Non‐linear behavior of mass concrete in three‐dimensional problems using a smeared crack approach

A smeared crack approach has been proposed to model the static and dynamic behavior of mass concrete in three‐dimensional space. The proposed model simulates the tensile fracture on the mass concrete and contains pre‐softening behavior, softening initiation, fracture energy conservation and strain rate effects under dynamic loads. The validity of the proposed model has been checked using the available experimental results under static and dynamic loads. The direct and indirect displacement control algorithms have been employed under incremental increasing static loads. It was found that the proposed model gives excellent results and crack profiles when compared with the available data under static loads. The Koyna Dam in India has been used to verify the dynamic behavior of the proposed model. It was found that the resulting crack profiles were in good agreement with the available experimental results. Finally, the Morrow Point Dam was analyzed, including the dam–reservoir interaction effects, to consider its non‐linear seismic behavior. It was found that the resulting crack profiles were in good agreement with the contour of maximum principal stresses and no numerical instability occurred during the analysis. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The earthquake experience at koyna dam and stresses in concrete gravity dams

A number of questions concerning the response of concrete gravity dams to earthquakes, motivated by the structural damage caused to Koyna Dam, which has an unconventional cross section, by the December 1967 Koyna earthquake, are considered in this work. The study is not restricted to the earthquake experience at Koyna Dam, but includes consideration of a dam with a typical section and another earthquake motion having similar intensity but different peak acceleration and frequency characteristics compared to the Koyna ground motion. The earthquake response in a number of cases is analysed by the finite element method and results are presented. These results lead to a number of conclusions. Significant tensile stresses must have developed in Koyna Dam during the Koyna earthquake and similar stresses would have developed even in typical gravity dam sections. The Koyna ground motion is relatively more severe, compared to California earthquakes of similar intensity, on concrete gravity dams. The extra concrete mass near the crest of a gravity dam to support the roadway, etc. is responsible for causing a significant part of the critical tensile stresses; attention should therefore be given to developing lightweight supporting systems.     

Multi‐scale modelling approach for the pushover analysis of existing RC shear walls—Part II: Experimental verification

In a companion paper two different modelling approaches have been described, operating at the meso‐scale of the fibre elements and at the micro‐scale of the finite element (FE) method. The aim of this paper is to explore the efficiency of these models in the pushover analysis for the seismic assessment of existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures. To this purpose a prototype reference structure, one of the RC shear walls designed according to the multi‐fuse concept and tested on shaking table for the CAMUS Project, is modelled at different levels of refinement. At the micro‐scale the reinforcement and anchorage details are described with increasing accuracy in separate models, whereas at the meso‐scale one single model is used, where each element represents a large part of the structure. Static incremental non‐linear analyses are performed with both models to derive a capacity curve enveloping the experimental results and to reproduce the damage pattern at the displacement level where failure is reached. The comparison between experimental and numerical results points out the strong and weak points of the different models inside the procedure adopted, and the utility of an integration of results from both approaches. This study confirms, even for the rather difficult case at study, the capability of the pushover in reproducing the non‐linear dynamic response, both at a global and a local level, and opens the way to the use of the models within a displacement‐based design and assessment procedure. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic cracking and energy dissipation in concrete gravity dams

A finite element method for seismic fracture analysis of concrete gravity dams is presented. The proposed smeared crack analysis model is based on the non-linear fracture behaviour of concrete. The following features have been considered in the development of the model: (i) the strain softening of concrete due to microcracking; (ii) the rotation of the fracture band with the progressive evolution of microcrack damage in finite elements; (iii) the conservation of fracture energy; (iv) the strain-rate sensitivity of concrete fracture parameters; (v) the softening initiation criterion under biaxial loading conditions; (vi) the closing-reopening of cracks under cyclic loading conditions. The seismic fracture and energy response of dams and the significance of viscous damping models to take account of non-cracking structural energy dissipation mechanisms are discussed. The influences of global or local degradation of the material fracture resistance on the seismic cracking response of concrete dams were also studied. Two-dimensional seismic response analyses of Koyna Dam were performed to demonstrate the application of the proposed non-linear fracture mechanics model.     

