Shaking table tests on reinforced concrete frames without and with passive control systems

An extensive experimental program of shaking table tests on reduced‐scale structural models was carried out within the activities of the MANSIDE project, for the development of new seismic isolation and energy dissipation devices based on shape memory alloys (SMAs). The aim of the experimental program was to compare the behaviour of structures endowed with innovative SMA‐based devices to the behaviour of conventional structures and of structures endowed with currently used passive control systems. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the main results of the shaking table tests carried out on the models with and without special braces. Two different types of energy dissipating and re‐centring braces have been considered to enhance the seismic performances of the tested model. They are based on the hysteretic properties of steel elements and on the superelastic properties of SMAs, respectively. The addition of passive control braces in the reinforced concrete frame resulted in significant benefits on the overall seismic behaviour. The seismic intensity producing structural collapse was considerably raised, interstorey drifts and shear forces in columns were drastically reduced. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking‐table tests of flat‐bottom circular silos containing grain‐like material

According to Eurocode 8, the seismic design of flat‐bottom circular silos containing grain‐like material is based on a rough estimate of the inertial force imposed on the structure by the ensiled content during an earthquake: 80% of the mass of the content multiplied by the peak ground acceleration. A recent analytical consideration of the horizontal shear force mobilised within the ensiled material during an earthquake proposed by some of the authors has resulted in a radically reduced estimate of this load suggesting that, in practice, the effective mass of the content is significantly less than that specified. This paper describes a series of laboratory tests that featured shaking table and a silo model, which were conducted in order to obtain some experimental data to verify the proposed theoretical formulations and to compare with the established code provisions. Several tests have been performed with different heights of ensiled material – about 0.5 mm diameter Ballotini glass – and different magnitudes of grain–wall friction. The results indicate that in all cases, the effective mass is indeed lower than the Eurocode specification, suggesting that the specification is overly conservative, and that the wall–grain friction coefficient strongly affects the overturning moment at the silo base. At peak ground accelerations up to around 0.35 g, the proposed analytical formulation provides an improved estimate of the inertial force imposed on such structures by their contents. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking table tests of a reinforced concrete bridge pier with a low-cost sliding pendulum system

After the occurrence of various destructive earthquakes in Japan, extensive efforts have been made to improve the seismic performance of bridges. Although improvements to the ductile capacities of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge piers have been developed over the past few decades, seismic resilience has not been adequately ensured. Simple ductile structures are not robust and exhibit a certain level of damage under extremely strong earthquakes, leading to large residual displacements and higher repair costs, which incur in societies with less-effective disaster response and recovery measures. To ensure the seismic resilience of bridges, it is necessary to continue developing the seismic design methodology of RC bridges by exploring new concepts while avoiding the use of expensive materials. Therefore, to maximize the postevent operability, a novel RC bridge pier with a low-cost sliding pendulum system is proposed. The seismic force is reduced as the upper component moves along a concave sliding surface atop the lower component of the RC bridge pier. No replaceable seismic devices are included to lengthen the natural period; only conventional concrete and steel are used to achieve low-cost design solutions. The seismic performance was evaluated through unidirectional shaking table tests. The experimental results demonstrated a reduction in the shear force transmitted to the substructure, and the residual displacement decreased by establishing an adequate radius of the sliding surface. Finally, a nonlinear dynamic analysis was performed to estimate the seismic response of the proposed RC bridge pier.     

两个控制装置的模拟地震振动台试验研究

本文作者设计制造了一种高效被动阻尼控制（HEDC）装置和一种半主动控制装置－主动变刚度,阻尼（AVS．D）控制装置,并对其控制机理和控制效果进行了模拟地震振动台试验研究,试验结果表明,HEDC控制效果是令人满意的,而AVS．D控制则可以获得更好的效果,尽管它仅需很少的能量输入,试验结果表明,在AVS．D控制中,装置的电磁阀处于开启状态工作的时间较长,即在大部分时间里AVS．D控制系统是通过阻尼而不足刚度来控制受控结构,这在一定程度上降低了控制时滞的影响。     

Shake table study on an ordinary low‐rise building seismically isolated with SU‐FREIs (stable unbonded‐fiber reinforced elastomeric isolators)

