• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.365-386
• /
• 2010

This paper presents the physical formulation of a 1D material model suitable for seismic applications. It is written within the framework of thermodynamics with internal variables that is, especially, very efficient for the phenomenological representation of material behaviors at macroscale: those of the representative elementary volume. The model can reproduce the main characteristics observed for concrete, that is nonsymetric loading rate-dependent (viscoelasticity) behavior with appearance of permanent deformations and local hysteresis (continuum plasticity), stiffness degradation (continuum damage), cracking due to displacement localization (discrete plasticity or damage). The parameters have a clear physical meaning and can thus be easily identified. Although this point is not detailed in the paper, this material model is developed to be implemented in a finite element computer program. Therefore, for the benefit of the robustness of the numerical implementation, (i) linear state equations (no local iteration required) are defined whenever possible and (ii) the conditions in which the presented model can enter the generalized standard materials class - whose elements benefit from good global and local stability properties - are clearly established. To illustrate the capabilities of this model - among them for Earthquake Engineering applications - results of some numerical applications are presented.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.115-122
• /
• 2005

In this paper, a new method composed of discrete element method and genetic algorithm has been introduced to estimate the safety factor and search critical slip surface on slope stability analysis. In case of estimating the safety factor, conventional methods of slope analysis based on the limit equilibrium do not satisfy the overall equilibrium condition; they must make assumptions regarding the inclination and location of the interstice forces. An alternative slope analysis method based on the discrete element method, which can consider the compatibility condition between force and displacement, is presented. Real-coded genetic algorithm is applied to the search for the minimum factor of safety in proposed analysis method. This search method is shown to be more robust than simple optimization routines, which are apt to find local minimum. Examples are also shown to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.135-154
• /
• 2002

This paper presents the convected material frame approach to study the nonlinear behavior of inelastic frame structures. The convected material frame approach is a modification of the co-rotational approximation by incorporating an adaptive convected material frame in the basic definition of the displacement vector and strain tensor. In the formulation, each discrete element is associated with a local coordinate system that rotates and translates with the element. For each load increment, the corresponding strain-displacement and nodal force-stress relationships are defined in the updated local coordinates, and based on the updated element geometry. The rigid body motion and deformation displacements are decoupled for each increment. This modified approach incorporates the geometrical nonlinearities through the continuous updating of the material frame geometry. A generalized nonlinear function is used to derive the inelastic constitutive relation and the kinematic hardening is considered. The equation of motion is integrated by an explicit procedure and it involves only vector assemblage and vector storage in the analysis by assuming a lumped mass matrix of diagonal form. Several numerical examples are demonstrated in close agreement with the solutions obtained by the ANSYS code. Numerical studies show that the proposed approach is capable of investigating large deflection of inelastic planar structures and providing an excellent numerical performance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.291-302
• /
• 2012

Frequently, steel silos are supported by discrete supports or columns to permit easy access beneath the barrel. In such cases, large loads are transferred to the limited number of supports, causing locally high axial compressive stress concentrations in the shell wall above the supports. If not dealt with properly, these increased stresses will lead to premature failure of the silo due to local instability in the regions above the supports. Local stiffening near the supports is a way to improve the buckling resistance, as material is added in the region of elevated stresses, levelling these out to values found in uniformly supported silos. The aim of a study on the properties of local stiffening will then be to increase the failure load, governed by an interaction of plastic collapse and elastic instability, to that of a discrete supported silo. However, during the course of such a study it was found that, although the failure remains local, the cylinder height is also a parameter that influences the failure mechanism, a fact that is not properly taken into account in current design practice and codes. This paper describes the mechanism behind the effect of the cylinder height on the failure load, which is related to pre-buckling deformations of the shell structure. All results and conclusions are based on geometrically and materially non-linear finite element analyses.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.9 no.2 s.42
• /
• pp.47-58
• /
• 2005

Dynamic response analysis in time dimain is conducted for floating bridges with discrete pontoons subject to spatial variation of ground motions. The Spatial variation of ground motions is considered with the coherency function model which represents wave passage, incoherence and local site effects. The superstructure of the bridge is represented by space frame and elastic catenary cable elements, the abutment us modelde with the spring element of FHWA guideline for considering soil structure interaction and the concept of retardation function is utilized to consider the frequency dependency of the hydrodynamic coefficients which are obtainde by boundary element method. multiple support excitations considering the spatial variation. The noticeable amplification of the response can be shown when the spatial variation of ground motions is incorporated in the anallysis of floating bridges.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.1403-1419
• /
• 2015

