Theoretical models and recorded response in the estimation of cumulative seismic damage on non‐linear structures

A damage‐function model is proposed for the inelastic response of structures in terms of initial damage and of displacement amplitudes and secant stiffnesses of response cycles. The model is used to obtain an analytical closed‐form solution for the probability distribution of cumulative damage after an earthquake ground motion given the distribution prior to such excitation and information on the inelastic structural response. The formulation is applied to a reinforced concrete frame and the results show the capabilities of the method to yield updated distributions of damage. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

建筑物震害预测模糊震害指数法

建筑物震害预测是城市防震减灾的基础工作之一。本文在分析现有震害预测方法的基础上，提出了一种新的震害预测方法－模糊震害指数法。模糊震害指数法以现有震害预测资料为基础，采用模糊数学方法实现。本文详细阐述了模糊震害指数法的理论模型，推导了其数学公式，最后给出了实例分析。     

Effects of two alternative representations of ground‐motion uncertainty on probabilistic seismic demand assessment of structures

A probabilistic representation of the entire ground‐motion time history can be constructed based on a stochastic model that depends on seismic source parameters. An advanced stochastic simulation scheme known as Subset Simulation can then be used to efficiently compute the small failure probabilities corresponding to structural limit states. Alternatively, the uncertainty in the ground motion can be represented by adopting a parameter (or a vector of parameters) known as the intensity measure (IM) that captures the dominant features of the ground shaking. Structural performance assessment based on this representation can be broken down into two parts, namely, the structure‐specific part requiring performance assessment for a given value of the IM, and the site‐specific part requiring estimation of the likelihood that ground shaking with a given value of the IM takes place. The effect of these two alternative representations of ground‐motion uncertainty on probabilistic structural response is investigated for two hazard cases. In the first case, these two approaches are compared for a scenario earthquake event with a given magnitude and distance. In the second case, they are compared using a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis to take into account the potential of the surrounding faults to produce events with a range of possible magnitudes and distances. The two approaches are compared on the basis of the probabilistic response of an existing reinforced‐concrete frame structure, which is known to have suffered shear failure in its columns during the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in Los Angeles, California. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of seismic fragility surfaces for reinforced concrete buildings by means of nonlinear time‐history analysis

Fragility curves are generally developed using a single parameter to relate the level of shaking to the expected structural damage. The main goal of this work is to use several parameters to characterize the earthquake ground motion. The fragility curves will, therefore, become surfaces when the ground motion is represented by two parameters. To this end, the roles of various strong‐motion parameters on the induced damage in the structure are compared through nonlinear time‐history numerical calculations. A robust structural model that can be used to perform numerous nonlinear dynamic calculations, with an acceptable cost, is adopted. The developed model is based on the use of structural elements with concentrated nonlinear damage mechanics and plasticity‐type behavior. The relations between numerous ground‐motion parameters, characterizing different aspects of the shaking, and the computed damage are analyzed and discussed. Natural and synthetic accelerograms were chosen/computed based on a consideration of the magnitude‐distance ranges of design earthquakes. A complete methodology for building fragility surfaces based on the damage calculation through nonlinear numerical analysis of multi‐degree‐of‐freedom systems is proposed. The fragility surfaces are built to represent the probability that a given damage level is reached (or exceeded) for any given level of ground motion characterized by the two chosen parameters. The results show that an increase from one to two ground‐motion parameters leads to a significant reduction in the scatter in the fragility analysis and allows the uncertainties related to the effect of the second ground‐motion parameter to be accounted for within risk assessments. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多点输入下大跨结构反应谱分析方法研究进展

在大跨度结构的抗震研究领域,多点输入反应谱方法因其形式简洁、物理意义明确、应用方便等优点而获得了广泛重视和迅速发展,并已在一些重大工程项目的抗震分析中得到了应用。本文首先详细阐述了近年来国内外多点输入反应谱分析方法的研究现状;然后介绍了多点输入反应谱法的应用情况,包括基于该方法进行的大跨度结构地震反应分析和抗震可靠度分析;最后,提出了今后研究中一些需要进一步解决的问题。     

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.     

