• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.743-755
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• 2019

In this paper, a new system of seismic isolation for buildings - called suspended columns - is introduced. In this method, the building columns are placed on the hinged cradle seats instead of direct connection to the foundation. In this system, each of the columns is put on a seat hung from its surrounding area by a number of cables, for which cavities are created inside the foundation around the columns. Inside these cavities, the tensile cables are hung. Because of the flexibility of the cables, the suspended seats vibrate during an earthquake and as a result, there is less acceleration in the structure than the foundation. A Matlab code was written to analyze and investigate the response of the system against the earthquake excitations. The findings showed that if this system is used in a building, it results in a significant reduction in the acceleration applied to the structure. A shear key system was used to control the structure for service and lateral weak loads. Moreover, the effect of vertical acceleration on the seismic behavior of the system was also investigated. Effect of the earthquake characteristic period on the system performance was studied and the optimum length of the suspension cables for a variety of the period ranges was suggested. In addition, measures have been taken for long-term functioning of the system and some practical feasibility features were also discussed. Finally, the advantages and limitations of the system were discussed and compared with the other common methods of seismic isolation.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.417-430
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• 2021

Due to functional requirements, SRC column-RC beam abnormal joints with characteristics of strong beam weak column, variable column section, unequal beam height and staggered height exist in the Steel reinforced concrete (SRC) frame-bent main building structure of thermal power plant (TPP). This paper presents the experimental results of these abnormal joints through cyclic loading tests on five specimens with scaling factor of 1/5. The staggered height and whether adding H-shaped steel in beam or not were changing parameters of specimens. The failure patterns, bearing capacity, energy dissipation and ductile performance were analyzed. In addition, the stress mechanism of the abnormal joint was discussed based on the diagonal strut model. The research results showed that the abnormal exterior joints occurred shear failure and column end hinge flexural failure; reducing beam height through adding H-shaped steel in the beam of abnormal exterior joint could improve the crack resistance and ductility; the abnormal interior joints with different staggered heights occurred column ends flexural failure; the joint with larger staggered height had the higher bearing capacity and stiffness, but lower ductility. The concrete compression strut mechanism is still applicable to the abnormal joints in TPP, but it is affected by the abnormal characteristics.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.5
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• pp.463-480
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• 2023

The buckling-restrained braced frames with eccentric configurations (BRBF-Es) exhibit stable cyclic behavior and possess a high energy absorption capacity. Additionally, they offer architectural advantages for incorporating openings, much like Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBFs). However, studies have indicated that significant residual drifts occur in this system when subjected to earthquakes at the Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) hazard level. Consequently, in order to mitigate these residual drifts, it is recommended to employ self-centering systems alongside the BRBF-E system. In our current research, we propose the utilization of the Direct Displacement-Based Seismic Design method to determine the design base shear for a hybrid system that combines BRBF with an eccentric configuration and a self-centering frame. Furthermore, we present a methodology for designing the individual components of this composite system. To assess the effectiveness of this design approach, we designed 3-, 6-, and 9-story buildings equipped with the BRBF-E-SCF system and developed finite element models. These models were subjected to two sets of ground motions representing the Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) and Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) seismic hazard levels. The results of our study reveal that although the combined system requires a higher amount of steel material compared to the BRBF-E system, it substantially reduces residual drift. Furthermore, the combined system demonstrates satisfactory performance in terms of story drift and ductility demand.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.171-188
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• 2021

Plastic deformation of link beams in eccentrically braced frames is the primary dissipating source of seismic energy. Despite the excellent compatibility with the architectural designs, previous researches indicate the deficiency of flexural yielding links compared to the shear yielding ones because of their localized plastic deformation. Previous investigations have shown that implementing web openings in beams could be an efficient method to improve the seismic performance of moment-resisting connections. Accordingly, this research investigates the use of flexural links with stiffened and un-stiffened web openings to eliminate localized plasticity at the ends of the link. For this purpose, the numerical models are generated in finite element software "Abaqus" and verified against experimental data gathered from other studies. Models are subjected to cyclic displacement history to evaluate their behavior. Failure of the numerical models under cyclic loading is simulated using a micromechanical based damage model known as Cyclic Void Growth Model (CVGM). The elastic stiffness and the strength-based and CVGM-based inelastic rotation capacity of the links are compared to evaluate the studied models' seismic response. The results of this investigation indicate that some of the flexural links with edge stiffened web openings show increased inelastic rotation capacity compared to an un-perforated link.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.183-198
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• 2022

