• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.491-503
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• 2021

Shallow tunnels are vulnerable to earthquakes, and shallow ground is usually inhomogeneous. Based on the limit equilibrium method and variational principle, a solution for the seismic collapse mechanism of shallow tunnel in inhomogeneous ground is presented. And the finite difference method is employed to compare with the analytical solution. It shows that the analytical results are conservative when the horizontal and vertical stresses equal the static earth pressure and zero at vault section, respectively. The safety factor of shallow tunnel changes greatly during an earthquake. Hence, the cyclic loading characteristics should be considered to evaluate tunnel stability. And the curve sliding surface agrees with the numerical simulation and previous studies. To save time and ensure accuracy, the curve sliding surface with 2 undetermined constants is a good choice to analyze shallow tunnel stability. Parameter analysis demonstrates that the horizontal semiaxis, acceleration, ground cohesion and homogeneity affect tunnel stability greatly, and the horizontal semiaxis, vertical semiaxis, tunnel depth and ground homogeneity have obvious influence on tunnel sliding surface. It concludes that the most applicable approaches to enhance tunnel stability are reducing the horizontal semiaxis, strengthening cohesion and setting the tunnel into good ground.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.509-521
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• 2021

The neighbouring gaps at the mortise-tenon joint in traditional timber structure, which leads to the complexity of the joint, are considered to impair the mechanical performance of the joint. In this paper, numerical simulation of loose joint was conducted to examine the deformation states, stress distributions, and bearing capacities, which was verified by full-scale test. On the basis of the experimental and numerical results, a simplified mechanics model with gaps has been proposed to present the bending capacity of the loose joint. Besides, the gap effects and parameter studies on the influences of tenon height, friction coefficient, elastic modulus and axial load were also investigated. As a result, the estimated relationship between moment and rotation angle of loose joint showed the agreement with the numerical results, demonstrating validity of the proposed model; The bending bearing capacity and rotational stiffness of loose joint had a certain drop with the increasing of gaps; and the tenon height may be the most important factor affecting the mechanical behaviors of the joint when it is subjected to repeated load; Research results can provide important references on the condition assessments of the existing mortise-tenon joint.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.1185-1201
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• 2022

Feller introduced an unfair-fair-game in his famous book [3]. In this game, at each trial, player will win 2^k yuan with probability p_k = 1/2^kk(k + 1), k ∈ ℕ, and zero yuan with probability p₀ = 1 - Σ^∞_k=1 p_k. Because the expected gain is 1, player must pay one yuan as the entrance fee for each trial. Although this game seemed "fair", Feller [2] proved that when the total trial number n is large enough, player will loss n yuan with its probability approximate 1. So it's an "unfair" game. In this paper, we study in depth its convergence in probability, almost sure convergence and convergence in distribution. Furthermore, we try to take 2^k = m to reduce the values of random variables and their corresponding probabilities at the same time, thus a new probability model is introduced, which is called as the related model of Feller's unfair-fair-game. We find out that this new model follows a long-tailed distribution. We obtain its weak law of large numbers, strong law of large numbers and central limit theorem. These results show that their probability limit behaviours of these two models are quite different.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 2022

In this paper, four specimens of CFST column joints with endplates and long bolts are tested in the scenario of progressive collapse. Flush endplate and extended endplate are both adopted in this study. The experimental results show that increasing the thickness of the endplate could improve the behavior of the joint, but delay the mobilization of catenary action. The thickness of the endplate should not be relatively thick in comparison to the diameter of the bolts, otherwise catenary action would not be mobilized or work effectively. Effective bending deformation of the endplate could help the formation and development of catenary action in the joints. The performance of flexural action in the joint would affect the formation of catenary action in the joint. Extra middle-row bolts set at the endplates and structural components set below the bottom beam flange should be used to enhance the robustness of joints. A special weld access hole between beam and endplate should be adopted to mitigate the chain damage potential of welds. It is suggested that the structural components of joints should be independent of each other to enhance the robustness of joints. Based on the component method, a formula calculating the stiffness coefficient of preloaded long bolts was proposed whose results matched well with the experimental results.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2022

Several aspects influence corrosive processes in reinforced concrete (RC) structures such as environmental conditions, structural geometry and mechanical properties. Since these aspects present large randomnesses, probabilistic models allow a more accurate description of the corrosive phenomena. Besides, the definition of limit states in the reliability assessment requires a proper mechanical model. In this context, this study proposes a straightforward methodology for the mechanical-probabilistic modelling of RC structures subjected to reinforcements' corrosion. An improved damage approach is proposed to define the limit states for the probabilistic modelling, considering three main degradation phenomena: concrete cracking, rebar yielding and rebar corrosion caused either by chloride or carbonation mechanisms. The stochastic analysis is evaluated by the Monte Carlo simulation method due to the computational efficiency of the Lumped Damage Model for Corrosion (LDMC). The proposed mechanical-probabilistic methodology is implemented in a computational framework and applied to the analysis of a simply supported RC beam and a 2D RC frame. Curves illustrate the probability of failure evolution over a service life of 50 years. Moreover, the proposed model allows drawing the probability of failure map and then identifying the critical failure path for progressive collapse analysis. Collapse path changes caused by the corrosion phenomena are observed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.611-628
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• 2022

