• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.645-675
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• 2012

An effective design technique for symmetrical coupled shear walls is presented. Proposed formulation including assumptions and steps with mathematical formulation has been elaborated to make the design technique. An example has been considered to validate the technique with the DRAIN-3DX (1993) and SAP V 10.0.5 (2000) nonlinear programs. Parametric study has also been considered to find out the limitations along with remedial action of this technique. On the other hand, nonlinear static analysis is considered to determine the response reduction factor of coupled shear walls. Finally, it has been concluded in this paper that the proposed design technique can be considered to design the coupled shear walls under seismic motion.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.447-470
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• 2014

Numerical simulation of the non-linear behavior of (RC) structural walls subjected to severe earthquake ground motions requires a reliable modeling approach that includes important material characteristics and behavioral response features. The objective of this paper is to optimize a simplified method for the assessment of the seismic response and damage development analyses of an RC structural wall building using macro-element model. The first stage of this study investigates effectiveness and ability of the macro-element model in predicting the flexural nonlinear response of the specimen based on previous experimental test results conducted in UCLA. The sensitivity of the predicted wall responses to changes in model parameters is also assessed. The macro-element model is next used to examine the dynamic behavior of the structural wall building-all the way from elastic behavior to global instability, by applying an approximate Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA), based on Uncoupled Modal Response History Analysis (UMRHA), setting up nonlinear single degree of freedom systems. Finally, the identification of the global stiffness decrease as a function of a damage variable is carried out by means of this simplified methodology. Responses are compared at various locations on the structural wall by conducting static and dynamic pushover analyses for accurate estimation of seismic performance of the structure using macro-element model. Results obtained with the numerical model for rectangular wall cross sections compare favorably with experimental responses for flexural capacity, stiffness, and deformability. Overall, the model is qualified for safety assessment and design of earthquake resistant structures with structural walls.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.566-577
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• 2002

As advanced earthquake analysis/design methods such as the nonlinear static analysis are developed, it is required to estimate precisely the cyclic behavior of reinforced concrete members that is characterized by strength, deformability, and capacity of energy dissipation. However, currently, estimation of energy dissipation depends on empirical equations that are not sufficiently accurate, or experiment and sophisticated numerical analysis which are difficult to use in practice.0 the present study, nonlinear finite element analysis was performed to investigate the behavioral characteristics of flexure-dominant RC members under cyclic load. The effects of axial force, arrangement of reinforcing bars, and reinforcement ratio on the cyclic behavior were studied. Based on the investigation, a simplified method to estimate the capacity of energy dissipation was proposed, and it was verified by the comparison with the finite element analyses and experiments. The proposed method can estimate the energy dissipation of RC members more precisely than currently used empirical equations, and it is easily applicable in practice.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.261-284
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• 2009

The seismic behavior of a framed structure with chevron-type buckling restrained braces was investigated and their behavior factors, such as overstrength, ductility, and response modification factors, were evaluated. Two types of structures, building frame systems and dual systems, with 4, 8, 12, and 16 stories were designed per the IBC 2003, the AISC LRFD and the AISC Seismic Provisions. Nonlinear static pushover analyses using two different loading patterns and incremental dynamic analysis using 20 earthquake records were carried out to compute behavior factors. Time history analyses were also conducted with another 20 earthquakes to obtain dynamic responses. According to the analysis results, the response modification factors turned out to be larger than what is proposed in the provision in low-rise structures, and a little smaller than the code-values in the medium-rise structures. The dual systems, even though designed with smaller seismic load, showed superior static and dynamic performances.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.491-506
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• 2019

Literature regarding concrete walls reinforced by super elastic shape memory alloy (SMA) bars is rather limited. The seismic behavior of a system concurrently including a distinct steel reinforced concrete (RC) wall, as well as another wall reinforced by super elastic SMA at the first story, and steel rebar at upper stories, would be an interesting matter. In this paper, the seismic response of such a COMBINED system is compared to a conventional system with steel RC concrete walls (STEEL-Rein.) and also to a wall system with SMA rebar at the first story and steel rebar at other stories ( SMA-Rein.). Nonlinear time history analysis at maximum considered earthquake (MCE) and design bases earthquake (DBE) levels is conducted and the main responses like maximum inter-story drift ratio and residual inter-story drift ratio are investigated. Furthermore, incremental dynamic analysis is used to accomplish probabilistic seismic studies by creating fragility curves. Results demonstrated that the SMA-Rein. system, subjected to DBE and MCE ground motions, has almost zero and 0.27% residual maximum inter-story drifts, while the values for the COMBINED system are 0.25% and 0.51%. Furthermore, fragility curves show that using SMA rebar at the base of all walls causes a larger probability of exceedance 3% inter-story drift limit state compared to the COMBINED system. Static push over analysis demonstrated that the strength of the COMBINED model is almost 0.35% larger than that of the two other models, and its general post-yielding stiffness is also approximately twice the corresponding stiffness of the two other models.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.367-392
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• 2020

