• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2020

4- and 8-storey reinforced-concrete frame buildings are analyzed under the suites of the near-fault pulse-like, and the corresponding spectrally equivalent far-fault ground-motion records. Seismic fragility curves for the slight, moderate, extensive, and complete damage states are developed, and the damage probability matrices, and the mean loss ratios corresponding to the Design Basis Earthquake and the Maximum Considered Earthquake hazard levels are compared, for the investigated buildings and sets of ground-motion records. It is observed that the spectrally equivalent far-fault ground-motion records result in comparable estimates of the fragility curve parameters, as that of the near-fault pulse-like ground-motion records. As a result, the derived damage probability matrices and mean loss ratios using two suites of ground-motion records differ only marginally (of the order of ~10%) for the investigated levels of seismic hazard, thus, implying the potential for application of the spectrally equivalent ground-motion records, for seismic fragility and risk assessment at the near-fault sites.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-100
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• 2005

This paper presents results from a study to extend a performance-based shearwall selection procedure to take into account the contributions of nonstructural finish materials (such as stucco and gypsum wallboard), construction quality issues, and their effects on the displacement performance of engineered wood shearwalls subject to seismic loading. Shearwall performance is evaluated in terms of peak displacements under seismic loading (characterized by a suite of ordinary ground motion records) considering different combinations of performance levels (drift limits) and seismic hazard. Shearwalls are analyzed using nonlinear dynamic time-history analysis with global assembly hysteretic parameters determined by fitting to actual shearwall test data. Peak displacement distributions, determined from sets of analyses using each of the ground motion records taken to characterize the seismic hazard, are postprocessed into performance curves, design charts, and fragility curves which can be used for risk-based design and assessment applications.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2016

A probabilistic approach that combines structural demand hazard analysis with cumulative damage assessment is presented and applied to a steel tower of a wind turbine. The study presents the step by step procedure to compare the reliability over time of the structure subjected to fatigue, assuming: a) a binomial Weibull annual wind speed, and b) a traditional Weibull probability distribution function (PDF). The probabilistic analysis involves the calculation of force time simulated histories, fatigue analysis at the steel tower base, wind hazard curves and structural fragility curves. Differences in the structural reliability over time depending on the wind speed PDF assumed are found, and recommendations about selecting a real PDF are given.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.495-502
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• 2003

This study proposed the Probability Density Function (PDF) interpolation technique to evaluate the seismic fragility curves as a function of the return period. Seismic fragility curves have been developed as a function of seismic intensities such as peak ground acceleration, peak pound velocity, and pseudo-velocity spectrum. The return period of design earthquakes, however, can be more useful among those seismic intensity measurements, because the seismic hazard curves are generally represented with a return period of design earthquakes and the seismic design codes also require to consider the return period of design earthquake spectrum for a specific site. In this respect the PDF interpolation technique is proposed to evaluate the seismic fragility curves as a function of return period. Seismic fragility curves based on the return period are compared with ones based on the peak ground acceleration for the bridge model.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.605-616
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• 2018

In this paper, an extended Cloud analysis method is developed for seismic fragility assessment of existing highway bridges in the southeast Queensland region. This method extends the original Cloud analysis dataset by performing scaled Cloud analyses. The original and scaled Cloud datasets are then paired to generate seismic fragility curves. The seismic hazard in this region is critically reviewed, and the ground motion records are selected for the time-history analysis based on various record selection criteria. A parametric highway bridge model is developed in the OpenSees analysis software, and a sampling technique is employed to quantify the uncertainties of highway bridges ubiquitous in this region. Technical recommendations are also given for the seismic performance evaluation of highway bridges in such low-to-moderate seismic zones. Finally, a probabilistic fragility study is conducted by performing a total of 8000 time-history analyses and representative bridge fragility curves are generated. It is illustrated that the seismic fragility curves generated by the proposed extended Cloud analysis method are in close agreement with those which are obtained by the rigorous incremental dynamic analysis method. Also, it reveals that more than 50% of highway bridges existing in southeast Queensland will be damaged subject to a peak ground acceleration of 0.14 g.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.45 no.10
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• pp.983-995
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• 2012

In this study, it was intended to analyze the spatio-temporal distribution of historical drought events occurred in Korea by way of drought frequency analysis using SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index), and Drought spell was executed to estimate drought frequency as per drought severity and regions. Also, SDF (severity-duration-frequency) curves were prepared per each weather stations to estimate spatial distribution characteristics for the severe drought areas of Korea, and Potential Drought Hazard Map was prepared based on the derived SDF curves. Drought frequency analysis per drought stage revealed that severe drought as well as extreme drought frequency were prominently high at Geum River, Nakdong River, and Seomjin River basin as can be seen from SDF curves, and drought severity was found as severer per each drought return period in the data located at Geum River, Nakdong River, and Seomjin River basins as compared with that of Seoul weather station at Han River basin. In the Potential Drought Hazard Map, it showed that Geum River, Seomjin River, and Yeongsan River basins were drought vulnerable areas as compared to upper streams of Nakdong River basin and Han River basin, and showed similar result in drought frequency per drought stage. Drought was occurred frequently during spring seasons with tendency of frequent short drought spell as indicated in Potential Drought Hazard Map of different season.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2013

