• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.767-788
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• 2015

A steel shear wall with double-tapered links and in-plane reference was developed for assisting the assessment of the structural condition of a building after an earthquake while maintaining the original role of the wall as a passive damper device. The double-tapered link subjected to in-plane shear deformation is designed to deform torsionally after the onset of local buckling and works as an indicator of the maximum shear deformation sustained by the shear wall during an earthquake. This paper first examines the effectiveness of double-tapered links in the assessment of the structural condition under various types of loading. A design procedure using a baseline incremental two-cycle loading protocol is verified numerically and experimentally. Meanwhile, in-plane reference links are introduced to double-tapered links and greatly enhance objectivity in the inspection of notable torsional deformation with the naked eye. Finally, a double-layer system, which consists of a layer with double-tapered links and a layer with rectangular links made of low-yield-point steel, is tested to demonstrate the feasibility of realizing both structural condition assessment and enhanced energy dissipation.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.487-498
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• 2018

Buckling-restrained braces are passive control devices with high level of energy dissipation ability. However, they suffer from low post-yield stiffness which makes them vulnerable to severe ground motions, especially near-field earthquakes. Among the several methods proposed to improve resistance of BRB frames, mega-brace configuration can be a solution to increase frame lateral strength and stiffness and improve distribution of forces to prevent large displacement in braces. Due to the limited number of research regarding the performance of such systems, the current paper aims to assess seismic performance of BRB frames with mega-bracing arrangement under near-field earthquakes via a detailed probabilistic framework. For this purpose, a group of multi-story mega-BRB frames were modelled by OpenSEES software platform. In the first part of the paper, simplified procedures including nonlinear pushover and Incremental Dynamic Analysis were conducted for performance evaluation. Two groups of near-fault seismic ground motions (Non-pulse and Pulse-like records) were considered for analyses to take into account the effects of record-to-record uncertainties, as well as forward directivity on the results. In the second part, seismic reliability analyses are conducted in the context of performance based earthquake engineering. Two widely-known EDP-based and IM-based probabilistic frameworks are employed to estimate collapse potential of the structures. Results show that all the structures can successfully tolerate near-field earthquakes with a high level of confidence level. Therefore, mega-bracing configuration can be an effective alternative to conventional BRB bracing to withstand near-field earthquakes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.445-464
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• 2012

In order to evaluate the dynamic behavior of passive energy dissipation system, two steps need to be considered for prediction of structural response in the presence of ductile element in an off-centre bracing system. The first is a detailed analysis of the proposed ductile element and the second is the effect of this ductile element on an off-centre bracing system. The use of ductile bracing system is expanding in steel structures in order to increase the force reduction factor. Therefore, regarding the nonlinear behavior of steel material used in an off-centre bracing systems and using ductile element in OBS bracing systems, the seismic evaluation of the mentioned systems seems to be necessary. This paper aims to study linear and nonlinear behavior of steel frames with off-centre bracing system and ductile element, in order to get the best position of these bracing elements. To achieve this purpose, the modeling has been done with ANSYS software. The optimum eccentricity has been obtained by modeling three steel frames with different eccentricities and evaluating the results of them. The analytical results showed that the model OBS-C with 0.3 eccentricities has higher performance among the models.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.595-617
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• 2013

Semi-active control equipments are used to effectually enhance the seismic behavior of structures. Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers are semi-active devices that can be utilized to control the response of structures during seismic loads and have received voracious attention for response suppression. They supply the adaptability of active devices and stability and reliability of passive devices. This paper presents an optimal fuzzy logic control scheme for vibration mitigation of buildings using magneto-rheological dampers subjected to near-fault ground motions. Near-fault features including a directivity pulse in the fault-normal direction and a fling step in the fault-parallel direction are considered in the requisite ground motion records. The membership functions and fuzzy rules of fuzzy controller were optimized by genetic algorithm (GA). Numerical study is performed to analyze the influences of near-fault ground motions on a building that is equipped with MR dampers. Considering the uncontrolled system response as the base line, the proposed method is scrutinized by analogy with that of a conventional maximum dissipation energy (MED) controller to accentuate the effectiveness of the fuzzy logic algorithm. Results reveal that the fuzzy logic controllers can efficiently improve the structural responses and MR dampers are quite promising for reducing seismic responses during near-fault earthquakes.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.537-549
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• 2018

