• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.1067-1087
• /
• 2016

In this paper, a decoupled proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control approach for seismic control of smart structures is presented. First, the state space equation of a structure is transformed into modal coordinates and parameters of the modal PID control are separately designed in a reduced modal space. Then, the feedback gain matrix of the controller is obtained based on the contribution of modal responses to the structural responses. The performance of the controller is investigated to adjust control force of piezoelectric friction dampers (PFDs) in a benchmark base isolated building. In order to tune the modal feedback gain of the controller, a suitable trade-off among the conflicting objectives, i.e., the reduction of maximum modal base displacement and the maximum modal floor acceleration of the smart base isolated structure, as well as the maximum modal control force, is created using a multi-objective cuckoo search (MOCS) algorithm. In terms of reduction of maximum base displacement and story acceleration, numerical simulations show that the proposed method performs better than other reported controllers in the literature. Moreover, simulation results show that the PFDs are able to efficiently dissipate the input excitation energy and reduce the damage energy of the structure. Overall, the proposed control strategy provides a simple strategy to tune the control forces and reduces the number of sensors of the control system to the number of controlled stories.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.75 no.1
• /
• pp.33-47
• /
• 2020

In this paper the dynamic behavior of an isolated building subjected to idealized near-fault pulses is investigated. The building is represented with a simple 2-DOF model. Both linear and non-linear behavior of the isolation system is considered. Using dimensional analysis, in conjunction with closed form mathematical idealized pulses, appropriate dimensionless parameters are defined and self-similar curves are plotted on dimensionless graphs, based on which various conclusions are reached. In the linear case, the role of viscous damping is examined in detail and the existence of an optimum value of damping along with its significant variation with the number of half-cycles is shown. In the nonlinear case, where the behavior of the building depends on the amplitude of the excitation, the benefits of dimensional analysis are evident since the influence of the dimensionless 𝚷-terms is easily examined. Special consideration is given to the normalized strength of the non-linear isolation system that appears to play a complex role which greatly affects the response of the 2-DOF. In the last part of the paper, a comparison of the responses to idealized pulses between a linear fixed-base SDOF and the respective isolated 2-DOF with both linear and non-linear damping is conducted and it is shown that, under certain values of the superstructure and isolation system characteristics, the use of an isolation system can amplify both the normalized acceleration and displacement of the superstructure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.267-277
• /
• 2017

Base-isolation is now being adopted as a retrofitting strategy to improve seismic behaviour of reinforced concrete (r.c.) framed structures subjected to far-fault earthquakes. However, the increase in deformability of a base-isolated framed building may lead to amplification in the structural response under the long-duration horizontal pulses of high-magnitude near-fault earthquakes, which can become critical once the strength level of a fire-weakened r.c. superstructure is reduced. The aim of the present work is to investigate the nonlinear seismic response of fire-damaged r.c. framed structures retrofitted by base-isolation. For this purpose, a five-storey r.c. framed building primarily designed (as fixed-base) in compliance with a former Italian seismic code for a medium-risk zone, is to be retrofitted by the insertion of elastomeric bearings to meet the requirements of the current Italian code in a high-risk seismic zone. The nonlinear seismic response of the original (fixed-base) and retrofitted (base-isolated) test structures in a no fire situation are compared with those in the event of fire in the superstructure, where parametric temperature-time curves are defined at the first level, the first two and the upper levels. A lumped plasticity model describes the inelastic behaviour of the fire-damaged r.c. frame members, while a nonlinear force-displacement law is adopted for the elastomeric bearings. The average root-mean-square deviation of the observed spectrum from the target design spectrum together with a suitable intensity measure are chosen to select and scale near- and far-fault earthquakes on the basis of the design hypotheses adopted.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.425-436
• /
• 2018

The design of seismically isolated structures considering the stochastic nature of excitations, base isolators' design parameters, and superstructure properties requires robust reliability analysis methods to calculate the failure probability of the entire system. Here, by applying artificial neural networks, we proposed a robust technique to accelerate the estimation of failure probability of equipped isolated structures. A three-story isolated building with susceptible facilities is considered as the analytical model to evaluate our technique. First, we employed a sensitivity analysis method to identify the critical sources of uncertainty. Next, we calculated the probability of failure for a particular set of random variables, performing Monte Carlo simulations based on the dynamic nonlinear time-history analysis. Finally, using a set of designed neural networks as a surrogate model for the structural analysis, we assessed once again the probability of the failure. Comparing the obtained results demonstrates that the surrogate model can attain precise estimations of the probability of failure. Moreover, our proposed approach significantly increases the computational efficiency corresponding to the dynamic time-history analysis of the structure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.91-106
• /
• 2019

