• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.100-106
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• 2010

Most of the school buildings were built before the seismic code was established. To consider the sunlight and ventilation to the partition walls are built about 1m height beside columns at typical school buildings. For the reason, columns which is consisted school building occur brittle failure shape by the reduced effective depth. In this study, experimental test for retrofitting effect by Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymers(AFRP) strips on masonry infilled reinforced concrete(RC) frames is performed. The test results were to ensured enough time to evacuate due to the enhancement of ductility and strength of school buildings to withstand earthquakes using AFRP strips.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-55
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• 2013

An important issue in the design of soil-nailing systems, as long-term retaining walls, is to assess their stability during seismic events. As such, this study is aimed at simulating the dynamic behavior and failure pattern of nailed structures using two series of numerical analyses, namely dynamic time history and pseudo-static. These numerical simulations are performed using the Finite Difference Method (FDM). In order to consider the actual response of a soil-nailed structure, nonlinear soil behaviour, soil-structure interaction effects, bending resistance of structural elements and construction sequences have been considered in the analyses. The obtained results revealed the efficiency of both analysis methods in simulating the seismic failure mechanism. The predicted failure pattern consists of two sliding blocks enclosed by three slip surfaces, whereby the bottom nails act as anchors and the other nails hold a semi-rigid soil mass. Moreover, it was realized that an increase in the length of the lowest nails is the most effective method to improve seismic stability of soil-nailed structures. Therefore, it is recommended to first estimate the nails pattern for static condition with the minimum required static safety factor. Then, the required seismic stability can be obtained through an increase in the length of the lowest nails. Moreover, placement of additional long nails among lowest nails in existing nailed structures can be considered as a simple retrofitting technique in seismic prone areas.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.309-325
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• 2015

A convenient procedure for seismic retrofit of existing buildings is to use passive control methods, like using friction dampers in steel frames with bracing systems. In this method, reduction of seismic demand and increase of ductility generally improve seismic performance of the structures. Some of its advantages are development of a stable rectangular hysteresis loop and independence on environmental conditions such as temperature and loading rate. In addition to friction dampers, masonry-infill panels improve the seismic resistance of steel structures by increasing lateral strength and stiffness and reducing story drifts. In this study, the effect of masonry-infill panels on seismic performance of a three-span four-story steel frame with Pall friction dampers is investigated. The results show that friction dampers in the steel frame increase the ductility and decrease the drift (to less than 1%). The infill panels fulfill their function during the imposed drift and increase structural strength. It can be concluded that infill panels together with friction dampers, reduced structural dynamic response. These infill panels dissipated input earthquake energy from 4% to 10%, depending on their thickness.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.437-445
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• 2021

Retrofitting of structures has gained importance over the recent years. Particularly, Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) column strengthening has become a challenge to the structural engineers, owing to the risks and complexities involved in it. There are several methods of RCC column strengthening viz. RCC jacketing, steel jacketing and Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) wrapping etc., FRP wrapping is the most promising alternative when compared to the others. The large research database shows FRP wrapping, through lateral confinement, improves the axial load carrying capacity of the columns under concentric loading. However, its confining efficiency reduces under eccentric loading. Hence a relative newer technique called Near Surface Mounting (NSM), in which Carbon FRP (CFRP) strips are epoxy grouted to the precut grooves in the cover concrete of the columns, has been thrust domain of research. NSM technique strengthens the column nominally under concentric load case while significantly under eccentric case. A novel configuration of NSM in which the vertical NSM (VNSM) strips are being connected by horizontal NSM (HNSM) strips was numerically investigated under both concentric and eccentric loading. It was found that the configuration with 6 HNSM strips performed better under eccentric loading than under concentric loading, while the configuration with 3 HNSM strips performed better under concentric loading than under eccentric loading. Hence an optimum of 4 HNSM strips is recommended as strengthening measure for the given column specifications. It was also found that Aluminum alloy cannot be used instead of CFRP in NSM applications owing to its lower mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2022

Based on the nonlinear static analysis and the approximate seismic evaluation method adopted in "Guidelines for seismic performance evaluation for existing buildings, two methods to calculate strength demand for retrofitting individual structural walls in unreinforced masonry buildings are proposed." The displacement coefficient method to determine displacement demand from nonlinear static analysis results is used for the inverse calculation of overall strength demand required to reduce the displacement demand to a target value meeting the performance objective of the unreinforced masonry building to retrofit. A preliminary seismic evaluation method to screen out vulnerable buildings, of which detailed evaluation is necessary, is utilized to calculate overall strength demand without structural analysis based on the difference between the seismic demand and capacity. A system modification factor is introduced to the preliminary seismic evaluation method to reduce the strength demand considering inelastic deformation. The overall strength demand is distributed to the structural walls to retrofit based on the wall stiffness, including the remaining walls or otherwise. Four detached residential houses are modeled and analyzed using the nonlinear static and preliminary evaluation procedures to examine the proposed method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1167-1184
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• 2015

