• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.593-615
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• 2011

This study determines the water length effects on the modal behavior of a prototype arch dam using Operational and Analytical Modal Analyses. Achievement of this purpose involves construction of a prototype arch dam-reservoir-foundation model under laboratory conditions. In the model, reservoir length was taken to be as much as three times the dam height. To determine the experimental dynamic characteristics of the arch dam using Operational Modal Analysis, ambient vibration tests were implemented for empty reservoir and three different reservoir water lengths. In the ambient vibration tests, the dam was vibrated by natural excitations provided from small impact effects and the response signals were measured using sensitive accelerometers. Operational Modal Analysis software process signals collected from the ambient vibration tests, and Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition and Stochastic Subspace Identification techniques estimated modal parameters of the dams. To validate the experimental results, 3D finite element model of the prototype arch dam was modeled by ANSYS software for empty reservoir and three different reservoir water lengths, and dynamic characteristics of each model were determined analytically. At the end of the study, experimentally and analytically identified dynamic characteristics compared to each other. Also, changes on the natural frequencies along to water length are plotted as graphs. Results suggest that reservoir water complicates the modal behavior of the arch dam significantly.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.335-352
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• 2012

Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is a stochastic population based optimization algorithm which has attracted attentions of many researchers. This method has great potentials to be applied to many optimization problems. Despite its robustness the standard version of PSO has some drawbacks that may reduce its performance in optimization of complex structures such as laminated composites. In this paper by suggesting a new variation scheme for acceleration parameters and inertial weight factors of PSO a novel optimization algorithm is developed to enhance the basic version's performance in optimization of laminated composite structures. To verify the performance of the new proposed method, it is applied in two multi-objective design optimization problems of laminated cylindrical. The numerical results from the proposed method are compared with those from two other conventional versions of PSO-based algorithms. The convergancy of the new algorithms is also compared with the other two versions. The results reveal that the new modifications inthe basic forms of particle swarm optimization method can increase its convergence speed and evade it from local optima traps. It is shown that the parameter variation scheme as presented in this paper is successful and can evenfind more preferable optimum results in design of laminated composite structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제36권5호
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• pp.561-573
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• 2010

The potential of the liquid column vibration absorber (LCVA) as a seismic vibration control device for structures has been explored in this paper. In this work, the structure has been modeled as a linear, viscously damped single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) system. The governing differential equations of motion for the damper liquid and for the coupled structure-LCVA system have been derived from dynamic equilibrium. The nonlinear orifice damping in the LCVA has been linearized by a stochastic equivalent linearization technique. A transfer function formulation for the structure-LCVA system has been presented. The design parameters of the LCVA have been identified and by applying the transfer function formulation the optimum combination of these parameters has been determined to obtain the most efficient control performance of the LCVA in terms of the reduction in the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) displacement response of the structure. The study has been carried out for an example structure subjected to base input characterized by a white noise power spectral density function (PSDF). The sensitivity of the performance of the LCVA to the coefficient of head loss and to the tuning ratio have also been examined and compared with that of the liquid column damper (LCD). Finally, a simulation study has been carried out with a recorded accelerogram, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the LCVA.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• 제8권5호
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• pp.623-628
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• 2007

Reliability analysis based on fracture mechanics requires knowledge of the on statistical parameters m and C in the fatigue crack growth law $da/dN=C({\Delta}K)^m$. The purpose of the present study is to investigate if it is possible to explain the change of parameter m by the fluctuation of C only. In this study, we apply the Paris-Erdogan law treating the parameter C as random and the parameter m as constant. Fluctuations in crack growth rate are assumed to be dependent only on C. The material resistance to fatigue crack growth(Z=1/C) is treated as a spatially random process, that varies along the crack path. The theoretical crack growth rates at various stress intensity factors are discussed. Additionally, the results of constant ${\Delta}K$ fatigue crack growth tests are reported for the structural steel, SM45C. The experimental data have been analyzed to determine the probability distribution of fatigue crack growth resistanc.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제71권2호
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• pp.197-210
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• 2019

Probabilistic buckling behavior of sandwich panel considering random system parameters using a radial basis function (RBF) approach is presented in this paper. The random system properties result in an uncertain response of the sandwich structure. The buckling load of laminated sandwich panel is obtained by employing higher-order-zigzag theory (HOZT) coupled with RBF and probabilistic finite element (FE) model. The in-plane displacement variation of core as well as facesheet is considered to be cubic while transverse displacement is considered to be quadratic within the core and constant in the facesheets. Individual and combined stochasticity in all elemental input parameters (like facesheets thickness, ply-orientation angle, core thickness and properties of material) are considered to know the effect of different degree of stochasticity, ply- orientation angle, boundary conditions, core thickness, number of laminates, and material properties on global response of the structure. In order to achieve the computational efficiency, RBF model is employed as a surrogate to the original finite element model. The stiffness matrix of global response is stored in a single array using skyline technique and simultaneous iteration technique is used to solve the stochastic buckling equations.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• 제12권5호
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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.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제78권1호
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• pp.53-66
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• 2021

The determination of the damage index to reveal the performance level of a structure can constitute the seismic risk generalization approach based on the parametric analysis. This study implemented this concept to one kind of civil engineering structure that is the concrete gravity dam. Different cases of the structure exhibit their individual responses, which constitute different considerations. Therefore, this approach allows the parametric study of concrete as well as soil for evaluating the seismic nature in the generalized case. To ensure that the target algorithm applicable to most of the concrete gravity dams, a very simple procedure has been considered. In order to develop a correlated algorithm (by response surface methodology; RSM) between the ground motion and the structural property, randomized sampling was adopted through a stochastic method called half-fractional central composite design. The responses in the case of fluid-foundation-dam interaction (FFDI) make it more reliable by introducing the foundation as being bounded by infinite elements. To evaluate the seismic generalization of FFDI models, incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) was carried out under the impacts of various earthquake records, which have been selected from the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center data. Here, the displacement-based damage indexed fragility curves have been generated to show the variation in the seismic pattern of the dam. The responses to the sensitivity analysis of the various parameters presented here are the most effective controlling factors for the concrete gravity dam. Finally, to establish the accuracy of the proposed approach, reliable verification was adopted in this study.