Effects of near-fault ground motions on the nonlinear behaviour of reinforced concrete framed buildings

The design provisions of current seismic codes are generally not very accurate for assessing effects of near-fault ground motions on reinforced concrete(r.c.)spatial frames,because only far-fault ground motions are considered in the seismic codes.Strong near-fault earthquakes are characterized by long-duration(horizontal)pulses and high values of the ratio α_(PGA)of the peak value of the vertical acceleration,PGA_V,to the analogous value of the horizontal acceleration,PGA_H,which can become critical for girders and columns.In this work,six- and twelve-storey r.c.spatial frames are designed according to the provisions of the Italian seismic code,considering the horizontal seismic loads acting(besides the gravity loads)alone or in combination with the vertical ones.The nonlinear seismic analysis of the test structures is performed using a step-by-step procedure based on a two-parameter implicit integration scheme and an initial stress-like iterative procedure.A lumped plasticity model based on the Haar-Karman principle is adopted to model the inelastic behaviour of the frame members.For the numerical investigation,five near-fault ground motions with high values of the acceleration ratio α_(PGA) are considered.Moreover,following recent seismological studies,which allow the extraction of the largest(horizontal) pulse from a near-fault ground motion,five pulse-type(horizontal)ground motions are selected by comparing the original ground motion with the residual motion after the pulse has been extracted.The results of the nonlinear dynamic analysis carried out on the test structures highlighted that horizontal and vertical components of near-fault ground motions may require additional consideration in the seismic codes.     

Study on inelastic displacement ratio spectra for near-fault pulse-type ground motions

In displacement-based seismic design, inelastic displacement ratio spectra (IDRS) are particularly useful for estimating the maximum lateral inelastic displacement demand of a nonlinear SDOF system from the maximum elastic displacement demand of its counterpart linear elastic SDOF system. In this study, the characteristics of IDRS for near-fault pulse-type ground motions are investigated based on a great number of earthquake ground motions. The in? uence of site conditions, ratio of peak ground velocity (PGV) to peak ground acceleration (PGA), the PGV, and the maximum incremental velocity (MIV) on IDRS are also evaluated. The results indicate that the effect of near-fault ground motions on IDRS are signifi cant only at periods between 0.2 s - 1.5 s, where the amplifi cation can approach 20%. The PGV/PGA ratio has the most signifi cant in? uence on IDRS among the parameters considered. It is also found that site conditions only slightly affect the IDRS.     

地震波参数对柱顶隔震体系的水平向减震性能影响研究

为了研究地震波参数对柱顶隔震体系的水平向减震性能的影响,选取台湾集集地震中8条地震波作为输入,进行了柱顶隔震体系模型的振动台试验。分析了柱顶隔震体系的水平向动力响应特点,研究了地震波的PGV/PGA、卓越周期、平均周期和断层距及幅值对其水平向减震性能的影响,并进行了数值模拟的对比分析。结果表明:柱顶隔震体系的水平向减震性能良好。相同地震强度下地震波参数的PGV/PGA、卓越周期、平均周期和断层距对柱顶隔震体系水平向减震性能的影响明显,其中:PGV/PGA的影响程度最大,可以作为主要的分析指标;随着地震动强度的增大柱顶隔震体系的水平向减震效果更加明显,地震动强度达到一定幅值后,减震率缓慢下降;与远场地震相比,近场地震不利于柱顶隔震体系的水平向减震性能的发挥,脉冲型近场地震作用下其减震效果更差。振动台试验结果与数值模拟结果基本一致,表明分析结果的可靠性。     

近断层地震动作用下钢筋混凝土桥墩的抗震性能

通过对满足规范延性要求的12根典型钢筋混凝土桥墩试件的线性和非线性地震反应分析，指出在近断层地震动作用下满足延性需求与延性能力比小于1.0的桥墩仍可能发生严重破坏和倒塌，若考虑桥墩的地震损伤性能，允许的延性需求与延性能力比不宜超过0.6-0.8。讨论了桥墩延性抗震设计中强度折减系数Rμ和设计基底剪力系数BSC取值问题。     

Investigation of effect of near-fault motions on substandard bridge structures

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of near-fault ground motions on substandard bridge columns and piers. To accomplish these goals, several large scale reinforced concrete models were constructed and tested on a shake table using near- and far-field ground motion records. Because the input earthquakes for the test models had different characteristics, three different measures were used to evaluate the effect of the input earthquake. These measures are peak shake table acceleration, spectral acceleration at the fundamental period of the test specimens, and the specimen drift ratios. For each measure, force-displacement relationships, strains, curvatures, drift ratios, and visual damage were evaluated. Results showed that regardless of the measure of input or response, the near-fault record generally led to larger strains, curvatures, and drift ratios. Furthermore, residual displacements were small compared to those for columns meeting current seismic code requirements.     

