• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.177-195
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• 2018

Reinforced concrete buildings in a seismically active area can be designed as DCM (medium ductility) or DCH (high ductility) class according to the regulations of Eurocode 8. In this paper, two RC buildings, one with a wall structural system and the other with a frame system, previously designed for DCM and DCH ductility, were analysed by using incremental dynamic analysis in order to study differences in the behaviour of structures between these ductility classes, especially the failure mechanism and ultimate collapse acceleration. Despite the fact that a higher behaviour factor of DCH structures influences lower seismic resistance, in comparison to DCM structures, a strict application of the design and detailing rules of Eurocode 8 in analysed examples caused that the seismic resistance of both frames does not significantly differ. The conclusions were derived for two buildings and do not necessarily apply to other RC structures. Further analysis could make a valuable contribution to the analysis of the behaviour of such buildings and decide between two ductility classes in everyday building design.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.291-316
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• 2009

Damage detection using structural classical deflection flexibility has received considerable attention due to the unique features of the flexibility in the last two decades. However, for relatively complex structures, most methods based on classical deflection flexibility fail to locate damage sites to the exact members. In this study, for structures whose members are dominated by axial forces, such as truss structures, a more feasible flexibility for damage detection is proposed, which is called the Axial Strain (AS) flexibility. It is synthesized from measured modal frequencies and axial strain mode shapes which are expressed in terms of translational mode shapes. A damage indicator based on AS flexibility is proposed. In addition, how to integrate the AS flexibility into the Damage Location Vector (DLV) approach (Bernal and Gunes 2004) to improve its performance of damage localization is presented. The methods based on AS flexbility localize multiple damages to the exact members and they are suitable for the cases where the baseline data of the intact structure is not available. The proposed methods are demonstrated by numerical simulations of a 14-bay planar truss and a five-story steel frame and experiments on a five-story steel frame.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.357-378
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• 2016

The progressive collapse phenomenon in structures has been interested by civil engineers and the building standards organizations. This is particularly true for the tall and special buildings ever since local collapse of the Ronan Point tower in UK in 1968. When initial or secondary defects of main load carrying elements, overloads or unpredicted loads occur in the structure, a local collapse may be arise that could be distributed through entire structure and cause global collapse. One is not able to prevent the reason of failure as well as the prevention of propagation of the collapse. Also, one is not able to predict the start point of collapse. Therefore we should generalize design guides to whole or the part of structure based on the risk analysis and use of load carrying elements removal scenario. There are some new guides and criteria for elements and connections to be designed to resist progressive collapse. In this paper, codes and recommendations by various researchers are presented, classified and compared for steel structures. Two current design methods are described in this paper and some retrofitting methods are summarized. Finally a steel building with special moment resistant frame is analyzed as a case study based on two standards guidelines. This includes consideration of codes recommendations. It is shown that progressive collapse potential of the building depends on the removal scenario selection and type of analysis. Different results are obtained based on two guidelines.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.343-359
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• 2008

In the present study, an efficient method for the optimum design of three-dimensional (3D) steel framed structures is proposed. In this method, in addition to choosing the best position of columns based on architectural requirements, the optimum cross-sectional dimensions of elements are determined. The preliminary design variables are considered as the number of columns in structural plan, which are determined by a direct optimization method suitable for discrete variables, without requiring the evaluation of derivatives. After forming the geometry of structure, the main variables of the cross-sectional dimensions are evaluated, which satisfy the design constraints and also achieve the least-weight of the structure. To reduce the number of finite element analyses and the overall computational time, a new third order approximate function is introduced which employs only the diagonal elements of the higher order derivatives matrices. This function produces a high quality approximation and also, a robust optimization process. The main feature of the proposed techniques that the higher order derivatives are established by the first order exact derivatives. Several examples are solved and efficiency of the new approximation method and also, the proposed method for the best position of columns in 3D steel framed structures is discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.1051-1065
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• 2020

Safety analysis of nuclear power plant (NPP) especially in accident conditions is a basic and necessary issue for applications and commercialization of reactors. Many previous researches and development works have been conducted. However, most achievements focused on the safety reliability of primary pressure system vessels. Few literatures studied the structural safety of huge concrete structures surrounding primary pressure system, especially for the fourth generation NPP which allows existing of through cracks. In this paper, structural safety reliability of concrete structures of HTR-PM in accidental double-ended break of hot gas ducts was studied by Exceedance Probability Method. It was calculated by Monte Carlo approaches applying numerical simulations by Abaqus. Damage parameters were proposed and used to define the property of concrete, which can perfectly describe the crack state of concrete structures. Calculation results indicated that functional failure determined by deterministic safety analysis was decided by the crack resistance capability of containment buildings, whereas the bearing capacity of concrete structures possess a high safety margin. The failure probability of concrete structures during an accident of double-ended break of hot gas ducts will be 31.18%. Adding the consideration the contingency occurrence probability of the accident, probability of functional failure is sufficiently low.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.243-259
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• 2021

