• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.29-44
• /
• 2020

The effectiveness and the sensitivity of a Wireless impedance/Admittance Monitoring System (WiAMS) for the prompt damage diagnosis of two single-storey single-span Reinforced Concrete (RC) frames under cyclic loading is experimentally investigated. The geometrical and the reinforcement characteristics of the RC structural members of the frames represent typical old RC frame structure without consideration of seismic design criteria. The columns of the frames are vulnerable to shear failure under lateral load due to their low height-to-depth ratio and insufficient transverse reinforcement. The proposed Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system comprises of specially manufactured autonomous portable devices that acquire the in-situ voltage frequency responses of a network of twenty piezoelectric transducers mounted to the RC frames. Measurements of external and internal small-sized piezoelectric patches are utilized for damage localization and assessment at various and increased damage levels as the magnitude of the imposed lateral cycle deformations increases. A bare RC frame and a strengthened one using a pair of steel crossed tension-ties (X-bracing) have been tested in order to check the sensitivity of the developed WiAMS in different structural conditions since crack propagation, damage locations and failure mode of the examined frames vary. Indeed, the imposed loading caused brittle shear failure to the column of the bare frame and the formation of plastic hinges at the beam ends of the X-braced frame. Test results highlighted the ability of the proposed SHM to identify incipient damages due to concrete cracking and steel yielding since promising early indication of the forthcoming critical failures before any visible sign has been obtained.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.48-56
• /
• 2021

Due to the recent earthquake that has occurred worldwide, interest in seismic reinforcement of structures is increasing. In order to improve the seismic performance of the structure, the seismic reinforcement of the column should be made. Various seismic retrofit methods are being developed to improve the seismic performance of columns. In this study, in order to improve the seismic performance of RC columns, an numerical study was conducted to evaluate the seismic performance of the columns by applying a surface constrained pressure. For the numerical study, the experimental study on the column was used, and the failure shape and behavior characteristics of the experimental results and the numerical results were compared. As a result of the numerical study, the ductile behavior of the RC columns occurred according to the strength of the surface constraining stress. In addition, ductile behavior occurred almost constant above a certain surface constrained pressure. Compared with the numerical results and the experimental results, he reinforcing effect of the used seismic reinforcement of the column in experimental study was compared with the value of the surface constrained pressure for the RC column, and the seismic reinforcing effect was examined as the surface constrained pressure value for the RC column. In conclusion, in this work, surface constrained stress and constrained strength for ductile behavior of RC columns are derived. Based on the results derived, it is believed that it can be used as basic data on the review of seismic design methods and seismic performance complementary effects using ductile behavior induction of RC columns.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.94 no.6
• /
• pp.377-386
• /
• 2005

This study was carried out to analyse the landslide characteristics by ground investigation, borehole image processing system, field seismic test, laboratory test and ground stability analysis at the landsliding area occurred in Maeri, Sangdong-myeon, Gimhaesi, Gyeongsangnam-do. Region I needs to install data logger system to monitor a land displacement during the heavy rainfall events because the region can be liable to occur the land slide by land creeping. It is needed to restore rapidly, if the land displacement occurs in Region I. Region II needs to monitor and repair because of the possibility of slope failure by long-term soil loss. Region III needs constructions to remove ground runoff and ground water to be infiltrated from talus. Region IV where is a stable region, needs to be protected from land cutting or other man-made damage.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 2023

This study investigated the rocking behavior of unreinforced masonry walls and wall piers under cyclic loading. Based on the benchmark tests, the characteristics of load-deformation relations in masonry walls with rocking failure were captured, focusing on observed deformation modes. The rocking strengths of masonry walls (i.e., peak and residual strengths) were evaluated, and the effects of opening configurations on the masonry wall strength were examined. The deformation capacity of the rocking behavior and the hysteresis shape of the load-deformation relations were also identified. Based on the results, modeling approaches for the rocking behavior of masonry walls were discussed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.349-360
• /
• 2018

Reinforced concrete (RC) moment frames supported on two ground levels have been widely constructed in mountainous areas with medium to high seismicity in China. In order to investigate the seismic collapse behavior and risk, a scaled frame model was tested under constant axial load and reversed cyclic lateral load. Test results show that the failure can be induced by the development of story yielding at the first story above the upper ground. The strong column and weak beam mechanism can be well realized at stories below the upper ground. Numerical analysis model was developed and calibrated with the test results. Three pairs of six case study buildings considering various structural configurations were designed and analyzed, showing similar dynamic characteristics between frames on two ground levels and flat ground of each pair. Incremental dynamic analyses (IDA) were then conducted to obtain the seismic collapse fragility curves and collapse margin ratios of nine analysis cases designated based on the case study buildings, considering amplification of earthquake effect and strengthening measures. Analysis results indicate that the seismic collapse safety is mainly determined by the stories above the upper ground. The most probable collapse mechanism may be induced by the story yielding of the bottom story on the upper ground level. The use of tie beam and column strengthening can effectively enhance the seismic collapse safety of frames on two ground levels.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.30 no.2A
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 2010