Pseudo‐dynamic testing of bridges using non‐linear substructuring

Pseudo‐dynamic tests on a large‐scale model of an existing six‐pier bridge were performed at the ELSA laboratory using the substructuring technique. Two physical pier models were constructed and tested in the laboratory, while the deck, the abutments and the remaining four piers were numerically modeled on‐line. These tests on a large‐scale model of an existing bridge are the first to have been performed considering non‐linear behavior for the modeled substructure. Asynchronous input motion, generated for the specific bridge site, was used for the abutments and the pier bases. Three earthquake tests with increasing intensities were carried out, aimed at the assessment of the seismic vulnerability of a typical European motorway bridge designed prior to the modern generation of seismic codes. The experimental results confirm the poor seismic behavior of the bridge, evidenced by irregular distribution of damage, limited deformation capacity, tension shift effects and undesirable failure locations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A plastic-damage concrete model for earthquake analysis of dams

A new plastic-damage constitutive model for cyclic loading of concrete has been developed for the earthquake analysis of concrete dams. The rate-independent model consistently includes the effects of strain softening, represented by separate damage variables for tension and compression. A simple scalar degradation model simulates the effects of damage on the elastic stiffness and the recovery of stiffness after cracks close. To simulate large crack opening displacements, the evolution of inelastic strain is stopped beyond a critical value for the tensile damage variable. Subsequent deformation can be recovered upon crack closing. The rate-independent plastic-damage model forms the backbone model for a rate-dependent viscoplastic extension. The rate-dependent regularization is necessary to obtain a unique and mesh objective numerical solution. Damping is represented as a linear viscoelastic behaviour proportional to the elastic stiffness including the degradation damage. The plastic-damage constitutive model is used to evaluate the response of Koyna dam in the 1967 Koyna earthquake. The analysis shows two localized cracks forming and then joining at the change in geometry of the upper part of the dam. The upper portion of the dam vibrates essentially as rigid-body rocking motion after the upper cracks form, but the dam remains stable. The vertical component of ground motion influences the post-cracking response. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic hybrid simulation of a nonductile RC building with severe damage to multiple columns

Reinforced concrete frame structures built prior to the mid‐1970s are susceptible to brittle column failure under seismic action, potentially leading to progressive collapse of the structure. The behavior of columns susceptible to brittle shear‐axial failure has been studied previously but rarely has the interaction between damaged columns and the surrounding three‐dimensional structure been investigated experimentally and at full scale. In this study, as the second in a series of hybrid simulations, two full‐scale reinforced concrete columns of a representative pre‐1970s structure were tested at the Multi‐axial Full‐scale Substructure Testing and Simulation (MUST‐SIM) laboratory. Through the use of hybrid simulation, the interaction of the columns with the surrounding structure is studied under a severe seismic motion including vertical excitation. The computational model representing the remainder of the representative 10‐story structure is created in the computer program OpenSees. During the hybrid simulation, both physical specimens experience significant loss of shear and axial strength, and the effects of these failures on the surrounding system are described. The three‐dimensional computational model in OpenSees allowed for analytical flexural‐axial failure of a third column in the structure to occur. The effects of these multiple failures on the response of a full structural system under seismic action are quantified, and the progressive collapse resistance mechanisms are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new modelling strategy for the behaviour of shear walls under dynamic loading

A new simplified modelling strategy to simulate the non‐linear behaviour of reinforced concrete shear walls under dynamic loading is presented. The equivalent reinforced concrete (ERC) model is derived from the framework method and uses lattice meshes for concrete and reinforcement bars and uniaxial constitutive laws based on continuum damage mechanics and plasticity. Results show the capacity of the model to analyse structures having different slenderness and boundary conditions. For low reinforcement ratios however, results are sensitive to the angle formed by the diagonals of the concrete lattice and the horizontal bars. The method is compared with the shear multi‐layered beam model that uses Timoshenko multi‐layered 2D beam elements and biaxial constitutive laws. Comparisons for both models with experimental results of two research programs (one organized by NUPEC and the other by COGEMA and EDF) are provided. ERC is a simplified method that intends to save computer time and allows parametrical studies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A continuum damage concrete model for earthquake analysis of concrete gravity dam–reservoir systems

