• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.639-654
• /
• 2015

Bolted joints are essential elements of mechanical structures and metal constructions. Although their static behaviour is fairly well known, their dynamic behaviour due to shocks and vibrations has been less studied, because of the large size of the finite element models needed for a detailed simulation. This work presents four different simplified models suitable for studying the dynamic behaviour of an elementary bolted joint. Three of them include contact elements to allow sliding of the screw head and the nut on the assembled parts, and the last one allows rotation between screw and nut. A penalty approach based on the Coulomb friction model is used to model contact. The results show that these models effectively represent the dynamic behaviour, with different accuracy depending on the model details. The last model simulates the self loosening of a bolt subjected to transversal vibrations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.65 no.6
• /
• pp.761-769
• /
• 2018

In this work, an optimization method of Friction Tuned Mass Damper (FTMD) parameters is presented. Friction tuned mass dampers (FTMD) are attached to mechanical structures to reduce their vibrations with dissipating the vibratory energy through friction between both bodies. In order to exploit the performances of FTMD, the determination of the optimum parameters is recommended. However, the presence of Coulomb's friction force requires the resolution of a non-linear stick-slip problem. First, this work aims at determining the responses of the vibratory system. The responses of the main mass and of the FTMD are determined analytically in the sticking and sliding phase using the equivalent damping method. Second, this work aims to optimize the FTMD parameters; the friction coefficient and the tuned frequency. The optimization formulation based on the Ricciardelli and Vickery method at the resonance frequencies, this method is reformulated for a system with a viscous damping. The inverse problem of finding the FTMD parameters given the magnitude of the force and the maximum acceptable displacement of the primary system is also considered; the optimization of parameters leads to conclude on the favorable FTMD giving significant vibration decrease, and to advance design recommendations.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.73 no.6
• /
• pp.641-649
• /
• 2020

The determination of midtower longitudinal stiffness has become an essential component in the preliminary design of multi-tower suspension bridges. For a specific multi-tower suspension bridge, the midtower longitudinal stiffness must be controlled within a certain range to meet the requirements of sliding resistance coefficient and deflection-to-span ratio. This study presents a numerical method to divide different types of midtower and determine rational range of longitudinal stiffness for rigid midtower. In this method, influence curves of midtower longitudinal stiffness on sliding resistance coefficient and maximum vertical deflection-to-span ratio are first obtained from the finite element analysis. Then, different types of midtower are divided based on the regression analysis of influence curves. Finally, rational range for longitudinal stiffness of rigid midtower is derived. The Oujiang River North Estuary Bridge which is a three-tower four-span suspension bridge with two main spans of 800m under construction in China is selected as the subject of this study. This will be the first three-tower four-span suspension bridge with steel truss girders and concrete midtower in the world. The proposed method provides an effective and feasible tool for engineers to design midtower of multi-tower suspension bridges.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.205-215
• /
• 2010

Recently, earthquake proof technology has been widely applied to both new and existing structures and bridges. The analysis of bridge systems equipped with structural control devices, which possess large degrees of freedom and nonlinear characteristics, is a result in time-consuming task. Therefore, a piecewise exact solution is proposed in this study to simplify the seismic mitigation analysis process for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. In this study, the simplified system having two degrees of freedom, to reasonably represent the large number of degrees of freedom of a bridge, and is modeled to obtain a piecewise exact solution for system responses during earthquakes. Simultaneously, we used the nonlinear finite element computer program to analyze the bridge responses and verify the accuracy of the proposed piecewise exact solution for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. The conclusions derived by comparing the results obtained from the piecewise exact solution and nonlinear finite element analysis reveal that the proposed solution not only simplifies the calculation process but also provides highly accurate seismic responses of isolated bridges under earthquakes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.61 no.6
• /
• pp.795-806
• /
• 2017

According to the characteristics of continuous beam bridges, the relative displacement is too large to collision or even girder falling under earthquakes. A device named Cable-sliding Modular Expansion Joints(CMEJs) that can control the relative displacement and avoid collision under different ground motions is proposed. Working principle and mechanical model is described. This paper design the CMEJs, establish the restoring force model, verify the force model of this device by the pseudo-static tests, and describe and analyze results of the tests, and then based on a triple continuous beam bridge that has different heights of piers, a 3D model with or without CMEJs were established under Conventional System (CS) and Seismic Isolation System (SIS). The results show that this device can control the relative displacement and avoid collisions. The combination of isolation technology and CMEJs can be more effective to achieve both functions, but it need to take measures to prevent girder falling due to the displacement between pier and beam under large earthquakes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.313-334
• /
• 2005

