Optimal design of structures for earthquake loads by a hybrid RBF-BPSO method

The optimal seismic design of structures requires that time history analyses （THA） be carried out repeatedly. This makes the optimal design process inefficient, in particular, if an evolutionary algorithm is used. To reduce the overall time required for structural optimization, two artificial intelligence strategies are employed. In the first strategy, radial basis function （RBF） neural networks are used to predict the time history responses of structures in the optimization flow. In the second strategy, a binary particle swarm optimization （BPSO） is used to find the optimum design. Combining the RBF and BPSO, a hybrid RBF-BPSO optimization method is proposed in this paper, which achieves fast optimization with high computational performance. Two examples are presented and compared to determine the optimal weight of structures under earthquake loadings using both exact and approximate analyses. The numerical results demonstrate the computational advantages and effectiveness of the proposed hybrid RBF-BPSO optimization method for the seismic design of structures.     

CONVEX MODEL FOR SEISMIC DESIGN OF STRUCTURES—II: DESIGN OF CONVENTIONAL AND ACTIVE STRUCTURES

The optimal design of the members of conventional structures or structures equipped with active bracing systems, known as active structures, is presented for uncertain excitations. Three approaches are used for obtaining the optimal structural design: (1) the time-history analysis of an actual earthquake record (AR), (2) the global energy-bound convex model adjusted with an excitation-specific reduction factor (RGEB), and (3) the global energy-bound convex model adjusted with an average reduction factor (ARGEB) for a set of excitations with common characteristics. The optimal structures obtained using the RGEB and ARGEB convex models have different sizes for their conventional members from the designs based on a time-history analysis of the actual earthquake (AR). The optimal design of the structure is carried out using a modified annealing algorithm. The advantage of using convex models to perform the optimization is that they represent a more general excitation than a single earthquake record. In addition, the RGEB and ARGEB convex models require considerably less computational effort since the constraints of the optimization become time-independent. A comparison between optimal designs of structures with conventional members only, and active structures indicates that the latter are more efficient by combining the conventional and active members.     

Influence of the column-to-beam flexural strength ratio on the failure mode of beam-column connections in RC frames

The column-to-beam flexural strength ratio(CBFSR)has been used in many seismic codes to achieve the strong column-weak beam(SCWB)failure mode in reinforced concrete(RC)frames,in which plastic hinges appear earlier in beams than in columns.However,seismic investigations show that the required limit of CBFSR in seismic codes usually cannot achieve the SCWB failure mode under strong earthquakes.This study investigates the failure modes of RC frames with different CBFSRs.Nine typical three-story RC frame models with different CBFSRs are designed in accordance with Chinese seismic codes.The seismic responses and failure modes of the frames are investigated through time-history analyses using 100 ground motion records.The results show that the required limit of the CBFSR that guarantees the SCWB failure mode depends on the beam-column connection type and the seismic intensity,and different types of beam-column connections exhibit different failure modes even though they are designed with the same CBFSR.Recommended CBFSRs are proposed for achieving the designed SCWB failure mode for different types of connections in RC frames under different seismic intensities.These results may provide some reference for further revisions of the SCWB design criterion in Chinese seismic codes.     

Performance‐based optimum seismic design of reinforced concrete structures

A fully automated design methodology based on nonlinear response history analysis is proposed for the optimum seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The conventional trial‐and‐error process is replaced by a structural optimization algorithm that serves as a search engine capable of locating the most efficient design in terms of cost and performance. Two variations of the proposed design methodology are introduced. The first approach treats the optimum design problem in a deterministic manner, while in the second variation the optimum design is sought in the framework of a reliability‐based optimization problem. The reliability‐based approach seems to be a more rational procedure since more meaningful design criteria that correlate better with the performance‐based design concept can be adopted. Thus, the practice of using the mean annual frequency of a limit‐state being exceeded to assess the candidate designs is compared with the use of deterministic criteria. Both formulations take into consideration the structural response for a number of limit‐states, from serviceability to collapse prevention. The proposed design procedure is specifically tailored to the design of RC structures, where a preliminary design step of generating tables of concrete sections is introduced. In order to handle the large size of the tables, the concept of multi‐database cascade optimization is implemented. The final design has to comply with the provisions of European design codes. The proposed methodology allows for a significant reduction of the direct construction cost combined with improved control of the seismic performance under earthquake loading. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

