Critical uncertainty parameters influencing seismic performance of bridges using Lasso regression

Recent efforts of regional risk assessment of structures often pose a challenge in dealing with the potentially variable uncertain input parameters. The source of uncertainties can be either epistemic or aleatoric. This article identifies uncertain variables exhibiting strongest influences on the seismic demand of bridge components through various regression techniques such as linear, stepwise, Ridge, Lasso, and elastic net regressions. The statistical results indicate that Lasso regression is the most effective one in predicting the demand model as it has the lowest mean square error and absolute error. As the sensitivity study identifies more than 1 significant variable, a multiparameter fragility model using Lasso regression is suggested in this paper. The proposed fragility methodology is able to identify the relative impact of each uncertain input variable and level of treatment needed for these variables in the estimation of seismic demand models and fragility curves. Thus, the proposed approach helps bridge owners to spend their resources judiciously (e.g., data collection, field investigations, and censoring) in the generation of a more reliable database for regional risk assessment. This proposed approach can be applicable to other structures.     

Seismic response control of frame structures using magnetorheological/electrorheological dampers

Semi‐active control of buildings and structures for earthquake hazard mitigation represents a relatively new research area. Two optimal displacement control strategies for semi‐active control of seismic response of frame structures using magnetorheological (MR) dampers or electrorheological (ER) dampers are proposed in this study. The efficacy of these displacement control strategies is compared with the optimal force control strategy. The stiffness of brace system supporting the smart damper is also taken into consideration. An extensive parameter study is carried out to find the optimal parameters of MR or ER fluids, by which the maximum reduction of seismic response may be achieved, and to assess the effects of earthquake intensity and brace stiffness on damper performance. The work on example buildings showed that the installation of the smart dampers with proper parameters and proper control strategy could significantly reduce seismic responses of structures, and the performance of the smart damper is better than that of the common brace or the passive devices. The optimal parameters of the damper and the proper control strategy could be identified through a parameter study. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic reliability‐based ductility demand evaluation for inelastic base‐isolated structures with friction pendulum devices

The aim of this work is to propose seismic reliability‐based relationships between the strength reduction factors and the displacement ductility demand of nonlinear structural systems equipped with friction pendulum isolators (FPS) depending on the structural properties. The isolated structures are described by employing an equivalent 2dof model characterized by a perfectly elastoplastic rule to account for the inelastic response of the superstructure, whereas, the FPS behavior is described by a velocity‐dependent model. An extensive parametric study is carried out encompassing a wide range of elastic and inelastic building properties, different seismic intensity levels and considering the friction coefficient as a random variable. Defined a set of natural seismic records and scaled to the seismic intensity corresponding to life safety limit state for L'Aquila site (Italy) according to NTC08, the inelastic characteristics of the superstructures are designed as the ratio between the average elastic responses and increasing strength reduction factors. Incremental dynamic analyses (IDAs) are developed to evaluate the seismic fragility curves of both the inelastic superstructure and the isolation level assuming different values of the corresponding limit states. Integrating the fragility curves with the seismic hazard curves related to L'Aquila site (Italy), the reliability curves of the equivalent inelastic base‐isolated structural systems, with a design life of 50 years, are derived proposing seismic reliability‐based regression expressions between the displacement ductility demand and the strength reduction factors for the superstructure as well as seismic reliability‐based design (SRBD) abacuses useful to define the FPS properties. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Practice‐oriented estimation of the seismic demand hazard using ground motions at few intensity levels

