• International journal of steel structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1210-1218
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• 2018

A new type of earthquake-resisting element that consists of a steel plate shear wall with slits is introduced. The infill steel plate is divided into a series of vertical flexural links with vertical links. The steel plate shear walls absorb energy by means of in-plane bending deformation of the flexural links and the energy dissipation capacity of the plastic hinges formed at both ends of the flexural links when under lateral loads. In this paper, finite element analysis and experimental studies at low cyclic loadings were conducted on specimens with steel plate shear walls with multilayer slits. The effects caused by varied slit pattern in terms of slit design parameters on lateral stiffness, ultimate bearing capacity and hysteretic behavior of the shear walls were analyzed. Results showed that the failure mode of steel plate shear walls with a single-layer slit was more likely to be out-of-plane buckling of the flexural links. As a result, the lateral stiffness and the ultimate bearing capacity were relatively lower when the precondition of the total height of the vertical slits remained the same. Differently, the failure mode of steel plate shear walls with multilayer slits was prone to global buckling of the infill steel plates; more obvious tensile fields provided evidence to the fact of higher lateral stiffness and excellent ultimate bearing capacity. It was also concluded that multilayer specimens exhibited better energy dissipation capacity compared with single-layer plate shear walls.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 1999

To analyze the dynamic behavior of structure, direct integration and mode superposition may be utilized in time domain analysis. As finite number of frequencies can give relatively exact solutions, mode superposition is preferable in analyzing structural behavior. In non-linear analysis, however, mode superposition is seldom used since time-varying element stiffness changes stiffness matrix, and the change of stiffness matrix leads to the change of essential constants - natural frequencies and mode shapes. In spite of these difficulties, there are some attempts to adopt mode superposition because of low cost compared to direct integration, but the result is not satisfactory. In this paper, a method using mode superposition in non-linear analysis is presented by separating local element stiffness from global stiffness matrix with the difference between linear and non-linear restoring forces to the external force vectors included. Moreover, the hysteresis model changing with the relative deformation in each floor makes it possible to analyze non-linear behavior of structure. The proposed algorithm is applied to shear beam model and the maximum displacement is compared with the result using direct integration method.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.699-712
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• 2017

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a newly developed retrofitting scheme for masonry-infilled non-ductile RC frames experimentally and by numerical simulation. The technique focuses on modifying the load path and yield mechanism of the infilled frame to enhance the ductility. A vertical gap between the column and the infill panel was strategically introduced so that no shear force is directly transferred to the column. Steel brackets and small vertical steel members were then provided to transfer the interactive forces between the RC frame and the masonry panel. Wire meshes and high-strength mortar were provided in areas with high stress concentration and in the panel to further reduce damage. Cyclic load tests on a large-scale specimen of a single-bay, single-story, masonry-infilled RC frame were carried out. Based on those tests, the retrofitting scheme provided significant improvement, especially in terms of ductility enhancement. All retrofitted specimens clearly exhibited much better performances than those stipulated in building standards for masonry-infilled structures. A macro-scale computer model based on a diagonal-strut concept was also developed for predicting the global behavior of the retrofitted masonry-infilled frames. This proposed model was effectively used to evaluate the global responses of the test specimens with acceptable accuracy, especially in terms of strength, stiffness and damage condition.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.311-325
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• 2011

Nowadays, many engineers believe that hybrid structures with reinforced concrete central core walls and perimeter steel frames offer an economical method to develop the strength and stiffness required for seismic design. As a result, a variety of such structures have recently been applied in actual construction. However, the performance-based seismic design of such structures has not been investigated systematically. In the performance-based seismic design, quantifying the seismic damage of complete structures by damage indices is one of the fundamental issues. Four damage states and the final softening index at each state for high-rise hybrid structures are suggested firstly in this paper. Based on nonlinear dynamic analysis, the relation of the maximum inter-story drift, the main structural characteristics, and the final softening index is obtained. At the same time, the relation between the maximum inter-story drift and the maximum roof displacement over the height is also acquired. A double-variable index accounting for maximum deformation and cumulative energy is put forward based on the pushover analysis. Finally, a case study is conducted on a high-rise hybrid structure model tested on shaking table before to verify the suggested quantities of damage indices.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2016

In meeting the technical needs for deepwater conditions and overcoming the shortfalls of single-layer pipes for deepwater applications, pipe-in-pipe (PIP) systems have been developed. While, for PIP pipelines directly laid on the seabed or with partial embedment, one of the primary service risks is lateral buckling. The critical axial force is a key factor governing the global lateral buckling response that has been paid much more attention. It is influenced by global imperfections, submerged weight, stiffness, pipe-soil interaction characteristics, et al. In this study, Finite Element Models for imperfect PIP systems are established on the basis of 3D beam element and tube-to-tube element in Abaqus. A parameter study was conducted to investigate the effects of these parameters on the critical axial force and post-buckling forms. These parameters include structural parameters such as imperfections, clearance, and bulkhead spacing, pipe/soil interaction parameter, for instance, axial and lateral friction properties between pipeline and seabed, and load parameter submerged weight. Python as a programming language is been used to realize parametric modeling in Abaqus. Some conclusions are obtained which can provide a guide for the design of PIP pipelines.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.171-185
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• 2001

