• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.615-631
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• 2023

To investigate the seismic behavior of steel slag self-stressing concrete-filled circular steel tubular (SSSCFCST) columns, 14 specimens were designed, namely, 10 SSSCFCST columns and four ordinary steel slag (SS) concrete (SSC)-filled circular steel tubular (SSCFCST) columns. Comparative tests were conducted under low reversed cyclic loading considering various parameters, such as the axial compression ratio, diameter-thickness ratio, shear-span ratio, and expansion ratio of SSC. The failure process of the specimens was observed, and hysteretic and skeleton curves were obtained. Next, the influence of these parameters on the hysteretic behavior of the SSSCFCST columns was analyzed. The self stress of SS considerably increased the bearing capacity and ductility of the specimens. Results indicated that specimens with a shear-span ratio of 1.83 exhibited compression bending failure, whereas those with shear-span ratios of 0.91 or 1.37 exhibited drum-shaped cracking failure. However, shear-bond failure occurred in the nonloading direction. The stiffness of the falling section of the specimens decreased with increasing shear-span ratio. The hysteretic curves exhibited a weak pinch phenomenon, and their shapes evolved from a full shuttle shape to a bow shape during loading. The skeleton curves of the specimens were nearly complete, progressing through elastic, elastoplastic, and plastic stages. Based on the experimental study and considering the effects of the SSC expansion rate, shear-span ratio, diameter-thickness ratio, and axial compression ratio on the seismic behavior, a peak displacement coefficient of 0.91 was introduced through regression analysis. A simplified method for calculating load-displacement skeleton curves was proposed and loading and unloading rules for SSSCFCST columns were provided. The load-displacement restorative force model of the specimens was established. These findings can serve as a guide for further research and practical application of SSSCFCST columns.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.797-815
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• 2014

This research aimed to investigate retrofitting methods for damaged RC columns with SRF (Super Reinforced with Flexibility) and aramid composites and their impacts on the seismic responses. In the first stage, two original (undamaged) column specimens, designed to have a flexural- or shear-controlled failure mechanism, were tested under quasi-static lateral cyclic and constant axial loads to failure. Afterwards, the damaged column specimens were retrofitted, utilizing SRF composites and aramid rods for the flexural-controlled specimen and only SRF composites for the shear-controlled specimen. In the second stage, the retrofitted column specimens were tested again under the same conditions as the first stage. The hysteretic responses such as strength, ductility and energy dissipation were discussed and compared to clarify the specific effects of each retrofitting material on the seismic performances. Generally, SRF composites contributed greatly to the ductility of the specimens, especially for the shear-controlled specimen before retrofitting, in which twice the deformation capacity was obtained in the retrofitted specimen. The shear-controlled specimen also experienced a flexural failure mechanism after retrofitting. In addition, aramid rods moderately fortified the specimen in terms of the maximum shear strength. The maximum strength of the aramid-retrofitted specimen was 12% higher than the specimen without aramid rods. In addition, an analytical modeling of the undamaged specimens was conducted using Response-2000 and Zeus Nonlinear in order to further validate the experimental results.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.463-484
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• 2014

Solid piers with a rounded rectangular cross-section are widely used in railway bridges for high-speed trains in China. Compared to highway bridge piers, these railway bridge piers have a larger crosssection and less steel reinforcement. Existing material models cannot accurately predict the seismic behavior of this kind of railway bridge piers. This is because only a few parameters, such as axial load, longitudinal and transverse reinforcement, are taken into account. To enable a better understanding of the seismic behavior of this type of bridge pier, a simultaneous influence of the various parameters, i.e. ratio of height to thickness, axial load to concrete compressive strength ratio and longitudinal to transverse reinforcements, on the failure characteristics, hysteresis, skeleton curves, and displacement ductility were investigated. In total, nine model piers were tested under cyclic loading. The hysteretic response obtained from the experiments is compared with that obtained from numerical studies using existing material models. The experimental data shows that the hysteresis curves have significantly pinched characteristics that are associated with small longitudinal reinforcement ratios. The displacement ductility reduces with an increase in ratio of axial load to concrete compressive strength and longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The experimental results are largely in agreement with the numerical results obtained using Chang-Mander concrete model.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.11-21
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• 2002