Using vertical links in eccentric braced frames is one of the best passive structural control approaches due to its effectiveness and practicality advantages. However, in spite of the subject importance there are limited studies which evaluate the seismic reliability and response reduction factor (R-factor) in this system. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to improve the current understanding about failure mechanism in the structural systems equipped with vertical links. For this purpose, following definition of demand and capacity response reduction factors, these parameters are computed for three different buildings (4, 8 and 12 stories) equipped with this system. In this regards, pushover and incremental dynamic analysis have been employed, and seismic reliability as well as multi-level response reduction factor according to the seismic demand and capacity of the frames have been derived. Based on the results, this system demonstrates high ductility and seismic energy dissipation capacity, and using the response reduction factor as high as 8 also provides acceptable reliability for the frame in the moderate and high earthquake intensities. This system can be used in original buildings as lateral load resisting system in addition to seismic rehabilitation of the existing buildings.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.337-351
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• 2017

In the present study a capacity spectrum method based on constant ductility inelastic spectra to estimate the seismic performance of structures equipped with elastic viscous dampers is presented. As the definition of the structures' effective damping, due to the damping system, is necessary, an alternative method to specify the effective damping ratio ${\xi}eff$ is presented. Moreover, damping reduction factors (B) are introduced to generate high damping elastic demand spectra. Given the elastic spectra for damping ratio ${\xi}eff$, the performance point of the structure can be obtained by relationships that relate the strength demand reduction factor (R) with the ductility demand factor (${\mu}$). As such expressions that link the above quantities, known as R - ${\mu}$ - Τ relationships, for different damping levels are presented. Moreover, corrective factors (Bv) for the pseudo-velocity spectra calculation are reported for different levels of damping and ductility in order to calculate with accuracy the values of the viscous dampers velocities. Finally, to evaluate the results of the proposed method, the whole process is applied to a four-storey reinforced concrete frame structure and to a six-storey steel structure, both equipped with elastic viscous dampers.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.107-120
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• 2022

The bracing members capable of active control against seismic loads to reduce earthquake damage have been widely utilized in construction projects. Effectively reducing the structural damage caused by earthquake events, bracing systems equipped with retrofitting damper devices, which take advantage of the energy dissipation and impact absorption, have been widely used in practical construction sites. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) are a new generation of smart materials with the capability of recovering their predefined shape after experiencing a large strain. This is mainly due to the shape memory effects and the superelasticity of SMA. These properties make SMA an excellent alternative to be used in passive, semi-active, and active control systems in civil engineering applications. In this research, a new system in diagonal braces with slit damper combined with SMA is investigated. The diagonal element under the effect of tensile and compressive force turns to shear force in the slit damper and creates tension in the SMA. Therefore, by creating shear forces in the damper, it leads to yield and increases the energy absorption capacity of the system. The purpose of using SMA, in addition to increasing the stiffness and strength of the system, is to create reversibility for the system. According to the results, the highest capacity is related to the case where the ratio of the width of the middle section to the width of the end section (b₁/b) is 1.0 and the ratio of the height of the middle part to the total height of the damper (h₁/h) is 0.1. This is mainly because in this case, the damper section has the highest cross-section. In contrast, the lowest capacity is related to the case where b₁/b=0.1 and the ratio h₁/h=0.8.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.217-227
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• 2018