The paper presents a new approach for the analysis of slope stability that is based on the numerical solution of a differential equation, which describes the thrust force distribution within the potential sliding mass. It is based on the evaluation of the thrust force value at the endpoint of the slip line. A coupled approximation of the slip and thrust lines is applied. The model is based on subdivision of the sliding mass into slices that are normal to the slip line and the equilibrium differential equation is obtained as the slice width approaches zero. Opposed to common iterative limit equilibrium procedures the present method is straightforward and gives an estimate of slope stability at the value of the safety factor prescribed in advance by standard requirements. Considering the location of the thrust line within the soil mass above the trial slip line eliminates the possible development of a tensile thrust force in the stable and critical states of the slope. The location of the upper boundary point of the thrust line is determined by the equilibrium of the upper triangular slice. The method can be applied to any smooth shape of a slip line, i.e., to a slip line without break points. An approximation of the slip and thrust lines by quadratic parabolas is used in the numerical examples for a series of slopes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.81 no.5
• /
• pp.633-645
• /
• 2022

The active tuned mass damper (ATMD) is an efficient and reliable structural control system for mitigating the dynamic response of structures. The inertial force that an ATMD exerts on a structure to attenuate its otherwise large kinetic energy and undesirable vibrations and displacements is proportional to its excursion. Achieving a balance between the inertial force and excursion requires a control law or feedback mechanism. This study presents a technique for the optimum design of a sliding mode controller (SMC) as the control law for ATMD-equipped structures subjected to earthquakes. The technique includes optimizing an SMC under an artificial earthquake followed by testing its performance under real earthquakes. The SMC of a real 11-story shear building is optimized to demonstrate the technique, and its performance in mitigating the displacements of the building under benchmark near- and far-fault earthquakes is compared against that of a few other techniques (proportional-integral-derivative [PID], linear-quadratic regulator [LQR], and fuzzy logic control [FLC]). Results indicate that the optimum SMC outperforms PID and LQR and exhibits performance comparable to that of FLC in reducing displacements.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.247-267
• /
• 2012

Calculating the displacements of retaining walls under seismic loads is a crucial part in optimum design of these structures and unfortunately the techniques based on active seismic pressure are not sufficient alone for an appropriate design of the wall. Using limit analysis concepts, the seismic displacements of retaining walls are studied in present research. In this regard, applying limit analysis method and upper bound theorem, a new procedure is proposed for calculating the yield acceleration, critical angle of failure wedge, and permanent displacements of retaining walls in seismic conditions for two failure mechanisms, namely sliding and sliding-rotational modes. Also, the effect of internal friction angle of soil, the friction angle between wall and soil, maximum acceleration of the earthquake and height of the wall all in the magnitude of seismic displacements has been investigated by the suggested method. Two sets of ground acceleration records related to near-field and far-field domains are employed in analyses and eventually the results obtained from the suggested method are compared with those from other techniques.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.46-52
• /
• 1998

The author conducted new back analysis method using monitoring data to a landslide which occurred around portal. In this case, because the tunnel being located under the sliding plane of the landslide, calculated value from the ordinary back analysis in which considered only stress release by the tunnel excavation didn't fit the measured value. Then, in the new method, a body force as the movement of the landslide mass was added to the ordinary back analysis and good results were obtained. Furthermore, the author carried out stability analysis of the landslide with the data of the back analysis and examined the loosened area and decreasing og the sliding plane strength due to the tunnel excavation.

• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.248-256
• /
• 1999

Many tribological components in automobile engine undergo high load and sliding speed with thin film thickness. The lubrication characteristics of the components are regarded as ether hydrodynamic lubrication or boundary lubrication, whereas in a working cycle they actually have both characteristics. Many modem engine lubricants have various additives for better performance which make boundary film formation even under hydrodynamic lubrication regime. Conventional Reynolds equation with the viewpoints of continuum mechanics concerns only bulk viscosity of lubricant, which means that its simulation does not give insights on boundary lubrication characteristics. However, many additives of modern engine lubricant provide mixed modes of boundary lubrication characteristics and hydrodynamic lubrication. Especially, high molecular weight polymeric viscosity index improvers form boundary film on the solid surface and cause non-Newtonian fluid effect of shear thinning. This study has performed the investigation about journal bearing system with the mixed concepts of boundary lubrication and hydrodynamic lubrication which happen concurrently in many engine components under the condition of viscosity index improver added.