The specific characteristics of near-field earthquake records can lead to different dynamic responses of bridges compared to far-field records. However, the effect of near-field strong ground motion has often been neglected in the seismic performance assessment of the bridges. Furthermore, damage to horizontally curved multi-frame RC box-girder bridges in the past earthquakes has intensified the potential of seismic vulnerability of these structures due to their distinctive dynamic behavior. Based on the nonlinear time history analyses in OpenSEES, this article, assesses the effects of near-field versus far-field earthquakes on the seismic performance of horizontally curved multi-frame RC box-girder bridges by accounting the vertical component of the earthquake records. Analytical seismic fragility curves have been derived thru considering uncertainties in the earthquake records, material and geometric properties of bridges. The findings indicate that near-field effects reasonably increase the seismic vulnerability in this bridge sub-class. The results pave the way for future regional risk assessments regarding the importance of either including or excluding near-field effects on the seismic performance of horizontally curved bridges.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.333-347
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• 2017

Masonry infill walls are unavoidable parts of any building to create a separation between internal space and external environment. In general, there are some prevalent openings in the infill wall due to functional needs, architectural considerations or aesthetic concerns. In current design practice, the strength and stiffness contribution of infill walls is not considered. However, the presence of infill walls may decisively influence the seismic response of structures subjected to earthquake loads and cause a different behavior from that predicted for a bare frame. Furthermore, partial openings in the masonry infill wall are significant parameter affecting the seismic behavior of infilled frames thereby decreasing the lateral stiffness and strength. The possible effects of openings in the infill wall on seismic behavior of RC frames is analytically studied by means of pushover analysis of several bare, partially and fully infilled frames having different bay and story numbers. The stiffness loss due to partial opening is introduced by the stiffness reduction factors which are developed from finite element analysis of frames considering frame-infill interaction. Pushover curves of frames are plotted and the maximum base shear forces, the yield displacement, the yield base shear force coefficient, the displacement demand, interstory drift ratios and the distribution of story shear forces are determined. The comparison of parameters both in terms of seismic demand and capacity indicates that partial openings decisively influences the nonlinear behavior of RC frames and cause a different behavior from that predicted for a bare frame or fully infilled frame.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.23-30
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• 2010

Seismic qualification (SQ) is required prior to the installation of safety related electrical cabinets in nuclear power plants (NPPs). Modal identification of the electrical equipment is one of the most significant steps to perform SQ, and is an essential process to construct a realistic analytical model. In this study, shaking table tests were conducted to identify a variation of the dynamic characteristics of a seismic monitoring system cabinet installed in NPPs according to the excitation level. Modal identification of the cabinet has been performed by a frequency domain decomposition method. The results of this study show that the dynamic properties of the cabinet are nonlinearly varied according to the excitation level and the specimen behaves significantly in a nonlinear manner under safe shutdown earthquake motion in Korea. The main sources of the nonlinear behavior of the specimen have been judged by friction forces and geometrical nonlinearity rather than material nonlinearity. The nonlinear variation of the dynamic characteristics of the electrical cabinet might be accepted as an important fact that should be considered during the SQ of safety related equipment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.351-368
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• 2008

The purpose of this paper is to propose a simple analysis method of axial deformation of base-isolation rubber bearings in a building subjected to earthquake loading and present its applicability to the analysis of the bound of the aspect ratio of base-isolated buildings. The base shear coefficient is introduced as a key parameter for the bound analysis. The bound of the aspect ratio of base-isolated buildings is analyzed based on the relationship of the following four quantities; (i) ultimate state of the tensile stress of rubber bearings based on a proposed simple recursive analysis for seismic loading, (ii) ultimate state of drift of the base-isolation story for seismic loading, (iii) ultimate state of the axial compressive stress of rubber bearings under dead loads, (iv) prediction of the overturning moment at the base for seismic loading. In particular, a new recursive analysis method of axial deformation of rubber bearings is presented taking into account the nonlinear tensile behavior of rubber bearings and it is shown that the relaxation of the constraint on the ultimate state of the tensile stress of rubber bearings increases the limiting aspect ratio.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.213-229
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• 2013

Although performance based assessment procedures are mainly developed for reinforced concrete and steel buildings, URM (Unreinforced Masonry) buildings occupy significant portion of buildings in earthquake prone areas of the world as well as in IRAN. Variability of material properties, non-engineered nature of the construction and difficulties in structural analysis of masonry walls make analysis of URM buildings challenging. Despite sophisticated finite element models satisfy the modeling requirements, extensive experimental data for definition of material behavior and high computational resources are needed. Recently, nonlinear equivalent frame models which are developed assigning lumped plastic hinges to isotropic and homogenous equivalent frame elements are used for nonlinear modeling of URM buildings. The equivalent frame models are not novel for the analysis of masonry structures, but the actual potentialities have not yet been completely studied, particularly for non-linear applications. In the present paper an effective tool for the non-linear static analysis of 2D masonry walls is presented. The work presented in this study is about performance assessment of unreinforced brick masonry buildings through nonlinear equivalent frame modeling technique. Reliability of the proposed models is tested with a reversed cyclic experiment conducted on a full scale, two-story URM building at the University of Pavia. The pushover curves were found to provide good agreement with the experimental backbone curves. Furthermore, the results of analysis show that EFM (Equivalent Frame Model) with Dolce RO (rigid offset zone) and shell element have good agreement with finite element software and experimental results.