The numerical analysis and safety assessment by construction stages were considered the essential examination particular in order to solving the unstability of long-span bridges in the middle a construction. When estimating structural response characteristics by the construction stage analysis of long-span bridges, the influence of the near-field ground motion (NFGM) would be evaluated as a critical factor for the seismic design because it indicates clearly different aspects from the existing input earthquake motion data. Therefore, this study re-examined the response aspect of long-span bridges considering NFGM characteristics based on the response spectrum result, and advanced the presented numerical analysis program by the related research for conducting the construction stage analysis and reliability assessment of long-span bridges efficiently. The excellency of various construction schemes was assessed using the time history analysis result of critical member considering NFGM characteristics. For evaluating quantitative safety level, the reliability analysis was conducted considering the influence of external uncertainties included in random variables, and presented the safety index and failure probability of the critical construction stage by NFGM characteristics. In addition, the reliability result was examined the influence of internal uncertainties using monte carlo simulation (MCS), and assessed the distribution aspect of the essential analysis result. It is expected that this study will provide the basic information for the construction safety improvement when performing seismic design of long-span bridges considering NFGM characteristics.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.323-352
• /
• 2016

The results of a series of finite element (FE) simulations and experimental studies are used to develop strength and stiffness models that predict the failure capacity and response characteristics of unstiffened extended endplate connections with circular and rectangular bolt configurations associated with deep girders. The proposed stiffness models are composed of multi-linear springs which model the overall extended endplate/column flange system deformation and strength of key-components. Comparison of model predictions with FE and experimental results available in the literature show that the proposed models accurately predict the strength and the response of extended endplate/column system with circular and rectangular bolt configurations. The effect of the bolt configuration (circular and rectangular) on the prying phenomenon encountered in the unstiffened extended endplate/column system was investigated. Based on FE results, extended endplate with circular bolt configuration has a more ductile behavior and exhibits higher total prying forces. The proposed models can be used to design connections that cover all possible failure modes for extended endplate with circular bolt configuration. This study provides guidelines for engineers to account for the additional forces induced in the tension bolts and for the maximum rotational capacity demand in the connection which are required for seismic analysis and design.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.33-44
• /
• 2008

Most of the civil structure - bridges, offshore structures, plant, etc. - have been designed by the classical approaches which deal with all the design parameters as deterministic variables. However, some more advanced techniques are required to evaluate the inherent randomness and uncertainty of each design variable. In this research, a seismic safety assessment algorithm based on the structural reliability analysis has been formulated and computerized for more reasonable seismic design of turbine-generator foundations. The formulation takes the design parameters of the system and loading properties as random variables. Using the proposed method, various kinds of parametric studies have been performed and probabilistic characteristics of the resulted structural responses have been evaluated. Afterwards, the probabilistic safety of the system has been quantitatively evaluated and finally presented as the reliability indexes and failure probabilities. The proposed procedure is expected to be used as a fundamental tool to improve the existing design techniques of turbine-generator foundations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.343-356
• /
• 2016

As the common cast-in-place construction works fails to meet the enormous construction demand under rapid economic growth, the development of prefabricated structure instead becomes increasingly promising in China. For the prefabricated structure, its load carrying connection joint play a key role in maintaining the structural integrity. Therefore, a novel end plate bolt connecting joint between fully prefabricated pre-stressed concrete beam and high-strength reinforcement-confined concrete column was proposed. Under action of low cycle repeated horizontal loadings, comparative tests are conducted on 6 prefabricated pre-stressed intermediate joint specimens and 1 cast-in-place joint specimen to obtain the specimen failure modes, hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, ductility factor, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity and other seismic indicators, and the seismic characteristics of the new-type prefabricated beam-column connecting joint are determined. The test results show that all the specimens for end plate bolt connecting joint between fully prefabricated pre-stressed concrete beam and high-strength reinforcement-confined concrete column have realized the design objectives of strong column weak beam. The hysteretic curves for specimens are good, indicating desirable ductility and energy dissipation capacity and seismic performances, and the research results provide theoretical basis and technical support for the promotion and application of prefabricated assembly frames in the earthquake zone.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.307-321
• /
• 2020

The slim-floor solution provides an efficient alternative to the classic slab-over-beam configuration due to architectural and structural benefits. Two deficiencies can be identified in the current state-of-art: (i) the technique is limited to nonseismic applications and (ii) the lack of information on moment-resisting slim-floor beam-to-column joints. In the seismic design of framed structures, continuous beam-to-column joints are required for plastic hinges to form at the ends of the beams. The present paper proposes a slim-floor technical solution capable of expanding the current application of slim-floor joints to seismic-resistant composite construction. The proposed solution relies on a moment-resisting connection with a thick end-plate and large-diameter bolts, which are used to fulfill the required strength and stiffness characteristics of continuous connections, while maintaining a reduced height of the configuration. Considering the proposed novel solution and the variety of parameters that could affect the behavior of the joint, experimental and numerical validations are compulsory. Consequently, the current paper presents the experimental and numerical investigation of two slim-floor beam-to-column joint assemblies. The results are discussed in terms of moment-rotation curves, available rotational capacity and failure modes. The study focuses on developing reliable slim-floor beam joints that are applicable to steel building frame structures located in seismic regions.