Aseismic design implications of near-fault san fernando earthquake records

Near-fault records of the 1971 San Fernando earthquake contain severe, long duration acceleration pulses which result in unusually large ground velocity increments. A review of these records along with the results of available theoretical studies of near-fault ground motions indicates that such acceleration pulses may be characteristic of near-fault sites in general. The results of an analytical study of a building severely damaged during the San Fernando earthquake indicate that such severe, long duration acceleration pulses were the cause of the main features of the observed structural damage. The implications of such pulses on current aseismic design methods, particularly those used to establish design earthquakes, are examined for buildings located near potential earthquake faults. Analytical studies of the non-linear dynamic response of single and multiple degree-of-freedom systems to several near-fault records, as well as to a more standard accelerogram, indicate that at near-fault sites: (a) very large displacement ductilities may result for current levels of code design forces; (b) smoothed elastic design response spectra should reflect the larger ground velocities that may occur; and (c) peak inelastic response cannot reliably be inferred from elastic response predictions.     

缺乏近断层强震观测资料地区抗震设计规范反应谱研究

根据最近几次的近断层地震观测记录研究显示,在现行结构抗震设计规范中很少考虑近断层效应的影响,对于缺乏近断层强震观测资料地区,抗震设计规范的改进方法及近断层效应的设计参数还没有统一结论. 本文基于UBC97近断层因子设计理念, 在收集世界范围内近断层观测记录的基础上,按场地和震级进行分类,建立了中长周期关键点处的加速度谱需求的衰减关系式,推导给出了缺乏近断层观测资料地区近断层影响因子的震级和断层距的关系式. 并以我国现行的建筑抗震设计规范为基础,建议了近断层影响因子的参考取值和修正后的反应谱曲线,为我国结构抗震设计提供了参考.      

Numerical simulation of strong ground motion for the M_s8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008

The Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008 is the most destructive earthquake in China in the past 30 years in terms of property damage and human losses. In order to understand the earthquake process and the geo-morphological factors affecting the seismic hazard, we simulated the strong ground mo-tion caused by the earthquake, incorporating three-dimensional (3D) earth structure, finite-fault rupture, and realistic surface topography. The simulated ground motions reveal that the fault rupture and basin structure control the overall pattern of the peak ground shaking. Large peak ground velocity (PGV) is distributed in two narrow areas: one with the largest PGV values is above the hanging wall of the fault and attributed to the locations of fault asperities and rupture directivity; the other is along the north-western margin of the Sichuan Basin and caused by both the directivity of fault rupture and the ampli-fication in the thick sediment basin. Rough topography above the rupture fault causes wave scattering, resulting in significantly larger peak ground motion on the apex of topographic relief than in the valley. Topography and scattering also reduce the wave energy in the forward direction of fault rupture but increase the PGV in other parts of the basin. These results suggest the need for a localized hazard as-sessment in places of rough topography that takes the topographic effects into account. Finally, had the earthquake started at the northeast end of the fault zone and ruptured to the southwest, Chengdu would have suffered a much stronger shaking than it experienced on 12 May, 2008.     

近断层地震动下摇摆-自复位桥墩连续梁地震反应

为讨论近断层地震动下摇摆-自复位(Rocking Self-Centering, RSC)桥墩连续梁的地震反应及其抗震优缺点。基于OpenSees有限元分析平台讨论了RSC桥墩三维建模方法,通过对6个试验构件的模拟,比较模拟与试验桥墩滞回曲线、预应力筋最大应力等指标,验证了模型准确性。建立设置RSC桥墩和普通钢筋混凝土(Reinforced Concrete, RC)桥墩的上部结构相同的两座连续梁桥,输入3组含有强速度脉冲的近断层地震波进行非线性动力时程分析,对比其抗震性能。结果表明：在0.4 g近断层地震动下,RSC桥墩与普通RC桥墩相比,RSC桥墩的最大位移角为普通RC桥墩的78.1%～97.6%,墩底曲率延性系数仅为普通RC桥墩的24.0%～34.0%,减小了桥墩的最大变形,也减轻了桥墩地震损伤,不利的一点是使用RSC桥墩会导致支座位移增大。RSC桥墩震后的残余位移较小,且预应力筋处于弹性受力阶段,为实现震后桥梁功能的快速恢复提供了条件。     