This paper examines the calculation of the seismic demand hazard in a practice‐oriented manner via the use of seismic response analyses at few intensity levels. The seismic demand hazard is a more robust measure for quantifying seismic performance, when seismic hazard is represented in a probabilistic format, than intensity‐based assessments, which remain prevalent in seismic design codes. It is illustrated that, for a relatively complex bridge–foundation–soil system case study, the seismic demand hazard can be estimated with sufficient accuracy using as little as three intensity measure levels that have exceedance probabilities of 50%, 10% and 2% in 50 years which are already of interest in multi‐objective performance‐based design. Compared with the conventional use of the mean demand from an intensity‐based assessment(s), it is illustrated that, for the same number of seismic response analyses, a practice‐oriented ‘approximate’ seismic demand hazard is a more accurate and precise estimate of the ‘exact’ seismic demand hazard. Direct estimation of the seismic demand hazard also provides information of seismic performance at multiple exceedance rates. Thus, it is advocated that if seismic hazard is considered in a probabilistic format, then seismic performance assessment, and acceptance criteria, should be in terms of the seismic demand hazard and not intensity‐based assessments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A critical examination of seismic response uncertainty analysis in earthquake engineering

The last decade of performance‐based earthquake engineering (PBEE) research has seen a rapidly increasing emphasis placed on the explicit quantification of uncertainties. This paper examines uncertainty consideration in input ground‐motion and numerical seismic response analyses as part of PBEE, with particular attention given to the physical consistency and completeness of uncertainty consideration. It is argued that the use of the commonly adopted incremental dynamic analysis leads to a biased representation of the seismic intensity and that when considering the number of ground motions to be used in seismic response analyses, attention should be given to both reducing parameter estimation uncertainty and also limiting ground‐motion selection bias. Research into uncertainties in system‐specific numerical seismic response analysis models to date has been largely restricted to the consideration of ‘low‐level’ constitutive model parameter uncertainties. However, ‘high‐level’ constitutive model and model methodology uncertainties are likely significant and therefore represent a key research area in the coming years. It is also argued that the common omission of high‐level seismic response analysis modelling uncertainties leads to a fallacy that ground‐motion uncertainty is more significant than numerical modelling uncertainty. The author's opinion of the role of uncertainty analysis in PBEE is also presented. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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。     

装配式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力测试研究

为了提高装配式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力,需要对承载力进行量化测试,提出一种基于弹性模量载荷应力线性评估的装配式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力测试方法。构建装配式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力测试的约束参量模型,结合受力参量估计方法进行应力屈服响应评估,测试装配式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震动态承载力,采用屈服应力推服响应控制方法进行装配式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力的自动加载和自适应控制,测试式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力和抗拉能力,实现混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力参数的优化估计。测试结果表明,采用该方法进行装配式混凝土框架结构体系的抗震承载力测试的准确性较高,提高了建筑体的抗震力。     

Seismic fragility and reliability of structures isolated by friction pendulum devices: seismic reliability‐based design (SRBD)

The paper deals with the seismic reliability of elastic structural systems equipped with friction pendulum isolators (friction pendulum system). The behavior of these systems is analyzed by employing a two‐degree‐of‐freedom model accounting for the superstructure flexibility, whereas the friction pendulum system device behavior is described by adopting a widespread model that considers the variation of the friction coefficient with the velocity. With reference to medium soil condition, the uncertainty in the seismic inputs is taken into account by considering a set of artificial records, obtained through Monte Carlo simulations within the power spectral density method, with different frequency contents and characteristics depending on the soil dynamic parameters and scaled to increasing intensity levels. The sliding friction coefficient at large velocity is also considered as random variable modeled through a uniform probability density function. Incremental dynamic analyses are developed in order to evaluate the probabilities exceeding different limit states related to both r.c. superstructure and isolation level defining the seismic fragility curves through an extensive parametric study carried out for different structural system properties. Finally, considering the seismic hazard curves related to a site near L'Aquila (Italy), the seismic reliability of the r.c. superstructure systems is evaluated, and seismic reliability‐based design abacuses are derived with the aim to define the radius in plan of the friction pendulum devices in function of the structural properties and reliability level expected. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of viscous damping devices on the response of seismically isolated structures

