• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.315-327
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• 2016

Damage detection and localisation in structures is essential since it can be a means for preventive maintenance of those structures under service conditions. The use of structural modal data for detecting the damage is one of the most efficient methods. This paper presents comparative performance of various state-of-the-art meta-heuristics for use in structural damage detection based on changes in modal data. The metaheuristics include differential evolution (DE), artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC), real-code ant colony optimisation (ACOR), charged system search (ChSS), league championship algorithm (LCA), simulated annealing (SA), particle swarm optimisation (PSO), evolution strategies (ES), teaching-learning-based optimisation (TLBO), adaptive differential evolution (JADE), evolution strategy with covariance matrix adaptation (CMAES), success-history based adaptive differential evolution (SHADE) and SHADE with linear population size reduction (L-SHADE). Three truss structures are used to pose several test problems for structural damage detection. The meta-heuristics are then used to solve the test problems treated as optimisation problems. Comparative performance is carried out where the statistically best algorithms are identified.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.465-476
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• 2018

In this paper, a new meta-heuristic optimization method is presented. This new method is named "Numbers Cup Optimization" (NCO). The NCO algorithm is inspired by the sport competitions. In this method, the objective function and the design variables are defined as the team and the team members, respectively. Similar to all cups, teams are arranged in groups and the competitions are performed in each group, separately. The best team in each group is determined by the minimum or maximum value of the objective function. The best teams would be allowed to the next round of the cup, by accomplishing minor changes. These teams get grouped again. This process continues until two teams arrive the final and the champion of the Numbers Cup would be identified. In this algorithm, the next cups (same iterations) will be repeated by the improvement of players' performance. To illustrate the capabilities of the proposed method, some standard functions were selected to optimize. Also, size optimization of three benchmark trusses is performed to test the efficiency of the NCO approach. The results obtained from this study, well illustrate the ability of the NCO in solving the optimization problems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.4
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• pp.531-542
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• 2018

In this paper an analytical model in a closed form able to reproduce the monotonic flexural response of external RC beam-column joints with smooth rebars is presented. The column is subjected to a constant vertical load and the beam to a monotonically increasing lateral force applied at the tip. The model is based on the flexural behavior of the beam and the column determined adopting a concentrated plasticity hinge model including slippage of the main reinforcing bars of the beam. A simplified bilinear moment-axial force domain is assumed to derive the ultimate moment associated with the design axial force. For the joint, a simple truss model is adopted to predict shear strength and panel distortion. Experimental data recently given in the literature referring to the load-deflection response of external RC joints with smooth rebars are utilized to validate the model, showing good agreement. Finally, the proposed model can be considered a useful instrument for preliminary static verification of existing external RC beam-column joints with smooth rebars for both strength and ductility verification.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.693-710
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• 1998

This paper concerns studies on the shape formation of post-tensioned and shaped steel domes. The post-tensioned and shaped steel domes, assembled initially at ground level in an essentially flat condition, are shaped to a curved space form and erected into the final position by means of a post-tensioning technique. Based on previous studies on this shape formation principle, three post-tensioned and shaped steel domes have been constructed. The results of the shape formation tests and finite element analyses are reported in this paper. It is found that the first two test domes did not furnish a part-spherical shape as predicted by finite element analyses, because the movements of some mechanisms were not controlled sufficiently. With a revised post-tensioning method, the third dome obtained the theoretical prediction. The test results of the three post-tensioned and shaped domes have shown that a necessary condition to form a desired space shape from a planar layout with low joint stiffnesses is that the movements of all the existing mechanisms must be effectively controlled as indicated by the finite element analysis. The extent of the maximum elastic deformation of a post-tensioned and shaped steel structure is determined by the strength of the top chords and their joints. However, due to the semi-rigid characteristic of the top chord joints, the finite element analyses cannot give a close prediction for the maximum elastic deformations of the post-tensioned and shaped steel domes. The results of the current studies can be helpful for the design and construction of this type of structure.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.167-171
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• 2014

TORANOMON HILLS is the main building of a large-scale re-development project located in the center of Tokyo. This high-rise building has a height of 247 m and 52 floors above ground, 5 floors below ground, and $62m{\times}80m$ in plan. It is used as hotel, residential facilities, offices, shops and conference facilities. The super structure is mainly a rigid steel frame with response-control devices, using concrete-filled steel tube columns. The underground section is a mixed structure composed of steel, steel-reinforced concrete and reinforced concrete framings. The piled-raft foundation type is used. The remarkable feature of this high-rise building is that the motorway runs through the basements of the building, which makes it stand just above the motorway. This condition is an important factor of the building design. The plan shape is designed to fit along the curve of the motorway. Special columns at the corners are required to avoid placing columns in the motorway. This special column is a single inclined column in the lower floors that branches into two columns in the mid-floors to suit the column location in the upper floors. The cast steel joint is used for the branching point of each special column to securely transfer the stress.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.169-172
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• 2008

