• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.47-56
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• 2001

In order to assure the safety of NPP structures, margin of safety or conservatism is incorporated in each design step. Seismic risk evaluation of NPP structures is performed based on the realistic capacity and response of structure eliminated the safety margin and conservatism. In this study, the comparative study on the various evaluation methods of the inelastic energy absorption capacity was performed. The inelastic energy absorption capacity due to the nonlinear behavior of structures has significant effect on the results of seismic probabilistic risk assessment. And the comparison study of the HCLPF(high confidence of low probability of failure) values according to the inelastic energy absorption factors was performed. As a conclusion, the inelastic energy absorption factor of NPP containment structure is estimated about 1.5~1.75. It is essential to estimate the nonlinear behavior of structure and its ductility factor correctly for the seismic risk assessment.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.397-407
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• 2017

To estimate the structural seismic demand, some methods are based on an equivalent linear system such as the Capacity Spectrum Method, the N2 method and the Equivalent Linearization method. Another category, widely investigated, is based on displacement correction such as the Displacement Coefficient Method and the Coefficient Method. Its basic concept consists in converting the elastic linear displacement of an equivalent Single Degree of Freedom system (SDOF) into a corresponding inelastic displacement. It relies on adequate modifying or reduction coefficient such as the inelastic deformation ratio which is usually developed for systems with known ductility factors ($C_{\mu}$) and ($C_R$) for known yield-strength reduction factor. The present paper proposes a rational approach which estimates this inelastic deformation ratio for SDOF bilinear systems by rigorous nonlinear analysis. It proposes a new inelastic deformation ratio which unifies and combines both $C_{\mu}$ and $C_R$ effects. It is defined by the ratio between the inelastic and elastic maximum lateral displacement demands. Three options are investigated in order to express the inelastic response spectra in terms of: ductility demand, yield strength reduction factor, and inelastic deformation ratio which depends on the period, the post-to-preyield stiffness ratio, the yield strength and the peak ground acceleration. This new inelastic deformation ratio ($C_{\eta}$) is describes the response spectra and is related to the capacity curve (pushover curve): normalized yield strength coefficient (${\eta}$), post-to-preyield stiffness ratio (${\alpha}$), natural period (T), peak ductility factor (${\mu}$), and the yield strength reduction factor ($R_y$). For illustrative purposes, instantaneous ductility demand and yield strength reduction factor for a SDOF system subject to various recorded motions (El-Centro 1940 (N/S), Boumerdes: Algeria 2003). The method accuracy is investigated and compared to classical formulations, for various hysteretic models and values of the normalized yield strength coefficient (${\eta}$), post-to-preyield stiffness ratio (${\alpha}$), and natural period (T). Though the ductility demand and yield strength reduction factor differ greatly for some given T and ${\eta}$ ranges, they remain take close when ${\eta}>1$, whereas they are equal to 1 for periods $T{\geq}1s$.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.369-386
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• 2006

The influence of reinforcement buckling on the flexural response of reinforced concrete members is studied. The stress-strain response of compression reinforcement is determined computationally using a large-strain finite element model for bars of varied diameter, length, and initial eccentricity, and a mathematical expression is fitted to the simulation results. This relationship is used to represent the response of bars in compression in a moment-curvature analysis of a reinforced concrete cross section. The compression bar may carry more or less force than a tension bar at a corresponding strain, depending on the relative influence of Poisson effects and bar slenderness. Several cross-section analyses indicate that, for the distances between stirrups prescribed in modern concrete codes, the influence of inelastic buckling of the longitudinal reinforcement on the monotonic moment capacity is very small and can be neglected in many circumstances.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.61-71
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• 1998

A performance-based seismic design method for reinforced concrete building structures being developed in Japan is outlined. Technical and scientific background of the performance-based design philosophy as well as recently developed seismic design guidelines are is presented, in which maximum displacement response to design earthquake motion is used as the limit-state design criteria. A method of estimating dynamic response displacement of the structures based on static nonlinear analysis is described. A theoretical estimation of nonlinear dynamic response considering the characteristics of energy input to the system is described in detail, which may be used as the standard method in the new performance-based code. A desing philosophy not only satisfying the criteria but also evaluating seismic capacity of the structures is also introduced.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.341-346
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• 2001

