Errors caused by peak factor assumptions in response‐spectrum‐based analyses

The modal combination rules commonly used in response spectrum analyses implicitly assume that the peak factor associated with the response quantity of interest is equal to the peak factors of the contributing modal responses. In this paper, we examine the validity of this assumption and demonstrate that it causes the modal combination rules to over‐represent the contribution of the higher modes of vibration to the total response and under‐represent the contribution of the lower modes. Consequently, a response‐spectrum‐based analysis can yield a biased estimate for the peak value of a response quantity when two or more well‐separated modal frequencies make significant contributions to the total response. To correct this potential bias in response‐spectrum‐based estimates, we develop a procedure for estimating the peak factors that is suitable to the response spectrum analysis calculations commonly used in the current design practice. Examples are presented to demonstrate the proper use and potential impact of the proposed procedure. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Damping‐adjusted combination rule for the response spectrum analysis of base‐isolated buildings

The classical response spectrum method continues to be the most popular approach for designing base‐isolated buildings, therefore avoiding computationally expensive nonlinear time‐history analyses. In this framework, a new method for the seismic analysis and design of building structures with base isolation system (BIS) is formulated and numerically validated, which enables one to overcome the main shortcomings of existing techniques based on the response spectrum method. The main advantages are the following: first, reduced computational effort with respect to an exact complex‐valued modal analysis, which is obtained through a transformation of coordinates in two stages, both involving real‐valued eigenproblems; second, effective representation of the damping, which is pursued by consistently defining different viscous damping ratios for the modes of vibration of the coupled BIS‐superstructure dynamic system; and third, ease of use, because a convenient reinterpretation of the combination coefficients leads to a novel damping‐adjusted combination rule, in which just a single response spectrum is required for the reference value of the viscous damping ratio. The proposed approach is specifically intended for design situations where (i) the dynamic behaviour of seismic isolators can be linearised and (ii) effects of nonproportional damping, as measured by modal coupling indexes, are negligible in the BIS‐superstructure assembly. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cross-correlation coefficients and modal combination rules for non-classically damped systems

In stochastic analysis the knowledge of cross-correlation coefficients is required in order to combine the response of the modal Single-Degree-Of-Freedom (SDOF) oscillators for obtaining the nodal response. Moreover these coefficients play a fundamental role in the seismic analysis of structures when the response spectrum method is used. In fact they are used in some modal combination rules in order to obtain the maximum response quantities starting from the modal maxima. Herein a method for the evaluation of the cross-correlation coefficients for non-classically damped systems is presented. It is defined in the time domain instead of the frequency domain as usually encountered in the literature. Although non-classically damped structures possess complex eigenproperties, the great advantage in using this approach lies in the fact that the evaluation of these coefficients does not require complex quantities. Moreover a further particularization of the presented method allows a simple application of the spectrum analysis requiring only one response spectrum for an assigned damping ratio. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Free‐vibration analysis of a three‐dimensional soil–structure system

A procedure which involves a non‐linear eigenvalue problem and is based on the substructure method is proposed for the free‐vibration analysis of a soil–structure system. In this procedure, the structure is modelled by the standard finite element method, while the unbounded soil is modelled by the scaled boundary finite element method. The fundamental frequency, and the corresponding radiation damping ratio as well as the modal shape are obtained by using inverse iteration. The free vibration of a dam–foundation system, a hemispherical cavity and a hemispherical deposit are analysed in detail. The numerical results are compared with available results and are also verified by the Fourier transform of the impulsive response calculated in the time domain by the three‐dimensional soil–structure–wave interaction analysis procedure proposed in our previous paper. The fundamental frequency obtained by the present procedure is very close to that obtained by Touhei and Ohmachi, but the damping ratio and the imaginary part of modal shape are significantly different due to the different definition of damping ratio. This study shows that although the classical mode‐superposition method is not applicable to a soil–structure system due to the frequency dependence of the radiation damping, it is still of interest in earthquake engineering to evaluate the fundamental frequency and the corresponding radiation damping ratio of the soil–structure system. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Appropriate viscous damping for nonlinear time‐history analysis of base‐isolated reinforced concrete buildings

