A linear mathematical model for the seismic inplane behaviour of brick masonry walls part 2: Determination of model parameters through optimization using experimental data

The parameters appearing in the mixture and effective modulus models proposed in Part 1 are determined through optimization by matching theoretical and experimental responses. The optimization analysis is performed in frequency space. The response quantities chosen to be matched are the complex frequency response functions (experimental and theoretical) relating the Fourier transforms of top and base accelerations of the wall. Computations in optimization analysis are carried out by introducing an object (error) function and minimizing it using the Gauss-Newton method. The results show that the mixture model is capable of predicting accurately the dynamic response of masonry walls up to a frequency which is well above the second modal frequency, whereas the effective modulus model describes the wall behaviour only up to the first modal frequency. Furthermore, it is shown that the mixture model is still valid when micro cracks, which may exist between the mortar and brick constituents, are present.     

A mathematical model for the in-plane non-linear earthquake behaviour of unreinforced masonry walls. Part 2: Completion of the model

In this part, the parameter functions for clay brick masonry appearing in the non-linear model are established for the wall material used in the experiments by means of experimental data and a particular type of optimization. This special optimization makes use of the fact that the wall behaves linearly at the intensity level of each excitation, as described in Part 1, and involves matching in frequency space the experimental and theoretical complex frequency response functions relating the Fourier transforms of the top and base accelerations of the wall. It is found that the envelope curves for the parameter functions are bilinear and that the dynamic values of mechanical properties of masonry differ greatly from their static values. The completed model is appraised by comparing how the wall will respond to strong earthquake excitations when predicted using the model and how it actually responded on the shaking table. The predicted response is remarkably close to the experimental.     

Seismic resistance of precast concrete shear walls

The earthquake resistance of stacked precast concrete simple shear walls found typically in Large Panel buildings of the cross-wall type is studied. Physical model testing on a small shaking table facility and analytical techniques are compared. Results of the testing of four models to failure portrayed the non-linear effects of rocking and shear slip that were assumed in several analytical studies but were never before measured experimentally. The physical model studies are supplemented with an independent mathematical analysis using a modified version of the dynamic, non-linear computer code Drain 2–D. Correlation of the analytical and experimental results show that the computer study can be used to predict the overall shear wall response. Results of the small scale model and the mathematical model studies indicate that the simple shear wall behaves in a non-linear manner, even for low magnitudes of base acceleration. Non-linear effects, usually concentrated in only one or two joints, reduced force levels and increased displacements. The four small scale models that were tested withstood high magnitudes of base acceleration without collapse.     

Numerical analysis of reinforced soil walls with granular and cohesive backfills under cyclic loads

Novel approaches to the dynamic analysis of the reinforced soil walls have been reported in the literature. Use of marginal soils reduces the cost of geosynthetic reinforced soil walls if proper drainage measures are taken. Therefore the affect of using cohesive marginal soils as backfill in geosynthetic reinforced retaining structures were investigated in this research. The dynamic response of reinforced soil walls was investigated in a similar focus, using finite element analysis. The results obtained from walls with cohesive backfill were compared to the results obtained from walls with granular backfill. The height of the wall was chosen as 6 m in the two-dimensional plane strain finite element model and the base acceleration was chosen to be a harmonic motion. The effects of various parameters like the backfill type, facing type, reinforcement stiffness, and peak ground acceleration on the cyclic response of reinforced soil retaining walls were investigated. After analyzing the wall response for end of construction and dynamic excitation phases, it was determined that the deformations and reinforcement tensile loads increased during the cyclic load application and that the amount of additional deformation that occurred during cyclic load application was strongly related to backfill soil type, facing type, reinforcement type and peak ground acceleration. It was determined that a cohesive backfill and geotextile reinforcement was a good combination to reduce the deformations of geosynthetic reinforced walls during cyclic loading for medium height walls.     

