• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.249-260
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• 2023

The uncertainties involved in structural performances are of importance when the optimum number and property of seismic retrofit devices are determined. This paper proposes a seismic retrofit design framework for asymmetric soft-first-story buildings, considering uncertainties in the soil condition and seismic retrofit device. The effect of the uncertain parameters on the structural performance is used to find a robust and optimal seismic retrofit solution. The framework finds a robust and optimal seismic retrofit solution by finding the optimal locations and mechanical properties of the seismic retrofit device for different realizations of the uncertain parameters. The structural performance for each realization is computed to evaluate the effect of the uncertainty parameters on the seismic performance. The framework utilizes parallel processing to decrease the computationally intensive nonlinear dynamic analysis time. The framework returns a robust design solution that satisfies the given limit state for every realization of the uncertain parameters. The proposed framework is applied to the seismic retrofit design of a five-story asymmetric soft-first-story case study structure retrofitted with a viscoelastic damper. Robust optimal parameters for retrofitting a structure to satisfy the limit state for the different realizations of the uncertain parameter are found using the proposed framework. According to the performance evaluation results of the retrofitted structure, the developed framework is proved effective in the seismic retrofit of the asymmetric structure with inherent uncertainties.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.13 no.6 s.58
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• pp.115-125
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• 2009

In these days, carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) have been widely used for retrofitting and/or strengthening structural elements. However, there are not enough test data to predict the long-term performance of the retrofitted structures exposed to freeze-thawing cycles. This paper presents the results of experimental program undertaken to investigate the effects of freeze-thawing cycling (from-18 to $4^{\circ}C) on the behavior and failure characteristics of reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened in shear with CFRP sheet and plate using acoustic emission (AE) technique.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.50-58
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• 2014

Due to the cost burden of new construction, the necessity of repair and retrofitting of aged structures is sharply increasing as the domain of repair and retrofitting construction is expanding. Because of the necessity, new technologies for repair and retrofitting are continuously studied in Korea and foreign countries. Steel adhesive method, fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) surface adhesive method, and external prestressing method are used to perform the repair and retrofitting works in Korea. In order to consider a repair method using steel mesh reinforced cement mortar (SMCM), 3-point flexural member test was conducted considering repair area and layer number of SMCM. Five types of specimens including ordinary reinforced concrete (RC) specimen with dimensions of $1400{\times}500{\times}200$ (mm) were cast for testing the deflection measurement, a LVDT was installed at the top center of the specimens. Also, a steel strain gauge and a concrete strain gauge were placed at the center of the specimens. A steel strain gauge was also installed on the shear reinforcement. The 3 point flexural member test results showed that the maximum load of SMCM reinforced specimen was higher than that of basic RC specimen in all of the load-displacement curves. Also, the results showed that, when the whole lower part of the basic RC specimen was reinforced, the maximum load and strain were 1.18 and 1.37 times higher than that of the basic RC specimen, respectively. Each specimen showed a slightly different failure behavior where the difference of the results was caused by the difference in the adhesive level between SMCM and RC. Particularly, in SM-B1 specimen, SMCM spalled off during the experiment. This failure behavior showed that the adhesive performance for RC must be improved in order to utilize SMCM as repair and retrofitting material.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.153-161
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• 2010

Numerous past studies have shown that safety and serviceability of many concrete infrastructures and buildings built in 1970's have far less strength capacities than their original intended design capacities, thereby requiring repair and strengthening. Currently, aged concrete structures are being repaired using various methods developed in the past. Unfortunately, these methods do not consider the specific conditions that these members are under, but they merely attach repairing materials on the external surface for random strength improvements. Therefore, in order to improve repair and strengthening methods by considering composite behavior between repairing material and structural member, enhanced construction methodologies are needed. Also, the enhanced repairing and strengthening methods must be able to be implemented on structural members constructed using high performance concrete to meet the present construction demand of building mammoth structures. Therefore, in this study, a repairing and strengthening method for retrofitting high strength concrete (HSC) columns that can effectively improve column performance is developed. A square HSC column's cross-sectional shape is converted to an octagonal shape by attaching precast members on the surface of the column. Then, the octagonal column surface is surface wrapped using Carbon Fiber Sheets (CFS). The method allows maximum usage of confinement effect from externally jacketing CFS to improve strength and ductility of repaired HSC columns. The research results are discussed in detail.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.387-406
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• 2016

The main purpose of this paper is to determine the dynamic characteristics and the structural stability of the two approach viaducts of the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge under the expected stresses that would be caused during earthquake conditions. The Ortakoy and the Beylerbeyi approach viaducts constitute the side spans of the bridge at two locations. The bridge's main span over the Bosphorus is suspended, whereas they are supported at the base at either end. For the numerical investigation of the viaducts, 3-D computational structural finite element-FE models were developed. Their natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes were obtained, analyzed, presented and compared. The performances of the viaducts, under earthquake conditions, were studied considering the P-Delta effects implementing the push-over (POA) and the non-linear time-history analyses (NTHA). For the NTHA, three earthquake ground motions were generated depending on the location of the bridge. Seismic performances of the viaducts were determined in accordance with the requirements of the Turkish Seismic Code for the Earthquake Design of Railways Bridges (TSC-R/2008) and those of Caltrans (CALTRANS-2001) given for Seismic Design of Steel Bridges, separately. Furthermore, the investigation was extended for evaluating the possible need for retrofitting in the future. After the analysis of the resultant data, a retrofit recommendation for the viaducts was presented.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.53-56
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• 2008

