• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.539-566
• /
• 2013

This paper summarises the results of a numerical study on the non linear response of steel concentric braced frames under monotonic and cyclic loads, using force-based finite elements with section fibre discretisation. The first part of the study is addressed to analyse the single brace response. A parametric analysis was carried out and discussed to evaluate the accuracy of the model, examining the influence of the initial camber, the material modelling, the type of force-based element, the number of integration points and the number of fibers. The second part of the paper is concerned with the modelling issues of whole braced structures. The effectiveness of the modelling approach is verified against the nonlinear static and dynamic behaviour of different type of bracing configurations. The model sensitivity to brace-to-brace interaction and the capability of the model to mimic the response of complex bracing systems is analyzed. The influence of different approaches for modelling the inertia, the equivalent viscous damping and the brace hysteretic response on the overall structural response are also investigated. Finally, on the basis of the performed numerical study general modelling recommendations are proposed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.319-334
• /
• 2018

In this paper, an analytical study was carried out to propose an optimum base-isolated system for the design of steel structures equipped with lead rubber bearings (LRB). For this, 5 and 10-storey steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) were designed as Special Moment Frame (SMF). These two-dimensional and three-bay frames equipped with a set of isolation systems within a predefined range that minimizes the response of the base-isolated frames subjected to a series of earthquakes. In the design of LRB, two main parameters, namely, isolation period (T) and the ratio of strength to weight (Q/W) supported by isolators were considered as 2.25, 2.5, 2.75 and 3 s, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15, respectively. The Force-deformation behavior of the isolators was modelled by the bi-linear behavior which could reflect the nonlinear characteristics of the lead-plug bearings. The base-isolated frames were modelled using a finite element program and those performances were evaluated in the light of the nonlinear time history analyses by six natural accelerograms compatible with seismic hazard levels of 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The performance of the isolated frames was assessed in terms of roof displacement, relative displacement, interstorey drift, absolute acceleration, base shear and hysteretic curve.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.439-451
• /
• 2015

This study analyzed the isolation effect for a 15-story reinforced concrete (RC) building with regard to changes in the beam-column stiffness ratio and the difference in the vibration period between the superstructure and an isolation layer in order to provide basic data that are needed to devise a framework for the design of isolated RC buildings. First, this analytical study proposes to design RC building frames by securing an isolation period that is at least 2.5 times longer than the natural vibration period of a superstructure and configuring a target isolation period that is 3.0 s or longer. To verify the proposed plan, shaking table tests were conducted on a scaled-down model of 15-story RC building installed with laminated rubber bearings. The experimental results indicate that the tested isolated structure, which complied with the proposed conditions, exhibited an almost constant response distribution, verifying that the behavior of the structure improved in terms of usability. The RC building's response to inter-story drift (which causes structural damage) was reduced by about one-third that of a non-isolated structure, thereby confirming that the safety of such a superstructure can be achieved through the building's improved seismic performance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.121-142
• /
• 2016

The national standard being used in Turkey for suspended ceiling systems (SCS) regulates material and dimensional properties but does not contain regulations regarding installation instructions which cause substandard applications of SCSs in practice. The lack of installation instructions would potentially affect the dynamic performance of these systems. Also, the vast majority of these systems are manufactured using substandard low-quality materials, and this will inevitably increase SCS related damages during earthquakes. The experimental work presented here focuses on the issue of dynamic performance of SCSs with different types of carrier systems (lay-on and clip-in systems), different weight conditions, and material-workmanship qualities. Moreover, the effects of auxiliary fastening elements, so called seismic perimeter clips, in improving the dynamic performance of SCSs were experimentally investigated. Results show that clip-in ceiling system performs better than lay-on system regardless of material and workmanship qualities. On the other hand, the quality aspect becomes the most important parameter in affecting the dynamic performance of lay-on type systems as opposed to tile weights and usage of perimeter clips. When high quality system is used, tile weight does not change the performance of lay-on system, however in poor quality system, tile weight becomes an important factor where heavier tiles considerably decrease the performance level. Perimeter clips marginally increase the dynamic performance of lay-on ceiling system, but it has no effect on the clip-in ceiling system under the shaking levels considered.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2001

구조물 내진설계의 개념은 기존요구조건이라는 조항으로 시방서에 규정되어 있으며 구조물이 지진발생시에 안전성과 경제성을 최대한 확보할 수 있으며 비선형시간 이력해석을 수행하여 자진시의 동적거동을 기술함으로써 확인할 수 있다. 내진설계에 보편적으로 적용하는 응답스펙트럼해석법은 선형해석법으로 구조물의 비선형동적거동의 영향을 거동계수로 반영하므로 파괴메카니즘 및 기본 요구조건의 만족여부를 거동계수를 구하는 과정으로 결정할 수 있다. 이 연구에서는 내진설계방식에 의해 설계된 약진지역에 의한 화학공장건물의 모델인 3차원 철골뼈대구조물을 선정하고 거동계수를 결정하는 과정을 수행하여 지진시의 동적거동을 확인하였다. 이 연구의 결과, 현 시방서의 응답스펙트럼해석법에 적용되는 거동계수는 강진지역의 구조물의 경우 기능성 및 안정성 한계를 제시하지만 약진지역 구조물의 경우는 실제 동적거동과 무관하다는것과 약진 지역에 위치한 구조물의 내진설계에는 시방서가 제시한 내진설계방식을 적용하는 것이 주요한 사항임을 확인하였다.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.11 no.6
• /
• pp.983-1000
• /
• 2016

