• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.281-300
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• 2014

This study proposes a scheme to design control parameters for a data center facility with a vibration controller on its top floor and a secondary isolation device with its own vibration controller designed to protect vibration-sensitive computer equipment. The aim is to reduce the effects of acceleration and drift from an earthquake on computer servers placed on the isolation device that must operate during a seismic event. A linear elastic model is constructed and the evaluation function of the linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control is formulated. The relationship between the control parameters and the responses is examined, and based on the observations, a control parameter design scheme is constructed to reduce the responses of both the building and the computer server effectively.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2019

In order to increase the seismic safety of nuclear power plant (NPP) structures, a technique to reduce the seismic load transmitted to the NPP structure by using a seismic isolation device such as a lead-rubber bearing has recently been actively researched. In seismic design of NPP structures, three directional (two horizontal and one vertical directions) artificial synthetic earthquakes (G0 group) corresponding to the standard design spectrum are generally used. In this study, seismic analysis was performed by using three directional artificial synthetic earthquakes (M0 group) corresponding to the maximum-minimum spectrum reflecting uncertainty of incident direction of earthquake load. The design basis earthquake (DBE) and the beyond design basis earthquakes (BDBEs are equal to 150%, 167%, and 200% DBE) of G0 and M0 earthquake groups were respectively generated for 30 sets and used for the seismic analysis. The purpose of this study is to compare seismic responses and seismic fragility curves of seismically isolated NPP structures subjected to DBE and BDBE. From the seismic fragility curves, the probability of failure of the seismic isolation system when the peak ground acceleration (PGA) is 0.5 g is about 5% for the M0 earthquake group and about 3% for the G0 earthquake group.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.503-529
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• 2015

Traditionally, multi-story buildings are designed to provide stiffer structural support to withstand lateral earthquake loading. Introducing flexible elements at the base of a structure and providing sufficient damping is an alternative way to mitigate seismic hazards. These features can be achieved with a device known as an isolator. This paper covers the design of base isolators for multi-story buildings in medium-risk seismicity regions and evaluates the structural responses of such isolators. The well-known tower building for police personnel built in Dhaka, Bangladesh by the Public Works Department (PWD) has been used as a case study to justify the viability of incorporating base isolators. The objective of this research was to establish a simplified model of the building that can be effectively used for dynamic analysis, to evaluate the structural status, and to suggest an alternative option to handle the lateral seismic load. A finite element model was incorporated to understand the structural responses. Rubber-steel bearing (RSB) isolators such as Lead rubber bearing (LRB) and high damping rubber bearing (HDRB) were used in the model to insert an isolator link element in the structural base. The nonlinearities of rubber-steel bearings were considered in detail. Linear static, linear dynamic, and nonlinear dynamic analyses were performed for both fixed-based (FB) and base isolated (BI) buildings considering the earthquake accelerograms, histories, and response spectra of the geological sites. Both the time-domain and frequency-domain approaches were used for dynamic solutions. The results indicated that for existing multi-story buildings, RSB diminishes the muscular amount of structural response compared to conventional non-isolated structures. The device also allows for higher horizontal displacement and greater structural flexibility. The suggested isolation technique is able to mitigate the structural hazard under even strong earthquake vulnerability.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2022

The seismic behaviors of the arch structure vary according to the rise-span ratio of the arch structure. In this study, the rise-span ratio (H/L) of the example arch structure was set to 1/4, 1/6, and 1/8. And the installation angle of the seismic isolator was set to 15°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90°. The installation angles of the seismic isolator were set by analyzing the horizontal and vertical reaction forces according to the rise-span ratio of the arch structure. Due to the geometrical and dynamic characteristics of the arch structure, the lower the rise-span ratio, the greater the horizontal reaction force of the static load, but the smaller the horizontal reaction force of the dynamic load. And if the seismic isolator is installed in the direction of the resultant force of the reaction forces caused by the seismic load, the horizontal seismic response becomes small. Also, as the installation angle of the seismic isolator increases, the hysteresis behavior of the seismic isolator shows a plastic behavior, and residual deformation appears even after the seismic load is removed. In the design of seismic isolators for seismic response control of large space structures such as arch structures, horizontal and vertical reaction forces should be considered.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1077-1099
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• 2016

One of the main shortcomings in the current passive base isolation system is lack of adaptability. The recent research and development of a novel adaptive seismic isolator based on magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) material has created an opportunity to add adaptability to base isolation systems for civil structures. The new MRE based base isolator is able to significantly alter its shear modulus or lateral stiffness with the applied magnetic field or electric current, which makes it a competitive candidate to develop an adaptive base isolation system. This paper aims at exploring suitable control algorithms for such adaptive base isolation system by developing a close-loop semi-active control system for a building structure equipped with MRE base isolators. The MRE base isolator is simulated by a numerical model derived from experimental characterization based on the Bouc-Wen Model, which is able to describe the force-displacement response of the device accurately. The parameters of Bouc-Wen Model such as the stiffness and the damping coefficients are described as functions of the applied current. The state-space model is built by analyzing the dynamic property of the structure embedded with MRE base isolators. A Lyapunov-based controller is designed to adaptively vary the current applied to MRE base isolator to suppress the quake-induced vibrations. The proposed control method is applied to a widely used benchmark base-isolated structure by numerical simulation. The performance of the adaptive base isolation system was evaluated through comparison with optimal passive base isolation system and a passive base isolation system with optimized base shear. It is concluded that the adaptive base isolation system with proposed Lyapunov-based semi-active control surpasses the performance of other two passive systems in protecting the civil structures under seismic events.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.725-742
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• 2015

