• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.61-84
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• 2010

Presented in this paper is the behaviour of asymmetric building isolated by the double variable frequency pendulum isolator (DVFPI). The DVFPI is an adoption of single variable frequency pendulum isolator (VFPI). The geometry and coefficient of friction of top and bottom sliding surfaces can be unequal. The governing equations of motion of the building-isolation system are derived and solved in incremental form. The analysis duly considers the interaction of frictional forces in the two principal directions developed at each sliding surface of the DVFPI. In order to investigate the behaviour of the base isolation using the DVFPI, the coupled lateral-torsional response is obtained under different parametric variations for a set of six far-fault earthquake ground motions and criterion to optimize its performance is proposed. Further, influences of the initial time period, coefficient of friction and frequency variation factors at the two sliding surfaces are investigated. The numerical results of the extensive parametric study help in understanding the torsional behaviour of the structure isolated with the double sliding surfaces as in the DVFPI. It is found that the performance of the DVFPI can be optimized by designing the top sliding surface initially softer and smoother relative to the bottom one.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.251-271
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• 2011

To make direct comparisons regarding the cyclic behavior of thin steel plate shear walls (TSPSWs) with different infill-to-boundary frame connections, two TSPSWs were tested under quasi-static conditions, one having the infill plate attached to the boundary frame members on all edges and the other having the infill plate connected only to the beams. Also, the bare frame that was used in the TSPSW specimens was tested to provide data for the calibration of numerical models. The connection of infill plates to surrounding frames was achieved through the use of self-drilling screws to fish plates that were welded to the frame members. The behavior of TSPSW specimens are compared and discussed with emphasis on the characteristics important in seismic response, including the initial stiffness, ultimate strength and deformation modes observed during the tests. It is shown that TSPSW specimens achieve significant ductility and energy dissipation while the ultimate failure mode resulted from infill plate fracture at the net section of the infill plate-to-boundary frame connection after substantial infill plate yielding. Experimental results are compared to monotonic pushover predictions from computer analysis using strip models and the models are found to be capable of approximating the monotonic behavior of the TSPSW specimens.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.2
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• pp.293-304
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• 2021

Structural failure due to seismic pounding between two adjacent buildings is one of the major concerns in the context of structural damage. Pounding between adjacent structures is a commonly observed phenomenon during major earthquakes. When modelling the structural response, stiffness of impact spring elements is considered to be one of the most important parameters when the impact force during collision of adjacent buildings is calculated. Determining valid and realistic stiffness values is essential in numerical simulations of pounding forces between adjacent buildings in order to achieve reasonable results. Several impact model stiffness values have been presented by various researchers to simulate pounding forces between adjacent structures. These values were mathematically calculated or estimated. In this study, a linear spring impact element model is used to simulate the pounding forces between two adjacent structures. An experimental model reported in literature was adopted to investigate the effect of different impact element stiffness k on the force intensity and number of impacts simulated by Finite Element (FE) analysis. Several numerical analyses have been conducted using SAP2000 and the collected results were used for further mathematical evaluations. The results of this study concluded the major factors that may actualise the stiffness value for impact element models. The number of impacts and the maximum impact force were found to be the core concept for finding the optimal range of stiffness values. For the experimental model investigated, the range of optimal stiffness values has also been presented and discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.5
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• pp.431-450
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• 2023

In this study, it is intended to perform nonlinear time-history analyses of nuclear power plant structures (NPP) under near-fault earthquakes showing directivity pulse and fling-step characteristics. Simulation procedures based on cycloidal pulse and far-fault ground motions are also used to simulate near-fault motions showing forward-directivity and fling-step characteristics and the structural responses are compared with those of the recorded near-fault ground motions. Because it is aimed to determine specifically the pulse type characteristics of near-fault ground motions on NPPs, all the ground motions are normalized to have a PGA of 0.3 g. Depending on the obtained results it can be underlined that although near-fault ground motion has the potential to cause damage mostly on structural systems having larger periods, it may also have noticeable effects on the responses of rigid structures, like NPP containment buildings. On the other hand, simulated near-fault motions can help us to get an insight into the near-fault mechanism as well as an approximate visualization of the structural responses under near-fault earthquakes.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.429-444
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• 2023

The comprehension and structural modeling of masonry constructions is fundamental to safeguard the integrity of built cultural assets and intervene through adequate actions, especially in earthquake-prone regions. Despite the availability of several modeling strategies and modern computing power, modeling masonry remains a great challenge because of still demanding computational efforts, constraints in performing destructive or semi-destructive in-situ tests, and material uncertainties. This paper investigates the shear behavior of masonry walls by applying a plane-stress FE continuum model with the Modified Masonry-like Material (MMLM). Epistemic uncertainty affecting input parameters of the MMLM is considered in a probabilistic framework. After appointing a suitable probability density function to input quantities according to prior engineering knowledge, uncertainties are propagated to outputs relying on gPCE-based surrogate models to considerably speed up the forward problem-solving. The sensitivity of the response to input parameters is evaluated through the computation of Sobol' indices pointing out the parameters more worthy to be further investigated, when dealing with the seismic assessment of masonry buildings. Finally, masonry mechanical properties are calibrated in a probabilistic setting with the Bayesian approach to the inverse problem based on the available measurements obtained from the experimental load-displacement curves provided by shear compression in-situ tests.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.120-129
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• 2023

