• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.355-380
• /
• 2008

In this study, the new three-dimensional finite element analysis model of guideway structures considering ultra high-speed magnetic levitation train-bridge interaction, in which the various improved finite elements are used to model structural members, is proposed. The box-type bridge deck of guideway structures is modeled by Nonconforming Flat Shell finite elements with six DOF (degrees of freedom). The sidewalls on a bridge deck are idealized by using beam finite elements and spring connecting elements. The vehicle model devised for an ultra high-speed Maglev train is employed, which is composed of rigid bodies with concentrated mass. The characteristics of levitation and guidance force, which exist between the super-conducting magnet and guideway, are modeled with the equivalent spring model. By Lagrange's equations of motion, the equations of motion of Maglev train are formulated. Finally, by deriving the equations of the force acting on the guideway considering Maglev train-bridge interaction, the complete system matrices of Maglev train-guideway structure system are composed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.203-221
• /
• 2008

In this paper, we present an idea of the geometry-dependent MITC method. The simple concept is exemplified to improve a 2-node iso-beam (isoparametric beam) finite element of varying section. We first study the behavior of a standard 2-node iso-beam finite element of prismatic section, which has been widely used with reduced integration (or the equivalent MITC method) in order to avoid shear locking. Based on analytical studies on cantilever beams of varying section, we propose the axial strain correction (ASC) scheme and the geometry-dependent tying (GDT) scheme for the 2-node iso-beam element. We numerically analyze varying section beam problems and present the improved performance by using both ASC and GDT schemes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.62 no.4
• /
• pp.391-399
• /
• 2017

This study investigates the effects of soft story, short columns, heavy overhangs, pounding, and construction and workmanship quality parameters on seismic response of reinforced concrete buildings through nonlinear static and dynamic procedures. The accounted parameters are selected for their common use in rapid screening of RC buildings. The 4- and 7-story buildings designed according to pre-modern codes are used to reflect majority of the existing building stock. The relative penalty scores are employed in this study to evaluate relative importance of certain irregularities in the existing rapid seismic assessment procedures. Comparison of relative scores for the irregularities considered in this study show that the overall trend is similar. The relatively small differences may be accounted for regional construction practices. It is concluded that initial-phase seismic assessment procedures based on architectural features yield in somewhat similar results independent of their bases. However, the differences in the scores emphasize the proper selection of the method based on the regional structure characteristics.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.233-243
• /
• 2018

In this manuscript, $35m^3/d$ NF unit was designed and applied for surface water treatment of the River Nile water. Intake of Embaba drinking water treatment plant was selected to install that unit at since; it has the lowest water quality index value through the examined 6 sites in greater Cairo area. The optimized operating conditions were feed and permeate flow, 40 and $7m^3/d$, feed pressure 2.68 bar and flux rate $37.7l/m^2h$. The permeate water was drinkable according to Egyptian Ministerial decree 458/2007 for the tested parameters (physic-chemical, heavy metals, organic, algal, bacteriological and parasitological). Single and double sand filters were used as pretreatment for NF membranes but continuous clogging for sand filters moved us to use UF membrane as pretreatment for NF membrane.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.76 no.3
• /
• pp.355-365
• /
• 2020

In this study, considering the hydroelastic response represented by the springing and whipping phenomena, we propose a method of estimating the fatigue damage in the longitudinal connections of ships. First, we screened the design sea states using a load transfer function based on the frequency domain. We then conducted a time domain fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis using WISH-FLEX, an in-house code based on the weakly nonlinear approach. To obtain an effective and robust analytical result of the hydroelastic response, we also conducted an experimental model test with a 1/50-scale backbone-based model of a ship, and compared the experimental results with those obtained from the FSI analysis. Then, by combining the results obtained from the hydroelastic response with those obtained from the numerical fatigue analysis, we developed a fatigue damage estimation method. Finally, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed method, we evaluated the fatigue strength for the longitudinal connections of the real ship and compared it with the results obtained from the model tests.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.2 no.5
• /
• pp.367-380
• /
• 2005

Recent earthquakes have shown that many of existing buildings in Iran sustain heavy damage due to defective seismic details. To assess vulnerability of one common type of buildings, which consists of low rise framed concrete structures, three defective and three standard columns have been tested under reversed cyclic load. The substandard specimens suffered in average 37% loss of strength and 45% loss of energy dissipation capacity relative to standard specimens, and this was mainly due to less lateral and longitudinal reinforcement and insufficient sectional dimensions. A relationship has been developed to introduce variation of plastic length under increasing displacement amplitude. At ultimate state, the length of plastic hinge is almost equal to full depth of section. Using calibrated hysteresis models, the response of different specimens under two earthquakes has been analyzed. The analysis indicated that the ratio between displacement demand and capacity of standard specimens is about unity and that of deficient ones is about 1.7.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.819-828
• /
• 2004

A new process for estimating the natural frequency and the corresponding damping ratio in large structures is discussed. In a practical situation, it is very difficult to analyze large structures precisely because they are too complex to model using the finite element method and too heavy to excite using the exciting force method; in particular, the measured signals are seriously influenced by ambient noise. In order to identify the structural impulse response associated with the information of natural frequency and the corresponding damping ratio in large structures, the analysis process, a so-called "multiresolution blind system identification algorithm" which combines Mallat algorithm and the bicepstrum method. High time-frequency concentration is attained and the phase information is kept. The experimental result has demonstrated that the new analysis process exploiting the natural frequency and the corresponding damping ratio of structural response are useful tools in structural analysis application.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.187-207
• /
• 2016

Practical ambient excitations of engineering structures usually do not comply with the stationary-white-noise assumption in traditional operational modal analysis methods due to heavy traffic, wind guests, and other disturbances. In order to eliminate spurious modes induced by non-white noise inputs, the improved stochastic subspace identification based on a delay index is proposed in this paper for a representative kind of stationary non-white noise ambient excitations, which have nonzero autocorrelation values near the vertical axis. It relaxes the stationary-white-noise assumption of inputs by avoiding corresponding unqualified elements in the Hankel matrix. Details of the improved stochastic subspace identification algorithms and determination of the delay index are discussed. Numerical simulations on a four-story frame and laboratory vibration experiments on a simply supported beam have demonstrated the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method in eliminating spurious modes under non-white noise ambient excitations.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.3 no.3_4
• /
• pp.435-455
• /
• 2012

An impact on the ground surface may represent several phenomena, such as a crash of an airplane or an explosion or the passage of a train. In order to analyze and design structures and equipment to resist such a type of shocks, the response spectra for an impact on the ground must be given. We investigated the half-space motions due to impact using the finite element method. We performed extensive parametric analyses to define a suitable finite element model and arrive at displacement time histories and response spectra at varying distances from the impact point. The principal scope of our study has been to derive response spectra which: (a) provide insight and illustrate in detail the half-space response to an impact load, (b) can be readily used for the analysis of structures resting on a ground subjected to an impact and (c) are a new family of results for the impact problem and can serve as reference for future research.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.561-570
• /
• 2012

Seismic collapse analysis requires efficient and automated method to perform thousands of time history analyses. The paper introduced the advantages of speed and convergence property of explicit method, provided a few techniques to accelerate speed of calculation and developed an automated procedure for collapse assessment, which combines the strong capacity of commercial explicit finite element software and the flexible, intelligent specialties of control program written in FORTRAN language aiming at collapse analysis, so that tedious and heavy work of collapse analysis based on FEMAP695 can be easily implemented and resource of calculation can be made the best use of. All the key commands of control program are provided to help analyzers and engineers to cope with collapse assessment conveniently.