• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.23-34
• /
• 2022

This paper presents experimental studies on reinforced concrete moment resisting frames that have engineered cementitious composite (ECC) in plastic hinge length (PHL) of beam/column members and beam-column joints. A two-story frame structure reduced by a 1:3 scale was further tested through a shake-table (seismic simulator) using multiple levels of simulated earthquake motions. One model conformed to all the ACI-318 requirements for IMRF, whereas the second model used lower-strength concrete in the beam/column members outside PHL. The acceleration time history of the 1994 Northridge earthquake was selected and scaled to multiple levels for shake-table testing. This study reports the observed damage mechanism, lateral strength-displacement capacity curve, and the computed response parameters for each model. The tests verified that nonlinearity remained confined to beam/column ends, i.e., member joint interface. Calculated response modification factors were 11.6 and 9.6 for the code-conforming and concrete strength deficient models. Results show that the RC-ECC frame's performance in design-based and maximum considered earthquakes; without exceeding maximum permissible drift under design-base earthquake motions and not triggering any unstable mode of damage/failure under maximum considered earthquakes. This research also indicates that the introduction of ECC in PHL of the beam/column members' detailing may be relaxed for the IMRF structures.

• Coupled systems mechanics
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.175-190
• /
• 2013

Pounding damage has been observed frequently in major earthquakes in the form of aesthetic, minor or major structural cracks and collapse of buildings. Studies have identified a building located at one end of a row of buildings as very vulnerable to pounding damage, while buildings in the interior of the same row are assumed to be safer. This study presents the results of a shake table investigation of pounding between two and three buildings in a row. Two steel portal frames, one stiffer and another more flexible, were subjected to pounding against a frame with eight other configurations. Three pounding arrangements were considered, i.e., the reference frame (1) on the right of the second frame, (2) in the middle of two identical frames, and (3) on the right of two identical frames. Zero seismic gap was adopted for all tests. Five different ground motions are applied from both directions (right to left and left to right). The amplification of the maximum deflection due to pounding was calculated for each configuration. The results showed that, for the stiffer building in a row, row building pounding is more hazardous than pounding between only two buildings. The location of the stiffer frame, whether at the end or the middle of the row, did not have much effect on the degree of amplification observed. Additionally, for all cases considered, pounding caused less amplification for stronger ground motions, i.e., the ground motions that produced higher maximum deflection without pounding than other ground motions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.58 no.1
• /
• pp.121-142
• /
• 2016

The national standard being used in Turkey for suspended ceiling systems (SCS) regulates material and dimensional properties but does not contain regulations regarding installation instructions which cause substandard applications of SCSs in practice. The lack of installation instructions would potentially affect the dynamic performance of these systems. Also, the vast majority of these systems are manufactured using substandard low-quality materials, and this will inevitably increase SCS related damages during earthquakes. The experimental work presented here focuses on the issue of dynamic performance of SCSs with different types of carrier systems (lay-on and clip-in systems), different weight conditions, and material-workmanship qualities. Moreover, the effects of auxiliary fastening elements, so called seismic perimeter clips, in improving the dynamic performance of SCSs were experimentally investigated. Results show that clip-in ceiling system performs better than lay-on system regardless of material and workmanship qualities. On the other hand, the quality aspect becomes the most important parameter in affecting the dynamic performance of lay-on type systems as opposed to tile weights and usage of perimeter clips. When high quality system is used, tile weight does not change the performance of lay-on system, however in poor quality system, tile weight becomes an important factor where heavier tiles considerably decrease the performance level. Perimeter clips marginally increase the dynamic performance of lay-on ceiling system, but it has no effect on the clip-in ceiling system under the shaking levels considered.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.571-586
• /
• 2014

This paper presents experimental and numerical study on seismic performance of a super tall steel tower structure. The steel tower, with a height of 388 meters, employs a steel space truss with spiral steel columns to serve as its main lateral load resisting system. Moreover, this space truss was surrounded by the spiral steel columns to form a steel mega system in order to support a 12-story platform building which is located from the height of 230 meters to 263 meters. A 1/40 scaled model for this tower structure was made and tested on shake table under a series of one- and two-dimensional earthquake excitations with gradually increasing acceleration amplitudes. The test model performed elastically up to the seismic excitations representing the earthquakes with a return period of 475 years, and the test model also survived with limited damages under the seismic excitations representing the earthquakes with a return period 2475 years. A finite element model for the prototype structure was further developed and verified. It was noted that the model predictions on dynamic properties and displacement responses agreed reasonably well with test results. The maximum inter-story drift of the tower structure was obtained, and the stress in the steel members was investigated. Results indicated that larger displacement responses were observed for the section from the height of 50 meters to 100 meters in the tower structure. For structural design, applicable measures should be adopted to increase the stiffness and ductility for this section in order to avoid excessive deformations, and to improve the serviceability of the prototype structure.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.121-129
• /
• 2017