There is no consensus at the present time regarding an appropriate approach to model viscous damping in nonlinear time‐history analysis of base‐isolated buildings because of uncertainties associated with quantification of energy dissipation. Therefore, in this study, the effects of modeling viscous damping on the response of base‐isolated reinforced concrete buildings subjected to earthquake ground motions are investigated. The test results of a reduced‐scale three‐story building previously tested on a shaking table are compared with three‐dimensional finite element simulation results. The study is primarily focused on nonlinear direct‐integration time‐history analysis, where many different approaches of modeling viscous damping, developed within the framework of Rayleigh damping are considered. Nonlinear direct‐integration time‐history analysis results reveal that the damping ratio as well as the approach used to model damping has significant effects on the response, and quite importantly, a damping ratio of 1% is more appropriate in simulating the response than a damping ratio of 5%. It is shown that stiffness‐proportional damping, where the coefficient multiplying the stiffness matrix is calculated from the frequency of the base‐isolated building with the post‐elastic stiffness of the isolation system, provides reasonable estimates of the peak response indicators, in addition to being able to capture the frequency content of the response very well. Furthermore, nonlinear modal time‐history analyses using constant as well as frequency‐dependent modal damping are also performed for comparison purposes. It was found that for nonlinear modal time‐history analysis, frequency‐dependent damping, where zero damping is assigned to the frequencies below the fundamental frequency of the superstructure for a fixed‐base condition and 5% damping is assigned to all other frequencies, is more appropriate, than 5% constant damping. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalized force vectors for multi‐mode pushover analysis of torsionally coupled systems

A generalized multi‐mode pushover analysis procedure was developed for estimating the maximum inelastic seismic response of symmetrical plan structures under earthquake ground excitations. Pushover analyses are conducted with story‐specific generalized force vectors in this procedure, with contributions from all effective modes. Generalized pushover analysis procedure is extended to three‐dimensional torsionally coupled systems in the presented study. Generalized force distributions are expressed as the combination of modal forces to simulate the instantaneous force distribution acting on the system when the interstory drift at a story reaches its maximum value during seismic response. Modal contributions to the generalized force vectors are calculated by a modal scaling rule, which is based on the complete quadratic combination. Generalized forces are applied to the mass centers of each story incrementally for producing nonlinear static response. Maximum response quantities are obtained when the individual frames attain their own target interstory drift values in each story. The developed procedure is tested on an eight‐story frame under 15 ground motions, and assessed by comparing the results obtained from nonlinear time history analysis. The method is successful in predicting the torsionally coupled inelastic response of frames responding to large interstory drift demands. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Closed‐form solution for seismic response of adjacent buildings with linear quadratic Gaussian controllers

Closed‐form solution for seismic response of adjacent buildings connected by hydraulic actuators with linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) controllers is presented in this paper. The equations of motion of actively controlled adjacent buildings against earthquake are first established. The complex modal superposition method is then used to determine dynamic characteristics, including modal damping ratio, of actively controlled adjacent buildings. The closed‐form solution for seismic response of the system is finally derived in terms of the complex dynamic characteristics, the pseudo‐excitation method and the residue theorem. By using the closed‐form solution, extensive parametric studies can be carried out for the system of many degrees of freedom. The beneficial parameters of LQG controllers for achieving the maximum response reduction of both buildings using reasonable control forces can be identified. The effectiveness of LQG controllers for this particular application is evaluated in this study. The results show that for the adjacent buildings of different dynamic properties, if the parameters of LQG controllers are selected appropriately, the modal damping ratios of the system can be significantly increased and the seismic responses of both buildings can be considerably reduced. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic characteristics and seismic response of adjacent buildings linked by discrete dampers

Coupling adjacent buildings using discrete viscoelastic dampers for control of response to low and moderate seismic events is investigated in this paper. The complex modal superposition method is first used to determine dynamic characteristics, mainly modal damping ratio and modal frequency, of damper-linked linear adjacent buildings for practical use. Random seismic response of linear adjacent buildings linked by dampers is then determined by a combination of the complex modal superposition method and the pseudo-excitation method. This combined method can effectively and accurately determine random seismic response of non-classically damped systems in the frequency domain. Parametric studies are finally performed to identify optimal parameters of viscoelastic dampers for achieving the maximum modal damping ratio or the maximum response reduction of adjacent buildings. It is demonstrated that using discrete viscoelastic dampers of proper parameters to link adjacent buildings can reduce random seismic responses significantly. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

