• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.149-158
• /
• 2019

The force-deformation behavior, strain distribution and failure modes of a variable damping self-centering brace (VD-SCB) are theoretically analyzed, experimentally studied, and numerically simulated to guide its design. The working principle of the brace is explained by describing the working stages and the key feature points of the hysteretic curve. A large-scale brace specimen was tested under different sinusoidal excitations to analyze the recentering capability and energy dissipation. Results demonstrate that the VD-SCB exhibits a full quasi-flag-shaped hysteretic response, high ultimate bearing capacity, low activation force and residual deformation, and excellent recentering and energy dissipation capabilities. Calculation equations of the strain distribution in different parts of the brace are proposed and are compared with the experimental data and simulated results. The developments of two failure modes are compared. Under normal circumstances, the brace fails due to the yielding of the spring blocking plates, which are easily replaced to restore the normal operating conditions of the brace. A brief description of the design procedure of the brace is proposed for application.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.491-506
• /
• 2014

Buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) have excellent hysteretic behavior while buckling-restrained braced frames (BRBFs) are susceptible to residual lateral deformations. To address this drawback, a novel self-centering (SC) BRB with Basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) composite tendons is presented in this work. The configuration and mechanics of proposed BFRP-SC-BRBs are first discussed. Then an 1840-mm-long BFRP-SC-BRB specimen is fabricated and tested to verify its hysteric and self-centering performance. The tested specimen has an expected flag-shaped hysteresis character, showing a distinct self-centering tendency. During the test, the residual deformation of the specimen is only about 0.6 mm. The gap between anchorage plates and welding ends of bracing tubes performs as expected with the maximum opening value 6 mm when brace is in compression. The OpenSEES software is employed to conduct numerical analysis. Experiment results are used to validate the modeling methodology. Then the proposed numerical model is used to evaluate the influence of initial prestress, tendon diameter and core plate thickness on the performance of BFRP-SC-BRBs. Results show that both the increase of initial prestress and tendon diameters can obviously improve the self-centering effect of BFRP-SC-BRBs. With the increase of core plate thickness, the energy dissipation is improved while the residual deformation is generated when the core plate strength exceeds initial prestress force.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.5 no.6
• /
• pp.525-544
• /
• 2008

In this research, the self-centering effect in precast and prestressed reinforced concrete structures was investigated experimentally. The reinforced concrete beams and columns were precast and connected by post-tensioning tendons passing through the center of the beams as well as the panel zone of the connections. Three beam-to-interior-column connections were constructed to investigate parameters such as beam to column interfaces (steel on steel or plastic on plastic), energy dissipating devices (unbonded buckling restrained steel bars or steel angles) and the spacing of hoops in the panel zone. In addition to the self-centering effect, the shear strength in the panel zone of interior column connections was experimentally and theoretically evaluated, since the panel zone designed by current code provisions may not be conservative enough to resist the panel shear increased by the post-tensioning force.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.1313-1336
• /
• 2015

The self-centering prestressed concrete (SCPC) bridge pier with external dissipators is a novel structure, aiming at reducing residual deformation and facilitating the post-earthquake repair. This paper presents the configuration and mechanical behaviors of the pier. A theoretical model for the lateral force-displacement relationship under cyclic loading is developed. The proposed model comprises an iterative procedure which describes the deformation of dissipators under different conditions. Equations of pier stiffness after gap opening, as well as the equivalent viscous damping ratio, etc., are derived based on the proposed model. Existing cyclic load test results were used to validate the proposed model, and good agreement is observed between the analytical and test results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.72 no.3
• /
• pp.355-366
• /
• 2019