Formulation of risk-targeted seismic action for the force-based seismic design of structures

A risk-targeted design spectral acceleration and the corresponding seismic design action for the force-based design of structures is introduced by means of two formulations. The first one called direct formulation utilizes the seismic hazard function at the site of the structure. Because the seismic action defined in the codes is often associated with a designated return period, an indirect formulation is also introduced. It incorporates a risk-targeted safety factor that can be used to define a risk-targeted reduction factor. It is shown that the proposed formulations give analogical results and provide an insight into the concept of the reduction of seismic forces for the force-based seismic design of structures if the objective is defined by a target collapse risk. The introduced closed-form solution for the risk-targeted reduction factor can be used to investigate how the target collapse risk, the seismic hazard parameters, the randomness of the seismic action, and the conventional parameters (ie, the overstrength factor and the deformation and energy dissipation capacity) affect the seismic design forces in the case of force-based design. However, collaborative research is needed in order to develop appropriate models of these parameters. In the second part of the paper, the proposed formulations are demonstrated by estimating the risk-targeted seismic design action for a six-storey reinforced concrete building. By verifying the collapse risk of the designed structure, it is demonstrated that the risk-targeted seismic action, in conjunction with a conventional force-based design, provided structure with acceptable performance when measured in terms of collapse risk.     

Global damage indexes for the seismic performance assessement of RC structures

When performing the seismic risk assessment of new or existing buildings, the definition of compact indexes able to measure the damaging and safety level of structures is essential, also in view of the economic considerations on buildings rehabilitation. This paper proposes two series of indexes, named, respectively, Global Damage Indexes (GDIs), which are representative of the overall structure performance, and Section Damage Indexes (SDIs), which assess the conditions of reinforced concrete (RC) beam‐column sections. Such indexes are evaluated by means of an efficient numerical model able to perform nonlinear analyses of the RC frame, based on the continuum damage mechanics theory and fiber approach. An improvement of a two‐parameter damage model for concrete, developed by some of the authors, which guarantees a better correlation between the Local Damage Indexes (LDIs) and the material's mechanical characteristics, is also presented. For the reinforcement, a specific LDI, named ‘steel damage index’, which takes into account the plastic strain development and the bar buckling effect, is proposed. The numerical model has been employed to simulate several experimental tests, in order to verify the accuracy of the proposed approach in predicting the RC member's behavior. Nonlinear static and dynamic analyses of two RC frames are carried out. The robustness of the method, as well as the effectiveness of the GDIs in assessing the structural conditions, are demonstrated here. Finally, comparisons between the evolution of GDIs and the achievement of the performance levels as proposed in FEMA 356 are reported. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nonlinear earthquake response analysis and energy calculation for seismic slit shear wall structures

Based on the concept of structural passive control, a new type of slit shear wall, with improved seismic performance when compared to an ordinary solid shear wall, was proposed by the authors in 1996. The idea has been verified by a series of pseudo-static and dynamic tests. In this paper a macro numerical model is developed for the wall element and the energy dissipation device. Then, nonlinear time history analysis is carried out for a 10-story slit shear wall model tested on a shaking table. Furthermore, the seismic input energy and the individual energy dissipated by the components are calculated by a method based on Newmark-β assumptions for this shear wall model, and the advantages of this shear wall are further demonstrated by the calculation results from the viewpoint of energy. Finally, according to the seismic damage criterion on the basis of plastic accumulative energy and maximum response, the optimal analysis is carried out to select design parameters for the energy dissipation device.     

Structural upgrading strategy for electric power networks under seismic action

This paper presents a procedure to identify an optimal retrofitting strategy for electric power networks (EPN) subjected to seismic events. The optimization consists of the minimization, under economic constraints, of the probability of power cut‐off at the nodes where electric energy is most needed in the post‐earthquake situation; these nodes are referred to as critical nodes. The EPN model used herein has been presented earlier and is briefly reviewed in the text. The method to individuate the critical nodes, based upon the value of an index proposed in this study, is presented first; then the optimization procedure to select which elements of the EPN to upgrade is examined based upon a standard reliability study. Its effectiveness is tested against routinely used upgrading schemes for an existing EPN (the one of Sicily in Italy). It is shown that the optimization procedure is effective and leads to a significant saving of economic resources. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The seismic shear of ductile cantilever wall systems in multistorey structures

