• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.389-398
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• 2018

The seismic isolation system makes a structure isolated from ground motions to protect the structure from seismic events. Seismic isolation techniques have been implemented in full-scale buildings and bridges because of their simplicity, economic effectiveness, inherent stability and reliability. As for the responses of an isolated structure due to seismic events, it is well known that the most uncertain aspects are the seismic loading itself and structural properties. Due to the randomness of earthquakes and uncertainty of structures, seismic response distributions of an isolated structure are needed when evaluating the seismic fragility assessment (or probabilistic seismic safety assessment) of an isolated structure. Seismic response time histories are useful and often essential elements in its design or evaluation stage. Thus, a large number of non-linear dynamic analyses should be performed to evaluate the seismic performance of an isolated structure. However, it is a monumental task to gather the design or evaluation information of the isolated structure from too many seismic analyses, which is impractical. In this paper, a new methodology that can evaluate the seismic fragility assessment of an isolated structure is proposed by using stochastic response database, which is a device that can estimate the seismic response distributions of an isolated structure without any seismic response analyses. The seismic fragility assessment of the isolated nuclear power plant is performed using the proposed methodology. The proposed methodology is able to evaluate the seismic performance of isolated structures effectively and reduce the computational efforts tremendously.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.1 s.68
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• pp.145-153
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• 2004

Conventional lead-rubber bearings may be unstable in case of strong ground motions. To address this problem, this paper proposed a new concept of isolation device wherein shape memory alloy wires were incorporated in an elastomeric bearing. A three-span continuous steel bridge was used for seismic analyses to compare the performance of lead-rubber and proposed bearings. The proposed bearings showed almost the same performance as the lead-rubber bearings. In particular, the proposed bearings limited relative displacement effectively with strong ground motions and recovered its original undeformed shape.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.795-806
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• 2017

According to the characteristics of continuous beam bridges, the relative displacement is too large to collision or even girder falling under earthquakes. A device named Cable-sliding Modular Expansion Joints(CMEJs) that can control the relative displacement and avoid collision under different ground motions is proposed. Working principle and mechanical model is described. This paper design the CMEJs, establish the restoring force model, verify the force model of this device by the pseudo-static tests, and describe and analyze results of the tests, and then based on a triple continuous beam bridge that has different heights of piers, a 3D model with or without CMEJs were established under Conventional System (CS) and Seismic Isolation System (SIS). The results show that this device can control the relative displacement and avoid collisions. The combination of isolation technology and CMEJs can be more effective to achieve both functions, but it need to take measures to prevent girder falling due to the displacement between pier and beam under large earthquakes.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.333-343
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• 2023

Various seismic isolation and reduction devices have been applied to suppress the longitudinal vibration of continuous girder bridges. As representative devices, lead rubber bearing (LRB) and fluid viscous damper (FVD) might suffer from deterioration during the long-term service. This study aims to evaluate the impact of device deterioration on the seismic responses of continuous girder bridges and investigate the seismic behavior of deteriorated LRBs and FVDs. Seismic performance of a simplified bridge model was investigated, and the influence of device deterioration was evaluated by the coefficient of variation method. The contribution of LRB and FVD was assessed by the Sobol global sensitivity analysis method. Finally, the seismic behaviors of deteriorated LRBs and FVDs were discussed. The result shows that (i) the girder-pier relative displacement is the most sensitive to the changes in the deterioration level, (ii) the deterioration of FVD has a greater effect on the structural responses than that of LRB, (iii) FVD plays a major role in energy dissipation with a low degradation level while LRB is more essential in dissipating energy when suffering from high degradation level, (iv) the deteriorated devices are more likely to reach the ultimate state and thus be damaged.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.77-83
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• 2019

Upon installing a seismic isolation device on a nuclear power plant, the device takes on the suppression of seismic loads. This is expected to bring about a larger displacement than what is seen prior to the installation of the seismic isolation device. Depending on the displacement change, the seismic risk for some equipment can increase. Particularly in case of the piping system, which is used for connecting the structure isolated from seismic events with common structures, the seismic risk is expected to rise significantly. In this study, the limit state of the steel pipe tee, which is a vulnerability part of the nuclear power plant piping system, was defined as leakage, and an in-plane cyclic loading test was conducted. As it is difficult to measure the moment and rotation of the steel pipe tee using the conventional sensors, an image signal was used. This study proposed a leakage line and low-cycle fatigue curves using the relationship between the moment and the rotation of a 3-inch steel pipe tee.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.603-623
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• 2015