The evaluation of displacement ductility is performed by direct method through tracking the inelastic hysteretic behavior of RC bridge columns subject to cyclic loading using a flexibility-based fiber element mode. To reasonably track the inelastic behavior until the RC bridge column reaches its ultimate state, the average stress-average strain relations and joint elements, which agree well with experiments, are modified and applied considering the tension stiffening behavior and discontinuous displacement between the column and its base. In addition the evaluation of displacement ductility is performed by a direct method easily applicable to numerical analysis. Locations for the integration points, values for the post-crushing concrete strength and low-cycle fatigue failure of longitudinal reinforcement that affect the calculation of yielding and ultimate displacements are proposed for the application to flexibility-based fiber element model. Since less than 10% of error occurs during the displacement ductility analysis, the yielding and ultimate displacements evaluated by the applied analysis method and model appear to be valid.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2020

The seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete (RC) columns made from high-strength materials was investigated experimentally. Six high-strength concrete specimen columns (1:4 scale), which included three with high-strength stirrups (HSSs) and three with normal-strength stirrups (NSSs), were tested under a combination of high axial and reversed cyclic loads. The effects of stirrup strength and the ratio of transverse reinforcement on the cracking patterns, hysteretic response, strength, stiffness, ductility, energy dissipation and strain of transverse reinforcement were studied. The results indicate that good seismic behaviour of an RC column subjected to high axial compression can be obtained by using a well-shaped stirrup. Stirrup strength had little effect on the lateral bearing capacity. However, the ductility was significantly modified by improving the stirrup strength. When loaded with a large lateral displacement, the strength reduction of NSS specimens was more severe than that of those with HSSs, and increasing the stirrup strength had little effect on the stiffness reduction. The ductility and energy dissipation of specimens with HSSs were superior to those with NSSs. When the ultimate displacement was reached, the core concrete could be effectively restrained by HSSs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.2
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• pp.147-161
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• 2022

The Brace-Type Shear Fuse (BSF) device is a newly proposed steel damper with excellent cumulative ductility and stable energy dissipation. In consideration of the current situation where there are not many alternatives for transversal seismic devices used in long-span three-tower self-anchored bridges (TSSBs), this paper implements improved BSFs into the world's longest TSSB, named Jinan Fenghuang Yellow River Bridge. The new details of the BSF are developed for the TSSB, and the force-displacement hysteretic curves of the BSFs are obtained using finite element (FE) simulations. A three-dimensional refined finite element model for the research TSSB was established in SAP2000, and the effects of BSFs on dynamic characteristics and seismic response of the TSSB under different site conditions were investigated by the numerical simulation method. The results show that remarkable controlling effects of BSFs on seismic response of TSSBs under different site conditions were obtained. Compared with the case without BSFs, the TSSB installed with BSFs has mitigation ratios of the tower top displacement, lateral girder displacement, tower bending moment and tower shear force exceeding 95%, 78%, 330% and 346%, respectively. Meanwhile, BSFs have a sufficient restoring force mechanism with a minor post-earthquake residual displacement. The proposed BSFs exhibit good application prospects in long-span TSSBs.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.485-496
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• 2017

The behavior of 8 steel reinforced high-strength concrete (SRHSC) columns, which comprised of four identical columns with cross-shaped steel and other four identical columns with square steel tube, was investigated experimentally under cyclic uniaxial and biaxial loading independently. The influence of steel configuration and loading path on the global behavior of SRHSC columns in terms of failure process, hysteretic characteristics, stiffness degradation and ductility were investigated and discussed, as well as stress level of the longitudinal and transverse reinforcing bars and steel. The research results indicate that with a same steel ratio deformation capacity of steel reinforced concrete columns with a square steel tube is better than the one with a cross-shaped steel. Loading path affects hysteretic characteristics of the specimens significantly. Under asymmetrical loading path, hysteretic characteristics of the specimens are also asymmetry. Compared with specimens under unidirectional loading, specimens subjected to bidirectional loading have poor carrying capacity, fast stiffness degradation, small yielding displacement, poor ductility and small ultimate failure drift. It also demonstrates that loading paths affect the deformation capacity or deformation performance significantly. Longitudinal reinforcement yielding occurs before the peak load is attained, while steel yielding occurs at the peak load. During later displacement loading, strain of longitudinal and transverse reinforcing bars and steel of specimens under biaxial loading increased faster than those of specimens subjected to unidirectional loading. Therefore, the bidirectional loading path has great influence on the seismic performance such as carrying capacity and deformation performance, which should be paid more attentions in structure design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.345-360
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• 2022

