• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.365-372
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• 2017

Reliability analysis is a probabilistic approach to determine a safety level of a system. Reliability is defined as a probability of a system (or a structure, in structural engineering) to functionally perform under given conditions. In the 1960s, Basler defined the reliability index as a measure to elucidate the safety level of the system, which until today is a commonly used parameter. However, the reliability index has been formulated based on the pivotal assumption which assumed that the considered limit state function is normally distributed. Nevertheless, it is not guaranteed that the limit state function of systems follow as normal distributions; therefore, there is a need to define a new reliability index for no-normal distributions. The main contribution of this paper is to define a sophisticated reliability index for limit state functions which their distributions are non-normal. To do so, the new definition of reliability index is introduced for non-normal limit state functions according to the probability functions which are calculated based on the convolution theory. Eventually, as the state of the art, this paper introduces a simplified method to calculate the reliability index for non-normal distributions. The simplified method is developed to generate non-normal limit state in terms of normal distributions using series of Gaussian functions.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.243-254
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• 2014

In this study, a demolition analysis code using the adaptively shifted integration (ASI)-Gauss technique, which describes structural member fracture by shifting the numerical integration point to an appropriate position and simultaneously releasing the sectional forces in the element, is developed. The code was verified and validated by comparing the predicted results with those of several experiments. A demolition planning tool utilizing the concept of a key element index, which explicitly indicates the contribution of each structural column to the vertical load capacity of the structure, is also develped. Two methods of selecting specific columns to efficiently demolish the whole structure are demonstrated: selecting the columns from the largest index value and from the smallest index value. The demolition results are confirmed numerically by conducting collapse analyses using the ASI-Gauss technique. The numerical results suggest that to achieve a successful demolition, a group of columns with the largest key element index values should be selected when explosives are ignited in a simultaneous blast, whereas those with the smallest should be selected when explosives are ignited in a sequence, with a final blast set on a column with large index value.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.485-509
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• 2015

This paper presents the experimental results obtained by applying frequency-domain structural health monitoring techniques to assess the damage suffered on a special type of damper called Web Plastifying Damper (WPD). The WPD is a hysteretic type energy dissipator recently developed for the passive control of structures subjected to earthquakes. It consists of several I-section steel segments connected in parallel. The energy is dissipated through plastic deformations of the web of the I-sections, which constitute the dissipative parts of the damper. WPDs were subjected to successive histories of dynamically-imposed cyclic deformations of increasing magnitude with the shaking table of the University of Granada. To assess the damage to the web of the I-section steel segments after each history of loading, a new damage index called Area Index of Damage (AID) was obtained from simple vibration tests. The vibration signals were acquired by means of piezoelectric sensors attached on the I-sections, and non-parametric statistical methods were applied to calculate AID in terms of changes in frequency response functions. The damage index AID was correlated with another energy-based damage index -ID- which past research has proven to accurately characterize the level of mechanical damage. The ID is rooted in the decomposition of the load-displacement curve experienced by the damper into the so-called skeleton and Bauschinger parts. ID predicts the level of damage and the proximity to failure of the damper accurately, but it requires costly instrumentation. The experiments reported in this paper demonstrate a good correlation between AID and ID in a realistic seismic loading scenario consisting of dynamically applied arbitrary cyclic loads. Based on this correlation, it is possible to estimate ID indirectly from the AID, which calls for much simpler and less expensive instrumentation.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.5 s.54
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• pp.57-65
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• 2003

This paper proposes an optimum design method of structural and control systems, using a 2-D truss structure as an example. The structure is subjected to initial static loads and disturbances. For the structure, a FEM model is formed. Using modal transformation, the equation of motion is transformed into modal coordinates, in order to decrease D.O.F. of the FEM model. To suppress the effect of the disturbances, the structure is controlled by an output feedback $H_{\infty}$ controller. The design variables of the combined optimal design of the control-structure systems are the cross sectional areas of truss members. The structural objective function is the structural weight. The control objective function is the $H_{\infty}$ norm, the performance index of control. The second structural objective function is the energy of the response related to the initial state, which is derived from the time integration of the quadratic form of the state in the closed-loop system. In a numerical example, simulations have been perform. Through the consideration of structural weight and $H_{\infty}$ norm, an advantage of the combined optimum design of structural and control systems is shown. Moreover, since the performance index of control is almost nearly optimiz, we can acquire better design of structural strength.