The design of tall buildings has recently provided many challenges to structural engineers. One such challenge is to minimise the cross-sectional dimensions of columns to ensure greater floor space in a building is attainable. This has both an economic and aesthetics benefit in buildings, which require structural engineering solutions. The use of high strength steel in tall buildings has the ability to achieve these benefits as the material provides a higher strength to cross-section ratio. However as the strength of the steel is increased the buckling characteristics become more dominant with slenderness limits for both local and global buckling becoming more significant. To arrest the problems associated with buckling of high strength steel, concrete filling and encasement can be utilised as it has the affect of changing the buckling mode, which increases the strength and stiffness of the member. This paper describes an experimental program undertaken for both encased and concrete filled composite columns, which were designed to be stocky in nature and thus fail by strength alone. The columns were designed to consider the strength in axial compression and were fabricated from high strength steel plate. In addition to the encased and concrete filled columns, unencased columns and hollow columns were also fabricated and tested to act as calibration specimens. A model for the axial strength was suggested and this is shown to compare well with the test results. Finally aspects of further research are addressed in this paper which include considering the effects of slender columns which may fail by global instabilities.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2014

Vibration based damage detection is very popular in the civil engineering area. Especially, special structures like dams, long-span bridges and high-rise buildings, need continues monitoring in terms of mechanical properties of material, static and dynamic behavior. It has been stated in the International Commission on Large Dams that more than half of the large concrete dams were constructed more than 50 years ago and the old dams have subjected to repeating loads such as earthquake, overflow, blast, etc.,. So, some unexpected failures may occur and catastrophic damages may be taken place because of theloss of strength, stiffness and other physical properties of concrete. Therefore, these dams need repairs provided with global damage evaluation in order to preserve structural integrity. The paper aims to show the effectiveness of the model updating method for global damage detection on a laboratory arch dam model. Ambient vibration test is used in order to determine the experimental dynamic characteristics. The initial finite element model is updated according to the experimentally determined natural frequencies and mode shapes. The web thickness is selected as updating parameter in the damage evaluation. It is observed from the study that the damage case is revealed with high accuracy and a good match is attained between the estimated and the real damage cases by model updating method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.279-301
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• 2007

When coupling beams are proportioned appropriately in coupled core wall (CCW) systems, the input energy from ground motions is dissipated primarily through inelastic deformations in plastic hinge regions at the ends of the coupling beams. It is desirable that the plastic hinges form at the beam ends while the base wall piers remain elastic. The strength and stiffness of the coupling beams are, therefore, crucial if the desired global behavior of the CCW system is to be achieved. This paper presents the results of nonlinear response history analysis of two 20-story CCW buildings. Both buildings have the same geometric dimensions, and the components of the buildings are designed based on the equivalent lateral force procedure. However, one building is fitted with steel coupling beams while the other is fitted with diagonally reinforced concrete coupling beams. The force-deflection relationships of both beams are based on experimental data, while the moment-curvature and axial load-moment relationships of the wall piers are analytically generated from cross-sectional fiber analyses. Using the aforementioned beam and wall properties, nonlinear response history analyses are performed. Superiority of the steel coupling beams is demonstrated through detailed evaluations of local and global responses computed for a number of recorded and artificially generated ground motions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.2
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• pp.197-210
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• 2019

Probabilistic buckling behavior of sandwich panel considering random system parameters using a radial basis function (RBF) approach is presented in this paper. The random system properties result in an uncertain response of the sandwich structure. The buckling load of laminated sandwich panel is obtained by employing higher-order-zigzag theory (HOZT) coupled with RBF and probabilistic finite element (FE) model. The in-plane displacement variation of core as well as facesheet is considered to be cubic while transverse displacement is considered to be quadratic within the core and constant in the facesheets. Individual and combined stochasticity in all elemental input parameters (like facesheets thickness, ply-orientation angle, core thickness and properties of material) are considered to know the effect of different degree of stochasticity, ply- orientation angle, boundary conditions, core thickness, number of laminates, and material properties on global response of the structure. In order to achieve the computational efficiency, RBF model is employed as a surrogate to the original finite element model. The stiffness matrix of global response is stored in a single array using skyline technique and simultaneous iteration technique is used to solve the stochastic buckling equations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.325-337
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• 2022

In this research, an earthquake-resistant structural system consisting of a pin-connected steel frame and a bracing with metallic fuses is proposed. Contrary to the conventional braced frames, the main structural elements are deemed to remain elastic under earthquakes and the seismic energy is efficiently dissipated by the damper-braces with an amplification mechanism. The superiority of the proposed damping system lies in easy manufacture, high yield capacity and energy dissipation, and an effortless replacement of damaged fuses after earthquake events. Furthermore, the stiffness and the yield capacity are almost decoupled in the proposed damper-brace which makes it highly versatile for performance-based seismic design compared to most other dampers. A special attention is paid to derive the theoretical formulation for nonlinear behavior of the proposed damper-brace, which is verified using analytical results. Next, a direct displacement-based design procedure is provided for the proposed system and an example structure is designed and analyzed thoroughly to check its seismic performance. The results show that the proposed system designed with the provided procedure satisfies the given performance objective and can be used for developing highly efficient low-damage structures.