• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

This study introduces a technique for improving the elastomeric-isolator performance using modular devices. The modular devices are shear resistance block, polymer spring, displacement acceptance guide, and anti-falling block. They are installed on the elastomeric isolator as a supplementary device. Each modularized device improves the isolator performance by performing step-by-step actions according to the seismic intensity and displacement. The PRB isolation device works in four stages, depending on the seismic magnitude, to satisfy the target performance. It is designed to accommodate design displacement in the first stage and large magnitude of earthquakes in the second and third stages. This design prevents superstructures from falling in the fourth stage due to large-magnitude earthquakes by increasing the capacity limit of the elastomeric isolator. In this study, the PRB isolation device is analyzed using finite element analysis to verify that the PRB isolation device works as intended and it can withstand loads corresponding to large-magnitude earthquakes. The performance of the PRB isolation device is validated by the analysis, which is further corroborated by actual experiments.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.357-374
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• 2014

The design basis is being shifted from strength to deformation in modern performance-based design codes. This paper presents a practical method for optimization of eccentrically braced steel frames, based on the concept of uniform deformation theory (UDT). This is done by gradually shifting inefficient material from strong parts of the structure to the weak areas until a state of uniform deformation is achieved. In the first part of this paper, UDT is implemented on 3, 5 and 10 story eccentrically braced frames (EBF) subjected to 12 earthquake records representing the design spectrum of ASCE/SEI 7-10. Subsequently, the optimum strength-distribution patterns corresponding to these excitations are determined, and compared with four other loading patterns. Since the optimized frames have uniform distribution of deformation, they undergo less damage in comparison with code-based designed structures while having minimum structural weight. For further investigation, the 10 story EBF is redesigned using four different loading patterns and subjected to 12 earthquake excitations. Then a comparison is made between link rotations of each model and those belonging to the optimized one which revealed that the optimized EBF behaves generally better than those designed by other loading patterns. Finally, efficiency of each loading pattern is evaluated and the best one is determined.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.733-761
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• 2008

The failure of reinforced concrete structures in recent earthquakes caused concern about the performance of beam column joints. Confinement of joint is one of the ways to improve the performance of beam column joints during earthquakes. This paper describes an experimental study of exterior beam-column joints with two non-conventional reinforcement arrangements. One exterior beam-column joint of a six story building in seismic zone III of India was designed for earthquake loading. The transverse reinforcement of the joint assemblages were detailed as per IS 13920:1993 and IS 456:2000 respectively. The proposed nonconventional reinforcement was provided in the form of diagonal reinforcement on the faces of the joint, as a replacement of stirrups in the joint region for joints detailed as per IS 13920 and as additional reinforcement for joints detailed as per IS 456. These newly proposed detailing have the basic advantage of reducing the reinforcement congestion at the joint region. In order to study and compare the performance of joint with different detailing, four types of one-third scale specimens were cast (two numbers in each type). The main objective of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed reinforcement detailing. All the specimens were tested under reverse cyclic loading, with appropriate axial load. From the test results, it was found that the beam-column joint having confining reinforcement as per IS: 456 with nonconventional detailing performed well. Test results indicate that the non-conventionally detailed specimens, Type 2 and Type 4 have an improvement in average ductility of 16% and 119% than their conventionally detailed counter parts (Type1 and Type 3). Further, the joint shear capacity of the Type 2 and Type 4 specimens are improved by 8.4% and 15.6% than the corresponding specimens of Type 1 and Type 3 respectively. The present study proposes a closed form expression to compute the yield and ultimate load of the system. This is accomplished using the theory of statics and the failure pattern observed during testing. Good correlation is found between the theoretical and experimental results.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.78-91
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• 2024

Double steel plate concrete composite shear wall (SCSW) has been widely utilized in nuclear power plants and high-rise structures, and its shear connectors have a substantial impact on the seismic performance of SCSW. Therefore, in this study, the mechanical properties of SCSW with angle stiffening ribs as shear connections were parametrically examined for the reactor containment structure of nuclear power plants. The axial compression ratio of the SCSW, the spacing of the angle stiffening rib arrangement and the thickness of the angle stiffening rib steel plate were selected as the study parameters. Four finite element models were constructed by using the finite element program named ABAQUS to verify the experimental results of our team, and 13 finite element models were established to investigate the selected three parameters. Thus, the shear capacity, deformation capacity, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of SCSW were determined. The research results show that: compared with studs, using stiffened ribs as shear connectors can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of SCSW; When the axial compression ratio is 0.3-0.4, the seismic performance of SCSW can be maximized; with the lowering of stiffener gap, the shear bearing capacity is greatly enhanced, and when the gap is lowered to a specific distance, the shear bearing capacity has no major affect; in addition, increasing the thickness of stiffeners can significantly increase the shear capacity, ductility and energy dissipation capacity of SCSW. With the rise in the thickness of angle stiffening ribs, the improvement rate of each mechanical property index slows down. Finally, the shear bearing capacity calculation formula of SCSW with angle stiffening ribs as shear connectors is derived. The average error between the theoretical calculation formula and the finite element calculation results is 8% demonstrating that the theoretical formula is reliable. This study can provide reference for the design of SCSW.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.377-386
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• 2020

