• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.211-228
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• 2013

The structure analyzed in this paper has particular building style and special structural system. It is a rigid-connected twin-tower skyscraper with asymmetrical distribution of stiffness and masses in two towers. Because of the different stiffness between the north and the south towers, the torsion seismic vibration is significant. In this paper, in order to study the seismic response of the structure under both frequent low-intensity earthquakes as well as rare earthquakes at the levels of intensity 7, the analysis model is built and analyzed with NosaCAD. NosaCAD is an nonlinear structure analysis software based on second-development of AutoCAD with ObjectARX. It has convenient modeling function, high computational efficiency and diversity post-processing functions. The deformations, forces and damages of the structure are investigated based on the analysis. According to the analysis, there is no damage on the structure under frequent earthquakes, and the structure has sufficient capacity and ductility to resist rare earthquakes. Therefore the structure can reach the goal of no damage under frequent earthquakes and no collapse under rare earthquakes. The deformation of the structure is below the limit in Chinese code. The time sequence and distribution of damages on tubes are reasonable, which can dissipate some dynamic energy. At last, according to forces, load-carrying capacity and damage of elements, there are some suggestions on increasing the reinforcement in the core tube at base and in stiffened stories.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.547-563
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• 2020

In this paper, the influence of axial compression ratio on the mechanical properties of new type joints of side span of rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular column-H-type steel beam is studied. Two new types of side-span joints of rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular column-H-type steel beam are designed and quasi-static tests of five new type joints with 1:2 scale reduction ratios are performed. The axial compression ratio of joint JD1 is 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5, and the axial compression ratio of joint JD2 is 0.3 and 0.5. In the joint test, different axial forces were applied to the top of the column according to different axial compression ratios, and low-cyclic reciprocating load was applied on the beam. The stress and strain distribution, beam and column deformation, limit state, failure process, failure mechanism, stiffness degradation, ductile deformation and energy dissipation capacity of the joint were measured and analyzed. The results show that: with the increase of axial compression ratio, the ultimate bearing capacity of the joint decreases slightly, the plastic deformation decreases, and the stiffness and ductility decrease. According to the energy dissipation curve of the specimen, the equivalent damping coefficient also increases with the increase of axial compression ratio in a certain range, indicating that the increase of axial compression ratio can improve the seismic performance of the joint to a certain extent. The finite element method is used to simulate the joint test, and the test results are in good agreement with the simulation results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.791-818
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• 2015

RC buildings constitute the prevailing type of construction in earthquake-prone region like Kathmandu Valley. Most of these building constructions were based on conventional methods. In this context, the present paper studied the seismic behaviour of existing RC buildings in Kathmandu Valley. For this, four representative building structures with different design and construction, namely a building: (a) representing the non-engineered construction (RC1 and RC2) and (b) engineered construction (RC3 and RC4) has been selected for analysis. The dynamic properties of the case study building models are analyzed and the corresponding interaction with seismic action is studied by means of non-linear analyses. The structural response measures such as capacity curve, inter-storey drift and the effect of geometric non-linearities are evaluated for the two orthogonal directions. The effect of plan and vertical irregularity on the performance of the structures was studied by comparing the results of two engineered buildings. This was achieved through non-linear dynamic analysis with a synthetic earthquake subjected to X, Y and $45^{\circ}$ loading directions. The nature of the capacity curve represents the strong impact of the P-delta effect, leading to a reduction of the global lateral stiffness and reducing the strength of the structure. The non-engineered structures experience inter-storey drift demands higher than the engineered building models. Moreover, these buildings have very low lateral resistant, lesser the stiffness and limited ductility. Finally, a seismic safety assessment is performed based on the proposed drift limits. Result indicates that most of the existing buildings in Nepal exhibit inadequate seismic performance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.891-907
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• 2020

Many studies reveal that during destructive earthquakes, most of the structures enter the inelastic phase. The amount of hysteretic energy in a structure is considered as an important criterion in structure design and an important indicator for the degree of its damage or vulnerability. The hysteretic energy value wasted after the structure yields is the most important component of the energy equation that affects the structures system damage thereof. Controlling this value of energy leads to controlling the structure behavior. Here, for the first time, the hysteretic behavior and energy dissipation capacity are assessed at presence of elliptical braced resisting frames (ELBRFs), through an experimental study and numerical analysis of FEM. The ELBRFs are of lateral load systems, when located in the middle bay of the frame and connected properly to the beams and columns, in addition to improving the structural behavior, do not have the problem of architectural space in the bracing systems. The energy dissipation capacity is assessed in four frames of small single-story single-bay ELBRFs at ½ scale with different accessories, and compared with SMRF and X-bracing systems. The frames are analyzed through a nonlinear FEM and a quasi-static cyclic loading. The performance features here consist of hysteresis behavior, plasticity factor, energy dissipation, resistance and stiffness variation, shear strength and Von-Mises stress distribution. The test results indicate that the good behavior of the elliptical bracing resisting frame improves strength, stiffness, ductility and dissipated energy capacity in a significant manner.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.119-133
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• 2017

Several theoretical and analytical formulations for the prediction of shear strength in reinforced concrete (RC) beam-to-column joints have been recently developed. Some of these predictive models are included in the most recent seismic codes and currently used in practical design. On the other hand, the influence of the stiffness and strength degradations in RC joints on the seismic performance of RC framed buildings has been only marginally studied, and it is generally neglected in practice-oriented seismic analysis. To investigate such influence, this paper proposes a numerical description for representing the cyclic response of RC exterior joints. This is then used in nonlinear numerical simulations of RC frames subjected to earthquake loading. According to the proposed strategy, RC joints are modelled using nonlinear rotational spring elements with strength and stiffness degradations and limited ductility under cyclic loading. The proposed joint model has been firstly calibrated against the results from experimental tests on 12 RC exterior joints. Subsequently, nonlinear static and dynamic analyses have been carried out on two-, three- and four-storey RC frames, which represent realistic existing structures designed according to old standards. The numerical results confirm that the global seismic response of the analysed RC frames is strongly affected by the hysteretic damage in the beam-to-column joints, which determines the failure mode of the frames. This highlights that neglecting the effects of joints damage may potentially lead to non-conservative seismic assessment of existing RC framed structures.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.4 s.50
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• pp.55-66
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• 2006