Optimal design of an equipment isolation system with nonlinear hysteretic behaviour

Vibration isolation is well recognized as an effective mitigation strategy for acceleration‐sensitive equipment subjected to earthquake. In the present paper, an equipment isolation system with nonlinear hysteretic behaviour is proposed and a methodology for the optimal design is developed. An integrable constitutive model, derived from the mathematical Duhem hysteresis operator, is adopted for the isolation system. The optimization procedure is defined through a dual‐criteria approach that involves a transmissibility criterion combined with an energy performance criterion: the former consists in limiting the absolute acceleration of the isolated equipment below an allowable threshold value; the latter, in maximizing the ratio between the energy dissipation due to hysteresis and the input energy to reduce the isolator displacements. The seismic effectiveness of the nonlinear hysteretic isolation system is numerically investigated under natural accelerograms with different frequency content and increasing levels of excitation. Both ground‐mounted and floor‐mounted equipment items are considered in the analyses; in the second case, the dynamic interaction between the equipment and its supporting structure is taken into account in the design of the isolation system, and its effects on the isolation performance and the structural response are discussed. Comparisons in terms of effectiveness and robustness with a linear isolation system with viscoelastic behaviour are eventually provided. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large displacement behaviour of a structural model with foundation uplift under impulsive and earthquake excitations

This paper considers the dynamical behaviour of a structural model with foundation uplift. The equations of motion of the system considered are derived for large displacements thus allowing for the eventual overturning of the system. The transition conditions between successive phases of motion, derived in terms of the specific Lagrangian co‐ordinates used in the formulation of the equations of motion, present innovative aspects which resolve some previously inexplicable behaviour in the structural response reported in the literature. The dynamical behaviour of the model is considered under impulsive and long‐duration ground motions. The minimum horizontal acceleration impulses for the uplift and the overturning of the system are evaluated in analytical form. The sensitivity of the model to uplifting and to overturning under impulsive excitations is established as a function of few significant structural parameters. Numerical applications have been performed changing either the structural parameters or the loading parameter, in order to analyse several dynamical behaviours and also to validate the analytical results. For earthquake ground motions the results, reported in the form of response spectra, show that linearized models generally underestimate, sometimes significantly, the structural response. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non-equilibrium alcohol flooding model for immiscible phase remediation: 1. Equation development

The equations for a compositional model for simulation of a two-phase, three-component system with inter-phase mass transfer are developed. Emphasis is placed on development of inter-phase mass transfer equations for incorporation of rate-limited inter-phase mass transfer. Due to the nature of the three-component systems considered, a single-film model may be inadequate and a two-film model must be utilized. A two-film model accounts for the simultaneous transfer of components in both directions across phase interfaces. The effect of interaction between components on diffusion is considered using a general form of Fick's Law. A Hand Plot representation of ternary phase behavior is chosen since it allows for straightforward calculation of miscibility of bulk phases under conditions of local non-equilibrium. The developed set of equations form the basis for a numerical model to simulate the enhanced removal of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) from porous media using single-component alcohol floods.     

The role of sensitivity analysis in hydrologic modeling

Sensitivity is a measure of the effect of change in one factor on another factor. Sensitivity analysis is potentially useful in all phases of the modeling process: model formulation, model calibration and model verification. The sensitivity of model parameters should be recognized as a special case of the above general definition. Parametric sensitivity is a vital part of most optimization techniques. However, other facets of sensitivity need to be recognized. The time-dependent nature of sensitivity should be considered in the formulation of hydrologic models. A variety of simplified hydrologic models are used to demonstrate the potential of sensitivity in all phases of the modeling process. The failure to recognize and exploit the potential of sensitivity analysis results primarily from the inadequacy of the mathematical foundations of sensitivity. A comprehensive mathematical framework of sensitivity is provided and additional research needs are identified.     

基于地震信号波形形态差异的面波噪声稀疏优化分离方法

实际地震信号通常可表示为具有波形特征差异的多种基本波形信号的线性组合,如叠前道集中的工频干扰噪声与有效波信号、面波噪声与体波信号等.选择单一数学变换方法,往往不易实现地震信号的稀疏表示.近年来发展的形态成分分析理论,通过联合多种数学变换,可实现对复杂信号的稀疏表示.本文根据单道地震记录中面波与体波信号波形结构特征的差异性,提出一种基于形态成分分析的面波噪声衰减方法.针对面波的低频、窄带以及频散特性选择一维平稳小波变换作为其稀疏表示字典,而针对体波波形的局部相关特性选择局部离散余弦变换作为其稀疏表示字典,建立基于双波形字典的形态成分分析模型,通过求解该稀疏优化问题获得最终的信噪分离结果.理论模型和实际地震资料处理证实该方法不仅能够衰减单炮地震记录中的强面波干扰噪声,同时能够更好地保护有效信号的波形特征与频谱带宽,为地震资料的后续处理和分析提供良好的数据基础.     

