Vertical vibration of ring foundations

A comprehensive analysis is made of the harmonic response of vertically excited, massless, rigid ring foundations supported at the surface of an homogeneous elastic halfspace. The parameters considered include the thickness to radius ratio for the ring, the frequency of the exciting force and of the resulting steady-state response, and Poisson's ratio for the supporting medium. The response quantities examined include the stiffness and damping coefficients of the system in an equivalent spring–dashpot representation of the supporting medium, the displacements of the foundation and of points on the ground surface away from the foundation, and the normal pressure at the foundation–medium interface. The results in each case are compared with those obtained for a solid disk having the same radius as the outer radius of the ring, and a simple approximate model is used to interpret the results and to provide insight into the action of the system. The reported data are computed by a method of analysis that takes due account of the mixed boundary conditions at the surface of the halfspace, and are believed to be of high accuracy.     

Approximate dynamic model of embedded foundation in time domain

A discrete model to represent the unbounded soil (halfspace) in a soil–structure interaction analysis in the time domain is developed. For each dynamic degree of freedom of the foundation node, the discrete model consists of a mass M₀ which is attached to a rigid support with a spring K and with a damper C₀. In addition, a free node with the mass M₁ is introduced, which is connected to the foundation node with a damper C₁. All coefficients are frequency-independent. The discrete model is semi-empirical. It is based on a semi-infinite truncated cone, whereby, after enforcing the static stiffness, the remaining parameters are modified to achieve an optimal fit of the dynamic-stiffness coefficient in the frequency domain. The spring K is equal to the static stiffness. The coefficients appearing in the equations for the dampers C₀, C₁ and the masses M₀, M₁ are specified (assuming a homogeneous halfspace) for the disc, the embedded cylinder, the rectangle (also embedded) and the strip. A square on a layer whose stiffness increases with depth resting on a homogeneous halfspace is also treated. For an embedded foundation, eccentricities arise. Material damping increases the damper C₀ and the mass M₀.     

Dynamic interaction between 3-D rigid surface foundations and comparison with the ATC-3 provisions

The dynamic behaviour of a system of three-dimensional, massless, rigid, surface foundations of arbitrary shape perfectly bonded to the elastic half-space is numerically studied with the frequency domain boundary element method. This method employs the dynamic Green's function for the surface of the half-space and this results in a discretization of only the soil-foundation interfaces. In addition, use of isoparametric quadratic quadrilateral boundary elements increases the accuracy of the method, which is confirmed by comparison with other known numerical solutions. Externally applied loads, harmonically varying with time, are considered. The through the soil coupling effect between the foundations as a function of distance and frequency is assessed through extensive parametric studies involving two and four rigid foundations being isolated or interconnected. It is found that the assertion of ATC-3 regulations that omission of coupling effects leads to conservative results is not always correct for all frequencies.     

Vibrations of square and circular foundations with concentric openings on elastic half space

A study on the dynamic characteristics of rigid foundations with special geometries such as square or circular with concentric internal holes, is presented. The foundations are resting on a homogeneous, linear elastic halfspace and are subjected to external forces or seismic wave excitation. Both ‘relaxed’ and ‘non-relaxed’ boundary conditions at the interface between the foundation and the halfspace are considered, and several parametric studies are conducted to assess the influence of either type of boundary conditions upon each of the possible modes of vibration. Results for massive and massless foundations are presented in time and frequency domains for impulsive and harmonic excitations, respectively. A time domain boundary element method (BEM) developed by the authors for the solution of a class of 3-D soil-structure interaction (SSI) problems is used for all the analyses reported in this work. The accuracy and efficiency of the method and the BEM models developed in this work are assessed on the basis of comparison studies with published results.     

Performance of multiple tuned mass dampers for attenuating undesirable oscillations of structures under the ground acceleration

Multiple tuned mass dampers (MTMDs) consisting of many tuned mass dampers (TMDs) with a uniform distribution of natural frequencies are considered for attenuating undesirable vibration of a structure. The MTMD is manufactured by keeping the stiffness and damping constant and varying the mass. The structure is represented by its mode‐generalized system in the specific vibration mode being controlled using the mode reduced‐order method. The optimum parameters of the MTMD are investigated to delineate the influence of the important parameters on the effectiveness and robustness of the MTMD by conducting a numerical searching technique in two directions. The parameters include: the frequency spacing, average damping ratio, mass ratio and total number. The criterion selected for the optimization is the minimization of the maximum value of the dynamic magnification factor (DMF) of the structure with MTMD (i.e. Min.Max.DMF). In this paper, for the sake of comparison, the MTMD(II), which is made by keeping the mass constant and varying the stiffness and damping coefficient, and a single TMD are also taken into account. It is demonstrated that the optimum frequency spacing of the MTMD is the same as that of the MTMD(II) and the optimum average damping ratio of the MTMD is a little larger than that of the MTMD(II). It is also found that the optimum MTMD is more effective than the optimum MTMD(II) and the optimum single TMD with equal mass. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modal equations of linear structures with viscoelastic dampers