When precast concrete infill panels are connected to steel frames at discrete locations, interaction at the structural interface is neither complete nor absent. The contribution of precast concrete infill panels to the lateral stiffness and strength of steel frames can be significant depending on the quality, quantity and location of the discrete interface connections. This paper presents preliminary experimental and finite element results of an investigation into the composite behaviour of a square steel frame with a precast concrete infill panel subject to lateral loading. The panel is connected at the corners to the ends of the top and bottom beams. The Frame-to-Panel-Connection, FPC4 between steel beam and concrete panel consists of two parts. A T-section with five achor bars welded to the top of the flange is cast in at the panel corner at a forty five degree angle. The triangularly shaped web of the T-section is reinforced against local buckling with a stiffener plate. The second part consists of a triangular gusset plate which is welded to the beam flange. Two bolts acting in shear connect the gusset plate to the web of the T-section. This way the connection can act in tension or compression. Experimental pull-out tests on individual connections allowed their load deflection characteristics to be established. A full scale experiment was performed on a one-storey one-bay 3 by 3 m infilled frame structure which was horizontally loaded at the top. With the characteristics of the frame-to-panel connections obtained from the experiments on individual connections, finite element analyses were performed on the infilled frame structures taking geometric and material non-linear behaviour of the structural components into account. The finite element model yields reasonably accurate results. This allows the model to be used for further parametric studies.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.83-101
• /
• 2008

A derivation is given of two-scale models that are able to describe deformation and flow in a fluid-saturated and progressively fracturing porous medium. From the micromechanics of the flow in the cavity, identities are derived that couple the local momentum and the mass balances to the governing equations for a fluid-saturated porous medium, which are assumed to hold on the macroscopic scale. By exploiting the partition-of-unity property of the finite element shape functions, the position and direction of the fractures are independent from the underlying discretization. The finite element equations are derived for this two-scale approach and integrated over time. The resulting discrete equations are nonlinear due to the cohesive crack model and the nonlinearity of the coupling terms. A consistent linearization is given for use within a Newton-Raphson iterative procedure. Finally, examples are given to show the versatility and the efficiency of the approach.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.349-360
• /
• 2008

In this paper, the modeling procedure of random field with an elasto-plastic finite element algorithm and probability of failure on closely-spaced tunnel were investigated. Local average subdivision (LAS) method which can generate discrete random variables fast and accurately as well as change the resolution in certain region was used. And correlated value allocating and weighted average method were suggested to implement geometrical characteristics of tunnel. After the probability of failure on the test problem was thoroughly investigated using random finite element method, the results were compared with the deterministic strength reduction factor method and single random variable method. Of particular importance in this work, is the conclusion that the probability of failure determined by simplified probabilistic analysis, in which spatial variability is ignored by assuming perfect correlation, can be estimated from the safety factor determined by strength reduction factor method. Also, single random variable method can lead to unconservative estimates of the probability of failure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.14 no.6
• /
• pp.713-732
• /
• 2002

A local radial point interpolation method (LRPIM) based on local residual formulation is presented and applied to solid mechanics in this paper. In LRPIM, the trial function is constructed by the radial point interpolation method (PIM) and establishes discrete equations through a local residual formulation, which can be carried out nodes by nodes. Therefore, element connectivity for trial function and background mesh for integration is not necessary. Radial PIM is used for interpolation so that singularity in polynomial PIM may be avoided. Essential boundary conditions can be imposed by a straightforward and effective manner due to its Delta properties. Moreover, the approximation quality of the radial PIM is evaluated by the surface fitting of given functions. Numerical performance for this LRPIM method is further studied through several numerical examples of solid mechanics.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2007

This study presents a non -prismatic beam element for modeling the elastic and inelastic behavior of the steel beam, which has the post-Northridge connections in steel moment frames that are subjected to earthquake ground motions. The elastic stiffness matrix for non-prismatic members with reduced beam section (RES) connection is in the closed-form. The plasticity model is of a discrete type and is composed of a series of nonlinear hinges connected by rigid links. The hardening rules can model the inelastic behavior for monotonic and random cyclic loading, and the effects of local buckling. Verification and calibration of the model are presented in a companion paper.