• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.557-568
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• 2002

For the evaluation of the capability of a tubular member of an offshore structure to absorb the collision energy, a simple method can be employed for the collision analysis without performing the detailed analysis. The most common simple method is the rigid-plastic method. However, in this method any characteristics for horizontal movement and rotation at the ends of the corresponding tubular member are not included. In a real structural system of an offshore structure, tubular members sustain a certain degree of elastic support from the adjacent structure. End fixity has influences in the behaviors of a tubular member. Three-dimensional FEM analysis can include the effect of end fixity fully, however in viewpoints of the inherent computational complexities of the 3-D approach, this is not the recommendable analysis at the initial design stage. In this paper, influence of end fixity on the behaviors of a tubular member is investigated, through a new approach and other approaches. A new analysis approach that includes the flexibility of the boundary points of the member is developed here. The flexibility at the ends of a tubular element is extracted using the rational reduction of the modeling characteristics. The property reduction is based on the static condensation of the related global stiffness matrix of a model to end nodal points of the tubular element. The load-displacement relation at the collision point of the tubular member with and without the end flexibility is obtained and compared. The new method lies between the rigid-plastic method and the 3-demensional analysis. It is self-evident that the rigid-plastic method gives high strengthening membrane effect of the member during global deformation, resulting in a steeper slope than the present method. On the while, full 3-D analysis gives less strengthening membrane effect on the member, resulting in a slow going load-displacement curve. Comparison of the load-displacement curves by the new approach with those by conventional methods gives the figures of the influence of end fixity on post-yielding behaviors of the relevant tubular member. One of the main contributions of this investigation is the development of an analytical rational procedure to figure out the post-yielding behaviors of a tubular member in offshore structures.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.297-305
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• 1998

The finite element method is used for the study of the eigenvalue problems of partially fixed end beams with intermediate elastic supports. The elastic critical loads and natural frquencies of the beams are investigated by changing the numbers of elastic supports and their stiffness, and also by changing Kinney's fixity factor, $f_a$. The relationship between two eigenvalues is established by calculating the corresponding values of $(w/w_n)^2$ through changing $(P/P_{cr})$ values. The results of this study are as follows : (1) The elastic critical loads and natural frequencies of beams increase with increases in Kinney's fixity factor, $f_a$ and with the increased numbers of intermediate elastic supports. (2) The relationship between elastic critical loads and the natural frequencies of partially fixed end beams with intermediated elastic supports is $P/P_{cr} + (w/w_n)^2/ = 1$ without regard to Kinney's fixity factor, the stiffness of elastic supports, or the number of elastic supports.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2018

Prefabricated structures are constructed by bolted connections of separated members. The design and analysis of these structures are generally performed by defining fully hinges for the connection of separated members at the joint of junction. In practice, these connections are not fully hinged. Therefore, the assumption of semi-rigid connections (restrained or partially fixity) instead of fully hinge connections is a more realistic approach for bolted connections used in the prefabricated elements. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of semi-rigid connections on seismic performance of prefabricated structures. Nonlinear static analysis (pushover analysis) of a selected RC prefabricated structure is performed with SAP2000 structural analysis program by considering various partially fixity percentages for bolted connections. The target values of roof displacements obtained from the analyses according to ATC-40, FEMA-356, FEMA-440, and TEC-2007 codes are compared each other. The numerical results are given in tables and figures comparatively and discussed. The results show that the effects of semi-rigid connections should be considered in design and analysis of the prefabricated structures.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.35-42
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• 2000

Among the various models proposed for the description of semi-rigid connection behavior, Kinney's fixity facto. (=f) definition is adopted. If one follows this definition, f=1.0 signifies a completely fixed connection and f=0.0, the frictionless hinge. Kim's new slope-deflection equations based on the Kinney's fixity factors are the principal idea of this paper. Proposed finite element program also includes the effect of axial shortening of column, which is neglected in the stress analysis of frame leg conventional slope-deflection method. For the economic design, especially for the saving of beam weight in the high-rise office buildings or apartment houses, the proposed method can be applied.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.29-42
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• 2017

This study presents algorithms for determining the fuzzy critical loads of planar steel frame structures with fixity factors of beam - column and column - base connections are modeled as triangular fuzzy numbers. The finite element method with linear elastic semi-rigid connection and Response Surface Method (RSM) in mathematical statistic are applied for problems with symmetric triangular fuzzy numbers. The ${\alpha}$ - level optimization using the Differential Evolution (DE) involving integrated finite element modeling is proposed to apply for problems with any triangular fuzzy numbers. The advantage of the proposed methodologies is demonstrated through some example problems relating to for the twenty - story, four - bay planar steel frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.277-301
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• 1996

A finite element model of a beam element with flexible connections is used to investigate the effect of the randomness in the stiffness values on the modal properties of the structural system. The linear behavior of the connections is described by a set of random fixity factors. The element mass and stiffness matrices are function of these random parameters. The associated eigenvalue problem leads to eigenvalues and eigenvectors which are also random variables. A second order perturbation technique is used for the solution of this random eigenproblem. Closed form expressions for the 1st and 2nd order derivatives of the element matrices with respect to the fixity factors are presented. The mean and the variance of the eigenvalues and vibration modes are obtained in terms of these derivatives. Two numerical examples are presented and the results are validated with those obtained by a Monte-Carlo simulation. It is found that an almost linear statistical relation exists between the eigenproperties and the stiffness of the connections.