Viscous and other damping devices are often used as elements of seismic isolation systems. Despite the widespread application of nonlinear viscous systems particularly in Japan (with fewer applications in the USA and Taiwan), the application of viscous damping devices in isolation systems in the USA progressed intentionally toward the use of supplementary linear viscous devices due to the advantages offered by these devices. This paper presents experimental results on the behavior of seismically isolated structures with low damping elastomeric (LDE) and single friction pendulum (SFP) bearings with and without linear and nonlinear viscous dampers. The isolation systems are tested within a six‐story structure configured as moment frame and then again as braced frame. Emphasis is placed both on the acquisition of data related to the structural system (drifts, story shear forces, and isolator displacements) and on non‐structural systems (floor accelerations, floor spectral accelerations, and floor velocities). Moreover, the accuracy of analytical prediction of response is investigated based on the results of a total of 227 experiments, using 14 historic ground motions of far‐fault and near‐fault characteristics, on flexible moment frame and stiff braced frame structures isolated with LDE or SFP bearings and linear or nonlinear viscous dampers. It is concluded that when damping is needed to reduce displacement demands in the isolation system, linear viscous damping results in the least detrimental effect on the isolated structure. Moreover, the study concludes that the analytical prediction of peak floor accelerations and floor response spectra may contain errors that need to be considered when designing secondary systems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于性能的钢筋混凝土框架剪力墙结构地震易损性分析

以某典型的20层钢筋混凝土框架剪力墙结构作为研究对象,研究基于性能的RC框架剪力墙结构易损性分析方法。首先选择合适的地震动记录,以0.2g为步长进行调幅后,建立300个结构-地震动样本空间,并确定结构损伤指标和性能参数;然后应用增量动力分析方法计算结构的地震动力响应,选择基本周期加速度反应谱为地震动参数,以研究结构反应的不确定性,并深入分析地震动参数与结构地震需求参数的关系;在此基础上,建立该结构基于加速度反应谱的易损性曲线进行结构易损性分析与评估。结果表明：随着地震动强度的增大,IDA曲线由单调增加变为非单调增加,分位曲线（16%,50%和84%）可以准确地衡量结构的性能;框剪结构在地震作用下的抗震性能表现良好,随着地震强度的增长,各性能超越概率大小的增长速度是不同的。     

On the treatment of uncertainties in the development of fragility functions for earthquake loss estimation of building portfolios

State‐of‐the‐art methods for the assessment of building fragility consider the structural capacity and seismic demand variability in the estimation of the probability of exceeding different damage states. However, questions remain regarding the appropriate treatment of such sources of uncertainty from a statistical significance perspective. In this study, material, geometrical and mechanical properties of a number of building classes are simulated by means of a Monte Carlo sampling process in which the statistical distribution of the aforementioned parameters is taken into consideration. Record selection is performed in accordance with hazard‐consistent distributions of a comprehensive set of intensity measures, and issues related with sufficiency, efficiency, predictability and scaling robustness are addressed. Based on the appraised minimum number of ground motion records required to achieve statistically meaningful estimates of response variability conditioned on different levels of seismic intensity, the concept of conditional fragility functions is presented. These functions translate the probability of exceeding a set of damage states as a function of a secondary sufficient intensity measure, when records are selected and scaled for a particular level of primary seismic intensity parameter. It is demonstrated that this process allows a hazard‐consistent and statistically meaningful representation of uncertainty and correlation in the estimation of intensity‐dependent damage exceedance probabilities. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A parametric study of seismic behavior of roller seismic isolation bearings for highway bridges

