• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.9-20
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• 1999

A method is proposed to estimate the joint damages of a steel structure from modal data using the neural networks technique. The beam-to-column connection in a steel frame structure is represented by a zero-length rotational spring of the end of the beam element, and the connection fixity factor is defined based on the rotational stiffness so that the factor may be in the range 0~1.0. Then, the severity of joint damage is defined as the reduction ratio of the connection fixity factor. Several advanced techniques are employed to develop the robust damage identification technique using neural networks. The concept of the substructural indentification is used for the localized damage assessment in the large structure. The noise-injection learning algorithm is used to reduce the effects of the noise in the modal data. The data perturbation scheme is also employed to assess the confidence in the estimated damages based on a few sets of actual measurement data. The feasibility of the proposed method is examined through a numerical simulation study on a 2-bay 10-story structure and an experimental study on a 2-story structure. It has been found that the joint damages can be reasonably estimated even for the case where the measured modal vectors are limited to a localized substructure and the data are severely corrupted with noise.

• Architectural research
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2000

The critical load of a continuous compression member was determined by the beam-analogy method. The proposed method utilizes the stress-analysis results of the analogous continuous beam, where imaginary concentrated lateral load changing its direction is applied at each midspan. The proposed method gives a lower bound error of critical load and can predict the span that buckles first. The effective length factors for braced frame columns can be easily determined by the present method, but result in the upper bound errors in all cases, which can lead to a conservative structural design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.327-334
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• 2018

In the steel structures design, beam-to-column connections are usually considered either rigid or pinned, while their actual behavior lies between these two ideal cases. This consideration has a major influence on the results of the local and the global behavior of steel structures. This influence is noticed in the case of a static analysis, and has an important effect in the case of a dynamic analysis. In fact, pinned and rigid nodes can be considered as two specific cases of a semi-rigid behavior. To study the efficiency of the classification adopted in Eurocode 3, a numerical simulation of semi-rigid nodes has been carried out using the software ANSYS. In the aim to validate this simulation, the numerical results are compared to those of an analytical approach. After that, the validated numerical simulation has been used, to evaluate the efficiency of the classification adopted by the Eurocode 3, regarding semi-rigid connections. Finally, a new method is proposed to define a more accurate evaluation about semi-rigid connections.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.701-721
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• 2016

Base isolation is a well-established passive strategy for seismic response control of buildings. In this paper, an efficient framework is proposed for reliability-based design optimization (RBDO) of isolated buildings subjected to uncertain earthquakes. The framework uses reduced function evaluations method, as an efficient tool for structural reliability analysis, and an efficient optimization algorithm for optimal structural design. The probability of failure is calculated considering excessive base displacement, superstructure inter-storey drifts, member stress ratios and absolute accelerations of floors of the isolated building as failure events. The behavior of rubber bearing isolators is modeled using nonlinear hysteretic model and the variability of future earthquakes is modeled by applying a probabilistic approach. The effects of pulse component of stochastic near-fault ground motions, fixity-factor of semi-rigid beam-to-column connections, values of isolator parameters, earthquake magnitude and epicentral distance on the performance and safety of semi-rigidly connected base-isolated steel framed buildings are studied. Suitable RBDO examples are solved to illustrate the results of investigations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.325-354
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• 2004

Slabs in buildings and bridge decks, which are restrained against lateral displacements at the edges, have ultimate strengths far in excess of those predicted by analytical methods based on yield line theory. The increase in strength has been attributed to membrane action, which is due to the in-plane forces developed at the supports. The benefits of compressive membrane action are usually not taken into account in currently available design methods developed based on plastic flow theories assuming concrete to be a rigid-plastic material. By extending the existing knowledge of compressive membrane action, it is possible to design slabs in building and bridge structures economically with less than normal reinforcement. Recent research on building and bridge structures reflects the importance of membrane action in design. This paper describes the finite element modelling of membrane action in reinforced concrete slabs through optimisation of a simple concrete model. Through a series of parametric studies using the simple concrete model in the finite element simulation of eight fully clamped concrete slabs with significant membrane action, a set of fixed numerical model parameter values is identified and computational conditions established, which would guarantee reliable strength prediction of arbitrary slabs. The reliability of the identified values to simulate membrane action (for prediction purposes) is further verified by the direct simulation of 42 other slabs, which gave an average value of 0.9698 for the ratio of experimental to predicted strengths and a standard deviation of 0.117. A 'deflection factor' is also established for the slabs, relating the predicted peak deflection to experimental values, which, (for the same level of fixity at the supports), can be used for accurate displacement determination. The proposed optimised concrete model and finite element procedure can be used as a tool to simulate membrane action in slabs in building and bridge structures having variable support and loading conditions including fire. Other practical applications of the developed finite element procedure and design process are also discussed.