Edge Detection in Potential-Field Data by Enhanced Mathematical Morphology Filter

Enhancement on the edges of the causative source is an indispensable tool in the interpretation of potential-field data. There are a number of methods for recognizing the edges, most of which involve high-pass filters based on derivatives of potential-field data. A new edge-detection method is presented, called the enhanced mathematical morphology (EMM) filter. The EMM filter uses the ratio of the erosion of the total horizontal derivative to the dilation of total horizontal derivative to recognize the edges of the sources, and can display the edges of the shallow and deep bodies simultaneously. The EMM filter does not require the computation of vertical derivatives, which makes this method computationally stable. The EMM filter is tested on synthetic and real potential field data in China. Compared to other edge-detection filters, the new method is able to recognize the source edges more clearly, and the outputs are more insensitive to noise.     

The effect of seismic uplift on the shell stresses of liquid‐storage tanks

Previous theoretical studies have shown that tank uplift, that is, separation of the tank base from the foundation, generally reduces the base shear and the base moment. However, there is a paucity of experimental investigations concerning the effect of uplift on the tank wall stresses, which is the principal parameter that controls the seismic design of liquid‐storage tanks. This paper reports a series of shake table experiments on a polyvinyl chloride model tank containing water. A comparison of the seismic behaviour of the tank with and without anchorage is described. Stochastically generated ground motions, based on a Japanese design spectrum, and three tank aspect ratios (liquid‐height/radius) are considered. Measurements were made of the stresses at the outer shell of the tank, the tank wall acceleration and the horizontal displacement at the top of the tank. While the top displacement and the tank shell acceleration increased when uplift was allowed, axial compressive stresses decreased by between 35% and 64% with tank uplift. The effect of uplift on the hoop stresses was variable depending on the aspect ratio. A comparison of experimental values with a numerical model is provided. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Introduction to dynamics of stone arches

The dynamic analysis of stone arches, made up of rigid voussoir laid dray, can be performed in two phases. First of all the value of the horizontal acceleration necessary to turn the structure into a mechanism and the corresponding mechanism must be determined. Then the dynamic behaviour of such a mechanism under a given acceleration time history can be studied. The first step is a static matter. The second one requires the solution of the non-linear equation of motion of the one-degree-of-freedom system in which the arch is turned. In this paper an iteration procedure is proposed to find out the mechanism. Then the structural behaviour of the mechanism is analysed. Both free and forced vibrations are investigated and the study is limited to the first-half cycle of vibration. Damping is not considered and sliding between the blocks at the hinge sections is not allowed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new attenuation model of near-fault ground motions with consideration of the hanging wall effect in the Wenchuan earthquake

The hanging wall effect is an important factor that impacts the characteristics of strong ground motions in near-fault areas. Based on a residual analysis of ground motion parameters characterizing the hanging wall effect and in recognition of the nature of the effect, many models have been developed. In this study, after a comprehensive analysis of two existing models, a new model is proposed and used to model the hanging wall effect in horizontal peak ground acceleration (PGAH) and spectral acceleration (SAH) at a period of 0.1s in the Wenchuan earthquake. Finally, comparisons between the modeling results of the hanging wall effect in the Wenchuan earthquake and the results predicted by using Abrahamson and Silva’s NGA model (AS NGA) indicate that the AS NGA model predicts a much higher hanging wall effect than the model developed in this paper. Furthermore, the AS NGA model predicts a large hanging wall effect even at great distances, while the proposed model more accurately captures the trend of the effect.     

Dynamic analysis of flexible cantilever wall retaining elastic soil by a modified Vlasov–Leontiev model

Dynamic response of a flexible cantilever wall retaining elastic soil to harmonic transverse seismic excitations is determined with the aid of a modified Vlasov–Leontiev foundation model and on the assumption of vanishing vertical displacement of the soil medium. The soil–wall interaction is taken into consideration in the presented model. The governing equations and boundary conditions of the two unknown coupled functions in the model are derived in terms of Hamilton׳s principle. Solutions of the two unknown functions are obtained on the basis of an iterative algorithm. The present method is verified by comparing its results with those of the existing analytical solution. Moreover, a mechanical model is proposed to evaluate the presented method physically. A parametric study is performed to investigate the effects of the soil–wall system properties and the excitations on the dynamic response of the wall.     