The scale and nature of the recent earthquakes in the world and the related earthquake disaster index coerce the concerned community to become anxious about it. Therefore, it is crucial that seismic lateral load effect will be appropriately considered in structural design. Application of seismic isolation system stands as a consistent alternative against this hazard. The objective of the study is to evaluate the structural and economic feasibility of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with base isolation located in medium risk seismic region. Linear and nonlinear dynamic analyses as well as linear static analysis under site-specific bi-directional seismic excitation have been carried out for both fixed based (FB) and base isolated (BI) buildings in the present study. The superstructure and base of buildings are modeled in a 3D finite element model by consistent mass approach having six degrees of freedom at each node. The floor slabs are simulated as rigid diaphragms. Lead rubber bearing (LRB) and High damping rubber bearing (HDRB) are used as isolation device. Change of structural behaviors and savings in construction costing are evaluated. The study shows that for low to medium rise buildings, isolators can reduce muscular amount of base shears, base moments and floor accelerations for building at soft to medium stiff soil. Allowable higher horizontal displacement induces structural flexibility. Though incorporating isolator increases the outlay, overall structural cost may be reduced. The application of base isolation system confirms a potential to be used as a viable solution in economic building design.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1995.05a
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• pp.1021-1026
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• 1995

The seismic responses of a base isolated Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) are investigated using a mathematical model which expresses the superstructure as lumped mass-spring model and the seismic isolator as an equivalent spring-damper. Time history analyses are performed for the 1940 E1 Centre earthquakes in both horizontal and vertical directions. In the analysis, structural damping of 5% is used for the superstructure. The isolator damping ratios of 12% for horizontal and 5% for vertical directions are used. The acceleration responses in base isolated PWR superstructure with high damping rubber bearings are much smaller than those in fixed base structure in horizontal direction. However, the vertical acceleration responses at the superstructure in the base isolation system are amplified to some extent. It is suggested that the vertical seismic responses at the superstructure should be reduced by introducing a soft vertical isolation device.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.495-504
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• 2018

The possibility of earthquakes in vulnerable regions indicates that efficient technique is required for seismic protection of buildings. During the recent decades, the concept is moving towards the insertion of base isolation on seismic prone buildings. So, investigation of structural behavior is a burning topic for buildings to be isolated in base level by bearing device. This study deals with the incorporation of base isolation system and focuses the changes of structural responses for different types of Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB) isolators. A number of sixteen model buildings have been simulated selecting twelve types of bearing systems as well as conventional fixed-base (FB) scheme. The superstructures of the high-rise buildings are represented by finite element assemblage adopting multi-degree of freedoms. Static and dynamic analyses are carried out for FB and base isolated (BI) buildings. The dynamic analysis in finite element package has been performed by the nonlinear time history analysis (THA) based on the site-specific seismic excitation and compared employing eminent earthquakes. The influence of the model type and the alteration in superstructure behavior of the isolated buildings have been duly assessed. The results of the 3D multistory structures show that the lateral forces, displacement, inertia and story accelerations of the superstructure of the seismic prone buildings are significantly reduced due to bearing insertion. The nonlinear dynamic analysis shows 12 to 40% lessening in base shear when LRB is incorporated leading to substantial allowance of horizontal displacement. It is revealed that the LRB isolators might be potential options to diminish the respective floor accelerations, inertia, displacements and base shear whatever the condition coincides. The isolators with lower force intercept but higher isolation period is found to be better for decreasing base shear, floor acceleration and inertia force leading to reduction of structural and non-structural damage. However, LRB with lower isolator period seems to be more effective in dropping displacement at bearing interface aimed at reducing horizontal shift of building structure.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2022

In earthquake situations, broadcasting and communication services are directly linked to rapid on-site rescue and effective restoration works. Recently, a variety of base isolation devices are widely introduced on building floors to avoid critical seismic damages of telecommunication facilities. However, in buildings with long fundamental periods, those devices may have undesirable amplification of seismic responses due to resonance effect between the building floors and base isolation devices. This study performs the seismic safety evaluation of two types of base isolation devices deployed for telecommunication facilities in mid- and high-rise buildings through numerical and experimental approaches. It is found that mid- and high-rise buildings can have low-frequency dynamic responses at the top floor when being subjected to design basis earthquake loading. Furthermore, bi-directional shake table testing demonstrated that the selected base isolation devices can exhibit unstable dynamic behaviors under such low-frequency excitations of the floor.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.51-61
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• 2019

The objective of this study is to analysis the seismic response of 200m spanned honeycomb lattice domes under horizontal and up-down ground motion of El Centro earthquake. For the analysis of seismic response of the honeycomb lattice domes by rise/span ratio, the time history analysis is used for the estimation of the dynamic response. The low rise lattice dome is less deformed and less stressed than the high rise lattice dome for the earthquake ground motion. The 3-dimensional earthquake response is not significantly different the dynamic response of one directional ground motion. The earthquake response of domes with LRB isolation system is significantly reduced for the asymmetric vertical deformation and the horizontal and vertical accelerations.