System identification of linear structures based on Hilbert–Huang spectral analysis. Part 2: Complex modes

A method, based on the Hilbert–Huang spectral analysis, has been proposed by the authors to identify linear structures in which normal modes exist (i.e., real eigenvalues and eigenvectors). Frequently, all the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of linear structures are complex. In this paper, the method is extended further to identify general linear structures with complex modes using the free vibration response data polluted by noise. Measured response signals are first decomposed into modal responses using the method of Empirical Mode Decomposition with intermittency criteria. Each modal response contains the contribution of a complex conjugate pair of modes with a unique frequency and a damping ratio. Then, each modal response is decomposed in the frequency–time domain to yield instantaneous phase angle and amplitude using the Hilbert transform. Based on a single measurement of the impulse response time history at one appropriate location, the complex eigenvalues of the linear structure can be identified using a simple analysis procedure. When the response time histories are measured at all locations, the proposed methodology is capable of identifying the complex mode shapes as well as the mass, damping and stiffness matrices of the structure. The effectiveness and accuracy of the method presented are illustrated through numerical simulations. It is demonstrated that dynamic characteristics of linear structures with complex modes can be identified effectively using the proposed method. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of the conditional spectrum to incorporate record‐to‐record variability in simplified seismic assessment of RC wall buildings

A procedure for incorporating record‐to‐record variability into the simplified seismic assessment of RC wall buildings is presented. The procedure relies on the use of the conditional spectrum to randomly sample spectral ordinates at relevant periods of vibration. For inelastic response, displacement reduction factors are then used to relate inelastic displacement demand to the spectral displacement at the effective period for single‐degree‐of‐freedom systems. Simple equations are used to convert back and forth between multi‐degree‐of‐freedom RC wall buildings and equivalent single‐degree‐of‐systems so that relevant engineering demand parameters can be obtained. Consideration is also given to higher‐mode effects by adapting existing modal combination rules. The proposed method is applied to several case study buildings, showing promising results in the examination of inter‐storey drift ratio and shear forces. The proposed method captures the variation in the distribution of structural response parameters that occurs with variations in structural configuration, intensity, engineering demand parameter of interest and site characteristics. Discussion is provided on possible ways to improve the accuracy of the procedure and suggestions for additional future work. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Generalized force vectors for multi‐mode pushover analysis

A generalized pushover analysis (GPA) procedure is developed for estimating the inelastic seismic response of structures under earthquake ground excitations. The procedure comprises applying different generalized force vectors separately to the structure in an incremental form with increasing amplitude until a prescribed seismic demand is attained for each generalized force vector. A generalized force vector is expressed as a combination of modal forces, and simulates the instantaneous force distribution acting on the system when a given response parameter reaches its maximum value during dynamic response to a seismic excitation. While any response parameter can be selected arbitrarily, generalized force vectors in the presented study are derived for maximum interstory drift parameters. The maximum value of any other response parameter is then obtained from the envelope of GPAs results. Each nonlinear static analysis under a generalized force vector activates the entire multi‐degree of freedom effects simultaneously. Accordingly, inelastic actions develop in members with the contribution of all ‘instantaneous modes’ in the nonlinear response range. Target seismic demands for interstory drifts at the selected stories are calculated from the associated drift expressions. The implementation of the proposed GPA is simpler compared with nonlinear response history analysis, whereas it is less demanding in computational effort when compared with several multi‐mode adaptive nonlinear static procedures. Moreover, it does not suffer from the statistical combination of inelastic modal responses obtained separately. The results obtained from building frames have demonstrated that GPA is successful in estimating maximum member deformations and member forces with reference to the response history analysis. When the response is linear elastic, GPA and response spectrum analysis produce identical results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A design procedure for buildings equipped with energy dissipation devices using nonclassical damping and iso-performance curves