In this paper, the impact on seismic performance of an economical effective technique for retrofitting reinforced concrete (RC) columns using high-strength steel strips under high axial compression ratios was presented. The experimental program included a series of cyclic loading tests on one nonretrofitted control specimen and three retrofitted specimens. The effects of the axial compression ratio and spacing of the steel strips on the cyclic behavior of the specimens were studied. Based on the test results, the failure modes, hysteretic characteristics, strength and stiffness degradation, displacement ductility, and energy dissipation capacity of the specimens were analyzed in-depth. The analysis showed that the transverse confinement provided by the high-strength steel strips could effectively delay and restrain diagonal crack development and improve the failure mode, which was flexural-shear failure controlled by flexural failure with better ductility. The specimens retrofitted using high-strength steel strips showed more satisfactory seismic performance than the control specimen. The seismic performance and deformation capacity of the retrofitted RC columns increased with decreasing axial compression ratio and steel strip spacing. Based on the test results, a hysteretic model for RC columns that considers the transverse confinement of high-strength steel strips was then established. The hysteretic model showed good agreement with the experimental results, which verified the effectiveness of the proposed hysteretic model. Therefore, the aforementioned analysis can be used for the design of retrofitted RC columns.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2019

The frame structures investigated in this paper is composed of Concrete encased columns with L-shaped steel section and steel beams. The seismic behavior of this structural system is studied through experimental and numerical studies. A 2-bay, 3-story and 1/3 scaled frame specimen is tested under constant axial loading and cyclic lateral loading applied on the column top. The load-displacement hysteretic loops, ductility, energy dissipation, stiffness and strength degradation are investigated. A typical failure mode is observed in the test, and the experimental results show that this type of framed structure exhibit a high strength with good ductility and energy dissipation capacity. Furthermore, finite element analysis software Perform-3D was conducted to simulate the behavior of the frame. The calculating results agreed with the test ones well. Further analysis is conducted to investigate the effects of parameters including concrete strength, column axial compressive force and steel ratio on the seismic performance indexes, such as the elastic stiffness, the maximum strength, the ductility coefficient, the strength and stiffness degradation, and the equivalent viscous damping ratio. It can be concluded that with the axial compression ratio increasing, the load carrying capacity and ductility decreased. The load carrying capacity and ductility increased when increasing the steel ratio. Increasing the concrete grade can improve the ultimate bearing capacity of the structure, but the ductility of structure decreases slightly.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.337-352
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• 2021

The study presented experimental and numerical investigation on the seismic performance of steel reinforced concrete (SRC) L-shaped column- reinforced concrete (RC) beam joints. Various parameters described as steel configuration form, axial compressive ratio, loading angle, and the existence of slab were examined through 4 planar joints and 7 spatial joints. The characteristics of the load-displacement response included the bearing capacity, ductility, story drift ratio, energy-dissipating capacity, and stiffness degradation were analyzed. The results showed that shear failure and flexural failure in the beam tip were observed for planar joints and spatial joint, respectively. And RC joint with slab failed with the plastic hinge in the slab and bottom of the beam. The results indicated that hysteretic curves of spatial joints with solid-web steel were plumper than those with hollow-web specimens. The capacity of planar joints was higher than that of space joints, while the opposite was true for energy-dissipation capacity and ductility. The high compression ratio contributed to the increase in capacity and initial stiffness of the joint. The elastic and elastic-plastic story deformation capacity of L-shaped column frame joints satisfied the code requirement. A design formula of joint shear resistance based on the superposition theory and equilibrium plasticity truss model was proposed for engineering application.