In this study, the earthquake damage response of the concrete gravity dams is investigated with considering the effects of dam–reservoir interaction. A continuum damage model which is a second-order tensor and includes the strain softening behavior is selected for the concrete material. The mesh-dependent hardening technique is adopted such that the fracture energy dissipated is not affected by the finite element mesh size. The dynamic equilibrium equations of motion are solved by using the improved form of the HHT-α time integration algorithm. Two dimensional seismic analysis of Koyna gravity dam is performed by using the 1967 Koyna earthquake records. The effects of damage on the earthquake response of concrete gravity dams are discussed. Comparison of the Westergaard and Lagrangian dam–reservoir interaction solutions is made. The effects of viscous damping ratio on the damage response of the dam are also studied.     

Near‐collapse response of existing RC building under severe pulse‐type ground motion using hybrid simulation

Column shear‐axial failure is a complex response, which lends itself to physical experimentation. Reinforced concrete structures built prior to the mid‐1970s are particularly susceptible to such failure. Shear‐axial column failure has been examined and studied at the element level, but current rehabilitation practice equates such a column failure with structural collapse, neglecting the collapse resistance of the full structural system following column failure. This system‐level response can prevent a column failure from leading to progressive collapse of the entire structure. In this study, a hybrid simulation was conducted on a representative pre‐1970s reinforced concrete frame structure under severe seismic ground motion, in which three full‐scale reinforced concrete columns were tested at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. The analytical portion of the model was represented in the computer program OpenSees. Failure occurred in multiple physical specimens as a result of the ground motion, and the hybrid nature of the test allowed for observation of the system‐level response of the tested columns and the remaining structural system. The behavior of the system accounting for multiple column shear‐axial failure is discussed and characterized. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic collapse analysis for a reinforced concrete frame sustaining shear and axial failures

Shaking table test results from a one‐story, two‐bay reinforced concrete frame sustaining shear and axial failures are compared with nonlinear dynamic analyses using models developed for the collapse assessment of older reinforced concrete buildings. The models provided reasonable estimates of the overall frame response and lateral strength degradation; however, the measured drifts were underestimated by the models. Selected model parameters were varied to investigate the sensitivity of the calculated response to changes in the drift at shear failure, rate of shear strength degradation, and drift at axial failure. For the selected ground motion, the drift at shear failure and rate of shear strength degradation did not have a significant impact on the calculated peak drift. By incorporating shear and axial‐load failure models, the analytical model is shown to be capable of predicting the axial‐load failure for a hypothetical frame with three nonductile columns. Improvements are needed in drift demand estimates from nonlinear dynamic analysis if such analyses are to be used in displacement‐based performance assessments. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic loss estimation of non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings

Non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings represent a prevalent construction type found in many parts of the world. Due to the seismic vulnerability of such buildings, in areas of high seismic activity non‐ductile reinforced concrete buildings pose a significant threat to the safety of the occupants and damage to such structures can result in large financial losses. This paper introduces advanced analytical models that can be used to simulate the nonlinear dynamic response of these structural systems, including collapse. The state‐of‐the‐art loss simulation procedure developed for new buildings is extended to estimate the expected losses of existing non‐ductile concrete buildings considering their vulnerability to collapse. Three criteria for collapse, namely first component failure, side‐sway collapse, and gravity‐load collapse, are considered in determining the probability of collapse and the assessment of financial losses. A detailed example is presented using a seven‐story non‐ductile reinforced concrete frame building located in the Los Angeles, California. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling cyclic loading behavior of jointed precast concrete connections including effects of friction,tendon yielding and dampers

