• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2017

The fundamental goal of this study is to minimize the uncertainty of the median fragility curve and to assess the structural vulnerability under earthquake excitation. Bayesian Inference with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation has been presented for efficient collapse response assessment of the independent intake water tower. The intake tower is significantly used as a diversion type of the hydropower station for maintaining power plant, reservoir and spillway tunnel. Therefore, the seismic fragility assessment of the intake tower is a pivotal component for estimating total system risk of the reservoir. In this investigation, an asymmetrical independent slender reinforced concrete structure is considered. The Bayesian Inference method provides the flexibility to integrate the prior information of collapse response data with the numerical analysis results. The preliminary information of risk data can be obtained from various sources like experiments, existing studies, and simplified linear dynamic analysis or nonlinear static analysis. The conventional lognormal model is used for plotting the fragility curve using the data from time history simulation and nonlinear static pushover analysis respectively. The Bayesian Inference approach is applied for integrating the data from both analyses with the help of MCMC simulation. The method achieves meaningful improvement of uncertainty associated with the fragility curve, and provides significant statistical and computational efficiency.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2014

In this paper, overstrength, ductility and response modification factors are calculated for frames braced with a different type of buckling restrained braces, called reduced yielding segment BRB (Buckling Restrained Brace) in which the length of its yielding part is reduced and placed in one end of the brace element in comparison with conventional BRBs. Forthermore, these factors are calculated for ordinary BRBF and the results are compared. In this regard incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) method is used for studying 17 records of the most known earthquakes happened in the world. To do that, the considered buildings have different stories and two bracing configurations: diagonal and inverted V chevron, the most ordinary configurations of BRBFs. Static pushover analysis, nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis and linear dynamic analysis have been performed using OpenSees software. Considering the results, it can be seen that, overstrength, ductility and response modification factors of this type of BRBF(Buckling Restrained Braced Frame) is greater than those of conventional types and it shows better seismic performance and also eliminates some of conventional BRBF's disadvantages such as low post-yield stiffness.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.5
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• pp.567-577
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• 2019

Guyed steel lattice towers (or guyed masts) are widely used for supporting antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting. This paper presents a numerical study on the static and dynamic response of guyed towers. Three-dimensional nonlinear finite-element models are used to simulate the response. Through performing static pushover analyses and free-vibration (modal) analyses, the effect of different bracing configurations is investigated. In addition, seismic analyses are performed on towers of different heights to study the influence of earthquake excitation time-lag (or the earthquake travel distance between tower anchors) and antenna weight on the seismic response of guyed towers. The results show that the inclusion of time lag in the seismic analysis of guyed towers can influence shear and moment distribution along the height of the mast. Moreover, it is found that the lateral response is insensitive to bracing configurations. The results also show that, depending on the mast height, an increased antenna weight can reduce the tower maximum base shear while other response quantities, such as cables tension force are found to be insensitive to variation in the antenna weight.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.585-595
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• 2022

Using the nonlinear static procedures has become very common in seismic codes to achieve the nonlinear response of the structure during an earthquake. The capacity spectrum method (CSM) adopted in ATC-40 is considered as one of the most known and useful procedures. For this procedure the seismic demand can be approximated from the maximum deformation of an equivalent linear elastic Single-Degree-of-Freedom system (SDOF) that has an equivalent damping ratio and period by using an iterative procedure. Data from the results of this procedure are plotted in acceleration- displacement response spectrum (ADRS) format. Different improvements have been made in order to have more accurate results compared to the Non Linear Time History Analysis (NL-THA). A new procedure is presented in this paper where the iteration process shall not be required. This will be done by estimation the ductility demand response spectrum (DDRS) and the corresponding effective damping of the bilinear system based on a new parameter of control, called normalized yield strength coefficient (η), while retaining the attraction of graphical implementation of the improved procedure of the FEMA-440. The proposed procedure accuracy should be verified with the NL-THA analysis results as a first implementation. The comparison shows that the new procedure provided a good estimation of the nonlinear response of the structure compared with those obtained when using the NL-THA analysis.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.231-243
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• 2022