• Bulletin of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1975

Because of the simplicity in analysis and design of steel structure, the connections of members are assumed either as perfectly hinged or rigidly fixed. However, a more economical design would result if the effect of restraint in connections were included in analyzing frame structure. From this point of view, stiffness matrices for member with bracketed connections are presented in the form of the stiffness matrices for member with variable moment of inertia, modified by a correction matrix, whose elements are functions of fixity factors of the connections. To obtain fixity factors, the displacements and stress distribution of bracketed connections are investigated by using of the degital computer program, which have been developed to make computing time shorten and the round off errors smaller. The relationship of moments and slip angle in bracketed connections are presented in the form of curves, which can be used in establishing a stiffness matrices for member with bracketed connections.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 1999.03a
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• pp.217-224
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• 1999

This Paper shows the results of a series of model tests on the behavior of single rigid Pile, which subjected to lateral load, in non-homogeneous Nak-Dong River sands, consisted of two layers, upper and lower layers. The purpose of the present paper is to investigate the effect of ratio of lower layer thickness to embedded pile length ratio of soil modules of upper to lower layer (E$\sub$h1//E$\sub$h2/) and pile head constraint condition on the characteristics of lateral behavior of single pile. These effects can be quantified only by the results of model tests. As a model test result, in non-homogeneous sand, it shows that the lateral behavior depends upon the ratio of soil modules of upper to lower layer more than other factors. And, in respect of deflection, it was found that the reduction ratio of deflection by pile head fixity is the value of 0.5 and 0.6 for E$\sub$h1//E$\sub$h2/=0.18 and E$\sub$h1//E$\sub$h2/=5.56, respectively. The critical thickness of lower layer on the change of deflection is about 25 - 50% of pile embedded length. Also, in respect of maximum bending moment it was found that the reduction ratio of maximum bending moment by pile head fixity is the value of 0.55 and 0.7 for E$\sub$h1//E$\sub$h2/=0.18 and E$\sub$h1//E$\sub$h2/=5.56, respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.383-398
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• 2009

Applying nonlinear statistical analysis methods in estimating the performance of structures in earthquakes is strongly considered these days. This is due to the methods' simplicity, timely lower cost and reliable estimation in seismic responses in comparison with time-history nonlinear dynamic analysis. Among nonlinear methods, simplified to be incorporated in the future guidelines, Modal Pushover Analysis, known by the abbreviated name of MPA, simply models nonlinear behavior of structures; and presents a very proper estimation of nonlinear dynamic analysis using lateral load pattern appropriate to the mass. Mostly, two kinds of connecting joints, 'hinge' and 'rigid', are carried out in different type of steel structures. However, it should be highly considered that nominal hinge joints usually experience some percentages of fixity and nominal rigid connections do not employ totally rigid. Therefore, concerning the importance of these structures and the significant flexibility effect of connections on force distribution and elements deformation, these connections can be considered as semi-rigid with various percentages of fixity. Since it seems, the application and implementation of MPA method has not been studied on moment-resistant steel frames with semi rigid connections, this research focuses on this topic and issue. In this regard several rigid and semi-rigid steel bending frames with different percentages of fixity are selected. The structural design is performed based on weak beam and strong column. Followed by that, the MPA method is used as an approximated method and Nonlinear Response History Analysis (NL-RHA) as the exact one. Studying the performance of semi-rigid frames in height shows that MPA technique offers reasonably reliable results in these frames. The methods accuracy seems to decrease, when the number of stories increases and does decrease in correlation with the semi-rigidity percentages. This generally implies that the method can be used as a proper device in seismic estimation of different types of low and mid-rise buildings with semi-rigid connections.

• The Korean Journal of Archival Studies
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• no.59
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• pp.5-46
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• 2019

This study aims to explore the concepts and nature of records in digital environments based on analyzing recent theoretical studies of records. This is not intended to defining records for management in a specific environment. This study is divided into two parts. Firstly, it classifies the definitions of records in three perspectives; evidence, information, and representation of activities, and explores the concepts and theoretical backgrounds underlying each definition. Secondly, it articulates some implications for understanding the concept and nature of records in digital environments by four categories such as i) fixity, ii) materiality, iii) activity and context, and iv) trustworthiness, which were derived from the definition of "persistent representation of activities" by Geoffrey Yeo.