• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.1153-1174
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• 2015

Deployable structures have gained more and more applications in space and civil structures, while it takes a large amount of computational resources to analyze this kind of multibody systems using common analysis methods. This paper presents a new approach for dynamic analysis of multibody systems consisting of both rigid bars and arbitrarily shaped rigid bodies. The bars and rigid bodies are connected through their nodes by ideal pin joints, which are usually fundamental components of deployable structures. Utilizing the Moore-Penrose generalized inverse matrix, equations of motion and constraint equations of the bars and rigid bodies are formulated with nodal Cartesian coordinates as unknowns. Based on the constraint equations, the nodal displacements are expressed as linear combination of the independent modes of the rigid body displacements, i.e., the null space orthogonal basis of the constraint matrix. The proposed method has less unknowns and a simple formulation compared with common multibody dynamic methods. An analysis program for the proposed method is developed, and its validity and efficiency are investigated by analyses of several representative numerical examples, where good accuracy and efficiency are demonstrated through comparison with commercial software package ADAMS.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.717-732
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• 2007

A formula to approximate the fundamental period of a fixed-free mass-spring system with varying mass and varying stiffness is formulated. The formula is derived mainly by taking the dominant parts from the general form of the characteristic polynomial, and adjusting the initial approximation by a coefficient derived from the exact solution of a uniform case. The formula is tested for a large number of randomly generated structures, and the results show that the approximated fundamental periods are within the error range of 4% with 90% of confidence. Also, the error is shown to be normally distributed with zero mean, and the width of the distribution (as measured by the standard deviation) tends to decrease as the total number of discretized elements in the system increases. Other possible extensions of the formula are discussed, including an extension to a continuous cantilever structure with distributed mass and stiffness. The suggested formula provides an efficient way to estimate the fundamental period of building structures and other systems that can be modeled as mass-spring systems.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.95-107
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• 2022

This paper introduces a novel, rigorous, and efficient probabilistic methodology for the performance-based optimal design (PBOD) of semi-active tuned mass damper (SATMD) for seismically excited nonlinear structures. The proposed methodology is consistent with the modern performance-based earthquake engineering framework and aims to design reliable control systems. To this end, an optimization problem has been defined which considers the parameters of control systems as design variables and minimization of the probability of exceeding a targeted structural performance level during the lifetime as an objective function with a constraint on the failure probability of stroke length damage state associated with mass damper mechanism. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is illustrated through a numerical example of performance analysis of an eight-story nonlinear shear building frame with hysteretic bilinear behavior. The SATMD with variable stiffness and damping have been designed separately with different mass ratios. Their performance has been compared with that of uncontrolled structure and the structure controlled with passive TMD in terms of probabilistic demand curves, response hazard curves, fragility curves, and exceedance probability of performance levels during the lifetime. Numerical results show the effectiveness, simplicity, and reliability of the proposed PBOD method in designing SATMD with variable stiffness and damping for the nonlinear frames where they have reduced the exceedance probability of the structure up to 49% and 44%, respectively.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.199-212
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• 2023

Nowadays fuzzy logic in control applications is a well-recognized alternative, and this is thanks to its inherent advantages. Generalized type-2 fuzzy sets allow for a third dimension to capture higher order uncertainty and therefore offer a very powerful model for uncertainty handling in real world applications. With the recent advances that allowed the performance of general type-2 fuzzy logic controllers to increase, it is now expected to see the widespread of type-2 fuzzy logic controllers to many challenging applications in particular in problems of structural control, that is the case study in this paper. It should be highlighted that this is the first application of general type-2 fuzzy approach in civil structures. In the following, general type-2 fuzzy logic controller (GT2FLC) will be used for active control of a 9-story nonlinear benchmark building. The design of type-1 and interval type-2 fuzzy logic controllers is also considered for the purpose of comparison with the GT2FLC. The performance of the controller is validated through the computer simulation on MATLAB. It is demonstrated that extra design degrees of freedom achieved by GT2FLC, allow a greater potential to better model and handle the uncertainties involved in the nature of earthquakes and control systems. GT2FLC outperforms successfully a control system that uses T1 and IT2 FLCs.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.526-541
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• 2023

Wooden structures are widely used, particularly in earthquake zones, owing to their light weight, ease of application, and resistance to the external environment. In this study, we aimed to improve the mechanical properties of laminated timber beams using novel hybrid systems [carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and wire rope]. Within the scope of this study, it is expected that using wood, which is an environmentally friendly and sustainable building element, will be more economical and safe than the reinforced concrete and steel elements currently used to pass through wide openings. The structural behavior of the hybrid-reinforced laminated timber beams was determined under the loading system. The experimental findings showed that the highest increase in the values of laminated beams reinforced with steel ropes was obtained with the 2N reinforcement, with a maximum load of 38 kN and a displacement of 137 mm. Thus, a load increase of 168% and displacement increase of 275% compared with the reference sample were obtained. Compared with the reference sample, a load increase of 92% and a displacement increase of 14% were obtained. Carbon fabrics placed between the layers with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) prevented crack development and provided significant interlayer connections. Consequently, the fabrics placed between the laminated wooden beams with the innovative reinforcement system will not disrupt the aesthetics or reduce the effect of earthquake forces, and significant reductions can be achieved in these sections.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.407-420
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• 2015