Reinforced concrete rahmen structures has been required ductility as well as strength of beam-column joint in seismically hazard area. Some investigations have been presented for retrofitting and/or strengthening structural elements in structure. Strain-hardening cementitious composite(SHCC) has been expected excellent reinforcement performance in beam-column joint area. The properties of reinforcing fiber, as tensile strength, aspect ratio and elastic moudulus, have great effect on the fracture behavior of SHCC. The purpose of this experimental study is to evaluate structural performance of exterior reinforced concrete beam-column joint strengthened with SHCC under cyclic loading.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.303-324
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• 2004

The Component-Based Software Development (CBSD) has established itself as a sound paradigm in the software engineering discipline and has gained wide spread acceptance in the industry. The CBSD relies on the availability of standard software components for encapsulation of specific functionality. This paper presents the framework for the development of a software component for the design of general member cross-sections. The proposed component can be used in component-based structural engineering software or as a stand-alone program developed around the component. This paper describes the use-case scenarios for the component, its design patterns, object models, class hierarchy, the integrated and unified handling of cross-section behavior and implementation issue. It is expected that a component developed using the proposed patterns and model can be used in analysis, design and detailing packages to handle reinforced concrete, partially prestressed concrete, steel-concrete composite and steel sections. The component can provide the entire response parameters of the cross section including determination of geometric properties, elastic stresses, flexural capacity, moment-curvature, and ductility ratios. The component can also be used as the main computational engine for stand-alone section design software. The component can be further extended to handle the retrofitting and strengthening of cross-sections, shear and torsional response, determination of fire-damage parameters, etc.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.324-327
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• 2011

The design requirement for ground mounted sign structures are fairly well defined in the AASHTO Standard Specifications for Structural Supports for Highway Signs, Luminaries, and Traffic Signals and consists of applying an equivalent pseudo-dynamic loading to account for the dynamic effects of wind loads and ignores the dynamic effect due to moving vehicle loads. This design approach, however, should not be applied to the design of bridge mounted sign structures because ignoring the dynamic effects of the moving vehicle loads may produce non-conservative results, since the stiffness of the bridge structure can greatly influence the behavior. Not enough information is available in the literatures which provide guide lines to include the influence of moving vehicles in the design of the bridge mounted sign structures. This paper describes a theoretical methodology, Bridge-Vehicle Interaction Element, which can be utilized to account for the dynamic effect of moving vehicles. A case study is also included where this methodology was successfully applied. It was concluded that the bridge-vehicle interaction finite element developed can provide a more accurate representation of the behavior of bridge mounted sign structures. The result of these analysis enabled development of simple and effective retrofitting scheme for the existing support system of bridge-mounted-structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.557-569
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• 2022

The retrofit of existing structures in high seismic zones is a crucial issue in the earthquake engineering field. The interest of the research community is particularly high for the structures that do not respect current seismic codes and present structural deficiencies such as poor detailing and lack of capacity design provisions. A reinforced concrete (RC) school building is used as case study to show the influence of different knowledge levels on the seismic retrofitting cost assessment. The safety assessment of the case study building highlights deficiencies under both vertical and seismic loads. By considering all the possible knowledge levels defined by the Italian such as by the European codes in order to derive the mechanical properties of the school building constitutive materials, the retrofit operations are designed to achieve different seismic safety thresholds. The retrofit structural costs are calculated and summed up to the costs for in-situ in tests. The paper shows how for the case study building the major costs spent for a large number of in-situ tests allows to save a consistent amount of money for retrofit operations. The hypothesis of demolition and reconstruction of the building is also compared in terms of costs with all the analyzed retrofit options.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.603-623
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• 2015

The scale and nature of the recent earthquakes in the world and the related earthquake disaster index coerce the concerned community to become anxious about it. Therefore, it is crucial that seismic lateral load effect will be appropriately considered in structural design. Application of seismic isolation system stands as a consistent alternative against this hazard. The objective of the study is to evaluate the structural and economic feasibility of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with base isolation located in medium risk seismic region. Linear and nonlinear dynamic analyses as well as linear static analysis under site-specific bi-directional seismic excitation have been carried out for both fixed based (FB) and base isolated (BI) buildings in the present study. The superstructure and base of buildings are modeled in a 3D finite element model by consistent mass approach having six degrees of freedom at each node. The floor slabs are simulated as rigid diaphragms. Lead rubber bearing (LRB) and High damping rubber bearing (HDRB) are used as isolation device. Change of structural behaviors and savings in construction costing are evaluated. The study shows that for low to medium rise buildings, isolators can reduce muscular amount of base shears, base moments and floor accelerations for building at soft to medium stiff soil. Allowable higher horizontal displacement induces structural flexibility. Though incorporating isolator increases the outlay, overall structural cost may be reduced. The application of base isolation system confirms a potential to be used as a viable solution in economic building design.