This paper reports on the investigation of novel fiber reinforced elastomeric isolator (FREI) bearings, which do not have thick end plates, and are used in an unbonded application. Owing to the stable lateral load‐displacement response exhibited by the unbonded FREI bearings, the proposed bearings are referred to as stable unbonded (SU)‐FREIs. A shake table test program was conducted on a two‐story test‐structure having well‐defined elastic response characteristics. Compared with the results for the corresponding fixed base (FB) structure, the peak response values, distribution of lateral response throughout the height of the structure, and response time histories of the tested base isolated (BI) structure indicate that significantly improved response can be achieved. This study clearly indicates that SU‐FREI bearings can provide an effective seismic isolation system. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking‐table tests of a full‐scale single‐story masonry veneer wood‐frame structure

This paper presents the findings of shaking‐table experiments conducted to examine the seismic performance of a full‐scale, one‐story, wood‐framed structure with masonry veneer. The structure was designed and constructed in accordance with current U.S. code provisions. The veneer was attached to the wood backing with two kinds of metal anchors, corrugated ties fastened with 8d nails and rigid ties fastened with #8 screws. The tests have shown that the use of nails to fasten veneer anchors to the wood studs is highly unreliable due to the high variation of the nail extraction capacity, which can be influenced by the moisture content of the wood. Other than this, both the wood frame and the masonry veneer performed well under severe ground motions far exceeding a design level earthquake for Seismic Design Category D. Good performance was observed for the rigid veneer ties, which were attached to the wood studs with screws. The results have shown that the veneer walls parallel to the direction of shaking helped to restrain the motion of the wood structure and therefore should not be simply treated as added mass. The detailing of wood roof diaphragms requires special attention in consideration of the out‐of‐plane inertia force of the veneer that can be transmitted through the top plate of the wood‐stud wall to the rim joist. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic isolation using granulated tire–soil mixtures for less‐developed regions: experimental validation

In this study, shaking‐table experiments were conducted with a novel seismic isolation system (Geotechnical Seismic Isolation, GSI) to validate its dynamic performance during earthquakes. This isolation technique uses shredded rubber–soil mixtures to reduce the structural response to earthquakes, and thus may not only provide economical structural safety for buildings in less‐developed regions, but could also consume a large amount of waste tires worldwide. The present experimental results show that the GSI system has potential to significantly mitigate seismic hazards. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

空间钢筋混凝土框架结构的非弹性地震反应

对两个缩比为十五分之一的三层、双跨、两开间的钢筋混凝土框架模型进行了振动台试验,一个模型模拟质量中心与刚度中心不一致的偏心结构,另一个模型模拟承受双向地面运动的结构。研究了结构的空间非弹性地震反应。计算结果表明,理论分析与实测结果有较好的吻合性。     

Shaking table tests of 1:4 reduced‐scale models of masonry infilled reinforced concrete frame buildings

Two models of masonry infilled reinforced concrete frame buildings were tested at the shaking table. Models were built in the reduced scale 1:4 using the materials produced in accordance to modelling demands of true replica modelling technique. The first model represented a one‐storey box‐like building and the second one the two‐stories building with plan shaped in the form of a letter H. Models were shaken with the series of horizontal sine dwell motions with gradually increasing amplitude. Masonry infills of tested models were constructed of relatively strong bricks laid in weak mortar. Therefore, typical cracks developed and propagated along mortar beds without cracking of bricks or crushing of infill corners. Data collected from tests will be used in future evaluation, verification and development of computational models for prediction of in‐plane and out‐of‐plane behaviour of masonry infills. The responses of tested models can be well compared with global behaviour of real structures using the modelling rules. The similarity of local behaviour of structural elements, e.g. reinforced concrete joints, is less reliable due to limitations in modelling of steel reinforcement properties. The model responses showed that buildings designed according to Eurocodes are able to sustain relatively high dynamic excitations due to a significant level of structural overstrength. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low‐seismic damage strategies for infilled RC frames: shake‐table tests

Unreinforced masonry (URM) infill panels are widely used as partitions in RC frames and typically considered as non‐structural elements in the design process. However, observations from recent major earthquakes have shown that under seismic excitation, the structural interaction between columns and infill walls can significantly alter the structural behaviour, thus causing catastrophic consequences. The purpose of this research was to propose and test an innovative low seismic damage detailing method, which isolates the infill panel from bounding columns with finite width vertical gaps during the infill panel construction phase and deploys steel wire connections in mortar layers anchored to columns. Taking into account the similitude requirements, a total of six one‐third scale, single‐storey single‐bay RC frames with different infill configurations and flexible connection details were carefully designed and tested on a shake‐table. Three real earthquake records were selected and scaled to ascending intensity levels and used as input signals. A series of thorough investigations including dynamic characteristics, hysteretic behaviour, failure mechanisms, out‐of‐plane vulnerabilities and the effect of different gap filling materials and load transfer mechanisms were rigorously studied. The experimental results indicate that the undesirable interaction between infill panels and bounding frame is significantly reduced using the proposed low seismic damage detailing concept. Direct shear failure of columns at an early stage is prevented, and structural redundancy at high levels of excitation can be provided. In general, the structural stability and integrity, and displacement ductility of infilled RC frames can remarkably be improved. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