Plastic deformation of link beams in eccentrically braced frames is the primary dissipating source of seismic energy. Despite the excellent compatibility with the architectural designs, previous researches indicate the deficiency of flexural yielding links compared to the shear yielding ones because of their localized plastic deformation. Previous investigations have shown that implementing web openings in beams could be an efficient method to improve the seismic performance of moment-resisting connections. Accordingly, this research investigates the use of flexural links with stiffened and un-stiffened web openings to eliminate localized plasticity at the ends of the link. For this purpose, the numerical models are generated in finite element software "Abaqus" and verified against experimental data gathered from other studies. Models are subjected to cyclic displacement history to evaluate their behavior. Failure of the numerical models under cyclic loading is simulated using a micromechanical based damage model known as Cyclic Void Growth Model (CVGM). The elastic stiffness and the strength-based and CVGM-based inelastic rotation capacity of the links are compared to evaluate the studied models' seismic response. The results of this investigation indicate that some of the flexural links with edge stiffened web openings show increased inelastic rotation capacity compared to an un-perforated link.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.101-112
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• 1999

Structural walls have been mostly used for the design of reinforced concrete buildings in seismic areas because they play a role as an efficient bracing system and offer great potential for lateral load resistance and drift control. The lateral resistance system for the earthquake load should be designed to have enough ductility and stable hysteretic response in the critical regions where plastic deformation occurred beyond yielding. The behavior of the reinforced concrete element to experience large deformation in the critical areas by a major earthquake is affected by the performance of the confined core concrete. Thus, the confinement of concrete by suitable arrangements of transverse reinforcement results in a significant increase in both the strength and ductility of compressed concrete. This paper reports the experimental results of reinforced concrete structural walls for wall-type apartment structure under axial loads and cyclic reversal of lateral loads with different confinement of the boundary elements. The results show that confinement of the boundary element by open 'U'-bar and cross tie is effective. The shear strength capacity is not increased by the confinement but deformation capacity is improve.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.164-174
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• 1996

This paper presents control and response characteristics of a continuously variable ER(electrorheological) damper for small-sized vehicles. The ER damper is devised and its governing equation of motion is derived from the bond graph model. The field-dependent yield shear stresses are distilled from experimental investigation on the Bingham property of the ER fluid. The distilled data are incorporated into the governing system model and, on the basis of this model, an appropriate size of the ER damper is manufactured. After evaluating the field-dependent damping performance of the proposed ER damper, the skyhook control algorithm is formulated to achieve desired level of the damping force. The controller is then experimentally implemented and control characteristics of the ER damper are presented in order to demonstrate superior controllability of the damping force. In addition, response characteristics of the damping force with respect to the electric field with fast on-off frequency are provided to show the feasibility of practical application.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.21-32
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• 2016

PURPOSES : In this paper, the analytical solutions suggested to simulate the behavior of rheological fluids were rigorously re-derived and investigated for fixed conditions to evaluate the applicability for the solutions on a mini-cone slump test of cement paste. The selected solutions with proper boundary conditions can be used as reference solutions to evaluate the performance of numerical simulation approaches, such as the discrete element method. METHODS : The slump, height, and spread radius for the given boundary and yield stress conditions that are determined by five different analytical solutions are compared. RESULTS : The analytical solution based on fluid mechanics for pure shear flow shows similar results to that for intermediate flow at low yield stresses. The fluid mechanics-based analytical solution resulted in a very similar trend to the geometry-based analytical solution. However, it showed a higher slump at high yield stress and lower slump at low yield stress ranges than the geometry-based analytical model. The analytical solution based on the mini-cone geometry was not significantly affected by the yield criteria, such as von Mises and Tresca. CONCLUSIONS : Even though differences among the analytical solutions in terms of slump and spread radius existed, the difference can be considered insignificant when the solutions were used as reference to evaluate the appropriateness of numerical approaches, such as the discrete element method.

• Computational Structural Engineering : An International Journal
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2001

Collapse behavior of Mission-Gothic Undercrossing under Northridge earthquake is studied by performing nonlinear time-history analysis and three-dimensional nonlinear finite element method for flared columns. Bridge structural model is characterized as three-dimensional with consideration of columns, superstructures, and abutment conditions. Three components of ground motion, corresponding to bridge's longitudinal, transverse, and vertical direction and their combinations are used to investigate bridge collapse. Studies indicate that bridge collapse is dominantly caused by transverse ground motion and the consideration of three-dimensional ground motion leads to a more accurate assessment. Failure mechanism of flared columns is analyzed applying nonlinear finite element method. Reduction of column capacity is observed due to orientation of flare. Further investigation demonstrates that the effects of flare play an important role in predicting of bridge failure mechanism. Suggestions are offered to improve the performance of bridges during severe earthquake.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.451-458
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• 2008

In this study 3- and 6-story flat plate structures designed only for gravity load are retrofitted with steel plates and braces and their seismic performances are evaluated to verify the effect of seismic retrofit. According to the analysis results obtained from nonlinear static and dynamic analyses both the strength and stiffness are significantly enhanced as a result of the seismic retrofit. Especially the effect of column jacketing could be enhanced significantly when slabs were reinforced to prevent premature punching shear failure. When buckling-restrained braces are used instead of conventional braces, the structures showed more ductile behavior, especially in the 3-story structure.