Adopting sloped rolling-type isolation devices underneath a raised floor system has been proved as one of the most effective approaches to mitigate seismic responses of the protected equipment installed above. However, pounding against surrounding walls or other obstructions may occur if such a base-isolated raised floor system is subjected to long-period excitation, leading to adverse effects or even more severe damage. In this study, real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) is adopted to assess the control performance of a smart base-isolated raised floor system as it is an efficient and cost-effective experimental method. It is composed of multiple sloped rolling-type isolation devices, a rigid steel platen, four magnetorheological (MR) dampers, and protected high-tech equipment. One of the MR dampers is physically tested in the laboratory while the remainders are numerically simulated. In order to consider the effect of input excitation characteristics on the isolation performance, the smart base-isolated raised floor system is assumed to be located at the roof of a building and the ground level. Four control algorithms are designed for the MR dampers including passive-on, switching, modified switching, and fuzzy logic control. Six artificial spectrum-compatible input excitations and three slope angles of the isolation devices are considered in the RTHS. Experimental results demonstrate that the incorporation of semi-active control into a base-isolated raised floor system is effective and feasible in practice for high-tech industry.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.3 no.4
• /
• pp.11-22
• /
• 1999

In this study, the validity of the currently used seismic regulations for seismic isolated building structures is investigated, and a new formula for vertical distribution of seismic load is proposed. The distribution formula in UBC-91 did not provide sufficient safety, and thus revised in 1994. However it is pointed out that the revised formula overestimates the seismic load because of its similarity to that of the fixed-base structure. Therefore, in the proposed approach, it is intended to satisfy safety, economy, and applicability by combining the mode shapes of the seismic isolated structure idealized as two degrees of freedom system and those of fixed-base structure. For verification of the proposed formula, both a moment resisting frame and a shear wall system are analyzed. The results obtained from the proposed method turn out to be close to the results from a dynamic analysis.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.59-67
• /
• 2006

The aim of this study is to evaluate the design table for envelope curve analysis of base isolated buildings, which represent the period of base isolated buildings and the lateral displacement of base isolation devices. For the construction of design table, $V_E$ spectrum, which represents the energy, is developed instead of acceleration of seismic hazard. Based on the seismic coefficient of UBC 97, boundary period $T_G$ and maximum velocity response $V_0$ are proposed considering Korea seismic hazard. Using $T_G$ and $V_0$, finally, $V_E$ spectrum is developed for the four types of soil conditions. Base on the $V_E$ spectrum, design table for envelope curve analysis is also developed for soil types.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.245-255
• /
• 2013

According to natural frequency of soil, characteristics of earthquake responses of an isolated containment building in nuclear power plants are examined. For this, earthquake response analysis of seismically isolated containment buildings in nuclear power plants is carried out by strictly considering soil-structure interactions. The structure and near-field soil are modeled by the finite element method while far-field soil by consistent transmitting boundary. The equation of motion of a soil-structure interaction system under incident seismic wave is derived. The derived equations of motion are solved to carry out earthquake analysis of a seismically isolated soil-structure system. Generally, the results of this analysis show that seismic isolation significantly reduces the responses of the soil-structure system. However, if the natural frequency of the soil is similar to that of the soil-structure system, the responses of the containment buildings in nuclear power plants rather increases due to interactions in the system.

• Wind and Structures
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2008

Interference effects in five square tall buildings arranged in an L- or T-shaped pattern are investigated in the wind tunnel. Mean and fluctuating shear forces, overturning moments and torsional moment are measured on each building with a force balance mounted at its base. Results are obtained at two values of clear separation between adjacent buildings, at half and a quarter building breadth. It is found that strong interference effect exists on all member buildings, resulting in significant modifications of wind loads as compared with the isolated single building case. Sheltering effect is observed on wind loads acting along the direction of an arm of the "L" or "T" on the inner buildings. However, increase in these wind loads from the isolated single building case is found on the most upwind edge building in the arm when wind blows at a slight oblique angle to the arm. The corner formed by two arms of buildings results in some wind catchment effect leading to increased wind pressure on windward building faces. Interesting interference phenomena such as negative drag force are reported. Interference effects on wind load fluctuations, load spectra and dynamic building responses are also studied and discussed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.135-144
• /
• 2017

Near-fault ground motions are characterized by high values of the ratio between the peak of vertical and horizontal ground accelerations, which can significantly affect the nonlinear response of a base-isolated structure. To check the effectiveness of different base-isolation systems for retrofitting a r.c. framed structure located in a near-fault area, a numerical investigation is carried out analyzing the nonlinear dynamic response of the fixed-base and isolated structures. For this purpose, a six-storey r.c. framed building is supposed to be retrofitted by insertion of an isolation system at the base for attaining performance levels imposed by current Italian code in a high-risk seismic zone. In particular, elastomeric (e.g., high-damping-laminated-rubber bearings, HDLRBs) and friction (e.g., steel-PTFE sliding bearings, SBs, or friction pendulum bearings, FPBs) isolators are considered, with reference to three cases of base isolation: HDLRBs acting alone (i.e., EBI structures); in-parallel combination of HDLRBs and SBs (i.e., EFBI structures); FPBs acting alone (i.e., FPBI structures). Different values of the stiffness ratio, defined as the ratio between the vertical and horizontal stiffnesses of the HDLRBs, sliding ratio, defined as the global sliding force divided by the maximum sliding force of the SBs, and in-plan distribution of friction coefficient for the FPs are investigated. The EBI, EFBI and FPBI base-isolation systems are designed assuming the same values of the fundamental vibration period and equivalent viscous damping ratio. The nonlinear dynamic analysis is carried out with reference to near-fault earthquakes, selected and scaled on the design hypotheses adopted for the test structures.