• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.571-590
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• 2005

An 8 node assumed stress hexahedral element with rotational degrees of freedom is proposed for static and free vibration analyses. The element formulation is based directly on an 8-node element. This direct formulation requires fewer computations than a similar element that is derived from an internal 20-node element in which the midside degrees of freedom are eliminated by expressing them in terms of displacements and rotations at corner nodes. The formulation is based on Hellinger-Reissner variational principle. Numerical examples are presented to show the validity and efficiency of the present element for static and free vibration analysis.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.181-199
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• 2014

Locking phenomenon is a mesh problem and can be staved off with mesh refinement. If the studier is not preferred going to the solution with increasing mesh size or the computer memory can stack over flow than using higher order plate finite element or using integration techniques is a solution for this problem. The purpose of this paper is to show the shear locking phenomenon can be avoided by increase low order finite element mesh size of the plates and to study shear locking-free analysis of thick plates using Mindlin's theory by using higher order displacement shape function and to determine the effects of various parameters such as the thickness/span ratio, mesh size on the linear responses of thick plates subjected to uniformly distributed loads. A computer program using finite element method is coded in C++ to analyze the plates clamped or simply supported along all four edges. In the analysis, 4-, 8- and 17-noded quadrilateral finite elements are used. It is concluded that 17-noded finite element converges to exact results much faster than 8-noded finite element, and that it is better to use 17-noded finite element for shear-locking free analysis of plates.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.373-388
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• 2010

The updated finite element model of K$\ddot{o}$m$\ddot{u}$rhan Highway Bridge on the Firat River located on the $51^{st}$ km of Elazi$\breve{g}$-Malatya highway is obtained by using analytical and experimental results. The 2D and 3D finite element model of the bridge is created by using SAP2000 structural analyses software, and the dynamic characteristics of the bridge are determined analytically. The experimental measurements are carried out by Operational Modal Analysis Method under traffic induced vibrations and the dynamic characteristics are obtained experimentally. The vibration data are gathered from the both box girder and the deck of the bridge, separately. Due to the expansion joint in the middle of the bridge, special measurement points are selected when experimental test setups constitute. Measurement duration, frequency span and effective mode number are determined by considering similar studies in literature. The Peak Picking method in the frequency domain is used in the modal identification. At the end of the study, analytical and experimental dynamic characteristic are compared with each other and the finite element model of the bridge is updated by changing some uncertain parameters such as material properties and boundary conditions. Maximum differences between the natural frequencies are reduced from 10% to 2%, and a good agreement is found between natural frequencies and mode shapes after model updating.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.21-44
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• 2014

The aim of this study is to determine the dynamic characteristics of long reinforced concrete highway bridges with post-tension tendons using analytical and experimental methods. It is known that the deck length and height of bridges are affected the dynamic characteristics considerably. For this purpose, Berta Bridge constructed in deep valley, in Artvin, Turkey, is selected as an application. The Bridge has two piers with height of 109.245 m and 85.193 m, and the total length of deck is 340.0 m. Analytical and experimental studies are carried out on Berta Bridge which was built in accordance with the balanced cantilever method. Finite Element Method (FEM) and Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) which considers ambient vibration data were used in analytical and experimental studies, respectively. Finite element model of the bridge is created by using SAP2000 program to obtain analytical dynamic characteristics such as the natural frequencies and mode shapes. The ambient vibration tests are performed using Operational Modal Analysis under wind and human loads. Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition (EFDD) and Stochastic Subspace Identification (SSI) methods are used to obtain experimental dynamic characteristics like natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios. At the end of the study, analytical and experimental dynamic characteristic are compared with each other and the finite element model of the bridge was updated considering the material properties and boundary conditions. It is emphasized that Operational Modal Analysis method based on the ambient vibrations can be used safely to determine the dynamic characteristics, to update the finite element models, and to monitor the structural health of long reinforced concrete highway bridges constructed with the balanced cantilever method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.487-502
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• 2007

In recent decades there has been a trend towards improved mechanical characteristics of materials used in footbridge construction. It has enabled engineers to design lighter, slender and more aesthetic structures. As a result of these construction trends, many footbridges have become more susceptible to vibrations when subjected to dynamic loads. In addition to this, some inherit modelling uncertainties related to a lack of information on the as-built structure, such as boundary conditions, material properties, and the effects of non-structural elements make difficult to evaluate modal properties of footbridges, analytically. For these purposes, modal testing of footbridges is used to rectify these problems after construction. This paper describes an arch type steel footbridge, its analytical modelling, modal testing and finite element model calibration. A modern steel footbridge which has arch type structural system and located on the Karadeniz coast road in Trabzon, Turkey is selected as an application. An analytical modal analysis is performed on the developed 3D finite element model of footbridge to provide the analytical frequencies and mode shapes. The field ambient vibration tests on the footbridge deck under natural excitation such as human walking and traffic loads are conducted. The output-only modal parameter identification is carried out by using the peak picking of the average normalized power spectral densities in the frequency domain and stochastic subspace identification in the time domain, and dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies mode shapes and damping ratios are determined. The finite element model of footbridge is calibrated to minimize the differences between analytically and experimentally estimated modal properties by changing some uncertain modelling parameters such as material properties. At the end of the study, maximum differences in the natural frequencies are reduced from 22% to only %5 and good agreement is found between analytical and experimental dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies, mode shapes by model calibration.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.877-890
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• 2015

