• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.99-117
• /
• 2015

The Stonecutters Bridge (SCB) in Hong Kong is the third-longest cable-stayed bridge in the world with a main span stretching 1,018 m between two 298 m high single-leg tapering composite towers. A Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS) is being implemented on SCB by the Highways Department of The Hong Kong SAR Government, and the SCB-WASHMS is composed of more than 1,300 sensors in 15 types. In order to establish a linkage between structural health monitoring and maintenance management, a Structural Health Rating System (SHRS) with relevant rating tools and indices is devised. On the basis of a 3D space frame finite element model (FEM) of SCB and model updating, this paper presents the development of an SHR-oriented 3D multi-scale FEM for the purpose of load-resistance analysis and damage evaluation in structural element level, including modeling, refinement and validation of the multi-scale FEM. The refined 3D structural segments at deck and towers are established in critical segment positions corresponding to maximum cable forces. The components in the critical segment region are modeled as a full 3D FEM and fitted into the 3D space frame FEM. The boundary conditions between beam and shell elements are performed conforming to equivalent stiffness, effective mass and compatibility of deformation. The 3D multi-scale FEM is verified by the in-situ measured dynamic characteristics and static response. A good agreement between the FEM and measurement results indicates that the 3D multi-scale FEM is precise and efficient for WASHMS and SHRS of SCB. In addition, stress distribution and concentration of the critical segments in the 3D multi-scale FEM under temperature loads, static wind loads and equivalent seismic loads are investigated. Stress concentration elements under equivalent seismic loads exist in the anchor zone in steel/concrete beam and the anchor plate edge in steel anchor box of the towers.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.18-28
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study is to develop a new seismic resistant method by using precast concrete wall panels for existing low-rise, reinforced concrete beam-column buildings such as school buildings. Three quasi-static hysteresis loading tests were performed on one unreinforced beam-column specimen and two reinforced specimens with U-type precast wall panels. The results were analyzed to find that the specimen with anchored connection experienced shear failure, while the other specimen with steel plate connection principally manifested flexural failure. The ultimate strength of the specimens was determined to be the weaker of the shear strength of top connection and flexural strength at the critical section of precast panel. In this setup of U-type panel specimens, if a push loading is applied to the reinforced concrete column on one side and push the precast concrete panel, a pull loading from upper shear connection is to be applied to the other side of the top shear connection of precast panel. Since the composite flexural behavior of the two members govern the total behavior during the push loading process, the ultimate horizontal resistance of this specimen was not directly influenced by shear strength at the top connection of precast panel. However, the RC column and PC wall panel member mainly exhibited non-composite behavior during the pull loading process. The ultimate horizontal resistance was directly influenced by the shear strength of top connection because the pull loading from the beam applied directly to the upper shear connection. The analytical result for the internal shear resistance at the connection pursuant to the anchor shear design of ACI 318M-11 Appendix-D, agreed with the experimental result based on the elastic analysis of Midas-Zen by using the largest loading from experiment.