• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2017

Historical earthquakes have shown that successive seismic events may occur in regions of high seismicity. Such a sequence of earthquakes has the potential to increase the damage level of the structures, since any rehabilitation between the successive ground motions is practically impossible due to lack of time. Few studies about this issue can be found in literature, most of which focused their attention on the seismic response of SDOF systems or planar frame structures. The aim of the present study is to examine the impact of seismic sequences on the damage level of 3D multistorey R/C buildings with various structural systems. For the purposes of the above investigation a comprehensive assessment is conducted using three double-symmetric and three asymmetric in plan medium-rise R/C buildings, which are designed on the basis of the current seismic codes. The buildings are analyzed by nonlinear time response analysis using 80 bidirectional seismic sequences. In order to account for the variable orientation of the seismic motion, the two horizontal accelerograms of each earthquake record are applied along horizontal orthogonal axes forming 12 different angles with the structural axes. The assessment of the results revealed that successive ground motions can lead to significant increase of the structural damage compared to the damage caused by the corresponding single seismic events. Furthermore, the incident angle can radically alter the successive earthquake phenomenon depending on the special characteristics of the structure, the number of the sequential earthquakes, as well as the distance of the record from the fault.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2009

This paper investigates the possibility of controlling the response of typical portal frame structures to blast loading using a combination of semi-active and passive control devices. A one storey reinforced concrete portal frame is modelled using non-linear finite elements with each column discretised into multiple elements to capture the higher frequency modes of column vibration response that are typical features of blast responses. The model structure is subjected to blast loads of varying duration, magnitude and shape, and the critical aspects of the response are investigated over a range of structural periods in the form of blast load response spectra. It is found that the shape or length of the blast load is not a factor in the response, as long as the period is less than 25% of the fundamental structural period. Thus, blast load response can be expressed strictly as a function of the momentum applied to the structure by a blast load. The optimal device arrangements are found to be those that reduce the first peak of the structural displacement and also reduce the subsequent free vibration of the structure. Semi-active devices that do not increase base shear demands on the foundations in combination with a passive yielding tendon are found to provide the most effective control, particularly if base shear demand is an important consideration, as with older structures. The overall results are summarised as response spectra for eventual potential use within standard structural design paradigms.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.671-679
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• 2008

The near surface mounted (NSM) FRP strengthening method has been conventionally applied for strengthening the deteriorated concrete structures. The NSM strengthening method, however, has been issued with the problem of limitation of the cutting depth which is usually considered as concrete cover depth. This may be related with degradation of bonding performance in long-term service state. To improve the debonding problem, in this study, the Stirrup partial-cutting NSM (SCNSM) strengthening method using CFRP plate was newly developed. SCNSM strengthening method can be effectively applied to the deteriorated concrete structure without any troubles of insufficient cutting depth. To experimentally verify the structural behavior, the flexural test of the concrete beam by using the SCNSM strengthening method was conducted with the test variable as the strengthening length (32%, 48%, 70%, 80%, 96% of span length). In the result of the test, the NSM and SCNSM strengthened specimen showed similar structural behavior with load-deflection, mode of failure. Additionally, there was no apparent structural degradation by the stirrup partial-cutting. Consequently, it was evaluated that the SCNSM strengthening method can be useful for seriously damaged concrete structures that is hard to apply the conventional NSM strengthening method for increasing the structural capacity.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

In seismic response analysis of building structures, the input ground accelerations have considerable effect on the nonlinear response characteristics of structures. The characteristics of soil and the locality of the site where those ground motions were recorded affect on the contents of earthquake waves. Therefore, it is difficult to select appropriate input ground motions for seismic response analysis. This study describes a generation of artificial earthquake wave compatible with seismic design spectrum, and also evaluates the seismic response values of multistory reinforced concrete structures by the simulated earthquake motions. The artificial earthquake wave are generated according to the previously recorded earthquake waves in past major earthquake events. The artificial wave have identical phase angles to the recorded earthquake wave, and their overall response spectra are compatible with seismic design spectrum with 5% critical viscous damping. The input ground motions applied to this study have identical elastic acceleration response spectra, but have different phase angles. The purpose of this study is to investigate their validity as input ground motion for nonlinear seismic response analysis. As expected, the response quantifies by simulated earthquake waves present better stable than those by real recording of ground motion. It was concluded that the artificial earthquake waves generated in this paper are applicable as input ground motions for a seismic response analysis of building structures. It was also found that strength of input ground motions for seismic analysis are suitable to be normalize as elastic acceleration spectra.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2015

Recently a new damper system with Kogome truss structure was developed and its mechanical properties were verified based on the laboratory test. This paper presents a Kagome truss damper external connection method for seismic strengthening of RC frame structural system. The Kagome external connection method, proposed in this study, consisted of building structure, Kagome damper and support system. The method is capable of reducing earthquake energy on the basis of the dynamic interaction between external support and building structures using Kagome damper. The pseudo-dynamic test, designed using a existing RC frame apartment for pilot application of LH corporation, was carried out in order to verify the seismic strengthening effects of the proposed method in terms of the maximum load carrying capacity and response ductility. Test results revealed that the proposed Kagome damper method installed in RC frame enhanced conspicuously the strength and displacement capacities, and the method can resist markedly under the large scaled earthquake intensity level.