Several types of energy dissipation devices using viscoelastic materials have been proposed to reduce vibration in structures subjected to wind and earthquake excitations. At constant temperature and small strain levels, the mechanical behaviour of Viscoelastic (VE) materials can be described using linear operators. In general, the stiffness and damping matrices of structures using VE devices are frequency dependent; this implies that the classical second-order differential equations for the modal co-ordinates are not a complete model for this type of structures. In this paper, the concept of modal coupling in the frequency domain is addressed, expressions for diagonalizable frequency-dependent stiffness and damping matrices are given, and an iterative technique for the computation of the response of viscoelastic structures is studied. Necessary and sufficient conditions for convergence of the technique are given and numerical examples are developed to illustrate the application of the method.     

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.     

Transient flexural vibrations of an elastic column supported by an elastic half-space

An analysis is presented of the transient flexural vibrations of an elastic column supported by an elastic half-space under the condition that an arbitrarily shaped free-field lateral acceleration and displacement are given as inputs. Applying Laplace transformations with respect to time and numerical inverse Laplace transformations, the time histories of the column acceleration at the interface and free end, and the column and half-space displacement distributions are obtained. After the input free-field acceleration terminates, slightly damped and almost harmonically variable acceleration is observed. The acceleration frequency after the disappearance of the input acceleration nearly coincides with the resonant frequency of the system. The slight damping with the first resonant frequency, even if the half-space is soft compared with the column, is characteristic of the transient flexural vibrations of a column supported by a half-space. Such a phenomenon is not typical of the transient longitudinal vibration problem. Therefore, it may be concluded: when buildings and structures are subjected to an earthquake or an explosive force, their flexural vibrations will continue with their first resonant frequencies, even if their foundations are soft.     

基于高阻尼纳米复合材料的直角型黏弹性阻尼器的数值模拟

为提高装配式钢结构梁柱节点的抗震性能,首先通过熔融共混法制备高阻尼性能纳米偏高岭土/氟橡胶(NanoGmetakaolin/Fluororubber,NMK/FKM)复合材料,并对该新型材料进行4种频率下的动态力学性能试验和静态力学试验,然后以 NMK/FKM 纳米复合材料为核心耗能材料,对所提出的直角型黏弹性阻尼器进行 ABAQUS有限元模拟分析.研究结果表明:当频率为1．5Hz 时,NMK/FKM 纳米复合材料宽阻尼温域和 TA 值皆达到峰值,该工况下材料的阻尼性能最佳;直角型黏弹性阻尼器表现出刚度随位移幅值的增大而增大的动力特性;当频率为0．5、1．0和1．5Hz 时,阻尼器滞回特性表现出非线性特征,当频率升至2．0Hz时,滞回特性则为线性.随着黏弹性材料层厚度的增大,滞回环面积、阻尼器刚度和最大阻尼力逐渐减小;随着高跨比的增大,阻尼器耗能性能提升.通过调整阻尼器的高跨比和阻尼材料层厚度,可以进一步提高直角型阻尼器的动态响应.     

Time‐domain viscoelastic analysis of earth structures

In this paper two causal models that approximate the nearly frequency‐independent cyclic behaviour of soils are analysed in detail. The study was motivated by the need to conduct time‐domain viscoelastic analysis on soil structures without adopting the ad hoc assumption of Rayleigh damping. First, the causal hysteretic model is introduced in which its imaginary part is frequency independent the same way that is the imaginary part of the popular non‐causal constant hysteretic model. The adoption of an imaginary part that is frequency independent even at the zero‐frequency limit, in conjunction with the condition that the proposed model should be causal, yields a real part that is frequency dependent and singular at zero frequency. The paper shows that the causal hysteretic model, although pathological at the static limit, is the mathematical connection between the non‐causal constant hysteretic model and the physically realizable Biot model. The mathematical structure of the two causal models is examined and it is shown that the causal hysteretic model is precisely the high‐frequency limit of the Biot model. Although both models have a closed‐form time‐domain representation, only the Biot model is suitable for a time‐domain viscoelastic analysis with commercially available computer software. The paper demonstrates that the simplest, causal and physically realizable linear hysteretic model that can approximate the cyclic behaviour of soil is the Biot model. The proposed study elucidates how the dynamic analysis of soil structures can be conducted rigorously in terms of the viscoelastic properties of the soil material and not with the ad hoc Rayleigh damping approach which occasionally has been criticized that tends to overdamp the higher vibration modes. The study concludes that under pulse‐type motions the Rayleigh damping approximation tends to overestimate displacements because of the inappropriate viscous type of dissipation that is imposed. Under longer motions that induce several cycles, the concept of equivalent viscous damping is more appropriate and the Rayleigh damping approximation results to a response that is comparable to the response computed with a rigorous time‐domain viscoelastic finite element analysis. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic response of vertically excited liquid storage tanks considering liquid-soil interaction

