• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.889-913
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• 2015

Structural vibration characteristics of a semi-active base-isolated building were investigated using seismic observation records including those of the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake (Tohoku earthquake). Three different types of analyses were conducted. First, we investigated the long-term changes in the natural frequencies and damping factors by using an ARX model and confirmed that the natural frequency of the superstructure decreased slightly after the main shock of the Tohoku earthquake. Second, we investigated short-term changes in the natural frequencies and damping factors during the main shock by using the N4SID method and observed different transition characteristics between the first and second modes. In the second mode, in which the superstructure response is most significant, the natural frequency changed depending on the response amplitude. In addition, at the beginning of the ground motion, the identified first natural frequency was high possibly as a result of sliding friction. Third, we compared the natural frequencies and damping factors between the conditions of a properly functional semi-active control system and a nonfunctional system, by using the records of the aftershocks of the Tohoku earthquake. However, we could not detect major differences because the response was probably influenced by sliding friction, which had a more significant effect on damping characteristics than did the semi-active dampers.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.287-297
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• 2011

This paper presents the results of performance verification tests of the isolated flat plate apartment building with the laminated rubber bearings. The shaking table test is carried out in CABR(China Academy of Building Research) with two 1/10 scale isolation and non-isolation models under 4 excitation waves. The shaking table test is proceeding from x axis, y axis and x+y axis with different amplitude of acceleration values. The results show that, to non-isolated model, the natural vibration period is remarkably decreased and entered non-linear condition after moderate earthquake. Its accelerations become lager with increasing storey number and completely collapsed under large earthquake. The inter-storey shifts largely exceed the limit values of regulated displacement angles. But to isolated model, the natural vibration period of isolated modal is almost the same in all conditions and still in its elastic condition. The earthquake loading is greatly reduced and the accelerations of superstructure are greatly reduced. The inter-storey drifts are very small and can be neglected. The isolated model is in translational state and can be seen as a rigid whole. The displacements of isolation layer are in the allowable range. This experiment demonstrates that the seismic isolation is very effective to mitigate the influence of earthquake on structures and it is possible to increase the serviceability due to decrease the floor acceleration. facilities from their good states that is superior to non-isolated structure.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2020

One of the most suitable methods in structural design is seismic separator. Lead-Rubber Bearing (LRB) is one of the most well-known separation systems which can be used in different types of structures. This system mitigates the earthquake acceleration prior to transferring to the structure efficiently. However, the performance of this system in concrete structures with different heights have not been evaluated thoroughly yet. This paper aims to evaluate the performance of LRB separation system in concrete structures with different heights. For this purpose, three, 16, and 23 story concrete structures are equipped by LRB and exposed to a far-field earthquake. Next, a time history analysis is conducted on each of the structures. Finally, the performance of the concrete structures is compared with each other in the term of their response to the earthquakes and the formation of plastic hinges. The results of the paper show that the rate of change in acceleration response and the ratio of drift along the height of 8 and 23 stories concrete structures are more than those of the 16-stories, and the use of LRB reduces the formation of plastic joints.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.479-500
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• 2013

This paper presents the experimental as well as analytical study conducted on layer-bonded scrap tire rubber pad (STRP) isolators to develop low-cost seismic isolators applicable to structures in developing countries. The STRP specimen samples were produced by stacking the STRP layers one on top of another with the application of adhesive. In unbonded application, the STRP bearings were placed between the substructure and superstructure without fastening between the contact surfaces which allows roll-off of the contact supports. The vertical compression and horizontal shear tests were conducted with varying axial loads. These results were used to compute the different mechanical properties of the STRP isolators including vertical stiffness, horizontal effective stiffness, average horizontal stiffness and effective damping ratios. The load-displacement relationships of STRP isolators obtained by experimental and finite element analysis results were found to be in close agreement. The tested STRP samples show energy dissipation capacity considerably greater than the natural rubber bearings. The layer-bonded STRP isolators serve positive incremental force resisting capacity up to the shear strain level of 150%.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.51-69
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• 2016

