• Wind and Structures
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.115-128
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• 2018

Appropriate modeling of a tornado-like vortex is a prerequisite when studying the near-ground wind characteristics of a tornado and tornado-induced wind loads on structures. Both Ward- and ISU-type tornado simulators employ guide vanes to induce angular momentum to converge flow in order to generate tornado-like vortices. But in the Ward-type simulator, the guide vanes are mounted near the ground while in the ISU-type they are located at a high position to allow vertical circulation of flow that creates a rotating downdraft to generate a tornado-like vortex. In this study, numerical simulations were performed to reproduce tornado-like vortices using both Ward-type and ISU-type tornado simulators, from which the effects of rotating downdraft on the vortex characteristics were clarified. Particular attention was devoted to the wander of tornado-like vortices, and their dependences on swirl ratio and fetch length were investigated. The present study showed that the dynamic vortex structure depends significantly on the vortex-generating mechanism, although the time-averaged structure remains similar. This feature should be taken into consideration when tornado-like-vortex simulators are utilized to investigate tornado-induced wind forces on structures.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1111-1123
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• 2016

The present study aims at proposing an analytical method for semi-active structural control by using block pulse functions. The performance of the resulting controlled system and the requirements of the control devices are highly dependent on the control algorithm employed. In control problems, it is important to devise an accurate analytical method with less computational expenses. Block pulse functions (BPFs) set proved to be the most fundamental and it enjoyed immense popularity in different applications in the area of numerical analysis in systems science and control. This work focused on the application of BPFs in the control algorithm concerning decrease the computational expenses. Variable orifice dampers (VODs) are one of the common semi-active devices that can be used to control the response of civil Structures during seismic loads. To prove the efficiency of the proposed method, numerical simulations for a 10-story shear building frame equipped with VODs are presented. The controlled response of the frame was compared with results obtained by controlling the frame by the classical clipped-optimal control method based on linear quadratic regulator theory. The simulation results of this investigation indicated the proposed method had an acceptable accuracy with minor computational expenses and it can be advantageous in reducing seismic responses.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.461-478
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• 2016

This paper aims to provide guidelines for the numerical modeling of reinforced concrete (RC) frame elements in order to assess the seismic performance of structures. Several types of numerical models RC frame elements are available in nonlinear structural analysis packages. Since these numerical models are formulated based on different assumption and theories, the models accuracy, computing time, and applicability vary, which poses a great difficulty to practicing engineering and limits their confidence in the analysis resultants. In this study, the applicability of four representative numerical models of RC frame elements is evaluated through comparison with experimental results of four-storey bare frame available from European Laboratory for Structural Assessment. The accuracy of a numerical model is evaluated according to the top displacement, interstorey drift, Maximum storey shear, damage pattern and energy dissipation capacity of the frame structure. The results obtained allow a better understanding of the characteristics and potentialities of all procedures, helping the user to choose the best approach to perform nonlinear analysis.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.1130-1141
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• 2010

Even though a number of historic structures in Korea need to be repaired, an intensive research on their engineering performance has rarely been investigated. Herein, we attempted to provide a methodological approach via the explicit finite element analysis to investigate geotechnical aspect of the performance of the dry-stone wall structures. To do so, we summarized relevant literature on the world-wide historic stone structures as well as its analysis in terms of modern geotechnical engineering. The method of the explicit finite element analysis has been briefly summarized. The numerical results on an idealized block structure show that the displacement of blocks and the distribution of earth pressure is different from the conventional theory of the retaining wall because of the discrete nature of the dry-stone wall structure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2010.09a
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• pp.1081-1086
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• 2010

The general soil nailing support system may result in excessive deformations particularly in an excavation zone of the existing weak subsoils. Pretensioning the soil nails then, could play important roles to reduce deformations mainly in part of the nailed-soil excavation system as well as to improve local stability. Morever, soil nails are installed underneath roads, underground structures, and subway structures, thereby resulting in difficulties in nail remval after completion of temporary soil nailed walls. Hence, to date, in order to solve the technical difficulties and avoid legal issues related to the construction of soil nails underneath the surrounding areas and structures, the removable soil nailing system has been developed and used. But, Therefore, a new soil nailing technique called Removable Post-tensioned Soil Nailing(RPTN) system has been developed in the current study. In this study, an investigation of the RPTN system has been conducted by carrying out field measurement. Hence, the RPTN system can reduce ground displacement and enhance stability of the soil nailed walls.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.719-733
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• 2015