钢筋混凝土空心桥墩的振动台试验研究

为研究空心桥墩的抗震性能及影响参数,对9个不同配筋率、配箍率和轴压比的试件进行振动台试验。研究了不同性能量化参数对破坏现象、加速度响应、动力放大系数、延性和耗能等的影响。结果表明:轴压比和配筋率较小时,裂缝开展较多且位置距墩底相对偏高。增大配筋率,加速度响应、动力放大系数和位移延性系数增大,耗能减小;轴压比的影响与配筋率相反。增大配箍率,加速度响应和动力放大系数减小,位移延性系数和试件耗能增大。可为矩形空心桥墩的抗震设计提供参考。     

Shake‐table tests of a three‐story reinforced concrete frame with masonry infill walls

This paper presents the shake‐table tests of a 2/3‐scale, three‐story, two‐bay, reinforced concrete frame infilled with unreinforced masonry walls. The specimen is representative of the construction practice in California in the 1920s. The reinforced concrete frame had nonductile reinforcement details and it was infilled with solid masonry walls in one bay and infill walls with window openings in the other bay. The structure was subjected to a sequence of dynamic tests including white‐noise base excitations and 14 scaled historical earthquake ground motion records of increasing intensity. The performance of the structure was satisfactory considering the seismic loads it was subjected to. The paper summarizes the design of the specimen and the major findings from the shake‐table tests, including the dynamic response, the load resistance, the evolution of damage, and the final failure mechanism. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shaking table tests of reinforced concrete wide beam–column connections

Reinforced concrete wide beam–column connections have been used in low‐to‐moderate seismicity regions despite little information being available on their seismic performance. This research was conducted to clarify experimentally the hysteretic behaviour and ultimate energy dissipation capacity (UEDC) of this type of existing connection under lateral dynamic earthquake loadings. For this purpose, ? scale models were constructed and tested on a shaking table until they collapsed. The exterior connection behaved as a strong column–weak beam mechanism, and the interior connection as a weak column–strong beam mechanism. The averaged UEDC of the connections in each domain of loading, normalized with respect to the product of the yield strength and yield displacement, were about 6 and 5 for the exterior and interior connections, respectively. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of hybrid isolation system during a shake table experiment of a full‐scale isolated building

A full‐scale 5‐story steel moment frame building was subjected to a series of earthquake excitations using the E‐Defense shake table in August, 2011. For one of the test configurations, the building was seismically isolated by a hybrid system of lead‐rubber bearings and low friction roller bearings known as cross‐linear bearings, and was designed for a very rare 100 000‐year return period earthquake at a Central and Eastern US soil site. The building was subject to 15 trials including sinusoidal input, recorded motions and simulated earthquakes, 2D and 3D input, and a range of intensities including some beyond the design basis level. The experimental program was one of the first system‐level full‐scale validations of seismic isolation and the first known full‐scale experiment of a hybrid isolation system incorporating lead‐rubber and low friction bearings. Stable response of the hybrid isolation system was demonstrated at displacement demands up to 550 mm and shear strain in excess of 200%. Torsional amplifications were within the new factor stipulated by the code provisions. Axial force was observed to transfer from the lead‐rubber bearings to the cross‐linear bearings at large displacements, and the force transfer at large displacements exceeded that predicted by basic calculations. The force transfer occurred primarily because of the flexural rigidity of the base diaphragm and the larger vertical stiffness of the cross‐linear bearings relative to the lead‐rubber bearings.     

Shaking table tests of a resilient bridge system with precast reinforced concrete columns equipped with springs

This paper presents the shake table test results of a novel system for the design of precast reinforced concrete bridges. The specimen comprises a slab and four precast columns. The connections are dry and the columns are connected to the slab by an ungrouted tendon. One of the tendon ends is anchored above the slab, in series with a stack of washer springs, while the other end is anchored at the bottom of the column. The addition of such a flexible restraining system increases the stability of the system, while keeping it relatively flexible allowing it to experience negative post-uplift stiffness. It is a form of seismic isolation. Anchoring the tendon within the column, caps the design moment of the foundation, and reduces its size. One hundred and eighty-one shake table tests were performed. The first 180 caused negligible damage to the specimen, mainly abrasion at the perimeter of the column top ends. Hence, the system proved resilient. The 181^st excitation caused collapse, because the tendons unexpectedly failed at a load less than 50% of their capacity (provided by the manufacturer), due to the failure of their end socket. This highlights the importance of properly designing the tendons. The tests were used to statistically validate a rigid body model. The model performed reasonably well never underestimating the median displacement response of the center of mass of the slab by more than 30%. However, the model cannot predict the torsion rotation of the slab that was observed in the tests and is due to imperfections.     

