illustrated by the Poincare map. The distribution of the rocking response is described by bifurcation diagrams and the effects of sliding motion are examined through the several rocking response examples.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.42-51
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• 1999

This research deals with the non-linearities associated with impact and sliding for the rocking behavior of rigid block subjected to two dimensional excitation of horizontal and vertical direction. The non-linearities examined of impact between block and base: The transition of two governing rocking equations, the abrupt reduction in kinetic energy associated with impact. In this study, the rocking vibration system of two types are considered for several friction condition. One is the undamped rocking vibration system, disregarding energy dissipation at impact and the other is the damped rocking system, including energy dissipation at impact. The response analysis by non-dimensional rocking equation is carried out for the change of excitation amplitude. The chaos responses were discovered in the wide response region, particularly, in the case of high vertical excitation and their chaos characteristics are examined by Poincare map, power spectra and Lyapunov Exponent. The complex behavior of chaos response, in the phase space, were illustrated by Poincare map. Therefore, Poincare map will be a significant material in order to understand chaos of rocking system.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1249-1260
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• 2003

This present work focuses on the influence of nonlinearities associated with impact on the rocking behavior of a rigid body block subjected to a two-dimensional excitation in the horizontal and vertical directions. The nonlinearities in rocking system are found to be strongly dependent on the impact between the block and the base that abruptly reduces the kinetic energy. In this study, the rocking systems of the two types are considered : The first is an undamped rocking system model that disregards the energy dissipation during the impact and the second is a damped rocking system, which incorporates energy dissipation during the impact. The response analysis is carried out by a numerical method using a non-dimensional rocking equation in which the variations in the excitation levels are considered. Chaos responses are observed over a wide range of parameter values, and particularly in the case of large vertical displacements, the chaotic characteristics are observed in the time histories, Poincare sections, the power spectral density and the largest Lyapunov exponents of the rocking responses. Complex behavior characteristics of rocking responses are illustrated by the Poincare sections.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.293-308
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• 2006

This paper presents a complete and consistent formulation to study the seismic response of a free-standing ship supported by an arrangement of n keel blocks which are all located in a dry dock. It is considered that the foundation of the system is subjected to both horizontal and vertical in plane excitation. The motion of the system is classified in eight different modes which are Rest (relative), Sliding of keel blocks, Rocking of keel blocks, Sliding of the ship, Sliding of both keel blocks and the ship, Sliding and rocking of keel blocks, Rocking of keel blocks with sliding of the ship, and finally Sliding and rocking of keel blocks accompanied with sliding of the ship. For each mode of motion the governing equations are derived, and transition conditions between different modes are also defined. This formulation is based on a number of fundamental assumptions which are 2D idealization for motion of the system, considering keel blocks as the rigid ones and the ship as a massive rigid block too, allowing the similar motion for all keel blocks, and supposing frictional nature for transmitted forces between contacted parts. Also, the rocking of the ship is not likely to take place, and the complete ship separation from keel blocks or separation of keel blocks from the base is considered as one of the failure mode in the system. The formulation presented in this paper can be used in its entirety or in part, and they are suitable for investigation of generalized response using suitable analytical, or conducting a time-history sensitivity analysis.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.245-256
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• 2019

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the dynamic behavior of a free-standing frame equipped with a movable base system using cast iron and mortar as the bearing materials. The preliminary friction test indicated that a graphite layer developed on the interface and exhibited stable friction behavior. The friction coefficient ranged from 0.33 to 0.36 when the applied normal compression stress ranged from 2.6 to 5.2 MPa. The effect of the variation of normal compression stress would be small. Shaking table tests on the free-standing frame showed that rock, slide, and rock-slide responses occurred. The cumulative slide distance reached 381 mm under JMA Kobe wave excitation; however, only a few cyclic slides occurred at the same locations along the moving track. Most surfaces sustained single slides. Similar results can be observed in other shaking conditions. The insufficient cyclic sliding and significant rocking resulted in a few graphite layers on the mortar surfaces. Friction coefficients were generally similar to those obtained in the preliminary friction tests; however, the values fluctuated when the rocking became significant. The collisions due to rocking caused strong horizontal acceleration responses and resulted in high friction coefficient. In addition, the strong horizontal acceleration responses caused by the collisions made the freestanding specimen unable to reduce the input horizontal acceleration notably, even when slippage occurred. Compared with the counterpart fixed-base specimen, the specimen equipped with the iron-mortar base could reduce the horizontal acceleration amplification response and the structural deformation, whereas the vertical acceleration response was doubled due to collisions from rocking.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.261-272
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• 2020

Recent severe earthquakes in and around the vital public places worldwide indicate the severe vulnerability of ground excitation to be assailed. Reducing the effect of seismic lateral load in structural design is an important conception. Essentially, seismic isolation is required to shield the superstructure in such a way that the building superstructure would not move when the ground is shaking. This study explores the effectiveness, design, and practical feasibility of base isolation systems to reduce seismic demands on buildings of varying elevations. Thus, static and dynamic analyses were conducted based on site-specific bi-directional earthquakes for base-isolated as well as fixed-based buildings. Remarkably, it was discovered that isolators used in low-rise to high-rise structures tend to significantly decrease the structural responses of seismic prone buildings. The higher allowable horizontal displacement induces structural flexibility and ensure good structural health of the building stories. Reinforcement from vertical and horizontal members can be reduced in significant amounts for BI buildings. Thus, although incorporating base isolators increases the initial outlay, it considerably diminishes the total structural cost.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.505-523
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• 2006

An unrestrained plane rigid body resting on a horizontal surface which shakes horizontally and vertically may assume one of the five modes of response: rest, slide, slide-rock, rock, and free flight. The first four are nontrivial modes of motion. It is important to study which one of these responses is started from rest as in most studies it is often assumed that the initial mode is the particular mode of response. Criteria governing the initiation of modes are first briefly discussed. It is shown that the commencement of response modes depends on the aspect ratio of the body, coefficients of static and kinetic friction at the body-base interface, and the magnitude of maximum base accelerations. Considering the last two factors as random variables, the initiation of response modes is next studied from a probabilistic point of view. Type 1 extreme value and lognormal distributions are employed for maximum base excitations and coefficient of friction respectively. Analytical expressions for computing the probability values of each mode of response are derived. The effects of slenderness ratio, vertical acceleration, and statistical distributions of maximum acceleration and coefficient of friction are shown through numerical results and plots.