This paper considers the nonlinear direct spectrum method to estimate seismic performance of mixed building structures without iterative computations, given dynamic property $T_1$ from stiffness skeleton curve and nonlinear pseudo acceleration $A_{1y}/g$ and/or ductility ratio p from response spectrum. Nonlinear response history analysis has been performed and analysed with various earthquakes for evaluation of correctness and confidence of nonlinear direct spectrum method. The conclusions of this study are as follows; (1) Nonlinear direct spectrum method is considered as a practical method which is applicable to compute the structural initial elastic period and the yielding strength from stiffness skeleton owe and calculate the nonlinear maximum response of structure directly from nonlinear response spectrum. (2) The comparison of the analysis results from NDSM and NRHA showed that the average errors were less than 20% in about 3/4 of the analysis cases, and that the results obtained from NDSM turned out to be generally larger than those from NRHA.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.499-511
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• 2018

This paper aims to investigate the seismic performance of the prestressed steel strips retrofitted RC beam-column joints. Two series of joint specimens were conducted under compression load and reversed cyclic loading through quasi-static tests. Based on the test results, the seismic behavior of the strengthened joints specimens in terms of the failure modes, hysteresis response, bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation performance and damage level were focused. Moreover, the effects of the amount of the prestressed steel strips and the axial compression ratio on seismic performance of retrofitted specimens were analyzed. It was shown that the prestressed steel strips retrofitting method could significantly improve the seismic behavior of the RC joint because of the large confinement provided by prestressed steel strips in beam-column joints. The decrease of the spacing and the increase of the layer number of the prestressed steel strips could result in a better seismic performance of the retrofitted joint specimens. Moreover, increasing the axial compression ration could enhance the peak load, stiffness and the energy performance of the joint specimens. Furthermore, by comparison with the specimens reinforced with CFRP sheets, the specimens reinforced with prestressed steel strips was slightly better in seismic performance and cost-saving in material and labor. Therefore, this prestressed steel strips retrofitting method is quite helpful to enhance the seismic behavior of the RC beam-column joints with reducing the cost and engineering time.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.25-32
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• 2016

The pile-cap connection part which transfers foundation loads through pile body is critical element regarding flexural and shear force because the change of area, stress, and stiffness occurs in the this region suddenly. The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural behavior of pile-cap connection dependent on fabrication methods using conventional PHC pile and composite PHC pile. A series of test under cyclic lateral load was performed and the connection behavior was discussed. From the test results, it was found that the initial rotational stiffness of pile-cap connection was affected by the length of pile-head inserted in footing and the location of longitudinal reinforcing bars. The types of pile and location of longitudinal reinforcing bars governed the behavior of pile-cap connection regarding load-carrying capacity, ductility, and energy dissipation.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.529-537
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to discuss how strength and ductility of each system in low-rise reinforced concrete buildings composed of extremely brittle, shear and flexural failure lateral-load resisting systems have influence on seismic capacities of the overall system, which is based on nonlinear seismic response analyses of single-degree-of-freedom structural systems. In order to simulate the triple lateral-load resisting system, structures are idealized as a parallel combination of two modified origin-oriented hysteretic models and a degrading trilinear hysteretic model that fail primarily in extremely brittle, shear and flexure, respectively. Stiffness properties of three models are varied in terms of story shear coefficients, and structures are subjected to various ground motion components. By analyzing these systems, interaction curves of demand strengths of the triple system for various levels of ductility factors are finally derived for practical purposes. The result indicates that demand strength levels derived can be used as a basic information for seismic evaluation and design criteria of low-rise reinforced concrete buildings having the triple lateral-load resisting system.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.127-133
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• 2024

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) has gained attention as a viable alternative to conventional reinforced concrete due to its improved mechanical properties and design adaptability. Despite significant research into the mechanical properties of TRC, studies regarding the flexural effect of pre-stretching with different numbers of textile reinforcements are currently limited. Therefore, this research focuses on assessing the flexural characteristics of TRC panels with the incorporation of mesh pre-stretching. Additionally, the study compares the flexural behaviour between alkali-resistant (AR) glass fibre TRC and carbon fibre TRC. A three-point bending test was conducted to assess the flexural behaviour of TRC, investigating the impact of the number of textile layers and the application of pre-stretching on flexural strength and post-cracking stiffness. The findings, exhibited by the flexural stress vs. displacement curve, indicate that applying pre-stretching to carbon fibre TRC effectively increases the flexural strength of carbon textiles and enhances post-cracking stiffness. Moreover, the greater the number of carbon textiles, the higher the flexural stress of the specimens, provided the textiles are placed in the tensile zone. Nevertheless, when comparing carbon fibre TRC with AR glass fibre TRC, it is found that the increase in flexural strength is more significant for carbon fibre TRC. Overall, applying pre-stretching to carbon fibre significantly improves the TRC's flexural performance, specifically during the post-cracking stage and in crack distribution. Furthermore, due to the higher elastic modulus and tensile strength of carbon fibre, TRC reinforced with carbon textiles shows greater flexural strength and ductility compared to AR glass fibre TRC.