• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.3 s.55
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• pp.43-52
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• 2007

This study suggests a method to determine optimal seismic retrofitting schemes for existing bridges based on weighting-factored evaluation. According to the recognition for potential seismic risk, various kinds of retrofitting methods are applied to improve the seismic performance of existing bridges. However, the relevant technique is not available to select optimal retrofitting scheme for bridges now. This suggested method weights five factors, structural compatibility, economic efficacy, environmental factor, consturctability and maintenance, and draws out optimal seismic retrofitting schemes. The application of the developed method to one hundred sixty existing bridges verifies the adaptability of this method. As a result, this study provides an idealized retrofitting schemes, and the suggested method could be a guideline to determine the more cost-effective and optimal retrofitting schemes for existing bridges in Korea.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.563-576
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• 2015

Over the past few decades, seismic retrofitting of structural systems has been significantly improved by the adoption of various methods such as FRP composite wraps, base isolation systems, and passive/active damper control systems. In parallel with this trend, probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) for structural and nonstructural components has become necessary for risk mitigation and the achievement of reliable designs in performance-based earthquake engineering. The primary objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect on piping fragility at T-joints due to seismic retrofitting of structural systems with passive energy-dissipation devices (i.e., linear viscous dampers). Three mid-rise building types were considered: without any seismic retrofitting; with distributed damper systems; with optimal placement of dampers. The results showed that the probability of piping system failure was considerably reduced in a Multi Degree of Freedom (MDOF) building retrofitted with optimal passive damper systems at lower floor levels. This effect of damper systems on piping fragility became insignificant as the floor level increased.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.379-386
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• 2004

The optimal seismic retrofitting of NPP(Nuclear Power Plant) cabinet structures that contained class 1 relays were studies in this paper. During earthquake event, the failure modes of relays are not appeared in form of structural failure, but are appeared in form of contact chatter of relay. Therefore, the retrofitting of cabinet has to be aimed to the reducing of the structural response, such as acceleration. In this study, the optimal characteristic values of dampers were searched by μ-GA (micro-Genetic Algorithm) scheme for several installation patterns. To keep accuracy and efficiency of analysis, the structural models of cabinet were considered as a frame structure. The responses of structure were obtained in form of acceleration response spectra derived from the results of nonlinear time history analysis including damping nonlinearity. The fitness function of the optimum procedure was constructed based on the ratio of maximum spectral value and target GERS (General Equipment Ruggedness Spectra). The results show the good improvements of fitness fur adequate retrofitting pattern. Especially, the improvements of fitness were remarkable when the damping exponents are proper.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2018

Seismic retrofitting of existing buildings and design of earth-quake resistant buildings are important issues associated with earthquake-prone zones. Use of metallic-yielding dampers as an energy dissipation system is an acceptable method for controlling damages in structures and improving their seismic performance. In this study, the optimal distribution of dampers for reducing the seismic response of steel frames with multi-degrees freedom is presented utilizing the uniform distribution of deformations. This has been done in a way that, the final configuration of dampers in the frames lead to minimum weight while satisfying the performance criteria. It is shown that such a structure has an optimum seismic performance, in which the maximum structure capacity is used. Then the genetic algorithm which is an evolutionary optimization method is used for optimal arrangement of the steel dampers in the structure. In continuation for specifying the optimal accurate response, the local search algorithm based on the gradient concept has been selected. In this research the introduced optimization methods are used for optimal retrofitting in the moment-resisting frame with inelastic behavior and initial weakness in design. Ultimately the optimal configuration of dampers over the height of building specified and by comparing the results of the uniform deformation method with those of the genetic algorithm, the validity of the uniform deformation method in terms of accuracy, Time Speed Optimization and the simplicity of the theory have been proven.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.375-389
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• 2019

During earthquakes, the performance of structures needs to be evaluated, which provides guidance for selecting suitable retrofitting schemes. The purpose of this paper is to accomplish seismic assessment of a simple steel residential building. Once the responses of the system are determined, the scope of the study extends to evaluate selected retrofitting strategies that are intended to rehabilitate the flaws of the structure under prescribed ground motions with high probability of occurrence at the site. After implementing the retrofits, seismic assessment of the upgraded structure is carried out to check if the remediation at various seismic performance levels is acquired or not. Outcomes obtained from retrofitted scenarios are compared to the results obtained from the initial un-retrofitted configuration of the structure. This paper presents the process for optimal selection of rehabilitation solutions considering the cost of implementation, downtime and disruption to property owners while improving the seismic performance level of the structure.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.1 s.41
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• pp.1-7
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• 2005