A roller seismic isolation bearing is proposed for use in highway bridges. The bearing utilizes a rolling mechanism to achieve seismic isolation and has a zero post‐elastic stiffness under horizontal ground motions, a self‐centering capability, and unique friction devices for supplemental energy dissipation. The objectives of this research are to investigate the seismic behavior of the proposed bearing using parametric studies (1) with nonlinear response history analysis and (2) with equivalent linear analysis according to the AASHTO guide specifications, and by comparing the results from both analysis methods (3) to evaluate the accuracy of the AASHTO equivalent linear method for predicting the peak displacement of the proposed bearing during an earthquake. Twenty‐eight ground motions are used in the studies. The parameters examined are the sloping angle of the intermediate plate of the bearing, the amount of friction force for supplemental energy dissipation, and the peak ground acceleration levels of the ground motions. The peak displacement and base shear of the bearing are calculated. Results of the studies show that a larger sloping angle does not reduce the peak displacement for most of the parametric combinations without friction devices. However, for parametric combinations with friction devices, it allows for the use of a higher friction force, which effectively reduces the peak displacement, while keeping a self‐centering capability. The AASHTO equivalent linear method may underestimate the peak displacement by as much as 40%. Vertical ground motions have little effect on the peak displacement, but significantly increase the peak base shear. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A generalization of the Drenick–Shinozuka model for bounds on the seismic response of a Single-Degree-Of-Freedom system

This paper deals with seismic excitation of linearly elastic structures. It is well known that dynamical structural response is very sensitive to random fluctuations of the excitation; the consequence is that the identification of the forcing function on the basis of a few ‘global’ parameters does not allow to predict exhaustively stresses in seismically excited structures. In the paper, a convex model is established to treat uncertainty associated with the ‘details’ of the excitation, in order to set bounds on the response parameters of a SDOF system, assuming that only rough information is available for expected earthquakes at a given site. In particular, we assume that the maximum expected ‘energy’ of the accelerogram, and the maximum ‘distance’ of its power spectrum from the target spectrum, typical for the site under construction, are specified. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic performance and damage evaluation of a reinforced concrete frame with hysteretic dampers through shake‐table tests

Passive energy dissipation devices are increasingly implemented in frame structures to improve their performance under seismic loading. Most guidelines for designing this type of system retain the requirements applicable to frames without dampers, and this hinders taking full advantage of the benefits of implementing dampers. Further, assessing the extent of damage suffered by the frame and by the dampers for different levels of seismic hazard is of paramount importance in the framework of performance‐based design. This paper presents an experimental investigation whose objectives are to provide empirical data on the response of reinforced concrete (RC) frames equipped with hysteretic dampers (dynamic response and damage) and to evaluate the need for the frame to form a strong column‐weak beam mechanism and dissipate large amounts of plastic strain energy. To this end, shake‐table tests were conducted on a 2/5‐scale RC frame with hysteretic dampers. The frame was designed only for gravitational loads. The dampers provided lateral strength and stiffness, respectively, three and 12 times greater than those of the frame. The test structure was subjected to a sequence of seismic simulations that represented different levels of seismic hazard. The RC frame showed a performance level of ‘immediate occupancy’, with maximum rotation demands below 20% of the ultimate capacity. The dampers dissipated most of the energy input by the earthquake. It is shown that combining hysteretic dampers with flexible reinforced concrete frames leads to structures with improved seismic performance and that requirements of conventional RC frames (without dampers) can be relieved. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental and numerical behaviour of dissipative devices based on carbon‐wrapped steel tubes for the retrofitting of existing precast RC structures

The 2012 Emilia earthquake (in Northern Italy) caused extensive damage to existing prefabricated reinforced concrete structures. These buildings were found being extremely vulnerable because, being designed for vertical loads only, they featured friction‐based connections between structural elements, most commonly between beams and columns. Given the large diffusion of these structures, their seismic retrofit is critical. Various techniques have been proposed in the literature, in most of which friction‐based connections are removed by inserting mechanical connectors that will make beam‐column connections hinged. These approaches lead to a significant increase of the base shear and therefore require strengthening of columns. The paper presents dissipative devices based on carbon‐wrapped steel tubes to be used as an alternative low‐damage solution for the retrofit of beam‐column connections. The first part of the paper presents results of experimental tests on the devices and discusses their dissipative behaviour. The succeeding parts of the paper present numerical analyses on simple structures reinforced with the proposed device. The results of the numerical study show how the introduction of the dissipative devices produces a significant reduction of forces transmitted to the structure, by comparing the seismic response of simple frame structures equipped with dissipative devices with the response of equivalent elastic systems.     