Reversed cyclic loading behavior of jointed precast prestressed concrete beam‐to‐column connections are computationally modeled and validated against full‐scale experimental results. Response simulations are performed with and without supplemental high force‐to‐volume (HF2V) energy dissipation devices. The experimental specimen is a three‐dimensional corner connection of a jointed precast concrete frame structure, utilizing unbonded post‐tensioned tendons consisting of high‐alloy, high‐strength thread‐bars. The joint region is armored, to avoid damage, by providing steel plates at the beam–column (rocking) contact points. The analytical model of the connection is developed to include modifications for the effects of changing connection behavior. These effects are friction within the prestressing system, yielding of the prestressing tendons, reduction or elimination of prestress attributable to prior tendon yield, and directional dependence caused by an asymmetrical prestress system. Particular attention is given to developing a robust model that can accommodate small reversals in the displacement loading. The model is extended to incorporate the effects of the HF2V energy dissipation devices and the associated flexibility from the elements that connect the devices to the structure. Although the model is applied to the use of HF2V (lead extrusion) energy dissipation devices, it is general and can accommodate any non‐linear rate‐dependent damper. The computational model is based almost entirely on rational mechanics and shows good agreement with the full‐scale experimental observations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mathematical models for the dynamic analysis of concrete gravity dams

The results from field tests on Pine Flat Dam near Fresno, California, are described. The results are then used in the formulation of a three-dimensional mathematical model of the dam and a two-dimensional mathematical model of one of the taller monoliths. The significance of these mathematical models in relationship to the behaviour of concrete gravity dams during earthquakes is also discussed.     

Sub‐grid scale parameterization of hillslope runoff and erosion processes for catchment‐scale models of semi‐arid landscapes

The processes of hillslope runoff and erosion are typically represented at coarse spatial resolution in catchment‐scale models due to computational limitations. Such representation typically fails to incorporate the important effects of topographic heterogeneity on runoff generation, overland flow, and soil erosion. These limitations currently undermine the application of distributed catchment models to understand the importance of thresholds and connectivity on hillslope and catchment‐scale runoff and erosion, particularly in semi‐arid environments. This paper presents a method for incorporating high‐resolution topographic data to improve sub‐grid scale parameterization of hillslope overland flow and erosion models. Results derived from simulations conducted using a kinematic wave overland flow model at 0.5 m spatial resolution are used to parameterize the depth–discharge relationship in the overland flow model when applied at 16 m resolution. The high‐resolution simulations are also used to derive a more realistic parameterization of excess flow shear stress for use in the 16 m resolution erosion model. Incorporating the sub‐grid scale parameterization in the coarse‐resolution model (16 m) leads to improved predictions of overland flow and erosion when evaluated using results derived from high‐resolution (0.5 m) model simulations. The improvement in performance is observed for a range of event magnitudes and is most notable for erosion estimates due to the non‐linear dependency between the rates of erosion and overland flow. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The effects of strong motion duration on the dynamic response and accumulated damage of concrete gravity dams

Strong motion duration is one of the challenging characteristics of ground motion, which affects the cumulative damage of structures significantly. Many researchers have conducted investigations related to the effects of strong motion duration on the response of building structures. However, the corresponding studies of concrete gravity dams are limited. In this paper, the effects of strong motion duration on the accumulated damage of concrete gravity dams are investigated. A Concrete Damaged Plasticity (CDP) model including the strain hardening or softening behavior is selected for the concrete material. This model is used to evaluate the nonlinear dynamic response and seismic damage process of Koyna dam during 1976 Koyna earthquake. Subsequently, the damage analyses of Koyna dam subjected to earthquake motions with different strong motion durations are performed. 20 as-recorded accelerograms, which are modified to match a 5% damped target spectrum, are considered in this study. Strong motion durations are obtained based on the definition of significant duration. According to the characteristics of the cracking damage development, both local and global damage indices are established as the response parameters. The results show that strong motion duration is positively correlated to the accumulated damage for events with similar response spectrum, and has significant influence on the cumulative damage of the dam. Longer duration will lead to greater accumulation damage to which aseismic design of the dam should be given attention.     

