• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.1091-1114
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• 2015

The adequacy of a number of advanced earthquake Intensity Measures (IMs) to predict the structural damage of earthquake resistant 3D R/C buildings is investigated in the present paper. To achieve this purpose three symmetric in plan and three asymmetric 5-storey R/C buildings are analyzed by nonlinear time history analysis using 74 bidirectional earthquake records. The two horizontal accelerograms of each ground motion are applied along the structural axes of the buildings and the structural damage is expressed in terms of the maximum and average interstorey drift as well as the overall structural damage index. For each individual pair of accelerograms the values of the aforementioned seismic damage measures are determined. Then, they are correlated with several strong motion scalar IMs that take into account both earthquake and structural characteristics. The research identified certain IMs which exhibit strong correlation with the seismic damage measures of the studied buildings. However, the degree of correlation between IMs and the seismic damage depends on the damage measure adopted. Furthermore, it is confirmed that the widely used spectral acceleration at the fundamental period of the structure is a relatively good IM for medium rise R/C buildings that possess small structural eccentricity.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.75-85
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• 2022

The megacity Istanbul was struck by an earthquake on September 26, 2019, with a moment magnitude (Mw) of 5.8. The mainshock was followed by many aftershocks. Although the peak ground acceleration (PGA) of the mainshock was as low as 0.08 g, its effect has been more than expected. The intensive reconnaissance studies were accomplished in the highly populated Zeytinburnu and Pendik districts of Istanbul. While the earthquake (EQ) was relatively smaller concerning record-specific intensity measures; the damages such as concrete spalling in reinforced concrete (RC) members, detachment and diagonal cracking of infill walls in RC frames as well as cracks in masonry structures were reported from non-engineered and some engineered buildings. Many studies in the literature state that record-specific intensity measures are not sufficient to evaluate the seismic performance of the structures. The structure-specific intensity measures, soil characteristics, as well as significant duration, energy, and frequency content of EQs should be considered for the evaluation. Dependently, the frequency and energy contents of the Istanbul Earthquake are evaluated to discuss the possible reasons for the perceived effects and the damages. It is concluded that the EQ caused resonance effects on a variety of structures because of its complex frequency content as well as rather low building quality.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.12
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• pp.4179-4188
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• 2021

This study identifies efficient earthquake intensity measures (IMs) for seismic performances and fragility evaluations of the reactor containment building (RCB) in the advanced power reactor 1400 (APR1400) nuclear power plant (NPP). The computational model of RCB is constructed using the beam-truss model (BTM) for nonlinear analyses. A total of 90 ground motion records and 20 different IMs are employed for numerical analyses. A series of nonlinear time-history analyses are performed to monitor maximum floor displacements and accelerations of RCB. Then, probabilistic seismic demand models of RCB are developed for each IM. Statistical parameters including coefficient of determination (R²), dispersion (i.e. standard deviation), practicality, and proficiency are calculated to recognize strongly correlated IMs with the seismic performance of the NPP structure. The numerical results show that the optimal IMs are spectral acceleration, spectral velocity, spectral displacement at the fundamental period, acceleration spectrum intensity, effective peak acceleration, peak ground acceleration, A95, and sustained maximum acceleration. Moreover, weakly related IMs to the seismic performance of RCB are peak ground displacement, root-mean-square of displacement, specific energy density, root-mean-square of velocity, peak ground velocity, Housner intensity, velocity spectrum intensity, and sustained maximum velocity. Finally, a set of fragility curves of RCB are developed for optimal IMs.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.355-361
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• 2008

As agricultural machinery has become larger and tillage practices have changed in recent decades, compaction as a result of wheel traffic and tillage has caused increasing concern. If strategies to manage compaction, such as deep tillage, could be applied only where needed, economic and environmental benefits would result. For such site-specific compaction management to occur, compacted areas within fields must be efficiently sensed and mapped. We previously developed an on-the-go soil strength profile sensor (SSPS) for this purpose. The SSPS measures within-field variability in soil strength at five soil depths up to 50 cm. Determining the variability structure of SSPS data is needed for site-specific field management since the variability structure determines the required intensity of data collection and is related to the delineation of compaction management zones. In this paper, soil bin data were analyzed by a spectral analysis technique to determine the variability structure of the SSPS data, and to investigate causes and implications of this variability. In the soil bin, we observed a repeating pattern due to soil fracture with an approximate 12- to 19-cm period, especially at the 10-cm depth, possibly due to cyclic development of soil fracture on this interval. These findings will facilitate interpretation of soil strength data and enhance application of the SSPS.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.331-344
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• 2024

The performance of reinforced concrete buildings subjected to earthquake excitations depends on the structural behaviour of the superstructure as well as the type of foundation and the properties of soil on which the structure is founded. The consideration of the effects due to the interaction between the structure and soil- foundation alters the seismic response of reinforced concrete buildings subjected to earthquake motion. Evaluation of the structural response of buildings for quantitative assessment of the seismic fragility has been a demanding problem for the engineers. Present research deals with development of fragility curve for building specific vulnerability assessment based on different damage parameters considering the effect of soil-structure interaction. Incremental Dynamic Analysis of fixed base and flexible base RC building models founded on different soil conditions was conducted using finite element software. Three sets of fragility curves were developed with maximum roof displacement, inter storey drift and plastic energy dissipated as engineering demand parameters. The results indicated an increase in the likelihood of exceeding various damage limits by 10-40% for flexible base condition with soft soil profiles. Fragility curve based on energy dissipated showed a higher probability of exceedance for collapse prevention damage limit whereas for lower damage states, conventional methods showed higher probability of exceedance. With plastic energy dissipated as engineering demand parameter, it is possible to track down the intensity of earthquake at which the plastic deformation starts, thereby providing an accurate vulnerability assessment of the structure. Fragility modification factors that enable the transformation of existing fragility curves to account for Soil-Structure Interaction effects based on different damage measures are proposed for different soil conditions to facilitate a congenial vulnerability assessment for buildings with flexible base conditions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.621-635
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• 2023

The combination of replaceable and repairable properties in structures has introduced new approach called "Low Damage Design Structures". These structural systems are designed in such a way that through self-centering, primary members and specific connections neither suffer damage nor experience permanent deformations after being exposed to severe earthquakes. The purpose of this study is the seismic assessment of steel moment resisting frames with the aid of rigid rocking cores. To this end, three steel moment resisting frames of 4-, 8-, and 12-story buildings with and without rocking cores were developed. The nonlinear static analysis and incremental dynamic analysis were performed by considering the effects of the vertical and horizontal components of 16 strong ground motions, including far-fault and near-fault arrays. The results reveal that rocking systems benefit from better seismic performance and energy dissipation compared to moment resisting frames and thus structures experience a lower level of damage under higher intensity measures. The analyses show that the interstory drift in structures equipped with stiff rocking cores is more uniform in static and dynamic analyses. A uniform interstory drift distribution leads to a uniform distribution of the bending moment and a reduction in the structure's total weight and future maintenance costs.