Seismic protection of rocking structures with inerters

The seismic behaviour of a wide variety of structures can be characterized by the rocking response of rigid blocks. Nevertheless, suitable seismic control strategies are presently limited and consist mostly on preventing rocking motion all together, which may induce undesirable stress concentrations and lead to impractical interventions. In this paper, we investigate the potential advantages of using supplemental rotational inertia to mitigate the effects of earthquakes on rocking structures. The newly proposed strategy employs inerters, which are mechanical devices that develop resisting forces proportional to the relative acceleration between their terminals and can be combined with a clutch to ensure their rotational inertia is only employed to oppose the motion. We demonstrate that the inclusion of the inerter effectively reduces the frequency parameter of the block, resulting in lower rotation seismic demands and enhanced stability due to the well-known size effects of the rocking behaviour. The effects of the inerter and inerter-clutch devices on the response scaling and similarity are also studied. An examination of their overturning fragility functions reveals that inerter-equipped structures experience reduced probabilities of overturning in comparison with uncontrolled bodies, while the addition of a clutch further improves their seismic stability. The concept advanced in this paper is particularly attractive for the protection of rocking bodies as it opens the possibility of nonlocally modifying the dynamic response of rocking structures without altering their geometry.     

RC框架结构超强系数与地震经济损失风险分析

基于现行的中国抗震设计规范,设计了6个不同参数的钢筋混凝土框架结构模型,利用静力弹塑性(Pushover)分析方法求得各个框架结构的超强系数;同时,利用基于性能的抗震设计(PBSD)的方法,通过增量动力分析(IDA)、易损性分析和地震损失风险分析等,定量的求出各个框架结构的经济损失风险,并比较了不同框架结构超强系数和经...     

RC框架结构地震易损性分析方法研究进展

21世纪我国经济急速发展,人口也急剧增长,这也使得地震对人类生命和财产安全造成的威胁更大,结构抗震研究需求日益增加。地震易损性分析技术对于结构破坏和损失预测都有着非同一般的应用价值,因此受到了国内外土木工程抗震界的广泛关注和研究。首先介绍了地震易损性分析的基本概念,具体地论述了用于地震易损性分析的三种方法,同时总结出此三种方法各自的优缺点;其次以RC框架结构为例论述了国内外地震易损性分析领域的研究发展,从上个世纪90年代开始进行了系统的梳理和分析。说明了地震易损性分析在研究过程中由于不确定性的存在而导致对分析结果准确度的影响;最后指出要想得到更接近于真实的易损性分析结果,还需考量易损性分析中的不确定参数,揭示了地震易损性分析研究领域所面临的挑战。     

Direct loss model for seismically damaged structures

Loss ratio, which is the ratio of the repair cost to the total replacement cost, is an effective parameter for representing structural and nonstructural damage caused by earthquakes. A probabilistic loss estimation framework is first presented that directly relates hazard to response and hence to losses. A key feature of the loss estimation approach is the determination of losses without need for customary fragility curves. Relationships between intensity measures and engineering demand parameters are used to define the demand model. An empirically calibrated loss model in the form of a power curve with upper and lower cut‐offs is used in conjunction with the demand model to estimate loss ratios. Loss ratios for each of the damage states take into account epistemic uncertainty and an effect on price surge following a major hazardous event. The loss model is calibrated and validated for bridges designed based on the prevailing Caltrans, Japan, and New Zealand standards. The loss model is then transformed to provide a composite seismic hazard–loss relationship that is used to estimate the expected annual loss for structures. The closed‐form four‐step stochastic loss estimation model is applied to the bridges designed for ductility. Results of these ductile designs are compared to a bridge detailed to an emerging damage avoidance design philosophy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.