复合隔震墩隔震性能的振动台试验研究

通过对农村民居特点的研究,提出一种新型、经济、简单、可靠的隔震技术—钢筋-沥青复合隔震墩.根据相关理论设计了相应的隔震墩试件.通过地震模拟振动台试验输入E1 Centro和Taft地震动与结构地震反应的对比,研究了钢筋-沥青复合隔震墩模型的振动特性.试验结果表明,隔震墩加速度折减系数在0.34 ～ 0.55之间,可有效...     

海洋平台结构SMA阻尼隔振振动台试验与分析

本文针对渤海JZ20-2MUQ导管架式海洋平台进行比例为1∶10的模型结构的形状记忆合金阻尼隔振振动台试验研究。首先,根据原结构的基本参数,确定试验模型的几何参数,推导出相似比关系,并对形状记忆合金阻尼器和黏滞阻尼器进行性能试验,确定其基本力学性能;其次,对模型结构进行振动台试验研究,分别考察4种地震作用下无控结构、纯隔振结构、SMA隔振结构和SMA阻尼隔振结构的反应;最后,对模型结构进行数值计算分析。结果表明,各种隔振结构方案对平台结构导管架端帽位移和平台甲板加速度均有很好的控制效果。数值分析结果与试验结果吻合较好。     

Shaking table tests on dome‐roof adobe houses

This paper presents the results of an experimental work in order to evaluate the performance of a novel proposed retrofitting technique on a typical dome‐roof adobe building by shaking table tests. For this purpose, two specimens, scaled 2:3, were subjected to a total of nine shaking table tests. The unretrofitted specimen, constructed by common practice, is designed to evaluate seismic performance and vulnerability of dome‐roof adobe houses. The retrofitted specimen, exactly duplicating the first specimen, is retrofitted based on the results obtained from unretrofitted specimen tests, and the improvement in seismic behavior of the structure is investigated. Zarand earthquake (2005) Chatrood Station is selected as the input ground motion that was applied consecutively at 25, 100, 125, 150 and 175% of the design‐level excitation. At 125% excitation level, the roof of the unretofitted specimen collapsed due to the walls' out‐of‐plane action and imbalanced forces. The retrofitting elements consist of eight horizontal steel rods drilled into the walls, passed through the specimen and bolted on the opposite wall surfaces. To improve walls in‐plane seismic performance, welded steel mesh without using mortar, covered less than half area of walls on the external face of the walls, is used. In addition to strain gauges for recording steel rod responses, several instrumentations including acceleration and displacement transducers are implemented to capture response time histories of different parts of the specimens. The corresponding full‐scaled retrofitted prototype tolerated peak acceleration of 0.62 g almost without any serious damage. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Component and shaking table tests for full‐scale multiple friction pendulum system

The use of base isolation in developed countries including the U.S. and Japan has already been recognized as a very effective method for upgrading the seismic resistance of structures. In this study, an advanced base‐isolation system called the multiple friction pendulum system (MFPS) is investigated to understand its performance on seismic mitigation through full‐scale component and shaking table tests. The component tests of the advanced Teflon composite coated on the sliding surface show that the friction coefficient of the lubricant material is a function of the sliding velocity in the range of 0.03–0.12. The experimental results also indicate that there were no signs of degradation of the sliding interface observed after 2000 cycles of sliding displacements. A full‐scale MFPS isolator under a vertically compressive load of 8830 KN (900 tf) and horizontally cyclic displacements was tested in order to assess the feasibility of the MFPS isolator for its practical use. After 248 cycles of horizontal displacement reversals, the behaviour of the base isolator was almost identical to its behaviour during the first few cycles. The experimental results of the shaking table tests of a full‐scale steel structure isolated with MFPS isolators show that the MFPS device can isolate seismic transmitted energy effectively under soft‐soil‐deposit site earthquakes with long predominant periods as well as strong ground motions with short predominant periods. These test results demonstrate that the MFPS isolator possesses excellent durability and outstanding earthquake‐proof capability. Furthermore, the numerical results show that the mathematical model proposed in this study can well predict the seismic responses of a structure isolated with MFPS isolators. Copyright © 2006 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.