Energy-dissipative rocking (EDR) columns are a class of seismic mitigation device capable of dissipating seismic energy and preventing weak-story failure of moment resisting frames (MRFs). An EDR consists of two hinge-supported steel columns interconnected by steel dampers along its height. Under earthquakes, the input seismic energy can be dissipated by plastic energy of the steel dampers in the EDR column. However, the unrecoverable plastic deformation of steel dampers generally results in residual drifts in the structural system. This paper presents a proof-of-concept study on an innovative device, namely self-centring energy-dissipative rocking (SC-EDR) column, aiming at enabling self-centring capability of the EDR column by installing a set of shape memory alloy (SMA) tension braces. The working mechanism of the SC-EDR column is presented in detail, and the feasibility of the new device is carefully examined via experimental and numerical studies considering the parameters of the SMA bar diameter and the steel damper plate thickness. The seismic responses including load carrying capacities, stress distributions, base rocking behaviour, source of residual deformation, and energy dissipation are discussed in detail. A rational combination of the steel damper and the SMA tension braces can achieve excellent energy dissipation and self-centring performance.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.587-597
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• 2022

In the present study, a novel optimization method in formation control of multi -system vehicles based on the trajectory of the nearest neighbor trajectory is presented. In this regard, the state equations of each vehicle and multisystem is derived and the optimization scheme based on minimizing the differences between actual positions and desired positions of the vehicles are conducted. This formation control is a position-based decentralized model. The trajectory of the nearest neighbor are optimized based on the current position and state of the vehicle. This approach aids the whole multi-agent system to be optimized on their trajectory. Furthermore, to overcome the cumulative errors and maintain stability in the network a semi-centralized scheme is designed for the purpose of checking vehicle position to its predefined trajectory. The model is implemented in Matlab software and the results for different initial state and different trajectory definition are presented. In addition, to avoid collision avoidance and maintain the distances between vehicles agents at a predefined desired distances. In this regard, a neural fuzzy network is defined to be utilized in conjunction with the control system to avoid collision between vehicles. The outcome reveals that the model has acceptable stability and accuracy.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.369-383
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• 2022

Wind tunnel experiment was carried out to study the cross-wind layer forces on a square cross-section building model using a synchronous multi-pressure sensing system. The stationarity of measured wind loadings are firstly examined, revealing the non-stationary feature of cross-wind forces. By converting the measured non-stationary wind forces into an energetically equivalent stationary process, the characteristics of local wind forces are studied, such as power spectrum density and spanwise coherence function. Mathematical models to describe properties of cross-wind forces at different layers are thus established. Then, a conditional simulation method, which is able to ex-tend pressure measurements starting from experimentally measured points, is proposed for the cross-wind loading. The method can reproduce the non-stationary cross-wind force by simulating a stationary process and the corresponding time varying amplitudes independently; in this way the non-stationary wind forces can finally be obtained by combining the two parts together. The feasibility and reliability of the proposed method is highlighted by an ex-ample of across wind loading simulation, based on the experimental results analyzed in the first part of the paper.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.561-576
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• 2022

Heritage timber structures represent the history and culture of a nation. These structures have been inherited from previous generations; however, they inevitably exhibit deterioration over time, potentially leading to structural deficiencies. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) offers the potential to assess operational anomalies, deterioration, and damage through processing and analysis of data collected from transducers and sensors mounted on the structure. This paper reports on the design and implementation of a long-term SHM system on the Feiyun Wooden Pavilion in China, a three-story timber building built more than 500 years ago. The principles and features of the design and implementation of SHM systems for heritage timber buildings are systematically discussed. In total, 104 sensors of 6 different types are deployed on the structure to monitor the environmental effects and structural responses, including air temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, structural temperatures, strain, inclination, and acceleration. In addition, integrated data acquisition and transmission subsystem using a newly developed software platform are implemented. Selected preliminary statistical and correlation analysis using one year of monitoring data are presented to demonstrate the condition assessment capability of the system based on the monitoring data.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.691-706
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• 2021

This paper aims to numerically investigate violent sloshing in a partially filled three-dimensional (3D) prismatic tank with or without a baffle, further to clarify the suppressing performance of the baffle and the damping mechanism of sloshing. The numerical model is based on a Cartesian grid multiphase flow method, and it is well validated by nonlinear sloshing in a 3D rectangular tank with a vertical baffle. Then, sloshing in an unbaffled and baffled prismatic tank is parametrically studied. The effects of chamfered walls on the resonance frequency and the impact pressure are analyzed. The resonance frequencies for the baffled prismatic tank under different water depths and baffle heights are identified. Moreover, we investigated the effects of the baffle on the impact pressure and the free surface elevation. Further, the free surface elevation, pressure and vortex contours are analyzed to clarify the damping mechanism between the baffle and the fluid.