Seismic risk management of the built environment is integrated by two main stages, the assessment and the remedial measures to attain its reduction, representing both stages a complex task. The seismic risk of a certain structure located in a seismic zone is determined by the conjunct of the seismic hazard and its structural vulnerability. The hazard level mainly depends on the proximity of the site to a seismic source. On the other hand, the ground shaking depends on the seismic source, geology and topography of the site, but definitely on the inherent earthquake characteristics. Seismic hazard characterization of a site under study is suggested to be estimated by a combination of studies with the history of earthquakes. In this Paper, the most important methods of seismic vulnerability evaluation of buildings and their application are described. The selection of the most suitable method depends on different factors such as number of buildings, importance, available data and aim of the study. These approaches are classified in empirical, analytical, experimental and hybrid. For obtaining more reliable results, it is recommends applying a hybrid approach, which consists of a combination between methods depending on the case. Finally, a recommended approach depending on the building importance and aim of the study is described.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.459-469
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• 2014

One of the most important structural components of steel structures is the column-base connections which are obliged to transfer horizontal and vertical loads safely to the reinforced concrete (RC) or concrete base. The column-base connections of steel or composite steel structures can be organized both moment resistant and non-moment resistant leading to different connection styles. Some of these connection styles are ordinary bolded systems, socket systems and embedded systems. The structures are frequently exposed to cycling lateral loading effects causing fatal damages on connections like columns-to-beams or columns-to-base. In this paper, connection of steel column with RC base was investigated analytically and experimentally. In the experiments, bolded connections, socket and embedded connection systems are taken into consideration by applying cyclic lateral loads. Performance curves for each connection were obtained according to experimental and analytical studies conducted and inelastic behavior of connections was evaluated accordingly. The cyclic lateral performance of the connection style of embedding the steel column into the reinforced concrete base and strengthening of steel column in upper level of base connection was found to be higher and effective than other connection systems. Also, all relevant test results were discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.1099-1120
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• 2014

In this paper, reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) of structures is addressed. For this purpose, the global search and optimization capabilities of genetic algorithm (GA) are combined with the efficiency and reasonable accuracy of an advanced moment-based finite element reliability method. For performing RBDO, three variants of GA including a real-coded, a binary-coded and an improved binary-coded GA are developed. In these methods, GA performs (finite element) reliability analyses to evaluate reliability constraints. For truss structures which include finite element modeling, reliability constraints are evaluated using finite element reliability analysis. Response sensitivity required for finite element reliability analysis is obtained by direct differentiation method (DDM) rather than finite difference method (FDM). The proposed methods are examined within four standard test examples and real-world design problems. The results illustrate the superiority and efficiency of the improved binary-coded GA. Results also illustrate that DDM significantly reduces the computational cost and improves the efficiency of the optimization procedure.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2018

The evaluation theory of reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS) as a mature theory of state evaluation in the railway engineering, can be well used to the evaluation, management, and maintenance of complicated structure like the long-span bridge structures on the high-speed railway. Taking a typical steel-truss arch bridge on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, the Nanjing Dashengguan Yangtze River Bridge, this paper developed a new method of state evaluation for the existing steel-truss arch high-speed railway bridge. The evaluation framework of serving state for the bridge structure is presented based on the RAMS theory. According to the failure-risk, safety/availability, maintenance of bridge members, the state evaluation method of each monitoring item is presented. The weights of the performance items and the monitoring items in all evaluation levels are obtained using the analytic hierarchy process. Finally, the comprehensive serving state of bridge structure is hierarchical evaluated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.293-307
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• 2020

The aim of this paper is to develop design-oriented models for the prediction of the ultimate strength and ultimate axial strain for concrete confined with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) wraps. Twenty of most used and recent design-oriented models developed to predict the strength and strain of GFRP-confined concrete in circular sections are selected and evaluated basing on a database of 163 test results of concrete cylinders confined with GFRP wraps subjected to uniaxial compression. The evaluation of these models is performed using three statistical indices namely the coefficient of the determination (R²), the root mean square error (RMSE), and the average absolute error (AAE). Based on this study, new strength and strain models for GFRP-wrapped concrete are developed using regression analysis. The obtained results show that the proposed models exhibit better performance and provide accurate predictions over the existing models.