• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.259-278
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• 2008

This paper presents a nonlinear finite element procedure accounting for the effects of geometric as well as material nonlinearities for reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings. Reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings and carrying a cyclic load were analyzed by using a special purpose, nonlinear finite element program, RCAHEST. For reinforced concrete, the proposed robust nonlinear material model captures the salient response characteristics of the bridge piers under cyclic loading conditions and addresses with the influence of geometric nonlinearity on post-peak response of the bridge piers by transformations between local and global systems. Seismic isolator element to predict the behaviors of laminated rubber bearings is also developed. The seismic performance of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings is assessed analytically. The results show good correlation between the experimental findings and numerical predictions, and demonstrate the reliability and robustness of the proposed analytical model. Additionally, the studies and discussions presented in this investigation provide an insight into the key behavioral aspects of reinforced concrete bridge piers supported by laminated rubber bearings.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.637-647
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• 2018

Numerical approach using finite element method has been used to evaluate the behaviour of reinforced concrete frame structure subjected to fire. The structure is previously designed in accordance with Eurocode standards for the design of structures for earthquake resistance, for the ductility class M. Thermal and structural response are obtained using a commercially available software ANSYS. Temperature-dependent nonlinear thermal and mechanical properties are adopted according to Eurocode standards, with the application of constitutive model for the triaxial behaviour of concrete with a smeared crack approach. Discrete modelling of concrete and reinforcement has enabled monitoring of the behaviour at a global, as well as at a local level, providing information on the level of damage occurring during fire. Critical regions in frame structures are identified and assessed, based on temperatures, displacements, variations of internal forces magnitudes and achieved plastic deformations of main reinforcement bars. Parametric analyses are conducted for different fire scenarios and different types of concrete aggregate to determine their effect on global deformations of frame structures. According to analyses results, the three-dimensional finite element model can be used to evaluate the insulation and mechanical resistance criteria of reinforced concrete frame structures subjected to nominal fire curves.

• 전산구조공학
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.219-228
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• 1996

힌지가 발생하는 철근콘크리트 골조구조물의 비선형해석시에 부재강성값을 사용하는 새로운 방법에 대한 연구이다. 본 연구에서는 부재의 비선형상태에서 힌지영역의 접선강성을 평가하고 효율적으로 이용하는 방법을 제시하였다. 비선형응답을 얻기위해 고유벡터를 이용하는 해석법은 비선형범위에서 시각증분에 따라 강성이 변하고 따라서 고유벡터군도 그 변하는 수만큼 재산정 하여야 하기 때문에 일반적인 해석방법이 아니다. 그러나 부재의 비선형상태를 나타내는 강성값, 즉 고유벡터의 산정횟수를 줄이며 산정된 기존값을 적절하게 재사용하여 해석의 효율성을 입증하였다. 지진하중을 받는 철근콘크리트 골조구조물의 비선형 해석의 경제성은 고유벡터의 산정횟수에 의존되기 때문에 고유벡터의 산정횟수를 감소시키며 신뢰성있는 응답을 구하여 본 해석법의 효율성을 입증하였다.

• 토지주택연구
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.83-88
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• 2012

In this study, physical characteristics of cement and/or concrete materials that are typically used for energy-foundation (EF) structures have been studied. The thermal conductivity and structural integrity of the cement-based materials were examined, which are commonly encountered in backfilling a vertical ground heat exchangers, cast-in-place concrete piles and concrete lining in tunnel. For this purpose the thermal conductivity and unconfined compression strength of cement-based materials with various curing conditions were experimentally estimated and compared. Hydration heat generated from massive concrete in the cast-in-place concrete energy pile was observed for 4 weeks to estimate its dissipation time in the underground. The hydration heat may mask the in-situ thermal response test (TRT) result performed in the cast-in-place concrete energy pile. It is concluded that at least two weeks are needed to dissipate the hydration heat in this case. In addition, a series of numerical analysis was performed to compare the effect of thermal property of the concrete material on the cast-in-place pile.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제67권5호
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• pp.439-455
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• 2018

Within a probabilistic framework, this paper addresses the determination of the static structural response of beams and frames with partially restrained (semi-rigid) connections. The flexibility of the nodal connections is incorporated via an idealized linear-elastic behavior of the beam constraints through the use of rotational springs, which are here considered uncertain for taking into account the largely scattered results observed in experimental findings. The analysis is conducted via the Probabilistic Transformation Method, by modelling the spring stiffness terms (or equivalently, the fixity factors of the beam) as uniformly distributed random variables. The limit values of the Eurocode 3 fixity factors for steel semi-rigid connections are assumed. The exact probability density function of a few indicators of the structural response is derived and discussed in order to identify to what extent the uncertainty of the beam constraints affects the resulting beam response. Some design considerations arise which point out the paramount importance of probability-based approaches whenever a comprehensive experimental background regarding the stiffness of the beam connection is lacking, for example in steel frames with semi-rigid connections or in precast reinforced concrete framed structures. Indeed, it is demonstrated that resorting to deterministic approaches may lead to misleading (and in some cases non-conservative) outcomes from a design viewpoint.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.439-451
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• 2015