The uniform hazard spectra for seven major cities in Korea, Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, Gwangju, Ulsan, and Inchon are suggested. Probabilistic seismic hazard analyses were performed using the attenuation equations derived from seismology research in Korea since 2000 and the seismotectonic models selected by expert assessment. For the estimation of the uniform hazard spectra, the seismic hazard curves for several frequencies and PGAs were calculated by using the spectral attenuation equations. The seismic hazards (annual exceedance probability) calculated for the 7 metropolises ranged from about $1.4305{\times}0^{-4}/yr$ to $1.7523{\times}10^{-4}/yr$ and averaged out at about $1.5902{\times}10^{-4}/yr$ with a log standard deviation of about 0.085 at 0.2 g. The uniform hazard spectra with recurrence intervals of 500, 1000, and 2500 years estimated by using the calculated mean seismic hazard on the frequencies presented peak values at 10.0 Hz, and the log standard deviations of the difference between metropolises ranged from about 0.013 to 0.209. In view of the insignificant difference between the estimated uniform hazard spectra obtained for the considered metropolises, the mean uniform hazard spectrum was estimated. This mean uniform hazard spectrum is expected to be used as input seismic response spectrum for rock sites in Korea.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.681-697
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• 2015

Iran as one of the countries located on the Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt has recently experienced a few number of catastrophic earthquakes. A well-known index of how buildings are affected by earthquakes is through assessment of probable Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) and structures' response spectra. In this research, active faults around Kerman and Birjand, two major cities in eastern parts of Iran, have been considered. Seismic catalogues are gathered to categorize effects of surrounding faults on seismicity of the region. These catalogues were further refined with respect to time and space based on Knopoff-Gardner algorithm in order to increase statistical independency of events. Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis (PSHA) has been estimated for each of cities regarding 50, 100, 200 and 500 years of structures' effective life-span. These results subsequently have been compared with Deterministic Seismic Hazard Analysis (DSHA). It has been observed that DSHA not necessarily suggests upper bound of PSHA results. Furthermore, based on spectral Ground Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs), Uniform Hazard Spectra (UHS) and spectral acceleration were provided for 2% and 10% levels of probability of exceedance. The results show that increasing source-to-site distance leads to spectral acceleration reduction regarding each fault. In addition, the spectral acceleration rate of variation would increase if the source-to-site distance decreases.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.249-261
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• 2020

Seismic loss estimation studies require fragility curves which are usually derived using ground motion datasets. Ground motion records can be either in the form of recorded or simulated time histories compatible with regional seismicity. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the use of alternative ground motion datasets (simulated and real) on the fragility curves. Simulated dataset is prepared considering regional seismicity parameters corresponding to Erzincan using the stochastic finite-fault technique. In addition, regionally compatible records are chosen from the NGA-West2 ground motion database to form the real dataset. The paper additionally studies the effects of hazard variability and two different fragility curve derivation approaches on the generated fragility curves. As the final step for verification purposes, damage states estimated for the fragility curves derived using alternative approaches are compared with the observed damage levels from the 1992 Erzincan (Turkey) earthquake (Mw=6.6). In order to accomplish all these steps, a set of representative masonry buildings from Erzincan region are analyzed using simplified structural models. The results reveal that regionally simulated ground motions can be used alternatively in fragility analyses and damage estimation studies.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.755-773
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• 2013

One of the main requirements of the seismic design codes must be its easy application by structural engineers. The use of practically-applicable models or simplified models as single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems is a good alternative to achieve this condition. In this study, deterministic and probabilistic response transformation factors are obtained to evaluate the response in terms of maximum ductility and maximum interstory drifts of multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) systems based on the response of equivalent SDOF systems. For this aim, five steel frames designed with the Mexican City Building Code (MCBC) as well as their corresponding equivalent SDOF systems (which represent the characteristics of the frames) are analyzed. Both structural systems are subjected to ground motions records. For the MDOF and the simplified systems, incremental dynamic analyses IDAs are developed in first place, then, structural demand hazard curves are obtained. The ratio between the IDAs curves corresponding to the MDOF systems and the curves corresponding to the simplified models are used to obtain deterministic response transformation factors. On the other hand, demand hazard curves are used to calculate probabilistic response transformation factors. It was found that both approaches give place to similar results.