Despite considerable life casualty and financial loss resulting from past earthquakes, many existing steel buildings are still seismically vulnerable as they have no lateral resistance or at least need some sort of retrofitting. Passive control methods with decreasing seismic demand and increasing ductility reduce rate of vulnerability of structures against earthquakes. One of the most effective and practical passive control methods is to use a shear panel system working as a ductile fuse in the structure. The shear Panel System, SPS, is located vertically between apex of two chevron braces and the flange of the floor beam. Seismic energy is highly dissipated through shear yielding of shear panel web while other elements of the structure remain almost elastic. In this paper, lateral behavior and related benefits of this system with narrow-flange link beams is experimentally investigated in chevron braced simple steel frames. For this purpose, five specimens with IPE (narrow-flange I section) shear panels were examined. All of the specimens showed high ductility and dissipated almost all input energy imposed to the structure. For example, maximum SPS shear distortion of 0.128-0.156 rad, overall ductility of 5.3-7.2, response modification factor of 7.1-11.2, and finally maximum equivalent viscous damping ratio of 35.5-40.2% in the last loading cycle corresponding to an average damping ratio of 26.7-30.6% were obtained. It was also shown that the beam, columns and braces remained elastic as expected. Considering this fact, by just changing the probably damaged shear panel pieces after earthquake, the structure can still be continuously used as another benefit of this proposed retrofitting system without the need to change the floor beam.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.65-68
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• 2004

In the seismical capacity evaluation for RC structure wall-slab joint is very important factor. Because lateral load is resistance element and gravity load resistance element are acted mutually in the wall-slab joint. In this paper, to improve the seismic capacity of the wall-slab joint in the existing wall type apartments experiment which improve and retrofit a seismic capacity by unequal angle bracing and carbon sheet attachment are carried out. These methods are also economic and simple in mitigating seismic hazard, improve earthquake-resistance performance, and reduce risk level of building occupants. From the experimental results, the change of strength, degration of stiffness, and energy dissipation are evaluated. It can be concluded that these methods are effective in improving the seismic performance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 2010

At present, the biological nutrient removal (BNR) process for removal of nitrogen and phosphorus is being constructing to keep pace with the reinforced standard of effluent quality and the traditional activated sludge process of preexistence is being promoting to retrofit. At the most case of retrofitting, processes are subjected to be under consideration as alternative BNR process for retrofitting. However, process evaluation methods are restricted to compare only treatment efficiency. Therefore, when BNR process apply, process evaluation was needed various method for treatment efficiency as well as sludge production and aeration cost, and all. In this study, the evaluation method of alternative process was suggested for the case for retrofitting S wastewater treatment plant which has been operated the standard activated sludge process. Three BNR processes for evaluation of proper alternatative process were selected and evaluated with suggested method. The selected $A^2$/O, VIP and DNR processes were evaluated using the mathematical model which is time and cost effective as well as gathered objective evaluation criteria. The evaluation between 5 individual criteria was possible including sludge production and energy efficiency as well as treatment performance. The objective final decision method for selection of optimal process was established through the fuzzy inference.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.499-511
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• 2018

This paper aims to investigate the seismic performance of the prestressed steel strips retrofitted RC beam-column joints. Two series of joint specimens were conducted under compression load and reversed cyclic loading through quasi-static tests. Based on the test results, the seismic behavior of the strengthened joints specimens in terms of the failure modes, hysteresis response, bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation performance and damage level were focused. Moreover, the effects of the amount of the prestressed steel strips and the axial compression ratio on seismic performance of retrofitted specimens were analyzed. It was shown that the prestressed steel strips retrofitting method could significantly improve the seismic behavior of the RC joint because of the large confinement provided by prestressed steel strips in beam-column joints. The decrease of the spacing and the increase of the layer number of the prestressed steel strips could result in a better seismic performance of the retrofitted joint specimens. Moreover, increasing the axial compression ration could enhance the peak load, stiffness and the energy performance of the joint specimens. Furthermore, by comparison with the specimens reinforced with CFRP sheets, the specimens reinforced with prestressed steel strips was slightly better in seismic performance and cost-saving in material and labor. Therefore, this prestressed steel strips retrofitting method is quite helpful to enhance the seismic behavior of the RC beam-column joints with reducing the cost and engineering time.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2017

As a new type of energy dissipation component with excellent mechanical performance, the Buckling-Retrained Braces (BRBs) were gradually applied in retrofitting and improving seismic performance of reinforced concrete structures in China. In order to investigate the seismic performance of reinforced concrete structures retrofitted with BRBs, quasi-static test of two single-bay and 3-story reinforced concrete frames specimens was conducted and introduced in this paper. Two 1/2 scaled specimens were designed to reflect real prototype structure. For comparison, one control specimen was designed without BRBs, and the other specimen was retrofitted with BRBs. And particularly, for the specimen retrofitted with BRBs, the BRBs were eccentric layout instead of usually concentric or x-shaped layout, aiming to be more suitable for large-span frames. In the test, the failure mode, carrying capacity, deformability, ductility and energy dissipation ability of both two specimens were investigated. Based on the test results of the measured hysterical curves, skeleton curves, the seismic performances such as bearing capacity, plastic deformability, energy dissipation ability and ductility of two specimens were fully studied. And from the test results, it was indicated that the specimen retrofitted with BRBs showed much better seismic performance than the control specimen without BRBs, and the BRBs could effectively improve the seismic performance of the reinforced concrete frame. For the specimen retrofitted with BRBs, the BRBs firstly yielded before the beam-ends and the column-ends, and an expected yielding process or yielding mechanism as well as good seismic performance was obtained. For the specimens without BRBs, though the beam-ends yielded prior to the column-ends, the seismic performance was much poor than that of the specimen with BRBs.