Hanger cable tension is a major response that can determine the integrity and safety of suspension bridges. In general, the vibration method is used to estimate hanger cable tension on operational suspension bridges. It measures natural frequencies from hanger cables and indirectly estimates tension using the geometry conditions of the hanger cables. This study estimated the hanger cable tension of the Palyeong Bridge using a vision-based system. The vision-based system used digital camcorders and tripods considering the convenience and economic efficiency of measurement. Measuring the natural frequencies for high-order modes required for the vibration method is difficult because the hanger cable response measured using the vision-based system is displacement-based. Therefore, this study proposed a back analysis technique for estimating tension using the natural frequencies of low-order modes. Optimization for the back analysis technique was performed by defining the difference between the natural frequencies of hanger cables measured in the field and those calculated using finite element analysis as the objective function. The direct search method that does not require the partial derivatives of the objective function was applied as the optimization method. The reliability and accuracy of the back analysis technique were verified by comparing the tension calculated using the method with that estimated using the vibration method. Tension was accurately estimated using the natural frequencies of low-order modes by applying the back analysis technique.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.105-113
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• 2009

To improve braced frame performance, the connection strength, stiffness, and ductility must be directly considered in the frame design. The resistance of the connection must be designed to resist seismic loads and to help provide the required system ductility. In addition, the connection stiffness affects the dynamic response and the deformation demands on the structural members and connections. In this paper, current design models for gusset plate connections are reviewed and evaluated usingthe results of past experiments. Current models are still not sufficient to provide adequate connection design guidelines and the actual stress and strain states in the gusset plate are very nonlinear and highly complex. Design engineers want simple models with beam and column elements to make an approximate estimation of system and connection performance. The simplified design models are developed and evaluated to predict connection stiffness and system behavior. These models produce reasonably accurate and reliable estimation of connection stiffness.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2007

In the current domestic and overseas standards concerning seismic design, especially on the capacity & demand spectra in the multi-story building, failure is caused more by story drift than by displacement; and the existing capacity spectrum method (CSM) does not make a close estimate of story drift because response is derived using displacement. Therefore, this paper proposes an improved CSM to estimate story drift and its direct effect on the collapse of structures, yet still maintaining the same advantage and convenience of the existing CSM about a most basic model of multi-story building: shear building. To establish its reliability, the proposed method is applied to an example model and results are then compared with those obtained through nonlinear time-history analysis.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.458-471
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• 2020

Purpose: In Korea, the frequency and frequency of earthquakes are increasing every year. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the characteristics and examples of earthquakes in Korea and Japan, and to propose improvements to the earthquake prevention policy in Korea. Method: In this study, we investigate and evaluate Japan's response in two cases: the Kobe earthquake and the East Japan earthquake. After surveying and evaluating the nation's countermeasures in the two events, Gyeongju and Pohang, they were compared. Result: When comparing recovery systems in Korea and Japan, there were significant differences in plans for restoration of road transport networks, regional disaster prevention plans, and the introduction of Conclusion: considering the physical distance between Korea's earthquake-prone areas and the capital, the government should quickly come up with countermeasures to ensure that immediate earthquake response in the region is enhanced through the detailed establishment of the Functional Continuity Plan (COOP), and that administrative functions will function normally in the event of a disaster through the introduction of the administrative BCP concept.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.147-152
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• 2007

Numerous non-destructive tests(NDT) to assess the safety of real structures have been developed. System identification(SI) techniques using dynamic responses and behaviors of structural systems become an outstanding issue of researchers. However the conventional SI techniques are identified to be non-practical to the complex and tall buildings, due to limitation of the availability of an accurate data that is magnitude or location of external loads. In most SI approaches, the information on input loading and output responses must be known. In many cases, measuring the input information may take most of the resources, and it is very difficult to accurately measure the input information during actual vibrations of practical importance, e.g., earthquakes, winds, micro seismic tremors, and mechanical vibration. However, the desirability and application potential of SI to real structures could be highly improved if an algorithm is available that can estimate structural parameters based on the response data alone without the input information. Thus a technique to estimate structural properties of building without input measurement data and using limited response is essential in structural health monitoring. In this study, shaking table tests on three-story plane frame steel structures were performed. Out-put only model analysis on the measured data was performed, and the dynamic properties were inverse analyzed using least square method in time domain. In results damage detection was performed in each member level, which was performed at story level in conventional SI techniques of frequency domain.