In this paper, the shake table test for the masonry infilled reinforced concrete frame with non-seismic details was carried out in order to evaluate its dynamic behaviour and damage under seismic condition. The tested specimens were the RC frame and the masonry infilled RC frame and the dynamic characteristics, such as a resonant period, acceleration response, displacement response and base shear force response, were compared between them. As a result of the shake table test, RC frame specimen had flexural cracks at the top and bottom of the column and shear cracks at the joints. In the case of masonry infilled RC frame, the damage of the frame was relatively minor but the sliding cracks and diagonal shear cracks on the masonry wall were severe at the final excitation. The resonant period of infilled RC frame specimen was shorter than that of the RC frame specimen because the masonry infill contributed to increase the stiffness. The maximum displacement response of the infilled RC frame specimen was decreased by about 20% than the RC frame specimen. It was analyzed that the masonry infill wall applied in this study contributed to increase the lateral strength of the RC frame with non - seismic detail by about 2.2 times and the stiffness by about 1.6 times.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.9 no.3
• /
• pp.207-230
• /
• 2012

Full-scale shake table seismic experiments and low-amplitude vibration tests on a masonry building are carried out to assess its seismic performance as well as study the effectiveness of a new multifunctional textile material for retrofitting masonry structures against earthquakes. The un-reinforced and the retrofitted with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) strips masonry building was subjected to a series of earthquake excitations of increasing magnitude in order to progressively induce various small, moderate and severe levels of damage to the masonry walls. The performance of the original and retrofitted building states is evaluated. Changes in the dynamic characteristics (lowest four modal frequencies and damping ratios) of the building are used to assess and quantify the damage states of the masonry walls. For this, the dynamic modal characteristics of the structure states after each earthquake event were estimated by performing low-amplitude impulse hammer and sine-sweep forced vibration tests. Comparisons between the modal results calculated using traditional accelerometers and those using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors embedded in the reinforcing textile were carried on to investigate the reliability and accuracy of FBG sensors in tracking the dynamic behaviour of the building. The retrofitting actions restored the stiffness characteristics of the reinforced masonry structure to the levels of the original undamaged un-reinforced structure. The results show that despite a similar dynamic behavior identified, corresponding to reduction of the modal frequencies, the un-reinforced masonry building was severely damaged, while the reinforced masonry building was able to withstand, without visual damage, the induced strong seismic excitations. The applied GFRP reinforcement architecture for one storey buildings was experimentally proven reliable for the most severe earthquake accelerations. It was easily placed in a short time and it is a cost effective solution (covering only 20% of the external wall surfaces) when compared to the cost for full wall coverage by GFRPs.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.955-967
• /
• 2014

Storage racks are used worldwide in industries and commercial outlets due to the advantage of lighter, faster erection and easy alteration of pallet level as required. The studies to understand the behaviour of cold formed steel pallet racks, under seismic action is one of the emerging area of research. The rack consists of perforated uprights and beams with hook-in end connector, which enables the floor height adjustments. The dynamic characteristics of these racks are not well established. This paper presents the dynamic characteristics of 3-D single bay two storey pallet rack system with hook-in end connectors, which is tested on shake table. The sweep sine test and El Centro earthquake acceleration is used to evaluate the seismic performance of the cold formed steel pallet racks. Also an attempt is made to evaluate the realistic dynamic characteristics by using STAAD Pro software. Modal analysis is performed by incorporating the effective moment of inertia of the upright, which considers the effect of presence of perforations and rotational stiffness of the beam-to-upright connection to determine the realistic fundamental frequency of pallet racks, which is required for carrying out the seismic design. Finite element model of the perforated upright section has been developed as a cantilever beam through which effective moment of inertia is evaluated. The stiffness of the hook-in connector is taken from the previous study by Prabha et al. (2010). The results from modal analysis are in good agreement with the respective experimental results.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.7 no.5
• /
• pp.627-645
• /
• 2014

Using OpenSees as a framework, constitutive models of reinforced, prestressed and prestressed steel fiber concrete found by the panel tests have been implemented into a finite element program called Simulation of Concrete Structures (SCS) to predict the seismic behavior of shear-critical reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. The developed finite element program was validated by tests on prestressed steel fiber concrete beams under monotonic loading, post tensioned precast concrete column under reversed cyclic loading, framed shear walls under reversed cyclic loading or shaking table excitations, and a seven-story wall building under shake table excitations. The comparison of analytical results with test outcomes indicates good agreement.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.305-308
• /
• 2006

In this paper, the seismic performance of SRC piers for near fault motions was evaluated by shaking table tests on small scale models. Dead load of the superstructures was simulated by axial prestress at the center of the column section. A mass frame linked with steel bars was fabricated to include the effect of superstructure mass. Friction of the mass frame when it moves was minimized by special details and it was proved before tests. Five pier models with 400mm diameter were tested by increasing the acceleration of the near fault motion. Test results were discussed and compared with previous quasi-static tests.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.57-72
• /
• 2020

This paper presents the results of a monodirectional shaking table test on a full-scale unreinforced masonry cross vault characterized by asymmetric boundary conditions. The specimen represents a vault of the mosque of Dey in Algiers (Algeria), reproducing in detail the mechanical characteristics of masonry, and the constructive details including the presence of some peculiar wooden logs placed within the vault's abutments. The vault was tested with and without the presence of two steel bars which connect two opposite sides of the vault. The dynamic behaviour of both the vault's configurations were studied by using an incremental dynamic analysis up to the collapse of the vault without the steel bars. The use of an innovative high-resolution 3D optical system allowed measure displacement data of the cross vault during the shake table tests. The experimental results were analysed in terms of evolution of damage mechanisms, and in-plane and out-of-plane deformations. Moreover, the dynamic properties of the structure were investigated by means of an experimental modal analysis.