In the last decades, valuable results have been reported regarding conventional passive, active, semi-active, and hybrid structural control systems on two-dimensional and a few three-dimensional shear buildings. In this research, using a three-dimensional finite element model of high-rise concrete structures, designed by performance based plastic design method, it was attempted to construct a relatively close to reality model of concrete structures equipped with Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) by considering the effect of soil-structure interaction (SSI), torsion effect, hysteresis behavior and cracking effect of concrete. In contrast to previous studies which have focused mainly on linearly designed structures, in this study, using performance-based plastic design (PBPD) design approach, nonlinear behavior of the structures was considered from the beginning of the design stage. Inelastic time history analysis on a detailed model of twenty-story concrete structure was performed under a far-field ground motion record set. The seismic responses of the structure by considering SSI effect are studied by eight main objective functions that are related to the performance of the structure, containing: lateral displacement, acceleration, inter-story drift, plastic energy dissipation, shear force, number of plastic hinges, local plastic energy and rotation of plastic hinges. The tuning problem of TMD based on tuned mass spectra is set by considering five of the eight previously described functions. Results reveal that the structural damage distribution range is retracted and inter-story drift distribution in height of the structure is more uniform. It is strongly suggested to consider the effect of SSI in structural design and analysis.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.233-247
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• 2007

The insertion of steel braces has become a common technique to limit the deformability of steel framed buildings subjected to wind loads. However, when this technique is inadequate to keep floor accelerations within acceptable levels of human comfort, dampers placed in series with the steel braces can be adopted. To check the effectiveness of braces equipped with viscoelastic (VEDs) or friction dampers (FRDs), a numerical investigation is carried out focusing attention on a three-bay fifteen-storey steel framed building with K-braces. More precisely, three alternative structural solutions are examined for the purpose of controlling wind-induced vibrations: the insertion of additional diagonal braces; the insertion of additional diagonal braces equipped with dampers; the insertion of both additional diagonal braces and dampers supported by the existing K-braces. Additional braces and dampers are designed according to a simplified procedure based on a proportional stiffness criterion. A dynamic analysis is carried out in the time domain using a step-by-step initial-stress-like iterative procedure. Along-wind loads are considered at each storey assuming the time histories of the wind velocity, for a return period $T_r=5$ years, according to an equivalent wind spectrum technique. The behaviour of the structural members, except dampers, is assumed linear elastic. A VED and an FRD are idealized by a six-element generalized model and a bilinear (rigid-plastic) model, respectively. The results show that the structure with damped additional braces can be considered, among those examined, the most effective to control vibrations due to wind, particularly the floor accelerations. Moreover, once the stiffness of the additional braces is selected, the VEDs are slightly more efficient than the FRDs, because they, unlike the FRDs, dissipate energy also for small amplitude vibrations.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.150-159
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• 2002

The possibility of a broadband noise reduction of piezoelectric smart panels is experimentally studied. Piezoelectric smart panel is basically a plate structure on which piezoelectric patch with shunt circuits is mounted and sound absorbing material is bonded on the surface of the structure. Sound absorbing materials can absorb the sound transmitted at mid frequency region effectively while the use of piezoelectric shunt damping can reduce the transmission at resonance frequencies of the panel structure. To be able to tune the piezoelectric shunt circuit, the measured electrical impedance model is adopted. Resonant shunt circuit composed of register and inductor in stories is considered and the circuit parameters are determined based on maximizing the dissipated energy through the circuit. The transmitted noise reduction performance of smart panels is investigated using an acoustic tunnel. The tunnel is a square crosses sectional tunnel and a loud speaker is mounted at one side of the tunnel as a sound source. Panels are mounted in the middle of the tunnel and the transmitted sound pressure across the panels is measured. Noise reduction performance of a double smart panel possessing absorbing material and air gap shows a good result at mid frequency region except the first resonance frequency. By enabling the piezoelectric shunt damping, noise reduction is achieved at the resonance frequency as well. Piezoelectric smart panels incorporating passive method and piezoelectric shunt damping are a promising technology for noise reduction in a broadband frequency.