• International Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology Speciallssue:Selected Papers
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.60-68
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• 2003

This paper proposes an optimum design method of structural and control systems, using a 2-D truss structure as an example. The structure is subjected to initial static loads and disturbances. For the structure, a FEM model is formed. Using modal transformation, the equation of motion is transformed into modal coordinates, in order to decrease D.O.F. of the FEM model. To suppress the effect of the disturbances, the structure is controlled by an output feedback $H_{\infty}$ controller. The design variables of the combined optimal design of the control-structure systems are the cross sectional areas of truss members. The structural objective function is the structural weight. The control objective function is the $H_{\infty}$ norm, the performance index of control. The second structural objective function is the energy of the response related to the initial state, which is derived from the time integration of the quadratic form of the state in the closed-loop system. In a numerical example, simulations have been perform. Through the consideration of structural weight and $H_{\infty}$ norm, an advantage of the combined optimum design of structural and control systems is shown. Moreover, since the performance index of control is almost nearly optimiz, we can acquire better design of structural strength.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2005

This study focuses on evaluating the reliability index of a deck of RC slab having chloride contamination and studying the relation of grades of rebar corrosion and the reliability index of a bridge deck For this purpose, first, the failure probability related to flexural strength was calculated using a model for deterioration, which contains the application of deicing salts that usually causes significant long-term deterioration and reduction in the structural safety for strength of structure. And also, according to the depth of covering, the chloride contents depending on time due to depths of RC slab deck, the appearance time for initial corrosion of rebar and the occurrence time for split of covering were investigated using a MCS method.

• Journal of KIISE:Databases
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2004

XML documents consist of elements that are basic units of information. When the structure of XML documents is changed dynamically, we need to update structure information efficiently without changing the information of the index structure for fast retrieval. In this paper, we propose a dynamic indexing model scheme that updates the index structure in real time as the structure of XML documents is changed by insertion and deletion of elements. Our dynamic indexing model consists of a structure information representation method and a dynamic index structure. The structure information representation method supports various types of structure retrievals. Our dynamic index structure processes various structural queries efficiently. We show through various experiments that our method outperforms existing ones in processing various types of queries such as content based queries, structural queries and hybrid queries.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1175-1194
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• 2016

Nonlinear models, capable of taking into account all the phenomena involved in the cracking and in the failure of lightly reinforced concrete beams, are nowadays available for a rigorous calculation of the minimum reinforcement. To simplify the current approaches, a new procedure is proposed in this paper. Specifically, the ductility index, which is lower than zero for under-reinforced concrete beams in bending, is introduced. The results of a general model, as well as the data measured in several tests, reveal the existence of two linear relationships between ductility index, crack width, and the amount of steel reinforcement. The above relationships can be applied to a wide range of lightly reinforced concrete beams, regardless of the geometrical dimensions and of the mechanical properties of materials. Accordingly, if only a few tests are combined with this linear relationships, a new design-by-testing procedure can be used to calculate the minimum reinforcement, which guarantees both the control of cracking in service and the ductility at failure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.209-226
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• 2024

The susceptibility of Reinforced Concrete (RC) buildings to earthquake-induced damage is a critical concern, primarily attributed to their inadequate seismic performance. The existing earthquake-resistant design code of India prescribes guidelines to minimize seismic damage but does not provide any means for evaluating the actual seismic performance and damage. To ascertain the seismic performance of the structures quantitatively, it is crucial to classify damage into measurable damage states. Damage Index (DI) acts as an important tool for this purpose. Among various procedures for computation of DI, the modified Park and Ang Damage Index appears to be highly accurate. However, the major drawback of this method is that it is lengthy and time-consuming. On the other hand, structural performances can be evaluated using various performance parameters such as interstory drift ratio (IDR), inelastic deformation, etc., as described in FEMA-356 and ASCE-41 17. The present study explores the correlation between seismic DI and structural performance in RC frame buildings designed according to IS code. Sixteen building models, incorporating diverse configurations, are examined using nonlinear static and time history analyses. A simplified equation is developed by regression analysis to predict DI based on IDR, offering a computationally efficient alternative. Validation tests are done to confirm the equation's accuracy. Furthermore, a unified damage scale integrating DI and seismic performance is also proposed for seismic damage evaluation of buildings designed by IS code.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1381-1388
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• 1993

This paper presents a method for the simultaneous optimal design of structural and control systems. Sensitivities of performance index with respect to structural design variables are analyzed. The structural design variables are optimized to minimize the performance index by use of conjugate gradient method. The method is applied to a half model of an active vehicle suspension system with elastic body moving on a randomly profiled road. The suspension control force of an optimally controlled system in the presence of measurement errors are calculated by use of linear quadratic Gaussian control theory and Kalman filter theory. The performance index contains ride comfort, road holding and working space of suspension. The structural design variables taken are stiffness, daming properties and the position of the suspension system. The random road profile considered as colored noise is shaped from white noise by use of shaping filter. The performance of an optimal simultaneous structure/control system is compared with that of an optimal controlled system.