The distribution of seismic base shear demand among ductile flexural cantilever walls, comprising the lateral load resisting system of a multistorey building, is studied. It is shown that the base shear force demand depends on the sequence of hinge formation at the wall bases, and this in turn depends on the relative wall lengths. Hence, the routine elastic approach in which the shear forces are allocated per relative flexural rigidity or (when some consideration is given to plastic hinge formation) to moment capacity at the wall base, may appreciably underestimate the shear force demand on the walls, particularly the shorter (usually the more flexible) ones. A simple procedure yielding the results of ‘cyclic’ pushover analysis is proposed to predict the peak seismic wall forces for a given total base shear when plastification is confined to the wall base. The effects of plastic hinges developing at higher floors on (1) shear distribution among the walls and (2) the in‐plane floor forces are also considered. Two numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the main points made. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantifying the seismic response of structures with flexible diaphragms

Floor diaphragm in-plane stiffness affects building response to horizontal ground accelerations. This paper describes a series of elastic and inelastic time history analyses of symmetric structures with different deformation types, configurations and heights to quantify these effects. It is shown that displacements of single storey elastically responding structures tend to be most significantly affected by diaphragm flexibility. Analyses of these structures were cross-verified by a closed-form mechanics-based formulation developed to describe the response. Simple relationships were proposed to allow designers to conservatively estimate the increase in peak in-plane displacement resulting from diaphragm flexibility. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

防震减灾计算机管理系统的结构分析动态化研究

本文研究了全国大中城市示范区防震减灾计算机管理系统动态化的有关问题,主要是针对未来新建房屋的特点,研究了未来新建砖结构和钢筋混凝土结构的房屋实用震害预测方法,给出了计算分析的简化方法和类比分析方法。这一研究成果不仅有助于实现防震减灾计算机管理系统的分析动态化,而且具有实际推广应用价值。     

Optimal seismic design of steel frame buildings based on life cycle cost considerations

A multi‐objective optimization procedure is presented for designing steel moment resisting frame buildings within a performance‐based seismic design framework. Life cycle costs are considered by treating the initial material costs and lifetime seismic damage costs as two separate objectives. Practical design/construction complexity, important but difficult to be included in initial cost analysis, is taken into due account by a proposed diversity index as another objective. Structural members are selected from a database of commercially available wide flange steel sections. Current seismic design criteria (AISC‐LRFD seismic provisions and 1997 NEHRP provisions) are used to check the validity of any design alternative. Seismic performance, in terms of the maximum inter‐storey drift ratio, of a code‐verified design is evaluated using an equivalent single‐degree‐of‐freedom system obtained through a static pushover analysis of the original multi‐degree‐of‐freedom frame building. A simple genetic algorithm code is used to find a Pareto optimal design set. A numerical example of designing a five‐storey perimeter steel frame building is provided using the proposed procedure. It is found that a wide range of valid design alternatives exists, from which a decision maker selects the one that balances different objectives in the most preferred way. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地震台站环境监控系统的设计及应用

针对南京市无人值守台站运维存在的不足,设计了一种基于GIS和3D台站模型的地震台站可视化运维平台。与目前台站维护系统相比,实现了台站设备监控信息多方位、多表现形式的展示,能够实时自动诊断台站故障,有效提高了南京市地震台网的管理水平。     

大中城市建筑物震害类比预测研究

提出了大中城市建筑物震害预测中建筑物震害类比应遵循的基本原则：不同类别建筑之间震害不应类比；场地条件差异过大震害不应类比；抗震设防差异过大震害不宜类比；建筑物震害类比的特征参数及顺序。依据上述原则给出了震害类比方法、具体的计算公式和有关参数。并以东营市泰安路办事处多层砖房震害预测为例说明了该方法类比结果可信。     

Performance‐based seismic assessment of conventional and base‐isolated steel buildings including environmental impact and resilience