Monitoring the performance and estimating the remaining useful life of aging civil infrastructure in the United States has been identified as a major objective in the civil engineering community. Structural health monitoring has emerged as a central tool to fulfill this objective. This paper presents a review of the major structural monitoring programs that have been recently implemented in the United States, focusing on the integrity and performance assessment of large-scale structural systems. Applications where response data from a monitoring program have been used to detect and correct structural deficiencies are highlighted. These applications include (but are not limited to): i) Post-earthquake damage assessment of buildings and bridges; ii) Monitoring of cables vibration in cable-stayed bridges; iii) Evaluation of the effectiveness of technologies for retrofit and seismic protection, such as base isolation systems; and iv) Structural damage assessment of bridges after impact loads resulting from ship collisions. These and many other applications show that a structural health monitoring program is a powerful tool for structural damage and condition assessment, that can be used as part of a comprehensive decision-making process about possible actions that can be undertaken in a large-scale civil infrastructure system after potentially damaging events.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.1-10
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• 2001

In this study, the horizontal loading tests of 10ton and 200ton capacity of LRB(lead-rubber bearing) were performed for the evaluation of the dynamic properties of the LRB. It is noted from the test results that dynamic properties of the LRB are dependent on the loading frequency, vertical load and shear strain. A Slender bearing subjected to large deformation will tend to develop plastic hinges in the end regions of the lead plug which will cause the failure of the lead plug. It is recommended that the appropriate mechanical properties of LRB considering the level of structural response and input ground motion should be used in the design of base isolated structures.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.51-63
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• 2002

This paper presents a hybrid control strategy for seismic protection of a benchmark cable-stayed bridge, which is provided as a testbed structure for the development of strategies for the control of cable-stayed bridges. This benchmark problem considers the cable-stayed bridge that is scheduled for completion in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA in 2003. Seismic considerations were strongly considered in the design of this bridge due to the location of the bridge in the New Madrid seismic zone and its critical role as a principal crossing of the Mississippi river. Based on detailed drawings of this cable-stayed bridge, a three-dimensional linearlized evaluation model has been developed to represent the complex behavior of the bridge. A set of eighteen evaluation criteria has been developed to evaluate the capabilities of each control strategy. In this study, a hybrid control system is composed of a passive control system to reduce the earthquake-induced forces in the structure and an active control system to further reduce the bridge responses, especially deck displacements. Conventional base isolation devices such as lead rubber bearings are used for the passive control design and Bouc-Wen model is used to simulate the nonlinear behavior of these devices For the active control design, ideal hydraulic actuators are used and on $H_2$/LQG control algorithm is adopted. Numerical simulation results show that the performance of the proposed hybrid control strategy is quite effective compared to that of the passive control strategy and slightly better than that of the active control strategy. The hybrid control method is also more reliable than the fully active control method due to the passive control part. Therefore, the proposed hybrid control strategy can effectively be used to seismically excited cable-stayed bridges.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 2020

In this paper, slit steel rubber bearing is presented as an innovative seismic isolator device. In this type of isolator, slit steel damper is an energy dissipation device. Its advantages in comparison with that of the lead rubber bearing are its simplicity in manufacturing process and replacement of its yielding parts. Also, slit steel rubber bearing has the same ability to dissipate energy with smaller value of displacement. Using finite element method in ABAQUS software, a parametric study is done on the performance of this bearing. Three different kinds of isolator with three different values of strut width, 9, 12 and 15 mm, three values of thickness, 4, 6 and 8 mm and two steel types with different yield stress are assessed. Effects of these parameters on the performance characteristics of slit steel rubber bearing are studied. It is shown that by decreasing the thickness and strut width and by selecting the material with lower yield stress, values of effective stiffness, energy dissipation capacity and lateral force in the isolator reduce but equivalent viscous damping is not affected significantly. Thus, by choosing appropriate values for thickness, strut width and slit steel damper yield stress, an isolator with the desired behavior can be achieved. Finally, the performance of an 8-storey frame with the proposed isolator is compared with the same frame equipped with LRB. Results show that SSRB is successful in base shear reduction of structure in a different way from LRB.