The optimal seismic retrofitting of NPP(Nuclear Power Plant) cabinet structures that contain seismic category 1 relays was studied in this paper. During earthquake event, the failure modes of relays are not appeared in form of structural failure, but are appeared in form of contact chatter of relay. Therefore, the retrofitting of cabinet has to be aimed at the reducing of the structural response, such as acceleration. In this study, the optimal characteristic values of dampers were searched by ${\mu}$-GA (micro-Genetic Algorithm) scheme for several installation patterns. To keep accuracy and efficiency of analysis, the structural models of cabinet were considered as a frame structure. The responses of structure were obtained inform of acceleration response spectra derived from the results of nonlinear time history analysis including damping nonlinearity. The objective function of the optimum procedure was constructed based on the maximum ratio of maximum spectral value and target GERS (General Equipment Ruggedness Spectra). The results show the good improvements of fitness for adequate retrofitting pattern. Especially, the improvements of fitness were remarkable when the values of damping exponents are low.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.307-326
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• 2010

This paper is concerned with the optimal seismic design of added viscous dampers in yielding plane frames. The total added damping is minimized for allowable values of local performance indices under the excitation of an ensemble of ground motions in both regular and irregular structures. The local performance indices are taken as the maximal inter-story drift of each story and/or the normalized hysteretic energy dissipated at each of the plastic hinges. Gradients of the constraints with respect to the design variables (damping coefficients) are derived, via optimal control theory, to enable an efficient first order optimization scheme to be used for the solution of the problem. An example of a ten story three bay frame is presented. This example reveals the following 'fully stressed characteristics' of the optimal solution: damping is assigned only to stories for which the local performance index has reached the allowable value. This may enable the application of efficient and practical analysis/redesign type methods for the optimal design of viscous dampers in yielding plane frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.147-165
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• 2009

This study proposes a certain measure or investment strategy for decision making associated with seismic retrofitting. This strategy reduces the risk of a large-scale malfunction such as water supply loss under seismic risks. The authors developed a stochastic value index that will be used in the overall evaluation of social benefit, income gain, life cycle costs and failure compensation associated with existing lifeline systems damaged by an earthquake during the remaining service period. Optimal seismic disaster prevention investment of deteriorated lifeline systems is discussed. Finally, the present study provides a performance-based design method for seismic retrofitting strategies of existing lifelines which are carried out using the target probabilities of value loss and structural failure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-48
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• 2015

The main purpose of this work is to compare different criteria for the seismic strengthening of RC framed buildings in order to find the optimal combinations of these retrofitting techniques. To this end, a numerical investigation is carried out with reference to the town hall of Spilinga (Italy), an RC framed structure with an L-shaped plan built at the beginning of the 1960s. Five structures are considered, derived from the first by incorporating: carbon fibre reinforced polymer (FRP)-wrapping of all columns; base-isolation, with high-damping-laminated-rubber bearings (HDLRBs); added damping, with hysteretic damped braces (HYDBs); FRP-wrapping of the first storey columns combined with base-isolation or added damping. A three-dimensional fibre model of the primary and retrofitted structures is considered; bilinear and trilinear laws idealize, respectively, the behaviour of the HYDB, providing that the buckling be prevented, and the FRP-wrapping, without resistance in compression, while the response of the HDLRB is simulated by using a viscoelastic linear model. The effectiveness of the retrofitting solutions is tested with nonlinear dynamic analyses based on biaxial accelerograms, whose response spectra match those in the Italian seismic code.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.685-696
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• 2008

This paper deals with the numerical model of a bracing-friction damper system and its deployment using the optimal slip load distribution for the seismic retrofitting of a damaged building. The Slotted Bolted Connection (SBC) type friction damper system was tested to investigate its energy dissipation characteristic. Test results coincided with the numerical ones using the conventional model of a bracing-friction damper system. The placement of this device was numerically explored to apply it to the assumed damaged-building and to evaluate its efficiency. It was found by distributing the slip load that minimizes the given performance indicies based on structural response. Numerical results for the damaged building retrofitted with this slip load distribution showed that the seismic design of the bracing-friction damper system under consideration is effective for the structural response reduction.