• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-39
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• 2013

Since slender structures such as utility poles, radio masts, and chimneys, are essentially statically determinate structures, they often collapse during earthquakes. Although vibration control is the most logical method for improving the earthquake resistance of such structures, there are many practical problems with its implementation due to their very long natural vibration period. This paper proposes a new vibration control device to effectively prevent the collapse of slender structures subjected to strong earthquakes. The device consists of a pendulum, an elastic restraint and a lever, and is designed such that when it is attached to a slender structure, the second vibration mode of the structure corresponds to the first vibration mode of the same structure without the device attached. This is highly effective in causing the transverse motions of the device and the structure to oppose each other and so reduce the overall transverse vibration during an earthquake. In the present paper, the effectiveness of the vibration control device is first evaluated based on laboratory experiments and numerical studies. An example of applying the device to a tall chimney is then simulated. A new dynamic analytical method for slender structures with abrupt rigidity variations is then proposed.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 1986

A hybrid modelling technique of a soil-structure system on viscoelastic soil medium is studied in this paper. The hybrid model consists of a near-field and a far-field with their common interface passing through the soil region at some distance from the base of the structure. It makes use of frequency-dependent impedances so as to represent the semi-infinite far-field. The far-field impedances are formulate including the radiation damping characteristics as well as the viscoelastic properties of the soil medium. The verification of the method has been carried out using a rigid circular plate on a viscoelastic half-space. The impedances obtained by the method are compared with the theoretical values. Example analyses have been performed for a tall chimney and the results have been compared with those obtained by other methods which are frequently used.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.9-25
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• 2015

Field measurements of various structures have been conducted for many purposes. Measurement data obtained by field measurement is very useful to determine vibration characteristics including dynamic characteristics such as the damping ratio, natural frequency, and mode shape of a structure. In addition, results of field measurements and modal identification can be used for modal updating of FEM analysis, for checking the efficiency of damping devices and so on. This paper shows some examples of field measurements and modal identification for structural health monitoring. As the first example, changes of dynamic characteristics of a 15-story office building in four construction stages from the foundation stage to completion are described. The dynamic characteristics of each construction stage were modeled as accurately as possible by FEM, and the stiffness of the main structural frame was evaluated and the FEM results were compared with measurements performed on non-load-bearing elements. Simple FEM modal updating was also applied. As the next example, full-scale measurements were also carried out on a high-rise chimney, and the efficiency of the tuned mass damper was investigated by using two kinds of modal identification techniques. Good correspondence was shown with vibration characteristics obtained by the 2DOF-RD technique and the Frequency Domain Decomposition method. As the last example, the wind-induced response using RTK-GPS and the feasibility of hybrid use of FEM analysis and RTK-GPS for confirming the integrity of structures during strong typhoons were shown. The member stresses obtained by hybrid use of FEM analysis and RTK-GPS were close to the member stresses measured by strain gauges.