结构抗震设计中的强度折减系数研究

借助于单自由度弹塑性动力时程分析程序，对延性结构的强度折减系数进行了研究，在统计平均和回归分析的基础上，建立了平均强度折系数的函数形式，本文所建立的平强度折减系数函数，从理论上明确了结构具有延性对弹性地震力的折减关系，研究成果可供结构抗震设计规范采纳应用。     

几条地震波的归一化时-频反应谱分析

时-频反应谱是地震动幅值、频谱和持时三要素构成的空间三维谱.基于此,本文提出归一化时-频反应谱定义与计算方法,计算三条典型地震波的归一化时-频反应谱,对比分析表明:不同地震记录的时-频反应谱的幅值在时间和周期两个轴上的分布差别很大,具有不同时-频反应谱的地震波可能对结构地震响应产生不同影响;对12层钢筋混凝土框架结构模型进行弹塑性时程分析,通过结构地震反应、结构损伤曲线与输入地震动的归一化时-频反应谱对比,发现结构最大反应并不一定是造成结构倒塌的直接原因,用结构弹性阶段反应最大值进行抗震设计存在一定局限性,从而证明归一化时-频反应谱可有效用来分析地震动特性和结构破坏机理.     

基于下一代性能设计理论的全概率抗震性能评估

对建筑物灾变发生时经济损失和人员伤亡情况做出准确预估是未来建筑结构设计初期需要努力的方向。基于下一代性能化设计理论,通过精细化建模和动力时程分析对结构进行易损性分析,并以此得到抗震性能评估所需的各类地震响应参数,建立RC框架结构全概率抗震性能评估方法。以云南大学力行楼为例,通过地震损失预测得到了该栋建筑的经济损失、修复时间和人员伤亡情况。该方法直观清晰地展示了结果,便于业主及非本专业从业者理解。     

基于零阶和一阶优化算法的建筑结构抗震优化设计

针对第三水准“大震不倒”的抗震设防目标,提出一种建筑结构的抗震优化设计方法,依据“用相同的投资获最好的设计”的设计理念,建立了在强烈地震波的作用下,以建筑结构最大的层间相对位移最小化作为优化目标,同时满足体积约束的优化数学模型,并采用动力有限元分析模型和高效的显式动力分析方法进行结构分析获得最大的层间相对位移,采用零阶和一阶优化算法分别求解优化数学模型,在显式动力分析软件ANSYS／LS—DYNA的基础上进行二次开发,实现了一个三维框架结构的抗震优化设计。数值结果表明该方法能获得较高质量的解,经优化设计后建筑结构的抗震性能得到了很大的改善。     

On the design and seismic response of RC frame buildings designed with Eurocode 8

Performance-Based Seismic Design is now widely recognized as the pre-eminent seismic design and assessment methodology for building structures. In recognition of this, seismic codes may require that buildings achieve multiple performance objectives such as withstanding moderate, yet frequently occurring earthquakes with minimal structural and non-structural damage, while withstanding severe, but rare earthquakes without collapse and loss of life. These objectives are presumed to be satisfied by some codes if the force-based design procedures are followed. This paper investigates the efficacy of the Eurocode 8 force-based design provisions with respect to RC frame building design and expected seismic performance. Four, eight, and 16-storey moment frame buildings were designed and analyzed using the code modal response spectrum analysis provisions. Non-linear time-history analyses were subsequently performed to determine the simulated seismic response of the structures and to validate the Eurocode 8 force-based designs. The results indicate the design of flexural members in medium-to-long period structures is not significantly influenced by the choice of effective member stiffness; however, calculated interstorey drift demands are significantly affected. This finding was primarily attributed to the code’s enforcement of a minimum spectral ordinate on the design spectrum. Furthermore, design storey forces and interstorey drift demand estimates (and therefore damage), obtained by application of the code force-based design procedure varied substantially from those found through non-linear time-history analysis. Overall, the results suggest that though the Eurocode 8 may yield life-safe designs, the seismic performance of frame buildings of the same type and ductility class can be highly non-uniform.     