A hybrid distinct element–boundary element approach for seismic analysis of cracked concrete gravity dam–reservoir systems

This paper proposes a new algorithm for modeling the nonlinear seismic behavior of fractured concrete gravity dams considering dam–reservoir interaction effects. In this algorithm, the cracked concrete gravity dam is modeled by distinct element (DE) method, which has been widely used for the analysis of blocky media. Dynamic response of the reservoir is obtained using boundary element (BE) method. Formulation and various computational aspects of the proposed staggered hybrid approach are thoroughly discussed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study of a hybrid DE–BE approach for seismic analysis of cracked gravity dam–reservoir systems. The validity of the algorithm is discussed by developing a two-dimensional computer code and comparing results obtained from the proposed hybrid DE–BE approach with those reported in the literature. For this purpose, a few problems of seismic excitations in frequency- and time-domains, are presented using the proposed approach. Present results agree well with the results from other numerical methods. Furthermore, the cracked Koyna Dam is analyzed, including dam–reservoir interaction effects with focus on the nonlinear behavior due to its top profile crack. Results of the present study are compared to available results in the literature in which the dam–reservoir interaction were simplified by added masses. It is shown that the nonlinear analysis that includes dam–reservoir interaction gives downstream sliding and rocking response patterns that are somehow different from that of the case when the dam–reservoir interaction is approximated employing added masses.     

Mathematical modelling of an infilled RC frame structure based on the results of pseudo‐dynamic tests

In this paper, a technique is presented which employs the results of pseudo‐dynamic tests for the development of a mathematical model. This technique, described by means of the mathematical modelling of a three‐storey reinforced concrete frame building with infill in the bottom two storeys, which was tested at ELSA in Ispra, proved to be effective and to lead to a fairly accurate structural model. The results of analyses suggest that the global non‐linear seismic response of reinforced concrete frames with masonry infill can be adequately simulated by a relatively simple mathematical model, which combines beam elements with concentrated plasticity, simple connection elements, and equivalent strut elements representing the infill walls (provided that the infill does not fail out of plane and that no shear sliding failure occurs). Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Predicting and forecasting flow discharge at sites receiving significant lateral inflow

Two models, one linear and one non‐linear, were employed for the prediction of flow discharge hydrographs at sites receiving significant lateral inflow. The linear model is based on a rating curve and permits a quick estimation of flow at a downstream site. The non‐linear model is based on a multilayer feed‐forward back propagation (FFBP) artificial neural network (ANN) and uses flow‐stage data measured at the upstream and downstream stations. ANN predicted the real‐time storm hydrographs satisfactorily and better than did the linear model. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated that when the lateral inflow contribution to the channel reach was insignificant, ANN, using only the flow‐stage data at the upstream station, satisfactorily predicted the hydrograph at the downstream station. The prediction error of ANN increases exponentially with the difference between the peak discharge used in training and that used in testing. ANN was also employed for flood forecasting and was compared with the modified Muskingum model (MMM). For a 4‐h lead time, MMM forecasts the floods reliably but could not be applied to reaches for lead times greater than the wave travel time. Although ANN and MMM had comparable performances for an 8‐h lead time, ANN is capable of forecasting floods with lead times longer than the wave travel time. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic response of linear and non‐linear asymmetric systems with non‐linear fluid viscous dampers

This investigation is concerned with the seismic response of one‐story, one‐way asymmetric linear and non‐linear systems with non‐linear fluid viscous dampers. The seismic responses are computed for a suite of 20 ground motions developed for the SAC studies and the median values examined. Reviewed first is the behaviour of single‐degree‐of‐freedom systems to harmonic and earthquake loading. The presented results for harmonic loading are used to explain a few peculiar trends—such as reduction in deformation and increase in damper force of short‐period systems with increasing damper non‐linearity—for earthquake loading. Subsequently, the seismic responses of linear and non‐linear asymmetric‐plan systems with non‐linear dampers are compared with those having equivalent linear dampers. The presented results are used to investigate the effects of damper non‐linearity and its influence on the effects of plan asymmetry. Finally, the design implications of the presented results are discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.