• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
• /
• 제10권3호
• /
• pp.307-323
• /
• 2016

The nonlinear behaviors of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) frame structure are investigated by numerical simulation method with 3-D finite fiber elements. The dynamic characteristics and the seismic performance of the RAC frame structure are analyzed and validated with the shaking table test results. Specifically, the natural frequency and the typical responses (e.g., storey deformation, capacity curve, etc.) from Model 1 (exclusion of strain rate effect) and Model 2 (inclusion of strain rate effect) are analyzed and compared. It is revealed that Model 2 is more likely to provide a better match between the numerical simulation and the shaking table test as key attributes of seismic behaviors of the frame structure are captured by this model. For the purpose to examine how seismic behaviors of the RAC frame structure vary under different strain rates in a real seismic situation, a numerical simulation is performed by varying the strain rate. The storey displacement response and the base shear for the RAC frame structure under different strain rates are investigated and analyzed. It is implied that the structural behavior of the RAC frame structure is significantly influenced by the strain rate effect. On one hand, the storey displacements vary slightly in the trend of decreasing with the increasing strain rate. On the other hand, the base shear of the RAC frame structure under dynamic loading conditions increases with gradually increasing amplitude of the strain rate.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제61권4호
• /
• pp.483-496
• /
• 2017

Earthquake excitations may induce important amount of seismic energy into structures. Current design philosophy mainly deals with the plastic deformations of replaceable energy dissipating devices rather than damages accumulated on structural members. Since earthquake damage is substantially concentrated on these devices they could be replaced after severe earthquakes. In this study, the efficiency of steel cushion (SC) on seismic improvement of a vulnerable reinforced concrete (RC) frame is determined by means of several numerical simulations. The cyclic shear behaviors of SCs were determined by performing quasi-static tests. The test results were the main basis of the theoretical model of SCs which were used in the numerical analysis. These analyses were performed on three types of RC frames namely bare frame (BF), full-braced frame (F-BF) and semi-braced frame (S-BF). According to analysis results; implementation of SCs has considerable effects in reducing the storey shear forces and storey drifts. Moreover plastic energy demands of structural elements were reduced which indicates a significant improvement in seismic behavior of the RC frame preventing damage accumulation on structural elements. Full-braced frame having SCs with the thickness of 25 mm has better performance than semi-braced frame interms of energy dissipation. However, global energy dissipation demand of S-BF and F-BF having SCs with the thickness of 18 mm are almost similar.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.173-186
• /
• 2017

Conceptual configuration and seismic performance of high-rise steel frame-brace structure are studied. First, the topology optimization problem of minimum volume based on truss-like material model under earthquake action is presented, which is solved by full-stress method. Further, conceptual configurations of 20-storey and 40-storey steel frame-brace structure are formed. Next, the 40-storeystructure model is developed in Opensees. Two common configurations are utilized for comparison. Last, seismic performance of 40-storey structure is derived using nonlinear static analysis and nonlinear dynamic analysis. Results indicate that structural lateral stiffness and maximum roof displacement can be improved using brace. Meanwhile seismic damage can also be decreased. Moreover, frame-brace structure using topology optimization is most favorable to enhance lateral stiffness and mitigate seismic damage. Thus, topology optimization is an available way to form initial conceptual configuration in high-rise steel frame-brace structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제38권6호
• /
• pp.825-847
• /
• 2011

This paper investigates the design using wind-moment method for semi-rigid un-braced steel frames bending on weak axis. A limiting sway method has been proposed to reduce the frame sway. Allowance for steel section optimization between moment of inertia on minor axis column and major axis beam was used in conjunction with slope-deflection analysis to derive equations for optimum design in the proposed method. A series of un-braced steel frames comprised of two, four, and six bays ranging in height of two and four storey were studied on minor axis framing. The frames were designed for minimum gravity load in conjunction with maximum wind load and vice-versa. The accuracy of the design equation was found to be in good agreement with linear elastic computer analysis up to second order analysis. The study concluded that the adoption of wind-moment method and the proposed limiting sway method for semi-rigid steel frame bending on weak axis should be restricted to low-rise frames not more than four storey.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제54권1호
• /
• pp.19-33
• /
• 2015

