• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.527-538
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• 2012

In seismic analyses of structures, additional eccentricity is introduced to take account for oscillations of random and unknown origins. In many codes of practice, the torsion about the vertical axis is considered through empirical accidental eccentricity formulation. Due to the random nature of structural systems, it is very difficult to evaluate the accidental eccentricity in a deterministic way and to specify its effect on the overall seismic response of structures. The aim of this study is to develop a procedure for the evaluation of the accidental eccentricity induced by uncertainties in stiffness and mass of structural members, using the neural network techniques coupled with Monte Carlo simulations. This method gives very interesting results for single story structures. For real structures, this method can be used as a tool to determine the accidental eccentricity in the seismic vulnerability studies of buildings.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-40
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• 2003

The steady state response of a torsionally coupled system with tuned mass dampers (TMDs) to external wind-induced harmonic excitation is presented. The torsionally coupled system is considered as one-way eccentric system. The eccentricity considered in the system is accidental eccentricity only. The performance of single tuned mass damper (TMD) optimally designed without considering the torsion is investigated for the torsionally coupled system and found that the effectiveness of a single TMD is significantly reduced due to torsion in the system. However, the design of TMD system without considering the torsion is only justified for torsionally stiff systems. Further, the optimum parameters of a single TMD considering the accidental eccentricity are obtained using numerical searching technique for different values of uncoupled torsional to lateral frequency ratio and aspect ratio of the system. The optimally designed single TMD system is found to be less effective for torsionally coupled system in comparison to uncoupled system. This is due to the fact that a torsionally coupled system has two natural frequencies of vibration, as a result, at least two TMDs are required which can control both lateral and torsional response of the system. The optimum damper parameters of different alternate arrangements such as (i) two identical TMDs placed at opposite corners, (ii) two independent TMDs and (iii) four TMDs are evaluated for minimum response of the system. The comparative performance of the above TMDs arrangements is also studied for both torsionally coupled and uncoupled systems. It is found that four TMDs arrangement is quite effective solution for vibration control of torsionally coupled system.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.641-656
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• 2017

The effects of vertical component of earthquakes on torsional amplification due to mass eccentricity in seismic responses of base-isolated structures subjected to near-field ground motions are studied in this paper. 3-, 6- and 9-story superstructures and aspect ratios of 1, 2 and 3 have been modeled as steel special moment frames mounted on Triple Concave Friction Pendulum (TCFP) bearings considering different period and damping ratios. Three-dimensional linear superstructures resting on nonlinear isolators are subjected to both 2 and 3 component near-field ground motions. Effects of mass eccentricity and vertical component of 25 near-field earthquakes on the seismic responses including maximum isolator displacement and base shear as well as peak superstructure acceleration are studied. The results indicate that the effect of vertical component on the responses of asymmetric structures, especially on the base shear is significant. Therefore, it can be claimed that in the absence of the vertical component, mass eccentricity has a little effect on the base shear increase. Additionally, the impact of this component on acceleration is remarkable so the roof acceleration of a nine-story structure has been increased 1.67 times, compared to the case that the structure is subjected to only horizontal components of earthquakes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.457-471
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• 2009

This study investigates the role of accidental torsion in seismic reliability assessment. The analyzed structures are regular 6-story and 20-story steel office buildings. The eccentricity in a floor plan was simulated by shifting the mass from the centroid by 5% of the dimension normal to earthquake shaking. The eccentricity along building heights was replicated by Latin hypercube sampling. The fragilities for immediate occupancy and life safety were evaluated using 0.7% and 2.5% inter-story drift limits. Two limit-state probabilities and the corresponding earthquake intensities were compared. The effect of ignoring accidental torsion and the use of code accidental eccentricity were also assessed. The results show that accidental torsion may influence differently the structural reliability and limit-state PGAs. In terms of structural reliability, significant differences in the probability of failure are obtained depending on whether accidental torsion is considered or not. In terms of limit-state PGAs, accidental torsion does not have a significant effect. In detail, ignoring accidental torsion leads to underestimates in low-rise buildings and at small drift limits. On the other hand, the use of code accidental eccentricity gives conservative estimates, especially in high-rise buildings at small drift limits.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.671-682
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• 2018

The effect of earthquake induced torsion, due to mass eccentricities, is investigated with the objective of providing practical design guidelines for minimizing the torsional response of building structures. Current code provisions recommend performing three dimensional static or dynamic analyses, which involve shifting the centers of the floor masses from their nominal positions to what is called an accidental eccentricity. This procedure however may significantly increase the design cost of multistory buildings, due to the numerous possible spatial combinations of mass eccentricities and it is doubtful whether such a cost would be justifiable. This paper addresses this issue on a theoretical basis and investigates the torsional response of asymmetric multistory buildings in relation to their behavior when all floor masses lie on the same vertical line. This approach provides an insight on the overall seismic response of buildings and reveals how the torsional response of a structure is influenced by an arbitrary spatial combination of mass eccentricities. It also provides practical guidelines of how a structural configuration may be designed to sustain minor torsion, which is the main objective of any practicing engineer. A parametric study is presented on 9-story common building types having a mixed-type lateral load resisting system (frames, walls, coupled wall bents) and representative heightwise variations of accidental eccentricities.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