A comparative study of bridge damage due to the Wenchuan, Northridge, Loma Prieta and San Fernando earthquakes

A comparative study of selected bridge damage due to the Wenchuan, Northridge, Loma Prieta and San Fernando earthquakes is described in this paper. Typical ground motion effects considered include large ground fault displacement, liquefaction, landslide, and strong ground shaking. Issues related to falling spans, inadequate detailing for structural ductility and complex bridge configurations are discussed within the context of the recent seismic design codes of China and the US. A significant lesson learned from the Great Wenchuan earthquake, far beyond the opportunities to improve the seismic design provisions for bridges, is articulated.     

Response spectrum of seismic design code for zones lack of near-fault strong earth- quake records

It was shown from the study on the recently near-fault earthquake ground motions that the near-fault effects were seldom considered in the existing Chinese seismic code. Referring to the UBC97 design concept for near-fault factors, based on the collected world-widely free-site records of near-fault earthquakes ground motions classified by earthquake magnitude and site condition, the attenuation relationship expressions of the acceleration spectrum demand at the key points within the long period and moderate period were established in term of the earthquake magnitude and the site condition. Furthermore, the near-fault factors’ expressions about the earthquake magnitude and the fault distance were deduced for the area lack of near-fault strong earthquake records. Based on the current Chinese Building Seismic Design Code, the near-fault effect factors and the modified design spectral curves, which were valuable for the seismic design, were proposed to analyze the seismic response of structures.     

Inelastic response and design criteria of plan-wise asymmetric systems

The study of the torsional response of buildings in the inelastic range of behaviour is of great interest since the ability of structures to resist strong earthquakes mainly relies on their ductility and capacity for energy dissipation. Furthermore, an examination of the performance of structures during past earthquakes demonstrates that plan-asymmetric buildings suffered greater damage due to torsional response. The paper deals with this subject by analysing a model which idealizes a one-storey building with resisting elements oriented along two perpendicular directions. In addition to the parameters of the elastic behaviour, the inelastic system response depends on full yield capacity and plan-wise strength distribution. The influence of the criterion adopted for the design of resisting elements on local ductility demand and damage has been evaluated by parametric analysis. In particular, a comparison has been carried out between systems with equal design levels for all elements and systems with design levels dependent on the element location. For a given elastic behaviour and total capacity, the strength distributions in plan have been defined which minimize ductility demand and structural damage. Finally, based on these findings, responses from models designed according to several seismic codes have been compared.     

Numerical simulation of strong ground motion for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>s</Subscript>8.0 Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008

The Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008 is the most destructive earthquake in China in the past 30 years in terms of property damage and human losses. In order to understand the earthquake process and the geo-morphological factors affecting the seismic hazard, we simulated the strong ground motion caused by the earthquake, incorporating three-dimensional (3D) earth structure, finite-fault rupture, and realistic surface topography. The simulated ground motions reveal that the fault rupture and basin structure control the overall pattern of the peak ground shaking. Large peak ground velocity (PGV) is distributed in two narrow areas: one with the largest PGV values is above the hanging wall of the fault and attributed to the locations of fault asperities and rupture directivity; the other is along the northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin and caused by both the directivity of fault rupture and the amplification in the thick sediment basin. Rough topography above the rupture fault causes wave scattering, resulting in significantly larger peak ground motion on the apex of topographic relief than in the valley. Topography and scattering also reduce the wave energy in the forward direction of fault rupture but increase the PGV in other parts of the basin. These results suggest the need for a localized hazard assessment in places of rough topography that takes the topographic effects into account. Finally, had the earthquake started at the northeast end of the fault zone and ruptured to the southwest, Chengdu would have suffered a much stronger shaking than it experienced on 12 May, 2008. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (Grant Nos. EAR 0738779 and OCE 0727919), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2004CB418404), and partially by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40521002)     