This article describes a design procedure for elastic buildings equipped with linear and nonlinear energy dissipating devices. The objective is to achieve a design that responds to a target building performance following a simple and robust step-by-step algorithm. The proposed procedure identifies first the modal significance of key design performance indicators and controls the modal properties by solving a singular two-parameter eigenvalue problem. For that purpose, a new modal significance metric is proposed, and a target frequency shift and damping ratio for the complete structure are obtained from the so-called iso-performance design curves. The design algorithm employs linear-equivalent stiffness and damping properties, which are then transformed into parameters characterizing inelastic force-deformation constitutive models corresponding to physical devices. The design algorithm leads to an optimal damper distribution corresponding to the minimum global amount of supplemental equivalent damping needed to achieve a maximum modal perturbation. The design procedure is first demonstrated using a five-story building example and then a real and complex 22-story free-plan building with two towers of rhomboid-shape plan with a very singular dynamic behavior.     

Simplified analysis of asymmetric structures with supplemental damping

This study investigated the effects of neglecting off‐diagonal terms of the transformed damping matrix on the seismic response of non‐proportionally damped asymmetric‐plan systems with the specific aim of identifying the range of system parameters for which this simplification can be used without introducing significant errors in the response. For this purpose, a procedure is presented in which modal damping ratios computed by neglecting off‐diagonal terms of the transformed damping matrix are used in the traditional modal analysis. The effects of the simplification are evaluated first by comparing the aforementioned modal damping ratios with the apparent damping ratios obtained from the complex‐valued eigenanalysis. The variation of a parameter that was defined by Warburton and Soni as an indicator of the errors introduced by the simplification is examined next. Finally, edge deformations obtained from the simplified procedure are compared with those obtained from the direct integration of the equations of motion. It is found that the simplified procedure may be used without introducing significant errors in response for most practical values of the system parameters. Furthermore, estimates of the edge deformations, in general, tend to be on the conservative side. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A reassessment of dynamic characteristics of the Quincy Bayview Bridge using output‐only identification techniques

A reassessment of the dynamic characteristics of the 542 m cable‐stayed Bayview Bridge in Quincy, Illinois, is presented using a newly developed output‐only system identification technique. The technique is applied to an extensive set of ambient vibration response data acquired from the bridge in 1987. Vertical, torsional and transverse modal frequencies of the deck are identified, and uncertainty in damping values are estimated using an automated procedure on several redundant measurements at four locations. Important practical implementation issues associated with the implementation of the procedure and selection of algorithm design parameters for stochastic subspace identification techniques are discussed. An overall mean and standard deviation of damping of 1.0±0.8% is estimated considering all identified vertical, torsional and transverse modes in the 0–2 Hz band. The mean damping for the fundamental vertical mode (0.37 Hz) is identified as 1.4±0.5%, and for the first coupled torsion–transverse mode (0.56 Hz) is identified as 1.1±0.8%. Variability in the damping estimates is shown to decrease as estimated modal RMS acceleration levels increase. Standard deviations on estimated damping range from 0.05% to 2%. The results are shown to be a substantial improvement in the evaluation of damping compared to earlier spectral analysis conducted on the same data set. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modal decomposition method for stationary response of non-classically damped systems

The stationary response of multi-degree-of-freedom non-classically damped linear systems subjected to stationary input excitation is studied. A modal decomposition procedure based on the complex eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the system is used to derive general expressions for the spectral moments of response. These expressions are in terms of cross-modal spectral moments and explicitly account for the correlation between modal responses; thus, they are applicable to structures characterized with significant non-classical damping as well as structures with closely spaced frequencies. Closed form solutions are presented for the important case of response to white-noise input. Various quantities of response of general engineering interest can be obtained in terms of these spectral moments. These include mean zero-crossing rate and mean, variance and distribution of peak response over a specified duration. Examples point out several instances where non-classical damping effects become significant and illustrate the marked improvement of the results of this study over conventional analysis based on classical damping approximations.     

Response of non-classically damped structures in the modal subspace

The evaluation of the dynamic response of non-classically damped linear structures requires the solution of an eigenproblem with complex eigenvalues and modal shapes. Since in practice only a small number of complex modes are needed, the complex eigenvalue problem is solved in the modal subspace in which the generalized damping matrix is not uncoupled by classical real modes. It follows that the evaluation of the structural response requires in both cases the determination of complex modes by numerical techniques, which are not as robust as techniques currently used for the solution of the real eigenvalue problem, and the use of complex algebra. In the present paper an unconditionally stable step-by-step procedure is presented for the response of non-classically damped structures in the modal subspace without using complex quantities. The method is based on the evaluation of the fundamental operator in approximated form of the numerical procedure. In addition, the method can be easily modified to incorporate the modal superposition pseudo-static correction terms.     