For important structures such as nuclear power plants, In-Structure Response Spectrum (ISRS) analysis is essential because it evaluates the safety of equipment and components installed in the structure. Because most structures are asymmetric, the response can be affected by eccentricity. In the case of seismically isolated structures, this effect can be greater due to the difference between the center of mass of the structure and the center of rigidity of the isolator layer. Therefore, eccentricity effects must be considered when designing or evaluating the ISRS of seismically isolated structures. This study investigated the change of the ISRS of an isolated structure by assuming accidental eccentricity. The variables that affect the ISRS of the isolated structure were analyzed to see what additional impact they had due to eccentricity. The ISRS of the seismically isolated structure with eccentricity was amplified more than when there was non-eccentricity, and it was boosted more significantly in specific period ranges depending on the isolator's initial stiffness and seismic intensity. Finally, whether the displacement requirement of isolators can be applied to the variation of the ISRS due to eccentricity in the design code was also examined.

• Magazine of the Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2000

This paper deals with the free vibrations of columns immersed in fluid. The column model is based on the classical Bernoulli-euler theory which neblects the effects of rotatory inerital and shear deformation. The eccentricity and rotatory inertial of the concentrated mass at the top are taken into accuont. In the governing equation for the free vibration of column, thedensity of immersed part was midified to account for theadded fluid mass. The govering differential equations are solved numerically using the corresponding boundary conditions. The lowest four natural frequencies and corresponding mode shapes are calculated over a range of non-dimensional system parameters ; the mas density ration of fluid to column, the ratio of fluid depth to span length, the ratio of tip mass to total column mass, the dimensionless mass moment of inertia, and the eccentricity.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.697-702
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• 2006

This paper deals with the free vibrations of immersed columns with soft base. The support condition of the column is represented by using a translational spring and a rotational spring. The eccentricity and rotatory inertia of the concentrated mass at the top are taken into account. In the governing equation for the free vibration of column, the density of immersed part was modified to account for the added fluid mass. The governing differential equations are solved numerically using the corresponding boundary conditions. Numerical results are presented to show the effects on the natural frequencies of non-dimensional system parameters: the mass density ratio of fluid to column, the ratio of fluid depth to span length, the ratio of tip mass to total column mass, the dimensionless mass moment of inertia, the eccentricity, the translation spring parameter, and the rotational spring parameter.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-77
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• 2020

The code static eccentricity model for elastic torsional design of structures has two critical shortcomings: (1) the negation of the inertial torsional moment at the center of mass (CM), particularly for torsionally-unbalanced (TU) building structures, and (2) the confusion caused by the discrepancy in the definition of the design eccentricity in codes and the resistance eccentricity commonly used by engineers such as in FEMA454. To overcome these shortcomings, using the resistance eccentricity model that can accommodate the inertial torsional moment at the CM, interactive relations between shear and torsion are proposed as follows: (1) elastic responses of structures at instants of peak edge-frame drifts are given as functions of resistance eccentricity, and (2) elastic hysteretic relationships between shear and torsion in forces and deformations are bounded by ellipsoids constructed using two adjacent dominant modes. Comparison of demands estimated using these two interactive relations with those from shake-table tests of two TU building structures (a 1:5-scale five-story reinforced concrete (RC) building model and a 1:12-scale 17-story RC building model) under the service level earthquake (SLE) show that these relations match experimental results of models reasonably well. Concepts proposed in this study enable engineers to not only visualize the overall picture of torsional behavior including the relationship between shear and torsion with the range of forces and deformations, but also pinpoint easily the information about critical responses of structures such as the maximum edge-frame drifts and the corresponding shear force and torsion moment with the eccentricity.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.59-72
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• 1998

This experimental study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of the in-cylinder eccentricity swirl flow generated by a 4 valve cylinder head with a tangential and a helical intake port. the measurements of the in-cylinder velocity field have been made by a two-channel LDA system. The mean flow coefficient(Cf(meam)), swirl ratio(Rs) and mass flowrate with valve eccentricity ratios and an intake port partition between the two intake ports were measured in the steady flow test fig using the ISM(impulse swirl meter). The experimental results indicated that the mass flowrate through the tangential intake port was 19% and 7.7% more than that of the helical intake port in case of with and without intake port partition respectively. There was a tendency to be a single rotation flow in swirl flow fields formed by a 4 valve cylinder head because of the interaction between the two intake ports. As the intake port partition was not set between flow coefficient(Cf(mean)) was 7.35%.