Tuned mass dampers (TMD) are devices employed in vibration control since the beginning of the twentieth century. However, their implementation for controlling the seismic response in civil structures is more recent. While the efficiency of TMD on structures under far-field earthquakes has been demonstrated, the convenience of its employment against near-fault earthquakes is still under discussion. In this context, the study of this type of device is raised, not as an alternative to the seismic isolation, which is clearly a better choice for new buildings, but rather as an improvement in the structural safety of existing buildings. Seismic records with an impulsive character have been registered in the vicinity of faults that cause seismic events. In this paper, the ability of TMD to control the response of structures that experience inelastic deformations and eventually reach collapse subject to the action of such earthquakes is studied. The results of a series of nonlinear dynamic analyses are presented. These analyses are performed on a numerical model of a structure under the action of near-fault earthquakes. The structure analyzed in this study is a steel frame which behaves as a single degree of freedom (SDOF) system. TMD with different mass values are added on the numerical model of the structure, and the TMD performance is evaluated by comparing the response of the structure with and without the control device.

• Architectural research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.99-108
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• 2012

An innovative multi-story Semi-Active Tuned Mass Damper (SATMD) building system is proposed to control seismic response of existing structures. The application of adding new stories as large tuned mass and semi-active (SA) resettable actuators as central features of the control scheme is derived. For the effective control of the structures, the optimal tuning parameters are considered for the large mass ratio, for which a previously proposed equation is used and the practical optimal stiffness is allocated to the actuator stiffness and rubber bearing stiffness. A two-degree-of freedom (2-DOF) model is adopted to verify the principal efficiency of the suggested structural control concept. The simulations for this study utilizes the three ground motions, from SAC project, having probability of exceedance of 50% in 50 years, 10% in 50 years, and 2% in 50 years for the Los Angeles region. 12-story moment resisting frames, which are modified as '12+2' and '12+4' story structures, are investigated to assess the viability and effectiveness of the system that aims to reduce the response of the buildings to earthquakes. The control ability of the SATMD scheme is compared to that of an uncontrolled and an ideal Passive Tuned Mass Damper (PTMD) building system. From the performance results of suggested '12+2' and '12+4' story retrofitting case studies, SATMD systems shows significant promise for application of structural control where extra stories might be added.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.537-544
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• 2006

In this study, performance level evaluation tests have been actually performed on laminated rubber seismic isolation bearings (LRB) made in Korea. To provide basic data for setting up fabrication criteria and performance evaluation criteria three real scale LRB were tested and the test results were analysised. Accordingly, a large capacity test device has been designed and manufactured to implement the tests. The device selected for evaluation is a circular LRB actually applied in bridges. Evaluation tests were conducted using full-scale LRB with diameter of 851mm in the rubber part and total height of 215mm of which the effective horizontal stiffness and equivalent damping ratio have been measured during the experiments.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.43-53
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• 2010

Seismic isolation is one of the most widely implemented and accepted seismic protection systems to limit or avoid damages from unforeseeable earthquakes. As an energy absorption device, however, the supplemental lead itself tends to pollute the environment. Consequently, it is predicted that the use of lead would be controlled. Considering the pollution caused by lead, several researchers are interested in the viability of using steel in place of lead. In this study, first, based on the results of a non-linear finite element analysis, the excellent deformation capacity of a very tough steel damper was demonstrated by comparing it with that of the SS400 damper and determining the effects of main parameters (the aspect ratio, thickness, and width) on the deformation capacity. Second, an optimum shape and design equation for a U-shaped damper with an opening based on stress distribution was suggested.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.259-276
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• 2016

Lead-rubber bearings (LRBs) have been used worldwide in seismic design of buildings and bridges owing to their stable mechanical properties and good isolation effect. We have investigated the effectiveness of LRBs in framed underground structures on controlling structural seismic responses. Nonlinear dynamic time history analyses were carried out on the well-documented Daikai Station, which collapsed during the 1995 Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake. Influences of strength ratio (ratio of yield strength of LRBs to yield strength of central column) and shear modulus of rubber on structural seismic responses were studied. As a displacement-based passive energy dissipation device, LRBs reduce dynamic internal forces of framed underground structures and improve their seismic performance. An optimal range of strength ratios was proposed for the case presented. Within this range, LRBs can dissipate maximum input earthquake energy. The maximum shear and moment of the central column can achieve more than 50% reduction, whereas the maximum shear displacement of LRBs is acceptable.