Beginning a few decades ago, Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, has experienced a dramatic construction boom that is revitalizing its skyline. The expansive growth looks to uphold the historic past of Baku as a focal point within the Caspian Sea Region while also evoking aspirations for a city of the future. With superstructure complete and interiors progressing, the Ministry of Taxation (MOT) tower is the latest addition to the city, with its stacked cubes twisting above a multi-level podium at the base. Each cube is separated by column-free green roof terraces, creating unique parametric reveals of the developing surroundings. Aside from MOT's stunning shape, its geolocation resulted in unusually high wind loads coupled with high seismic hazards for a tower of its height. In addition, limitations on possible structural systems required stepping away from a typical prescriptive code-based approach into one that utilized Performance-Based Design (PBD) methods. This paper presents the numerous structural challenges and innovations that allowed the design of a new icon to be realized.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.129-139
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• 2020

An approximate analysis method is proposed to predict the dynamic amplification of shear forces in ordinary reinforced concrete shear walls as a preliminary study. First, a seismic design for three groups of ordinary reinforced concrete shear walls higher than 60 m was created on the basis of nonlinear dynamic analysis. Causes for the dynamic amplification effect of shear forces were investigated through a detailed evaluation of the nonlinear dynamic analysis result. A new modal combination rule was proposed on the basis of that observation, in which fundamental mode response and combined higher mode response were summed directly. The fundamental mode response was approximated by nonlinear static analysis result, while higher mode response was computed using response spectrum analysis for equivalent linear structural models with the effective stiffness based on the nonlinear dynamic analysis result. The proposed approximate analysis generally predicted vertical distribution of story shear and shear forces of individual walls from the nonlinear dynamic analysis with comparable accuracy.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.561-570
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• 2022

It is of great importance to be able to evaluate different structural systems not only based on their seismic performance but also considering their lifetime service costs. Many structural systems exist that can meet the engineering requirements for different performance levels; therefore, these systems shall be selected based on their economic costs over time. In this paper, two structural systems, including special steel moment-resisting and the ordinary concentric braced frames, are considered, which are designed to meet the three performance levels: Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), Collapse Prevention (CP). The seismic behavior of these two systems is studied under three strong ground motions (i.e., Tabas, Bam, Kajour earthquake records) using the Perform3D package, and the incurred damages to the studied systems are examined at two hazard levels. Economic analyses were performed to determine the most economical structural system to meet the specified performance level requirements, considering the initial cost and costs associated with damages of an earthquake that occurred during their lifetime. In essence, the economic lifetime study results show that the special moment-resisting frames at IO and LS performance levels are at least 20% more economical than braced frames. The result of the study for these building systems with different heights designed for different performance levels also shows it is more economical from the perspective of long-term ownership of the property to design for higher performance levels even though the initial construction cost is higher.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.131-149
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• 2013

Various types of reinforcement splicing methods have been developed and implemented in reinforced concrete construction projects for achieving the continuity of reinforcements. Due to the complicated reinforcement arrangements and the difficulties in securing bar spacing, the traditional lap splicing method, which has been widely used in reinforced concrete constructions, often shows low constructability and difficulties in quality control. Also, lap spliced regions are likely to be over-reinforced, which may not be desirable in seismic design. On the other hand, mechanical splicing methods can offer simple and clear arrangements of reinforcement. In order to utilize the couplers for the ribbed-deformed bars, however, additional screw processing at the ends of reinforcing bars is typically required, which often lead to performance degradations of reinforced concrete members due to the lack of workmanship in screw processing or in adjusting the length of reinforcing bars. On the contrary, the use of screw-ribbed reinforcements can easily solve these issues on the mechanical splicing methods, because it does not require the screw process on the bar. In this study, the mechanical coupler suitable for the screw-ribbed reinforcements has been developed, in which any gap between the reinforcements and sleeve device can be removed by grouting high-flow inorganic mortar. This study presents the uniaxial tension tests on the screw-ribbed reinforcement with the mechanical sleeve devices and the cyclic loading tests on RC columns with the developed coupler. The test results show that the mechanical sleeve connection developed in this study has an excellent splicing performance, and that it is applicable to reinforced concrete columns with a proper confinement by hoop reinforcement.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.59-74
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• 2022

This study introduces a general reliability-based, performance-based design framework to design frames regarding their uncertainties and user-defined design goals. The Iterative-R method extracted from the main framework can designate a proper R (i.e., response modification factor) satisfying the design goal regarding target reliability index and pre-defined probability of collapse. The proposed methodology is based on FEMA P-695 and can be used for all systems that FEMA P-695 applies. To exemplify the method, multiple three-dimensional, four-story steel special moment-resisting frames are considered. Closed-form relationships are fitted between frames' responses and the modeling parameters. Those fits are used to construct limit state functions to apply reliability analysis methods for design safety assessment and the selection of proper R. The frameworks' unique feature is to consider arbitrarily defined probability density functions of frames' modeling parameters with an insignificant analysis burden. This characteristic enables the alteration in those parameters' distributions to meet the design goal. Furthermore, with sensitivity analysis, the most impactful parameters are identifiable for possible improvements to meet the design goal. In the studied examples, it is revealed that a proper R for frames with different levels of uncertainties could be significantly different from suggested values in design codes, alarming the importance of considering the stochastic behavior of elements' nonlinear behavior.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.399-400
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• 2023

Current building structural standards require the shear strength and rigidity in the design of vertical construction joints in a slurry wall. This paper proposes a shear key resistance method for shear connection of vertical construction joints, and compares its structural performance with the currently prevalent method of shear friction rebar. The study found the structural performance of the shear key resistance method was significantly better than that of the shear friction rebar method.