• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.309-325
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• 2015

A convenient procedure for seismic retrofit of existing buildings is to use passive control methods, like using friction dampers in steel frames with bracing systems. In this method, reduction of seismic demand and increase of ductility generally improve seismic performance of the structures. Some of its advantages are development of a stable rectangular hysteresis loop and independence on environmental conditions such as temperature and loading rate. In addition to friction dampers, masonry-infill panels improve the seismic resistance of steel structures by increasing lateral strength and stiffness and reducing story drifts. In this study, the effect of masonry-infill panels on seismic performance of a three-span four-story steel frame with Pall friction dampers is investigated. The results show that friction dampers in the steel frame increase the ductility and decrease the drift (to less than 1%). The infill panels fulfill their function during the imposed drift and increase structural strength. It can be concluded that infill panels together with friction dampers, reduced structural dynamic response. These infill panels dissipated input earthquake energy from 4% to 10%, depending on their thickness.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.205-215
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• 2023

Currently, many studies are underway at home and abroad on the seismic performance evaluation and dry construction method of the masonry structure. In this study, a dry stack masonry wall system without mortar using concrete blocks is proposed, and investigate the seismic performance of dry filling wall frames through experimental studies. First, two types of standard blocks and key blocks were designed to assemble dry walls of concrete blocks. And then, three types of experiments were manufactured, including pure frame, 1/2 height filling wall frame, and full height filling wall frame, and cyclic load experiments in horizontal direction were performed to analyze crack patterns, load displacement history, rebar deformation yield, effective stiffness change, displacement ductility, and energy dissipation capacity. According to the experimental results, the full height filling wall frame had the largest horizontal resistance against the earthquake load and showed a high energy dissipation capacity. However, the 1/2 height filling wall frame requires attention because the filling wall constrains the effective span of the column, limiting the horizontal displacement of the frame. In addition, the concrete block was firmly assembled in the vertical direction of the wall as the horizontal movement between the concrete blocks was allowed within installation margin, and there was no dropping of the assembled concrete block.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.175-176
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• 2023

The masonry structure is constructed by cement mortar binding material of brick objects and uses reinforced hardware(connected hardware or wall tie) together when building. However, over time, the corrosion of reinforced steel and the deterioration of joint mortar as well as bricks cause the risk of collapse. In particular, when the externally decorated brick wall is installed on the concrete girder for each floor, the angle bracket is not constructed or corroded, the full-layer weight load is applied to the wall of 0.5B, which is an example of full-scale or collapse. As a result of the evaluation, it was confirmed that the performance was improved compared to the existing bracket, and we plan to carry out a real-life test and long-term performance review of the building using the bracket in the future.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.61-69
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• 2011

It is hard to predict the mechanical characteristics of discontinuous stone masonry structures with the use of by the static analysis method, because of irregularity of face stones and also due to randomness of backfill materials. Inversely, one can estimate the mechanical characteristics by comparing the natural frequencies between measured from the field tests and computed from the analytical models. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness and confidence of the computational modeling method of ancient stone arch bridges in Korea and to find the factors influencing their dynamic characteristics. The results revealed that the rigidity of spandrel walls and backfill materials are the most important factors influencing the natural frequencies of stone arch bridges, which are the critical for the stability of the stone arch structure.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2022

Debates on what is the first skyscraper have been ongoing from time to time since the construction of the Home Insurance Building in Chicago in 1885, which is generally recognized as the first built skyscraper. This paper attempts to verify this assertion through a detailed investigation after identifying the criteria that characterize a skyscraper. By considering and examining several competing buildings for the title of "first skyscraper" in terms of their levels of satisfying these criteria, the paper reconfirms that the Home Insurance Building in Chicago indeed qualifies as the first skyscraper and is the harbinger of future skyscrapers. By introducing technological and associated architectural innovations in this pioneering building, its designer William Le Baron Jenney paved the way for the construction of future skyscrapers. In traditional construction, heavy masonry walls especially at lower levels did not allow large window openings in exterior walls that would permit ample daylight. For the Home Insurance Building, originally built with 10 stories, Jenney created a metal-framed skeletal structure that carried the building's loads, making the building lighter and allowed for large windows permitting ample natural light to the building's interior. The exterior iron columns were encased in relatively small masonry piers mainly for fireproofing, weather-protection and façade aesthetics. Relying on the structural framing on the building's perimeter, the exterior masonry thus turned into a rudimentary "curtain wall" system, heralding the use of curtain wall construction in future skyscrapers. This building's innovative structural system led to what is known as the "Chicago Skeleton," and eventually produced remarkable skyscrapers all over the world.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.9-16
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a seismic behavior of unreinforced masonry(URM) structure. For more efficient evaluation, quasi-dynamic analysis method is used in this study. The influence of soil-structure interaction on the seismic response of low rise structures is discussed through comparison of the computed seismic response for the structure on rigid or dense soil and that on soft soil. The results of analytical study show that the story shear forces and the base shear forces could increase on soft soil. Furthermore, it was observed that an approximate expressions prescribed in current seismic codes may underestimate the value of the base shear force of low rise buildings on soft soil.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.663-674
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• 2017