This paper aims to fill the technical gap on the elastic buckling behavior of functionally graded material (FGM) grid systems under inplane loads on which few research has been done. Material properties of an FG beam are assumed to vary smoothly in the thickness direction according to power and exponential laws. Based on a hybrid-stress finite element formulation, buckling solutions for FGM grid systems consisting of various aspect ratios and material gradation are provided. The numerical results demonstrate that the aspect ratio and material gradation play an important role in the buckling behavior of FGM grid systems. We believe that the new results obtained from this study, will be very useful to designers and researchers in this field.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.557-570
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• 2017

In this study, the seismic performance levels of four bridges are determined using finite element modeling based on ambient vibration testing. The study includes finite element modeling, analytical modal analyses, ambient vibration testing and earthquake analyses of the bridges. For the purpose, four prestressed precast I beam bridges that were constructed for the Ankara-Sivas high speed railway line are selected for analytical and experimental studies. In the study, firstly a literature review related to the dynamic behavior of bridges especially precast beam bridges is given and then the formulation part related to ambient vibration testing and structural performance according to Turkish Seismic Code (2007) is presented. Next, 3D finite element models of the bridge are described and modeled using LARSA 4D software, and analytical dynamic characteristics are obtained. Then ambient vibration testing conducted on the bridges under natural excitations and experimental natural frequencies are estimated. Lastly, time history analyses of the bridges under the 1999 Kocaeli, 1992 Erzincan, and 1999 Duzce Earthquakes are performed and seismic performance levels according to TSC2007 are determined. The results show that the damage on the bridges is all under the minimum damage limit which is in the minimum damage region under all three earthquakes.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.413-429
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• 2013

The primary aim of this study is to develop a three dimensional finite element (FE) model to predict the axial stress-strain relationship and ultimate strength of the FRP-wrapped UHPC columns by comparing experimental results. The reliability of four selected confinement models and three design codes such as ACI-440, CSA-S806-02, and ISIS CANADA is also evaluated in terms of agreement with the experimental results. Totally 6 unconfined and 36 different types of the FRP-wrapped UHPC columns are tested under monotonic axial compression. The values of ultimate strengths of FRP-wrapped UHPC columns obtained from the experimental results are compared and verified with finite element (FE) analysis results and the design codes mentioned above. The concrete damage plasticity model (CDPM) in Abaqus is utilized to represent the confined behavior of the UHPC. The results indicate that agreement between the test results and the non-linear FE analysis results is highly satisfactory. The CSA-S806-02 design code is considered more reliable than the ACI-440 and the ISIS CANADA design codes to calculate the ultimate strength of the FRP-wrapped UHPC columns. None of the selected confinement models that are developed for FRP-wrapped low and normal strength concrete columns can safely predict the ultimate strength of FRP-wrapped UHPC columns.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.65-82
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• 2022

This paper presents a structural performance assessment of a historical masonry clock tower both using numerical and experimental process. The numerical assessment includes developing of finite element model with considering different types of soil-structure interaction systems, identifying the numerical dynamic characteristics, finite element model updating procedure, nonlinear time-history analysis and evaluation of seismic performance level. The experimental study involves determining experimental dynamic characteristics using operational modal analysis test method. Through the numerical and experimental processes, the current structural behavior of the masonry clock tower was evaluated. The first five experimental natural frequencies were obtained within 1.479-9.991 Hz. Maximum difference between numerical and experimental natural frequencies, obtained as 20.26%, was reduced to 4.90% by means of the use of updating procedure. According to the results of the nonlinear time-history analysis, maximum displacement was calculated as 0.213 m. The maximum and minimum principal stresses were calculated as 0.20 MPa and 1.40 MPa. In terms of displacement control, the clock tower showed only controlled damage level during the applied earthquake record.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.225-235
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• 2017

In this paper a vibration study on orthotropic elliptic paraboloid shells with openings is carried out by using a hybrid stress finite element. The formulation of the element is based on Hellinger-Reissner variational principle. The element is developed by combining a hybrid plane stress element and a hybrid plate element. Natural frequencies of orthotropic elliptic paraboloid shells with and without openings are presented. The influence of aspect ratio, height ratio, opening ratio and material angle on the frequencies and mode shapes are investigated.