Out‐of‐plane seismic response of vertically spanning URM walls connected to flexible diaphragms

A simplified numerical model was used to investigate the out‐of‐plane seismic response of vertically spanning unreinforced masonry (URM) wall strips. The URM wall strips were assumed to span between two flexible diaphragms and to develop a horizontal crack above the wall mid‐height. Three degrees of freedom were used to accommodate the wall displacement at the crack height and at the diaphragm connections, and the wall dynamic stability was studied. The equations of dynamic motion were obtained using principles of rocking mechanics of rigid bodies, and the formulae were modified to include semi‐rigid wall behaviour. Parametric studies were conducted that included calculation of the wall response for different values of diaphragm stiffness, wall properties, applied overburden, wall geometry and earthquake ground motions. The results of the study suggest that stiffening the horizontal diaphragms of typical low‐rise URM buildings will amplify the out‐of‐plane acceleration demand imposed on the wall and especially on the wall–diaphragm connections. It was found that upper‐storey walls connected to two flexible diaphragms had reduced stability for applied earthquake accelerograms having dominant frequency content that was comparable with the frequency of the diaphragms. It was also found that the applied overburden reduced wall stability by reducing the allowable wall rotations. The results of this study suggest that the existing American Society of Civil Engineers recommendations for assessment of vertically spanning walls overestimate the stability of top‐storey walls in multi‐storey buildings in high‐seismic regions or for walls connected to larger period (less stiff) diaphragms. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

双向地震波作用下巨子型有控结构建筑的隔震设计

为了增强巨子型有控结构建筑的动力特性,提升其稳定性,设计双向地震波作用下建筑有控结构。采用3种磁流变阻尼器(MRD)与滑移隔震混合控制结构构成单体建筑有控结构,其包括巨结构和子结构,并建立该有控结构的动力分析模型。在动力分析模型中输入水平和竖向地震,得到模型的竖向和水平滑动状态运动微分方程,依据这两个方程采用自适应模糊神经网络优化动力分析模型,构建优化模型。从优化模型出发,通过实例实验分析得出,优化设计双向地震波作用下建筑有控结构时,在其上部结构层间和隔离层各安装一个MRD,可确保优化设计后的有控结构在不同双向地震工况下的地震反应控制效果最佳,且有控结构在双向地震工况2下,结构第一层、中间三层以及顶层的加速度和位移的时程曲线走向一致,且差距微小;同时有控结构的巨结构顶层侧移响应随着子结构刚度增加而提高,动力特性没有明显的变化,子结构随着其自身刚度增加顶层侧移响应表现稳定,子结构动力特性增强。     

均质土坝非平稳随机地震反应分析

考虑地震荷载的随机性及强度、频率的非平稳性,基于作者提出的适用于非平稳随机过程的一般随机地震动模型,采用虚拟激励法,建立了非平稳随机地震反应分析方法,并将其应用于某实际均质土坝动力分析中。土石坝及坝基体系采用整体有限元离散,坝体和坝基材料的动力非线性性能以等效线性化方法考虑。首先,基于目标加速度时程的强度和能量信息,确定了作为输入的加速度时—频演变功率谱密度;其次,比较了确定性时程动力分析和非平稳随机分析的结果,探讨了频率非平稳随机地震激励下的土石坝地震反应特性;最后,比较了2种不同坝基条件下的土石坝非平稳随机地震反应,探讨了频率非平稳随机激励下的土石—坝基动力相互作用。分析结果表明：地震动的频率非平稳性对土石坝动力反应有一定影响;坝体—坝基动力相互作用在地震过程中的不同阶段表现有所不同,主震阶段的相互作用显著。     

Observations on the application of artificial neural network to predicting ground motion measures

Application of the artificial neural network (ANN) to predict pseudospectral acceleration or peak ground acceleration is explored in the study. The training of ANN model is carried out using feed-forward backpropagation method and about 600 records from 39 California earthquakes. The statistics of the residuals or modeling error for the trained ANN-based models are almost the same as those for the parametric ground motion prediction equations, derived through regression analysis; the residual or modeling error can be modeled as a normal variate. The similarity and differences between the predictions by these two approaches are shown. The trained ANN-based models, however, are not robust because the models with almost identical mean square errors do not always lead to the same predictions. This undesirable behaviour for predicting the ground motion measures has not been shown or discussed in the literature; the presented results, at least, serve to raise questions and caution on this problem. A practical approach to ameliorate this problem, perhaps, is to consider several trained ANN models, and to take the average of the predicted values from the trained ANN models as the predicted ground motion measure.