椭圆空洞对盾构隧道地震易损性曲线影响研究

采用增量动力分析方法,探究水平向地震下地层空洞对盾构隧道地震响应特征的影响规律。针对管片损伤及周边地层应力,选择弯矩比作为性能评价指标,峰值加速度(PGA)及峰值速度(PGV)作为衡量地震强度指标(IM),阐明椭圆形空洞对管片抗震性能的影响,得到隧道结构的地震易损性曲线。研究表明：椭圆空洞加大了浅埋盾构隧道的地震破坏概率;PGA与PGV均可作为IM并获得相应的隧道易损性曲线;使用弯矩比作为破坏指标,PGV作为地震动指标,其对应的易损性曲线对地层变异性更敏感。研究结论可为潜在空洞发育区防震方案的制定提供参考。     

Engineering characteristics of near-fault vertical ground motions and their effect on the seismic response of bridges

A wide variety of near-fault strong ground motion records were collected from various tectonic environments worldwide and were used to study the peak value ratio and response spectrum ratio of the vertical to horizontal component of ground motion, focusing on the effect of earthquake magnitude, site conditions, pulse duration, and statistical component. The results show that both the peak value ratio and response spectrum ratio are larger than the 2/3 value prescribed in existing seismic codes, and the relationship between the vertical and horizontal ground motions is comparatively intricate. In addition, the effect of the near-fault ground motions on bridge performance is analyzed, considering both the material nonlinear characteristics and the P~? effect.     

An alternative construction of normalized seismic design spectra for near-fault regions

This paper presents a methodology for constructing seismic design spectra in near-fault regions.By analyzing the characteristics of near-fault pulse-type ground motions,an equivalent pulse model is proposed,which can well represent the characteristics of the near-fault forward-directivity and fling-step pulse-type ground motions.The normalized horizontal seismic design spectra for near-fault regions are presented using recorded near-fault pulse-type ground motions and equivalent pulse-type ground motions,which are derived based on the equivalent pulse model coupled with ground motion parameter attenuation relations.The normalized vertical seismic design spectra for near-fault regions are obtained by scaling the corresponding horizontal spectra with the vertical-to-horizontal acceleration spectral ratios of near-fault pulse-type ground motions.The proposed seismic design spectra appear to have relatively small dispersion in a statistical sense.The seismic design spectra for both horizontal and vertical directions can provide alternative spectral shapes for seismic design codes.     

Correlations between Energy and Displacement Demands for Performance-Based Seismic Engineering

The development of a scientific framework for performance-based seismic engineering requires, among other steps, the evaluation of ground motion intensity measures at a site and the characterization of their relationship with suitable engineering demand parameters (EDPs) which describe the performance of a structure. In order to be able to predict the damage resulting from earthquake ground motions in a structural system, it is first necessary to properly identify ground motion parameters that are well correlated with structural response and, in turn, with damage. Since structural damage during an earthquake ground motion may be due to excessive deformation or to cumulative cyclic damage, reliable methods for estimating displacement demands on structures are needed. Even though the seismic performance is directly related to the global and local deformations of the structure, energy-based methodologies appear more helpful in concept, as they permit a rational assessment of the energy absorption and dissipation mechanisms that can be effectively accomplished to balance the energy imparted to the structure. Moreover, energy-based parameters are directly related to cycles of response of the structure and, therefore, they can implicitly capture the effect of ground motion duration, which is ignored by conventional spectral parameters. Therefore, the identification of reliable relationships between energy and displacement demands represents a fundamental issue in both the development of more reliable seismic code provisions and the evaluation of seismic vulnerability aimed at the upgrading of existing hazardous facilities. As these two aspects could become consistently integrated within a performance-based seismic design methodology, understanding how input and dissipated energy are correlated with displacement demands emerges as a decisive prerequisite. The aim of the present study is the establishment of functional relationships between input and dissipated energy (that can be considered as parameters representative of the amplitude, frequency content and duration of earthquake ground motions) and displacement-based response measures that are well correlated to structural and non-structural damage. For the purpose of quantifying the EDPs to be related to the energy measures, for comprehensive range of ground motion and structural characteristics, both simplified and more accurate numerical models will be used in this study for the estimation of local and global displacement and energy demands. Parametric linear and nonlinear time-history analyses will be performed on elastic and inelastic SDOF and MDOF systems, in order to assume information on the seismic response of a wide range of current structures. Hysteretic models typical of frame force/displacement behavior will be assumed for the local inelastic cyclic response of the systems. A wide range of vibration periods will be taken into account so as to define displacement, interstory drift and energy spectra for MDOF systems. Various scalar measures related to the deformation demand will be used in this research. These include the spectral displacements, the peak roof drift ratio, and the peak interstory drift ratio. A total of about 900 recorded ground motions covering a broad variety of condition in terms of frequency content, duration and amplitude will be used as input in the dynamic analyses. The records are obtained from 40 earthquakes and grouped as a function of magnitude of the event, source-to-site condition and site soil condition. In addition, in the data-set of records a considerable number of near-fault signals is included, in recognition of the particular significance of pulse-like time histories in causing large seismic demands to the structures.     