Self-centering wall (SCW) is a resilient and sustainable structural system which incorporates unbonded posttensioning (PT) tendons to provide self-centering (SC) capacity along with supplementary dissipators to dissipate seismic energy. Hysteretic energy dissipators are usually placed at two sides of SCWs to facilitate ease of postearthquake examination and convenient replacement. To achieve a good prediction for the skeleton curve of the wall, this paper firstly developed an analytical investigation on lateral load responses of self-centering walls with distributed vertical dampers (VD-SCWs) using the concept of elastic theory. A simplified method for the calculation of limit state points is developed and validated by experimental results and can be used in the design of the system. Based on the analytical results, parametric analysis is conducted to investigate the influence of damper and tendon parameters on the performance of VD-SCWs. The results show that the proposed approach has a better prediction accuracy with less computational effects than the Perez method. As compared with previous experimental results, the proposed method achieves up to 60.1% additional accuracy at the effective linear limit (DLL) of SCWs. The base shear at point DLL is increased by 62.5% when the damper force is increased from 0kN to 80kN. The wall stiffness after point ELL is reduced by 69.5% when the tendon stiffness is reduced by 75.0%. The roof deformation at point LLP is reduced by 74.1% when the initial tendon stress is increased from $0.45f_{pu}$ to $0.65f_{pu}$.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.523-537
• /
• 2023

This paper proposed a new self-centering brace (SCB), which consists of four post-tensioned (PT) high strength steel strands and energy absorbing steel plate (EASP) clusters. First, analytical equations were derived to describe the working principle of the SCB. Then, to investigate the hysteretic performance of the SCB, four full-size specimens were manufactured and subjected to the same cyclic loading protocol. One additional specimen using only EASP clusters was also tested to highlight the contribution of PT strands. The test parameters varied in the testing process included the thickness of the EASP and the number of EASP in each cluster. Testing results shown that the SCB exhibited nearly flag-shape hysteresis up to expectation, including excellent recentering capability and satisfactory energy dissipating capacity. For all the specimens, the ratio of the recovered deformation is in the range of 89.6% to 92.1%, and the ratio of the height of the hysteresis loop to the yielding force is in the range of 0.47 to 0.77. Finally, in order to further understand the mechanism of the SCB and provide additional information to the testing results, the high-fidelity finite element (FE) models were established and the numerical results were compared against the experimental data. Good agreement between the experimental, numerical, and analytical results was observed, and the maximum difference is less than 12%. Parametric analysis was also carried out based on the validated FE model to evaluate the effect of some key parameters on the cyclic behavior of the SCB.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.35-44
• /
• 2008

A self-centering energy-dissipative(SCED) bracing system has recently been developed as a new seismic force resistant bracing system. The advantage of the SCED brace system is that, unlike other comparable advanced bracing systems that dissipate energy such as the buckling restrained brace(BRB) system, it has a self-centering capability that reduces or eliminates residual building deformations after major seismic events. In order to investigate the effects of torsion on the SCED brace and BRB systems, nonlinear time history analyses were used to compare the responses of 3D model structures with three different amounts of frame eccentricity. The results of the analysis showed that the interstory drifts of SCED braced frames are more uniform than those of BRB frames, without regard to irregularity. The residual drift and residual rotation responses tended to decrease as irregularity increased. For medium-rise structures, the drift concentration factors(DCFs) for SCED systems were lower than those for BRB frames. This means that SCED-braced frames deform in a more uniform manner with respect to building height. The effect of the torsional irregularity on the magnitude of the DCFs was small.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.76.1-76.1
• /
• 2005

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.980-985
• /
• 2004

This paper shows a performance analysis for conical type sealless cylinders and rod bearings. The pistons without seal have partly cylindrical and conical shapes. 2 dimensional Reynolds equation and FD(finite differential) numerical techniques are utilized for the performance analysis. The relationship among self-centering forces and leakage flows are investigated. Also, optimal design values for a sealless cylinder are presented. A prototype of sealless cylinder which had rod bearing with four pockets, five pockets, and six pockets was manufactured respectively. Leakage flow test is conducted to evaluate performance of piston and rod bearing in sealless cylinder.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.1244-1249
• /
• 2008

This paper shows a perfonnance analysis for pneumatic servo cylinder. The pistons without seal have partly cylindrical and conical shapes. 2 dimensional Reynolds equation and FD(finite differential) numerical techniques are utilized for the perfonnance analysis. The relationship among self-centering forces and leakage flows are investigated. Also, optimal design values for a servo cylinder are presented. A prototype of servo cylinder which had rod bearing with four pockets, five pockets, and six pockets was manufactured respectively.