The determination of the fundamental period of vibration of a structure is essential to earthquake design. Current codes provide formulas for the approximate estimation of the fundamental period of earthquake-resistant building systems. These formulas are dependent only on the height of the structure or number of storeys without taking into account the presence of infill walls into the structure, despite the fact that infill walls increase the stiffness and mass of the structure leading to significant changes in the fundamental period. Furthermore, such a formulation is overly conservative and unable to account for structures with geometric irregularities. In this study, which comprises the companion paper of previous published research by the authors, the effect of the vertical geometric irregularities on the fundamental periods of masonry infilled structures has been investigated, through a large set of infilled frame structure cases. Based on these results, an attempt to quantify the reduction of the fundamental period due to the vertical geometric irregularities has been made through a proposal of properly reduction factor.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.88-98
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• 2011

Masonry structure is a style of building which has been widely applied as residential facilities of low and middle stories, commercial and public facilities etc. But it is possible to destroy by loss of adhesive strength or sliding when lateral forces, such as earthquake, occurs. This study proposes a seismic retrofit method for masonry structure and its seismic performance is demonstrated by shaking table test. Two specimens per each shaking direction were made, having out-of-plane(weak axis) and in-plane(strong axis) direction. External load of 1 ton was also applied for each specimen during the test, to model the behavior of reinforced masonry wall. As a result of shaking table tests, it is shown that the specimen applying the proposed seismic retrofit method showed acceptable behaviors in both of Korea building design criteria(0.14g) and USA seismic criteria suggested by IBC(0.4g). However, it was observed that stiffness of the specimen toward out-of-plane was rapidly decreasing when seismic excitations over 0.14g were loaded. In comparison of relative displacements, maximum relative displacement of specimens which were accelerated toward out-of-plane with 0.4g at once was 29~31% of maximum relative displacement when specimens were gradually accelerated from 0.08g to 0.4g, while the maximum relative displacement of specimens accelerated toward in-plane has similar value in both cases. Therefore, it is concluded that the wall accelerated toward out-of-plane is more affected by hair crack or possible fatigues caused by seismic excitation.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.207-223
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• 2013

Practical seismic assessment and design of retrofit for the multitude of small ecclesiastical monuments that abound in the Balkans is the subject of this work. Application of the proposed procedures and methodologies are illustrated in an example case study, a small byzantine church located in Western Greece, which is the region with the highest seismicity in Europe. The church, known as the Fragavilla Monastery, had remained almost undamaged for 800 years, until 1993 when the Pyrgos earthquake caused critical damage mainly in the vaults. Linear elastic analysis to the recorded ground motion, capped by a biaxial failure criterion reproduced the developed damage. The same modelling and analysis procedure was subsequently used for assessment of the intended retrofitting measures. Proposed retrofitting measures included mitigation of the undesirable implications of past interventions along with a combination of strengthening schemes with externally bonded AFRPs strategically placed in the structure. The effectiveness of the proposed solutions is gauged by successful reduction of stress intensity in the critical regions and mitigation of stress localization throughout the structure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.367-376
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• 2014

Ambient vibration techniques are nowadays a very popular tool to assess dynamic properties of buildings. Due to its non destructive character, this method is particularly valuable, especially for health monitoring of historical monuments. The present ambient vibration experiment consists on the evaluation of vibration modes of a Medieval tower. Situated in Soncino (close to Cremona, in the Northern Italian region named Lombardia), the tower of 41.5 meters height has been monitored by seismometers located at different points inside the structure. Spectral ratios of the recorded ambient vibrations clearly identify a fundamental mode at about 1 Hz, with a slight difference in the two horizontal components. A second mode is also evidenced at approx 4-5 Hz, with a moderate degree of uncertainty. The records of a ML 4.4 earthquake, occurred during the monitoring period, confirm the information obtained by microtremor analysis. Daily variations of both 1st and 2nd mode were detected: these variations, of an amount up to 2%, seem to be well related with the temperature.