Longitudinal elongation develops in reinforced concrete beams that exhibit flexural yielding during cyclic loading. The longitudinal elongation can decrease the shear strength and deformation capacity of the beams. In the present study, nonlinear truss model analysis was performed to study the elongation mechanism of reinforced concrete beams. The results showed that residual tensile plastic strain of the longitudinal reinforcing bar in the plastic hinge is the primary factor causing the member elongation, and that the shear-force transfer mechanism of diagonal concrete struts has a substantial effect on the magnitude of the elongation. Based on the analysis results, a simplified method for evaluating member elongation was developed. The proposed method was applied to test specimens with various design parameters and loading conditions..

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.1234-1239
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• 2003

In the product design process computer-aided engineering and optimization tools are widely utilized in order to reduce the total development time and cost. Since several simulation tools are involved in the process, information losses, omissions, or errors are common and the importance of seamless information exchange among the tools has been increased. In this study ISO STEP standards are adopted to represent the neutral format for CAE/CAO information exchange. The schema of AP209 is used to define the information of finite element analysis and the new schema is proposed to describe the information of structural optimization based on the STEP methodology. The schema is implemented by EXPRESS, information modeling language, and ST-Developer is employed to generate C++ classes and STEP Rose Library by using the schema denoted. To substantiate the proposed approach, the information access interfaces of the finite element modeling software (FEMAP), structural optimization software (GENESIS) and in-house topology optimization program are developed. Examples of the size optimization of a three-bar truss and topology optimization of a MBB beam are shown to validate the information exchange of finite element analysis and structural optimization using STEP standards.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.33-49
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• 2016

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has been attracting numerous research efforts around the world because it targets at monitoring structural conditions and performance to prevent catastrophic failure, and to provide quantitative data for engineers and infrastructure owners to design a reliable and economical asset management strategy. In the past decade, with supports from Australian Research Council (ARC), Cooperative Research Center for Infrastructure and Engineering Asset Management (CIEAM), CSIRO and industry partners, intensive research works have been conducted in the School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, University of Western Australia and Centre for Infrastructural Monitoring and Protection, Curtin University on various techniques of SHM. The researches include the development of hardware, software and various algorithms, such as various signal processing techniques for operational modal analysis, modal analysis toolbox, non-model based methods for assessing the shear connection in composite bridges and identifying the free spanning and supports conditions of pipelines, vibration based structural damage identification and model updating approaches considering uncertainty and noise effects, structural identification under moving loads, guided wave propagation technique for detecting debonding damage, and relative displacement sensors for SHM in composite and steel truss bridges. This paper aims at summarizing and reviewing the recent research advances on SHM of civil infrastructure in Western Australia.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.922-927
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• 2006

There is a concern with worldwide deterioration of highway bridges, particularly reinforced concrete. The advantages of fibre reinforced plastic(FRP) composites over conventional materials motivate their use in highway bridges for replacement of structures. Recently, an FRP deck has been installed on a state highway, located in New York State, as an experimental project. In this paper, a systematic approach for analysis of this FRP deck bridge is presented. Multi-step linear numerical analyses have been performed using the finite element method to study the structural behavior and the possible failure mechanism of the FRP deck-superstructure system Deck's self-weight and ply orientations at the interface between steel girders and FRP deck are considered in this study. From this research, the results of the numerical analyses were corroborated with field test results. Analytical results reveal several potential failure mechanism for the FRP deck and truss bridge system The results presented in this study may be used to propose engineering design guideline for new and replacement FRP bridge deck structure.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.29-35
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• 2004

A new approach, referred to as a successive zooming genetic algorithm (SZGA), is proposed for identifying a global solution, using continuous zooming factors for optimization problems. In order to improve the local fine-tuning of the GA, we introduced a new method whereby the search space is zoomed around the design variable with the best fitness per 100 generation, resulting in an improvement of the convergence. Furthermore, the reliability of the optimized solution is determined based on the theory of probability, and the parameter used for the successive zooming method is optimized. With parameter optimization, we can eliminate the time allocated for deciding parameters used in SZGA. To demonstrate the superiority of the proposed theory, we tested for the minimization of a multiple function, as well as simple functions. After testing, we applied the parameter optimization to a truss problem and wicket gate servomotor optimization. Then, the proposed algorithm identifies a more exact optimum value than the standard genetic algorithm.