Seismic response analysis of highway overcrossings including soil–structure interaction

This paper presents a systematic procedure for the seismic response analysis of highway overcrossings. The study employs an elementary stick model and a more sophisticated finite element formulation to compute response quantities. All dynamic stiffnesses of approach embankments and pile groups are approximated with frequency‐independent springs and dashpots that have been established elsewhere. A real eigenvalue analysis confirms the one‐to‐one correspondence between modal characteristics obtained with the three‐dimensional finite element solutions and the result of the simpler stick‐model idealization. A complex eigenvalue analysis yields modal damping values in the first six modes of interest and shows that modal damping ratios assume values much higher than those used by Caltrans. The validity of the proposed method is examined by comparing the computed time response quantities with records from the Meloland Road and Painter Street overcrossings located in southern and northern California, respectively. The proposed procedure allows for inexpensive parametric analysis that examines the importance of considering soil–structure interaction at the end abutments and centre bent. Results and recommendations presented by past investigations are revisited and integrated in comprehensive tables that improve our understanding of the dynamic characteristics and behaviour of freeway overcrossings. The study concludes with a step‐by‐step methodology that allows for a simple, yet dependable dynamic analysis of freeway overcrossings, that involves a stick model and frequency‐independent springs and dashpots. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modal damping for torsionally coupled buildings on elastic foundation

A method to determine the approximate normal modes and the modal damping for torsionally coupled buildings on an elastic foundation is presented. The modal damping is determined by an iterative procedure which matches the approximate normal mode solution with the rigorous solution. The response quantity to be matched is selected in a consistent and logical manner. The normal modes and the damping ratios thus found are then used to determine the seismic response of the interaction system by the response spectrum technique.     

Earthquake‐induced structural response output‐only identification by two different Operational Modal Analysis techniques

Output‐only system identification is developed here towards assessing current modal dynamic properties of buildings under seismic excitation. Earthquake‐induced structural response signals are adopted as input channels for two different Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) techniques, namely, a refined Frequency Domain Decomposition (rFDD) algorithm and an improved Data‐Driven Stochastic Subspace Identification (SSI‐DATA) procedure. Despite that short‐duration, non‐stationary, earthquake‐induced structural response signals shall not fulfil traditional OMA assumptions, these implementations are specifically formulated to operate with seismic responses and simultaneous heavy damping (in terms of identification challenge), for a consistent estimation of natural frequencies, mode shapes, and modal damping ratios. A linear ten‐storey frame structure under a set of ten selected earthquake base‐excitation instances is numerically simulated, by comparing the results from the two identification methods. According to this study, best up‐to‐date, reinterpreted OMA techniques may effectively be used to characterize the current dynamic behaviour of buildings, thus allowing for potential Structural Health Monitoring approaches in the Earthquake Engineering range.     

The complete SRSS modal combination rule

The complete Square‐Root‐of‐Sum‐of‐Squares (c‐SRSS) modal combination rule is presented. It expresses the structural response in terms of uncoupled SDOF modal responses, yet accounting fully for modal response variances and cross‐covariances. Thus, it is an improvement over the classical SRSS rule which neglects contributions from modal cross‐covariances. In the c‐SRSS rule the spectral moments of the structural response are expressed rigorously in terms of the spectral moments of uncoupled modal responses and of some coefficients that can be computed straightforwardly as a function of modal frequencies and damping, without involving the computation of cross‐correlation coefficients between modal responses. An example shows an application of the c‐SRSS rule for structural systems with well separated and closely spaced modal frequencies, subjected to wide‐band and narrow‐band excitations. Comparisons with response calculations using the SRSS and the Complete Quadratic Combination rules are given and discussed in detail. Based on the c‐SRSS rule a response spectrum formulation is introduced to estimate the maximum structural response. An example considering a narrow‐band excitation from the great Mexico earthquake of September 19, 1985, is given and the accuracy of the response spectrum formulation is examined. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.