南北地震带南段水平向地震动衰减特征

地震动衰减关系作为抗震救灾的重要依据,一直都是现代地震学研究的重点之一.本研究使用南北地震带南段区域2009—2016年共217个地震事件获得随震中距变化的水平向地震动峰值速度(PGV)和地震动峰值加速度(PGA)经验衰减关系,并计算场地响应.研究结果显示PGV衰减关系的拟合效果较PGA更好,两者的距离衰减系数会随事件矩震级增大呈线性减小;相较于大矩震级事件,中矩震级事件在近场可能产生较衰减关系理论值更大的PGV和PGA,同时衰减关系的拟合标准差会随事件矩震级的增大而减小.进行场地响应校正后的PGV和PGA更加符合经验衰减关系,PGA的场地响应影响较PGV更强但两者的趋势一致,并与该区域前人计算得到的地壳Qs值分布对应,表明地壳介质放大或压制地震波振幅和其传递地震波能量的能力是相关联的.本文结果一定程度上揭示了南北地震带南段的地震动强度衰减特征,为未来中国西南部的抗震减灾工作提供了重要的参考.     

Inelastic seismic response of code-designed multistorey frame buildings with regular asymmetry

Based on an asymmetric multistorey frame building model, this paper investigates the influence of a building's higher vibration modes on its inelastic torsional response and evaluates the adequacy of the provisions of current seismic building codes and the modal analysis procedure in accounting for increased ductility demand in frames situated at or near the stiff edge of such buildings. It is concluded that the influence of higher vibration modes on the response of the upper-storey columns of stiff-edge frames increases significantly with the building's fundamental uncoupled lateral period and the magnitude of the stiffness eccentricity. The application of the equivalent static torsional provisions of certain building codes may lead to non-conservative estimates of the peak ductility demand, particularly for structures with large stiffness eccentricity. In these cases, the critical elements are vulnerable to excessive additional ductility demand and, hence, may be subject to significantly more severe structural damage than in corresponding symmetric buildings. It is found that regularly asymmetric buildings excited well into the inelastic range may not be conservatively designed using linear elastic modal analysis theory. Particular caution is required when applying this method to the design of stiff-edge frame elements in highly asymmetric structures.     

Nonlinear behaviour of RC frames under repeated strong ground motions

This paper presents an extensive parametric study on the inelastic response of eight reinforced concrete (RC) planar frames which are subjected to forty five sequential ground motions. Two families of regular and vertically irregular (with setbacks) frames are examined. The first family has been designed for seismic and vertical loads according to European codes while the second one only for vertical loads, to study structures which have been constructed before the introduction of adequate seismic design code provisions. The whole range of frames is subjected to five real seismic sequences which are recorded by the same station, in the same direction and in a short period of time, up to three days. In such cases, there is a significant damage accumulation as a result of multiplicity of earthquakes, and due to lack of time, any rehabilitation action is impractical. Furthermore, the examined frames are also subjected to forty artificial seismic sequences. Comprehensive analysis of the created response databank is employed in order to derive important conclusions. It is found that the sequences of ground motions have a significant effect on the response and, hence, on the design of reinforced concrete frames. Furthermore, it is concluded that the ductility demands of the sequential ground motions can be accurately estimated using appropriate combinations of the corresponding demands of single ground motions.