This study analyzed the isolation effect for a 15-story reinforced concrete (RC) building with regard to changes in the beam-column stiffness ratio and the difference in the vibration period between the superstructure and an isolation layer in order to provide basic data that are needed to devise a framework for the design of isolated RC buildings. First, this analytical study proposes to design RC building frames by securing an isolation period that is at least 2.5 times longer than the natural vibration period of a superstructure and configuring a target isolation period that is 3.0 s or longer. To verify the proposed plan, shaking table tests were conducted on a scaled-down model of 15-story RC building installed with laminated rubber bearings. The experimental results indicate that the tested isolated structure, which complied with the proposed conditions, exhibited an almost constant response distribution, verifying that the behavior of the structure improved in terms of usability. The RC building's response to inter-story drift (which causes structural damage) was reduced by about one-third that of a non-isolated structure, thereby confirming that the safety of such a superstructure can be achieved through the building's improved seismic performance.

• 한국지진공학회논문집
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• 제2권4호
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• pp.63-72
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• 1998

본 연구는 허용진동환경을 만족하기 위한 콘크리트 슬래브의 미진동해석 및 제어기법에 관한 것이다. 본 연구에서는 제시된 방법은 임의 두 점간의 전달 함수와 가속 도로부터 미지의 가진력을 산정하고 수치해석 및 구조실험의 검증을 통하여 콘크리트 슬래브의 미진동해석 및 제어를 실시하였다. 미진동제어 설계를 위한 구조물의 고유진동수는 25-30Hz 이상이 되는 것인 바람직하며 콘크리트 구조물에서의 감쇠가 3%-5%인 경우 가진력 진동성분의 1.5배 이상 되는 것이 바람직함을 밝혔다.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.587-608
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• 2009

Modern earthquake-resistant design aims to isolate architectural precast concrete panels from the structural system so as to reduce the interaction with the supporting structure and hence minimize damage. The present study seeks to maximize the cladding-structure interaction by developing an energy-dissipating cladding system (EDCS) that is capable of functioning both as a structural brace, as well as a source of energy dissipation. The EDCS is designed to provide added stiffness and damping to buildings with steel moment resisting frames with the goal of favorably modifying the building response to earthquake-induced forces without demanding any inelastic action and ductility from the basic lateral force resisting system. Because many modern building facades typically have continuous and large openings on top of the precast cladding panels at each floor level for window system, the present study focuses on spandrel type precast concrete cladding panel. The preliminary design of the EDCS was based on existing guidelines and research data on architectural precast concrete cladding and supplemental energy dissipation devices. For the component-level study, the preliminary design was validated and further refined based on the results of nonlinear finite element analyses. The stiffness and strength characteristics of the EDCS were established from a series of nonlinear finite element analyses and are discussed in detail in this paper.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.285-296
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• 2020

Dams are important structures for management of water supply for irrigation or drinking, flood control, and electricity generation. In seismic regions, the structural safety of concrete gravity dams is important due to the high potential of life and economic loss if they fail. Therefore, the seismic analysis of existing dams in seismically active regions is crucial for predicting responses of dams to ground motions. In this paper, earthquake response of concrete gravity dams is investigated using the finite element (FE) method. The FE model accounts for dam-water-foundation rock interaction by considering compressible water, flexible foundation effects, and absorptive reservoir bottom materials. Several uncertainties regarding structural attributes of the dam and external actions are considered to obtain the fragility curves of the dam-water-foundation rock system. The structural uncertainties are sampled using the Latin Hypercube Sampling method. The Pine Flat Dam in the Central Valley of Fresno County, California, is selected to demonstrate the methodology for several limit states. The fragility curves for base sliding, and excessive deformation limit states are obtained by performing non-linear time history analyses. Tensile cracking including the complex state of stress that occurs in dams was also considered. Normal, Log-Normal and Weibull distribution types are considered as possible fits for fragility curves. It was found that the effect of the minimum principal stress on tensile strength is insignificant. It is also found that the probability of failure of tensile cracking is higher than that for base sliding of the dam. Furthermore, the loss of reservoir control is unlikely for a moderate earthquake.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제3권2_3호
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• pp.123-144
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• 2006

Reinforced concrete corbels are structural elements widely used in practical engineering. The complex response of these elements is described in design codes in a simplified manner. These formulations are not sufficient to show the real behavior, which, however, is an essential prerequisite for the manufacturing of numerous elements. Therefore, a deterministic and probabilistic study has been performed, which is described in this contribution. Real complex structures have been modeled by means of the finite element method supported primarily by experimental works. The main objective of this study was the detection of uncertainties effects and safety margins not captured by traditional codes. This aim could be fulfilled by statistical considerations applied to the investigated structures. The probabilistic study is based on advanced Monte Carlo simulation techniques and sophisticated nonlinear finite element formulations.