An alternative practical design method for structures with viscoelastic dampers

Viscoelastic dampers (VEDs) are one of the most common passive control devices used in new and retrofit building projects which reduce the structure responses and dissipate seismic energy during an earthquake. Various methods to design this kind of dampers have been proposed based on the desired level of additional damping, eigenvalue assignment, modal strain energy, linear quadratic regulator control theories, and other approaches. In the current engineering practice, the popular method is the one based on the modal strain energy that uses the inter-story lateral stiffness as one of the main variables for damper design. However, depending on the configuration of the structure, in some cases the resulting interstory lateral stiffness can be very large. Consequently, the dampers size would also be large producing much more damping than that effectively necessary, resulting in an increase of the overall cost of the supplemental damping system and causing excessive stress on the structural elements connected to the dampers. In this paper an alternative practical design method for structures with VEDs is proposed. This method uses the inter-story shear forces as one of the main variables to accomplish the damper design compared to what was done in previous studies. Nonlinear time-history analyses were conducted on a 7-story reinforced concrete (RC) structure to check the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed method. Comparisons on the seismic performance between the structure without dampers and that equipped with VEDs were carried out. It is concluded that the proposed method results in a very suitable size of dampers, which are able to improve the performance of the structure at all levels of earthquake ground motions and satisfying the drift requirement prescribed in the codes.     

近断层脉冲型地震动作用下隔震结构地震反应分析

隔震结构在远震场地减震效果良好，但是近断层地震动的明显的长周期速度和位移脉冲运动可能对隔震建筑等长周期结构的抗震性能和设计带来不利影响，需要深入探讨。本文首先讨论近断层地震动的长周期脉冲运动特征，然后以台湾集集地震8条典型近震记录和其它4条常用近震记录以及4条远震记录作为地震动输入，对两幢安装铅芯橡胶隔震支座的钢筋混凝土框架隔震结构进行非线性地震反应时程分析，通过比较探讨了算例计算结果，定量说明隔震结构的近震脉冲效应显著，是隔震设计不容忽视的问题。     

隔震结构地震波选择方法研究

隔震结构的设计一般是采用时程分析算法进行的,故选择合适的地震波十分重要。而目前设计人员往往依据隔震前模型进行隔震设计,存在一定的不合理性。本文依据隔震前和隔震后两种不同的选波模型和对地震波反应谱控制频段的不同提出三种选波方案:方案一为对所选地震动的加速度反应谱在场地特征周期Tg附近的平台段和隔震前结构基本周期T1a所在下降段的控制;方案二为对在Tg附近的平台段和隔震后结构基本周期T1b所在下降段的控制;方案三为对所选地震动的加速度反应谱在Tg附近的平台段和隔震前、后两结构基本周期段的分别控制。通过对某五层混凝土框架隔震结构分别输入三种方案所选的20条地震动记录,对比隔震结构的水平向减震系数的离散性,分析罕遇地震作用下支座位移的合理性,证明方案三可以取得最优的计算结果,并提出一种基于规范设计反应谱不同频段的三频段控制选波方法。此外选取5个不同结构形式的工程算例验证三频段控制选波方法对于一般结构的适用性。     

基于能量方法设计的RC框架结构易损性分析

基于“强柱弱梁”的屈服机制,依据能量平衡方法设计了某6层RC框架结构,采用震级-震中距条带地震动记录选取方法,选取12条随机地震动,利用Perform-3D有限元分析软件对结构进行增量动力（IDA）分析,得到了结构的地震易损性曲线、破坏状态概率曲线以及结构破坏概率矩阵。分析结果表明:该方法设计的结构能够形成预设的“强柱弱梁”屈服机制,可以保证结构中梁充分参与耗能,同时结构具有较强的抗倒塌能力,可以满足“小震不坏,中震可修,大震不倒”的性能要求。     

近断层区的输入能量设计谱及其在基于能量抗震设计中的应用

研究并确定输入能量设计谱是建立基于性能抗震设计和评估能量方法的必要基础。选取断层15km投影距离内的224条强震记录讨论场地类型和断层距等因素的影响,建议了近场地震的输入能量设计谱(EIDS),在与实际记录及日本等国已有抗震规范比较后表明,所建议的设计能量谱能较好地反映近断层区潜在能量需求,在此基础上形成了基于能量的桥梁结构抗震评估设计方法,并用3座实际RC桥墩进行算例验证证明了所建议方法的可行性,表明基于既有抗震规范设计的桥梁结构仍有必要进行考虑近断层效应的耗能能力验算。     