To date the engineering community has seen facade systems as non-structural elements with high aesthetic value and a barrier between the outdoor and indoor environments. The role of facades in energy use in a building has also been recognized and the industry is also witnessing the emergence of many energy efficient facade systems. This paper will focus on using exterior skin of the double skin facade system as a dissipative movable element during earthquake excitation. The main aim of this study is to investigate the potential of the facade system to act as a damper system to reduce earthquake-induced vibration of the primary structure. Unlike traditional mass dampers, which are usually placed at the top level of structures, the movable/smart double skin facade systems are distributed throughout the entire height of building structures. The outer skin is moveable and can act as a multi tuned mass dampers (MTMDs) that move and dissipate energy during strong earthquake motions. In this paper, using a three dimensional 10-storey building structure as the example, it is shown that with optimal choice of materials for stiffness and damping of brackets connecting the two skins, a substantial portion of earthquake induced vibration energy can be dissipated which leads to avoiding expensive ductile seismic designs. It is shown that the engineering demand parameters (EDPs) for a low-rise building structures subjected to moderate to severe earthquakes can be substantially reduced by introduction of a smart designed double skin system.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.395-402
• /
• 2018

Floor location of adjacent buildings may be different in terms of height elevation, and thus, the slab may hit on the columns of adjacent insufficiently separated buildings during severe ground motions. Such impacts, often referred to as mid-column pounding, can be catastrophic. Substantial pounding damage or even total collapse of structures was often observed in large amount of adjacent low rise buildings. The research on the mid-column pounding between low rise buildings is in urgency need. In present study, the responses of two adjacent low rise buildings with unequal heights and different dynamic properties have been analyzed. Parametric studies have also been conducted to assess the influence of story height difference, gap distance and input direction of ground motion on the effect of structural pounding response. Another emphasis of this study is to analyze the near-fault effect, which is important for the structures located in the near-fault area. The analysis results show that collisions exhibit significant influence on the local shear force response of the column suffering impact. Because of asymmetric configuration of systems, the structural seismic behavior is distinct by varying the incident directions of the ground motions. Results also show that near-fault earthquakes induced ground motions can cause more significant effect on the pounding responses.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.437-449
• /
• 2020

It is quite apparent that engineering concerns related to the influence of masonry infills on seismic behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is likely to remain relevant in the long term, as infill walls maintain their functionalities in construction practice. Within this framework, the present paper mainly deals with the issue in terms of modal expansion of effective earthquake forces and the resultant modal responses. An adequate determination of spatial distribution of effective earthquake forces over the height of the building is highly essential for both seismic analysis and design. The possible influence of infill walls is investigated by means of modal analyses of two-, three-, and four-bay RC frames with a number of stories ranging from 3 to 8. Both uniformly and non-uniformly infilled frames are considered in numerical analyses, where infill walls are simulated by adopting the model of equivalent compression strut. Consequently, spatial distribution of effective earthquake forces, modal static base shear force response of frames, modal responses of story shears from external excitation vector and lateral floor displacements are obtained. It is found that, infill walls and their arrangement over the height of the frame structure affect the spatial distribution of modal inertia forces, as well as the considered response quantities. Moreover, the amount of influence varies in stories, but is not very dependent to bay number of frames.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
• /
• v.15 no.4
• /
• pp.107-114
• /
• 2015

Large spatial structures can not easily predict the dynamic behavior due to the lack of construction and design practices. The spatial structures are generally analyzed through the numerical simulation and experimental test in order to investigate the seismic response of large spatial structures. In the case of analysis for seismic response of large spatial structure, the many studies by the numerical analysis was carried out, researches by the shaking table test are very rare. In this study, a shaking table test of a small-scale arch structure was conducted and the dynamic characteristics of arch structure are analyzed. And the dynamic characteristics of arch structures are investigated according to the various column cross-section and length. It is found that the natural vibration periods of the small-scaled arch structure that have large column stiffness are very similar to the natural vibration period of the non-column arch structure. And in case of arch structure with large column stiffness, primary natural frequency period by numerical analysis is very similar to the primary natural frequency period of by shaking table test. These are because the dynamic characteristics of the roof structure are affected by the column stiffness of the spatial structure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.231-252
• /
• 2010

Previous research on pounding between seismically isolated buildings during earthquakes has been focused on impacts at the bases of structures and the effect of simultaneous interactions at the bases and at the superstructures has not been studied in details. In this paper, the seismic responses of adjacent buildings supported on different or similar base systems considering impacts between bases and superstructures are numerically investigated. The study is carried out in three parts for the two types of adjacent buildings: (i) both structures have fixed bases; (ii) one structure has fixed base and the other is seismically isolated and (iii) both structures have base isolation systems. The results of the study indicate that the pounding-involved responses of the buildings depend mainly on the type of structural base systems and on the structural parameters of both buildings. For the base-isolated building, the variation of the peak accelerations and displacements of the storeys have been found to be relatively low. On the other hand, significant differences have been observed for the fixed base building. The results of the parametric study conducted for different values of the gap size between colliding structures show the reduction in the peak base displacements as the gap distance decreases.