Beam-column joints (BCJs) are recognized among the most crucial zones in reinforced concrete structures, as they are the critical elements subjected to a complex state of forces during a severe earthquake. Under such conditions, BCJs exhibit behaviors with impacts that extend to the whole structure and significantly influence its ductility and capability of dissipating energy. The focus of this paper is to investigate the effect of undamaged transverse beam (secondary beams) on the ductility of concrete BCJs reinforced with conventional steel and shape memory alloys bars using pushover analysis at tip of beam under different axial load levels at the column using a nonlinear finite element model in ABAQUS environment. A numerical model of a BCJ was constructed and the analysis outcomes were verified by comparing them to those obtained from previous experiments found in the literature. The comparison evidenced the capability of the calibrated model to predict the load capacity response of the joint. Results proved the ability of undamaged secondary beams to provide a noticeable improvement to the ductility of reinforced concrete joints, with a very negligible loss in load capacity. However, the effect of secondary beams can become less significant if the beams are damaged due to seismic effects. In addition, the axial load was found to significantly enhance the performance of BCJs, where the increase in axial load magnified the capacity of the joint. However, higher values of axial load resulted in greater initial stiffness of the BCJ.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.97-104
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• 2005

The seismic behavior of framed structure with Chevron-type bucking restrained braces were investigated and their behavior factors were evaluated following the procedure proposed in ATC-19 & ATC-34. Two types of structures, building frame systems and dual systems, with 4, 8, 12, and 16 stories were designed per the IBC 2000, the AISC LRFD and the AISC/SEAOC Recommended Provisions for BRBF. Nonlinear static pushover analyses were carried out to observe the plastic hinge formation and to identify the loads and the displacements at the yield and the ultimate states. Time history analyses were also carried out to compute the permanent displacement md the dissipated hysteretic energy. According to the analysis results, the response modification factors of model structures fumed out to be larger than what is proposed in the provision in low story structures, and a little smaller in medium-story structures. The dual systems, even though designed with smaller seismic load, showed superior static and dynamic performances.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.287-309
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• 2012

Precast segmental bridge columns (PSBC) are alternatives for monolithic cast-in-situ concrete columns in bridge substructures, with fast construction speed and structural durability. The analytical tool for common use is demonstrated applicable for seismic performance prediction of PSBCs through experiment conducted earlier. Then the analytical program was used for parameter optimization of PSBC configurations under reversal cyclic loading. Shear strength by pushover analysis was compared with theoretical prediction. Moreover, seismic response of PSBC with energy dissipation (ED) bars was compared with its no ED bar counterpart under three history ground acceleration records. The investigation shows that appropriate ED bar and post-tensioned tendon arrangement is important for higher lateral bearing capacity and good ductility performance of PSBCs.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.741-748
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• 2006

Seismic performance evaluation was conducted for four wind-designed concentrically braced steel highrise buildings in order to check the feasibility of designing steel highrise buildings per elastic seismic design criterion (or strength and stiffness solution) in the regions of strong wind and moderate seismicity. The pushover analysis results revealed that the wind-designed highrise buildings possess significantly increased elastic seismic capacity due to the overstrength resulting from the wind serviceability criterion. The strength demand-to-capacity study showed that, due to the wind-induced overstrength, highrise buildings with a slenderness ratio of larger than four or five can withstand elastically even the maximum considered earthquake at the performance level of immediate occupancy. Based on the analytical results of this study, practical elastic seismic design procedure for steel highrise buildings in the regions of moderate seismicity is proposed.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.03a
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• pp.316-323
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• 2005

The capacity spectrum method (CSM) can be used for the evaluation of inelastic maximum response of structures and has been recently used in the seismic design using the incorporation of pushover analysis and response spectrum method. To efficiently evaluate seismic performance of multi-degree-of freedom (MDOF) bridge structures, it is important that the equivalent response of MDOF bridge structures be calculated. In this study to calculate the equivalent response of MDOF system, equivalent responses are obtained by the using Song method, N2 method and Calvi method. Also, these are applied the CSM method and seismic performance of bridge according to the ESDOF method are compared and evaluated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-52
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• 2008

The paper investigates the seismic performance of a Partially-Restrained (PR) steel-concrete composite frame using the probabilistic approach. The analysed frame was tested at the ELSA laboratory of the Joint Research Centre of Ispra (Italy), while the representative beam-to-column composite connections were tested at the Universities of Pisa, Milan and Trento (Italy). The component modelling of both interior and exterior composite joints is described first, including the experimental-numerical validation. The Latin Hypercube method has been used to draw the probabilistic distribution curves of joints, and then the whole PR composite frame has been analysed. Pushover and incremental dynamic analyses have been carried out using the non-linear FE code SAP2000 version 9.1. The fragility and performance curves of the PR composite frame have been determined for four damage limit states.