Open ground storey (OGS) buildings are characterized by the sudden reduction of stiffness in the ground storey with respect to the upper infilled storeys. During earthquakes, this vertical irregularity may result in accumulated damage in the ground storey members of OGS buildings without much damage in the upper storeys. Hence, the structural design of OGS buildings needs special attention. The present study suggests a modification of existing displacement-based design (DBD) procedure by proposing a new lateral load distribution. The increased demands of ground storey members of OGS buildings are estimated based on non-linear time history analysis results of four sets of bare and OGS frames having four to ten storey heights. The relationship between the increased demand and the relative stiffness of ground storey (with respect to upper storeys) is taken as the criterion for developing the expression for the design lateral load. It is also observed that under far-field earthquakes, there is a decrease in the ground storey drift of OGS frames as the height of the frame increases, whereas there is no such reduction when these frames are subjected to near-field earthquakes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제39권5호
• /
• pp.717-732
• /
• 2011

Nonlinear dynamic analysis and evaluation of eccentric braced steel frames (EBF) equipped with friction damper (FD) is studied in this research. Previous studies about assessment of seismic performance of steel braced frame with FD have been generally limited to installing this device in confluence of cross in concentrically braced frame such chevron and x-bracing. Investigation is carried out with three types of steel frames namely 5, 10 and 15 storeys, representing the short, medium and high structures respectively in series of nonlinear dynamic analysis and 10 slip force values subjected to three different earthquake records. The proper place of FD, rather than providing them at all level is also studied in 15 storey frame. Four dimensionless indices namely roof displacement, base shear, dissipated energy and relative performance index (RPI) are determined in about 100 nonlinear dynamic analyses. Then average values of maximum roof displacement, base shear, energy dissipated and storey drift under three records for both EBF and EBF equipped with friction damper are obtained. The result indicates that FD reduces the response compared to EBF and is more efficient than EBF for taller storey frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제68권2호
• /
• pp.183-191
• /
• 2018

In this paper, harmonic responses of infilled multi-storey frames are obtained by using a single variable shear deformation theory (SVSDT) and dynamic stiffness formulations. Two different planar frame models are used which are fully infilled and soft storey. The infill walls are modeled by using equivalent diagonal strut approach. Firstly, free vibration analyses of bare frame and infilled frames are performed. The calculated natural frequencies are tabulated with finite element solution results. Then, harmonic response curves (HRCs) of frame models are plotted for different infill wall thickness values. All of the results are presented comparatively with Timoshenko beam theory results to reveal the effectiveness of SVSDT which considers the parabolic shear stress distribution along the frame member cross-sections.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• 제6권5호
• /
• pp.403-419
• /
• 2009

Short column effect is cause to failure of columns which may result in severe damages or even collapse during earthquakes. The scope of the study is mainly to reveal the effect of short column on the holistic behaviour of the buildings. The nonlinear analysis of 31 different frame buildings containing short column problem are carried out using finite element method. The finite element models were selected by 2 bays and 3 stories. Since the short columns are generally seen in the first storey of the buildings, in the study, they are only constructed in the same storey. The adverse effect of the short column on the response of buildings was shown in terms of the total load factor and displacement capacity of building. The response of buildings in terms of ground storey displacements is presented in figures and discussed. It is revealed that if the window openings are constructed along the bays, the total load capacity is decreased 85% compared with reference model in which all of bays are filled with infill walls.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제46권1호
• /
• pp.1-17
• /
• 2013

In this study, the modified finite element- transfer matrix methods are proposed for free vibration analysis of asymmetric structures, the bearing system of which consists of shear wall-frames. In the study, a multi-storey structure is divided into as many elements as the number of storeys and storey masses are influenced as separated at alignments of storeys. The shear walls and frames are assumed to be flexural and shear cantilever beam structures. The storey stiffness matrix is obtained by formulating the governing equation at the center of mass for the shear walls and the frames in the i.th floor. The system transfer matrix is constructed in the dimension of $6{\times}6$ by transforming the obtained stiffness matrix. Thus, the dimension, which is $12n{\times}12n$ in classical finite elements, is reduced to the dimension of $6{\times}6$. To study the suitability of the method, the results are assessed by solving two examples taken from the literature.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• 제19권1호
• /
• pp.55-71
• /
• 2005

In several design codes and specifications, simplified formulae and diagrams are given for determining the buckling lengths of frame columns. It is shown that these formulae may yield rather erroneous results in certain cases. This is due to the fact that, the code formulae utilise only local stiffness distributions. In this paper, a simplified procedure for determining approximate values for the buckling loads of multi-storey frames is developed. The procedure utilises lateral load analysis of frames and yields errors in the order of 10%, which may be considered suitable for design purposes. The proposed procedure is applied to several numerical examples and it is shown that all the errors are in the acceptable range and on the safe side.