Sustainability and resilience are issues that are recognized worldwide, and increased attention should be placed on strategies to design and maintain infrastructure systems that are hazard resilient, damage tolerant, and sustainable. In this paper, a methodology to evaluate the seismic sustainability and resilience of both conventional and base‐isolated steel buildings is presented. Furthermore, the proposed approach is used to explore the difference between the performance associated with these buildings by considering the three pillars of sustainability: economic, social, and environmental. Sustainability and resilience are both considered to cover a comprehensive performance‐based assessment content. The uncertainties associated with performance and consequence evaluation of structural and non‐structural components are incorporated within the assessment process. The proposed performance‐based assessment approach is illustrated on conventional and base‐isolated steel buildings under given seismic scenarios. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance-based methodology for assessing seismic vulnerability and capacity of buildings

This paper presents a performance-based methodology for the assessment of seismic vulnerability and capacity of buildings. The vulnerability assessment methodology is based on the HAZUS methodology and the improved capacity- demand-diagram method. The spectral displacement (Sd) of performance points on a capacity curve is used to estimate the damage level of a building. The relationship between Sd and peak ground acceleration (PGA) is established, and then a new vulnerability function is expressed in terms of PGA. Furthermore, the expected value of the seismic capacity index (SCev) is provided to estimate the seismic capacity of buildings based on the probability distribution of damage levels and the corresponding seismic capacity index. The results indicate that the proposed vulnerability methodology is able to assess seismic damage of a large number of building stock directly and quickly following an earthquake. The SCev provides an effective index to measure the seismic capacity of buildings and illustrate the relationship between the seismic capacity of buildings and seismic action. The estimated result is compared with damage surveys of the cities of Dujiangyan and Jiangyou in the M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake, revealing that the methodology is acceptable for seismic risk assessment and decision making. The primary reasons for discrepancies between the estimated results and the damage surveys are discussed.     

剪切型结构的抗震强度折减系数研究

为了研究剪切型结构抗震强度需求的变化规律,本文基于单自由度体系的非线性时程分析,研究了不同场地条件下延性折减系数与位移延性系数和结构自振周期的关系;采用修正等效单自由度体系位移延性折减系数的方法,研究了剪切型多自由度体系的延性折减系数;以基于中国建筑抗震规范设计的代表不同抗震能力要求的RC框架结构为分析对象,通过静力弹塑性分析,研究了RC框架结构的体系超强能力。分析结果表明场地类别、位移延性水准和结构振动周期对单自由度体系的延性折减系数有显著的影响;多自由度体系的抗震延性折减系数明显比其相应的等效单自由度体系的抗震延性折减系数小;RC框架结构的超强系数一般随结构楼层数的增加而减小,随抗震设防烈度的增大而减小,内框架的超强系数比边框架的超强系数大。     

A performance‐based framework for adaptive seismic aftershock risk assessment

Operative seismic aftershock risk forecasting can be particularly useful for rapid decision‐making in the presence of an ongoing sequence. In such a context, limit state first‐excursion probabilities (risk) for the forecasting interval (a day) can represent the potential for progressive state of damage in a structure. This work lays out a performance‐based framework for adaptive aftershock risk assessment in the immediate post‐mainshock environment. A time‐dependent structural performance variable is adopted in order to measure the cumulative damage in a structure. A set of event‐dependent fragility curves as a function of the first‐mode spectral acceleration for a prescribed limit state is calculated by employing back‐to‐back nonlinear dynamic analyses. An epidemic‐type aftershock sequence model is employed for estimating the spatio‐temporal evolution of aftershocks. The event‐dependent fragility curves for a given limit state are then integrated together with the probability distribution of aftershock spectral acceleration based on the epidemic‐type aftershock sequence aftershock hazard. The daily probability of limit state first‐excursion is finally calculated as a weighted combination of the sequence of limit state probabilities conditioned on the number of aftershocks. As a numerical example, daily aftershock risk is calculated for the L'Aquila 2009 aftershock sequence (central Italy). A representative three‐story reinforced concrete frame with infill panels, which has cyclic strength and stiffness degradation, is used in order to evaluate the progressive damage. It is observed that the proposed framework leads to a sound forecasting of limit state first‐excursion in the structure for two limit states of significant damage and near collapse. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.