In the present paper, a Monte Carlo-based framework is developed to investigate the accuracy and reliability of analytical fragility curves of steel moment-resisting frames and simple SDOF systems. It is also studied how the effectiveness of incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) and multiple stripes analysis (MSA) approaches, as two common nonlinear dynamic analysis methods, are influenced by the number of records and analysis stripes in fragility curves producing. Results showed that the simple SDOF systems do not provide accurate and reliable fragility curves compared with realistic steel moment-resisting structures. It is demonstrated that, the effectiveness of nonlinear dynamic analysis approaches is dependent on the fundamental period of structures, where in short-period structures, IDA is found to be more effective approach compared with MSA. This difference between the effectiveness of two analysis approaches decreases as the fundamental period of structures become longer. Using of 2 or 3 analysis stripes in MSA approach leads to significant inaccuracy and unreliability in the estimated fragility curves. Additionally, 15 number of ground motion records is recommended as a threshold of significant unreliability in estimated fragility curves, constructed by MSA.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.481-493
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• 2021

Low rise masonry structures are relatively inexpensive and easier to construct compared to other types of structures such as steel and reinforced concrete buildings. However, masonry structures are relatively heavier and less ductile and more vulnerable to damages in earthquakes. In this research, a new innovative low-cost seismic isolator using steel rings (SISR) is employed to reduce the seismic vulnerability of masonry structures. FEA of a masonry structure, made of concrete blocks is used to evaluate the effect of the proposed SISR on the seismic response of the structure. Two systems, fixed base and isolated from the base with the proposed SISRs, are considered. Micro-element approach and ABAQUS software are used for structural modeling. The nonlinear structural parameters of the SISRs, extracted from a recent experimental study by the authors, are used in numerical modeling. The masonry structure is studied in two separate modes, fixed base and isolated base with the proposed SISRs, under Erzincan and Imperial Valley-06 earthquakes. The accelerated response at the roof level, as well as the deformation in the masonry walls, are the parameters to assess the effect of the proposed SISRs. The results show a highly improved performance of the masonry structure with the SISRs.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.379-394
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• 2013

Post-earthquake fire (PEF) can lead to a rapid collapse of buildings damaged partially as a result of prior earthquake. Almost all standards and codes for the design of structures against earthquake ignore the risk of PEF, and thus buildings designed using those codes could be too weak when subjected to a fire after an earthquake. An investigation based on sequential analysis inspired by FEMA356 is performed here on the Immediate Occupancy, Life Safety and Collapse Prevention performance levels of structures, designed to the ACI 318-08 code, after they are subjected to an earthquake level with PGA of 0.35g. This investigation is followed by a fire analysis of the damaged structures, examining the time taken for the damaged structures to collapse. As a point of reference, a fire analysis is also performed for undamaged structures and before the occurrence of earthquake. The results indicate that the vulnerability of structures increases dramatically when a previously damaged structure is exposed to PEF. The results also show that the damaging effects of post-earthquake fire are exacerbated when initiated from the second and third floor. Whilst the investigation is made for a certain class of structures (conventional buildings, intermediate reinforced structure, 3 stories), the results confirm the need for the incorporation of post-earthquake fire into the process of analysis and design, and provides some quantitative measures on the level of associated effects.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 2015

Since there are several places located in active seismic zones in the world, serious damages and losses have happened due to major scaled earthquakes. Especially, structures having different irregularities have been severely damaged or collapsed during these seismic events. Behavior of existing structures under several loading conditions is not completely determined due to some uncertainties. This situation reveals the importance of design and analysis of structures under seismic effects. Several non-linear static procedures have been developed in recent years. Determination of the seismic safety of the existing structures and strengthening techniques are significant civil engineering problems Non-linear methods are defined in codes to determine the performance levels of structures more accurately. However, displacement based ones give more realistic results. These methods provide more reliable evaluation possibilities for existing structures with developing computer technology. In this study, non-linear performance analysis of existing and strengthened steel structures by X shaped bracing members with 3, 5 and 7 stories which have soft story irregularity is performed according to FEMA-356 and Turkish Earthquake Code-2007. Damage ratios of the structural members and global performance levels are determined as well as modal properties and story drift ratios after non-linear finite elements analysis for each structure.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.149-169
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• 2011

Dynamic response of two adjacent single degree-of-freedom (SDOF) structures connected with friction damper under base excitation is investigated. The base excitation is modeled as a stationary white-noise random process. As the force-deformation behavior of friction damper is non linear, the dynamic response of connected structures is obtained using the equivalent linearization technique. It is observed that there exists an optimum value of the limiting frictional force of the damper for which the mean square displacement and the mean square absolute acceleration responses of the connected structures attains the minimum value. The close form expressions for the optimum value of damper frictional force and corresponding mean square responses of the coupled undamped structures are derived. These expressions can be used for initial optimal design of the friction damper for connected structures. A parametric study is also carried out to investigate the influence of system parameters such as frequency ratio and mass ratio on the response of the coupled structures. It has been observed that the frequency ratio has significant effect on the performance of the friction damper, whereas the effects of mass ratio are marginal. Finally, the verification of the derived close from expressions is made by correlating the response of connected structures under real earthquake excitations.