Natural Language Question Answering (NLQA) and Prescriptive Analytics (PA) have been identified as innovative, emerging technologies in 2015 by the Gartner group. These technologies require knowledge bases that consist of data that has been extracted from unstructured texts. Every business requires a knowledge base for business analytics as it can enhance companies' competitiveness in their industry. Most intelligent or analytic services depend a lot upon on knowledge bases. However, building a qualified knowledge base is very time consuming and requires a considerable amount of effort, especially if it is to be manually created. Another problem that occurs when creating a knowledge base is that it will be outdated by the time it is completed and will require constant updating even when it is ready in use. For these reason, it is more advisable to create a computerized knowledge base. This research focuses on building a computerized knowledge base for business using a supervised learning and rule-based method. The method proposed in this paper is based on information extraction, but it has been specialized and modified to extract information related only to a business. The business knowledge base created by our system can also be used for advanced functions such as presenting the hierarchy of technologies and products, and the relations between technologies and products. Using our method, these relations can be expanded and customized according to business requirements.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.359-371
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• 2018

Strong seismic events commonly cause large drift and deformation, and functionality failures in the superstructures. One way to prevent functionality failures is to design structures which are ductile and flexible through yielding when subjected to strong ground excitations. By developing forces that assist motion as "negative stiffness forces", yielding can be achieved. In this paper, we adopt the weakening and damping method to achieve a new approach to reduce all of the structural responses by further adjusting damping phase. A semi-active control system is adopted to perform the experiments. In this adaptation, negative stiffness forces through certain devices are used in weakening phase to reduce structural strength. Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers are then added to preserve stability of the structure. To adjust the voltage in MR dampers, an inverse model is employed in the control system to command MR dampers and generate the desired control forces, where a velocity control algorithm produces initial required control force. An extensive numerical study is conducted to evaluate proposed methodology by using the smart base-isolated benchmark building. Totally, nine control systems are examined to study proposed strategy. Based on the numerical results of seven earthquakes, the use of proposed strategy not only reduces base displacements, base accelerations and base shear but also leads to reduction of accelerations and inter story drifts of the superstructure. Numerical results shows that the usage of inverse model produces the desired regulated damping, thus improving the stability of the structure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.175-191
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• 2020

In this article, for the first time, the seismic behavior of elliptic-braced moment resisting frame (ELBRF) is assessed through a laboratory program and numerical analyses of FEM specifically focused on the development of global- and local-type failure mechanisms. The ELBRF as a new lateral braced system, when installed in the middle bay of the frames in the facade of a building, not only causes no problem to the opening space of the facade, but also improves the structural behavior. Quantitative and qualitative investigations were pursued to find out how elliptic braces would affect the failure mechanism of ELBRF structures exposed to seismic action as a nonlinear process. To this aim, an experimental test of a ½ scale single-story single-bay ELBRF specimen under cyclic quasi-static loading was run and the results were compared with those for X-bracing, knee-bracing, K-bracing, and diamond-bracing systems in a story base model. Nonlinear FEM analyses were carried out to evaluate failure mechanism, yield order of components, distribution of plasticity, degradation of structural nonlinear stiffness, distribution of internal forces, and energy dissipation capacity. The test results indicated that the yield of elliptic braces would delay the failure mode of adjacent elliptic columns and thus, help tolerate a significant nonlinear deformation to the point of ultimate failure. Symmetrical behavior, high energy absorption, appropriate stiffness, and high ductility in comparison with the conventional systems are some of the advantages of the proposed system.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.761-767
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• 2007

In centralized control system, complicated control systems including sensors, power supply and dampers should be required to satisfy the target response of large-scale structures. The practical applications of the centralized control system, however, is very difficult due to high order finite element model of structures, uncertainty of models, and limitations of the excitation system. In this study, the decentralized response-dependent MR damper of which magnetic field is automatically modulated according to the displacement or velocity transferred to the damper without any sensing and computing systems. this decentralized response-dependent MR damper are investigated according to the ranges of relative magnitude between the control force of MR damper and the story shear force of structures by nonlinear time history analysis. Finally, its performance is compared with centralized LQR algorithm which is used in general centralized control theory for a three story building structure.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-122
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• 2016

We propose an effective methodology using electromechanical impedance characteristics for estimating the remaining tensile force of tendons and simultaneously detecting damages of the anchorage blocks. Once one piezoelectric patch is attached on the anchor head and the other is bonded on the bearing plate, impedance responses are measured through these two patches under varying tensile force conditions. Then statistical indices are calculated from the impedances, and two types of relationship curves between the tensile force and the statistical index (TE Curve) and between statistical indices of two patches (SR Curve) are established. Those are considered as database for monitoring both the tendon and the anchorage system. If damage exists on the bearing plate, the statistical index of patch on the bearing plate would be out of bounds of the SR curve and damage can be detected. A change in the statistical index by damage is calibrated with the SR curve, and the tensile force can be estimated with the corrected index and the TE Curve. For validation of the developed methodology, experimental studies are performed on the scaled model of an anchorage system that is simplified only with 3 solid wedges, a 3-hole anchor head, and a bearing plate. Then, the methodology is applied to a real scale anchorage system that has 19 strands, wedges, an anchor head, a bearing plate, and a steel duct. It is observed that the proposed scheme gives quite accurate estimation of the remaining tensile forces. Therefore, this methodology has great potential for practical use to evaluate the remaining tensile forces and damage status in the post-tensioned structural members.