考虑抗震性约束的建筑空间结构优化

当前对建筑空间结构进行优化时,所采用的算法趋同性高,无法实现多目标种群优化,易陷入局部最优解,存在寻优质量低、优化成本高、抗震性能低的问题。针对上述问题,提出一种基于改进粒子群算法的建筑空间结构优化方法。该方法以空间结构的抗震性能、工程造价为优化目标,来优化建立建筑空间结构设计;引入多子群协同进化机制解决建筑空间结构抗震优化设计中多目标间的种群优化问题,同时引入外部档案和精英学习策略改进粒子群算法,筛选出满足目标函数的最优设计方案,完成抗震性约束的建筑空间结构优化。实验结果表明:所提方法对建筑空间结构优化时的特点为寻优质量高、优化成本低、抗震性能高。     

采用非线性纤维梁单元法的钢管混凝土组合框架动力响应分析

钢管混凝土结构已经广泛应用于我国高层和超高层建筑中,为研究该类结构的抗震性能,分别采用分离模量法和统一模量法对某13层钢管混凝土框架结构进行抗震性能分析,研究不同地震波作用下组合框架的模态和多遇地震下的弹性动力时程,对比组合框架顶点位移反应、加速度反应、层间侧移及动力放大系数等。研究结果表明,分离模量法和统一模量法建模方法在分析钢管混凝土框架抗震动力特性上总体相差不大,但前者可以考虑材料弹塑性,从而对结构弹塑性进行分析,而后者在弹塑性阶段需要用全曲线表达式,尚需进一步的研究。     

轻轨铁路站桥结构体系抗震分析与隔震研究

本文结合地处高烈度地震区的天津轻轨工程，对轻轨铁路站桥结构体系进行抗震分析，并探索减轻其地震灾害、提高其抗震能力的隔震措施。研究结果表明，按照现行有关抗震设计规范规定的反应谱值设计的站桥结构体系的抗震安全性存在不足，设计必须按工程建设场地地震危险性评价给定的反应谱值对站桥结构体系进行时程分析，才能保证轻轨铁路的抗震安全性。通过在车站建筑与高架桥梁之间的连接部位安装新近研制的SMA复合橡胶支座隔震装置，可以有效地提高轻轨铁路站桥结构体系的抗震能力。     

SRC-RC竖向混合结构过渡层抗震设计方法探讨

首先介绍了SRC-RC竖向混合结构的受力特点和性能优势;并针对我国和日本的相关规程及工程应用实践,结合日本阪神地震中SRC-RC竖向混合结构的主要震害特点,指出国内外SRC-RC竖向混合结构过渡层抗震设计方法所存在的主要问题及不足。在综合分析阪神地震后日本关于SRC-RC竖向混合结构过渡层抗震设计方法的最新研究进展的基础上,提出了SRC-RC竖向混合结构过渡层抗震设计的设计思路和方法,可为SRC-RC竖向混合结构过渡层抗震设计提供参考。     

Seismic retrofit of MRF buildings using decentralized semi‐active control for multi‐target performances

Numerous structures have been designed and built without taking earthquake ground motions or outdated seismic design codes into account. In order to improve the seismic performance of existing structures, many retrofit approaches based on performance‐based design have been developed. However, some of these approaches are inapplicable due to structural limitations or because they were developed with the assumption of single‐degree‐of‐freedom, which does not take higher modes into account. To overcome the limitations of these traditional methods, a multi‐performance‐based control design (MPBCD) methodology has been proposed by integrating a decentralized semi‐active control algorithm, magnetorheological dampers, and an advanced multi‐objective optimization method to provide various sets of retrofit control designs to satisfy multiple target performances under multiple seismic intensities without changing structural cross‐section sizes or material properties. This MPBCD method provides engineers with numerous sets of control designs (i.e., control device layouts with control design parameters) to help them select proper control designs to retrofit existing building structures and improve seismic performance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.