Near source earthquakes can be characterized not only by strong horizontal but also by strong vertical ground motions with broad range of dominant frequencies. The inelastic horizontal response of thin-walled L-shaped steel bridge piers, which are popularly used as highway bridge supports, subjected to simultaneous horizontal and vertical ground excitations of near source earthquakes is investigated. A comprehensive damage index and an evolutionary-degrading hysteretic model are applied. Numerical analysis reveals that the strong vertical excitation of a near source earthquake exerts considerable influences on the damage development and horizontal response of thin-walled L-shaped steel bridge piers.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.809-827
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• 2015

In this paper, seismic energy response of inelastic steel structures under earthquake excitations is investigated. For this purpose, a numerical procedure based on nonlinear dynamic analysis is developed by considering material, geometric and connection nonlinearities. Material nonlinearity is modeled by the inversion of Ramberg-Osgood equation. Nonlinearity caused by the interaction between the axial force and bending moment is also defined considering stability functions, while the geometric nonlinearity caused by axial forces is described using geometric stiffness matrix. Cyclic behaviour of steel connections is taken into account by employing independent hardening model. Dynamic equation of motion is solved by Newmark's constant acceleration method in the time history domain. Energy response analysis of space frames is performed by using this proposed numerical method. Finally, for the first time, the distribution of the different energy types versus time at the duration of the earthquake ground motion is obtained where in addition error analysis for the numerical solutions is carried out and plotted depending on the relative error calculated as a function of energy balance versus time.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.319-341
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• 2009

A new formulation based on lumped plasticity and inelastic hinges is presented in this paper for nonlinear analysis of Reinforced Concrete (RC) frame structures. Inelastic hinge behaviour is described using the principles of Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM). Member formulation contains provisions to model stiffness degradation due to cracking of concrete and yielding of reinforcing steel. Depending on its nature, cracking is classified as concentrated or distributed. Concentrated cracking is accounted through a damage variable and its growth is defined based on strain energy principles. Presence of distributed flexural cracks in a member is taken care of by modelling it as non-prismatic. Plasticity theory supported by effective stress concept of CDM is applied to describe the post-yield response. Nonlinear quasi-static analysis is carried out on a RC column and a wide two-storey RC frame to verify the formulation. The column is subjected to constant axial load and monotonic lateral load while the frame is subjected to only lateral load. Computed results are compared with those due to experiments or other numerical methods to validate the performance of the formulation and also to highlight the contribution of distributed cracking on global response.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.373-389
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• 2013

This paper presents the influence of incident angles of earthquakes on inelastic dynamic responses of asymmetry single story buildings under seismic ground motions. The dynamic responses such as internal forces and rotational ductility factor are used to evaluate the importance of the incident angles of ground motions in the inelastic range of structural behavior. The base shear and torque (BST) response histories of the resisting elements and of the building are used to prove that the shape of the BST surface of the building can be a practical tool to represent those of all resisting elements. This paper also shows that the different global forces which produce the maximum demands in the resisting elements tend to converge toward a single distribution in a definable intensity range, and this single distribution is related to the resistance distribution of the building.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.305-326
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• 2005

The inelastic buckling behaviour of continuously restrained two and three-span continuous beams subjected to concentrated loads and uniformly distributed loads are studied in this paper. The restraint type considered in this paper is fully restrained against translation and elastic twist applied at the top flange. These types of restraints are most likely experienced in industrial structures, for example steel-concrete composite beams and half through girders. The buckling analysis of continuous beam consists of two parts, firstly the moment and shear distribution along the member are determined by employing force method and the information is then used for an out-of-plane buckling analysis. The finite element method is incorporated with so-called simplified and the polynomial pattern of residual stress. Owing to the inelastic response of the steel, both the in-plane and out-of-plane analysis, which is treated as being uncoupled, extend into the nonlinear range. This paper presents the results of inelastic lateral-torsional and lateral-distortional buckling load and finally conclusions are drawn regarding the web distortion.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.207-214
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• 1997

Current seismic design code is based on the assumption that the designed structures would be behaved inelastically during a severe earthquake ground motion. For this reason, seismic design forces calculated by seismic codes are much lower than the forces generated by design earthquakes which makes structures responding elastically. Present procedures for calculating seismic design forces are based on the use of elastic spectra reduced by a strength reduction factors known as "response modificaion factor". The effect of hysteretic behavior, as well as maximum ductility ratio and period on the inelastic strength demand is investigated. Special emphasis is given to the effects of the hysteretic characteristics such as strength degradation or pinching. Results indicate that inelastic strength demands are strongly dependent on level of inelastic deformation, period and hysteretic behavior.