The paper presents a dynamic response analysis of vertically excited liquid storage tanks including both liquid-tank and liquid-soil interaction. The system considered is a thin-walled, elastic cylindrical shell entirely filled with an incompressible and inviscid fluid, resting on a flexible foundation over an elastic halfspace with frequency dependent stiffness and damping parameters. The problem is treated analytically by the generalized-coordinate approach and then solved numerically using the complex frequency response analysis. For one special tank, natural frequencies and equivalent damping ratios are evaluated and compared with those corresponding to a rigid ground. The maximum dynamic pressure is calculated using the response spectra of the 1976 Friuli earthquake. A parameter study is carried out to show the great influence of variable soil stiffness upon the damping ratio of the shell-liquid-soil system.     

Dynamic stiffness of deep foundations with inclined piles

The influence of inclined piles on the dynamic response of deep foundations and superstructures is still not well understood and needs further research. For this reason, impedance functions of deep foundations with inclined piles, obtained numerically from a boundary element–finite element coupling model, are provided in this paper. More precisely, vertical, horizontal, rocking and horizontal–rocking crossed dynamic stiffness and damping functions of single inclined piles and 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 pile groups with battered elements are presented in a set of plots. The soil is assumed to be a homogeneous viscoelastic isotropic half‐space and the piles are modeled as elastic compressible Euler–Bernoulli beams. The results for different pile group configurations, pile–soil stiffness ratios and rake angles are presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discrete model for dynamic through-the-soil coupling of 3-D foundations and structures

An efficient discrete model for predicting the dynamic through-the-soil interaction between adjacent rigid, surface foundations supported by a homogeneous, isotropic and linear elastic half-space is presented. The model utilizes frequency-independent springs and dashpots, and the foundation mass, for the consideration of soil–foundation interaction. The through-the-soil coupling of the foundations is attained by frequency-independent stiffness and damping functions, developed in this work, that interconnect the degrees of freedom of the entire system of foundations. The dynamic analysis of the resulting coupled system is performed in the time domain and includes the time lagging effects of coupled dynamic input due to wave propagation using an appropriate modification of the Wilson-θ method. The basic foundation interaction model is also extended to the evaluation of coupled building-foundation systems. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Finite element simulations of wave propagation in soils using a Viscoelastic model

Wave propagation in soil is dependent on both the stiffness and the material damping of the soil. While some researchers have performed finite element modelling of resonant column tests and wave propagation in soil, most do not describe the methodology in detail and there is little or no verification of the correctness of the model. Viscoelastic model has been used to model wave propagation in soil. However, the determination of the parameters in the viscoelastic model is complicated and the parameters may not be related to the soil properties. This paper presents a simplified viscoelastic model with soil parameters obtainable from advanced geotechnical testing to simulate wave propagation in soil medium taking into account of material damping. The viscoelastic material model was first calibrated by replicating torsional, longitudinal and flexural modes resonant column tests. The relationships between the parameters of the simplified viscoelastic model and their corresponding stiffness and damping properties were investigated. An equation was proposed to correlate the decay constant used in the simplified viscoelastic model and the material damping ratio obtained through the application of the logarithmic decrement method on the modelled resonant column test results. The simplified viscoelastic model was then evaluated by modelling wave propagation in a semi-infinite medium. Results indicated that the viscoelastic model with parameters as proposed in this paper is able to model wave propagation in soils.     

CALCULATING THE DYNAMIC STIFFNESS MATRIX OF 2-D FOUNDATIONS BY DISCRETE WAVE NUMBER INDIRECT BOUNDARY ELEMENT METHODS

Apart from some special cases, calculating the dynamic stiffness matrix of foundations on a layered half-space, especially for embedded foundations, is computationally expensive. An efficient method for two-dimensional foundations in a horizontally layered soil media is presented in this paper. This method is based on indirect boundary element methods and uses discrete wave number solution methods for calculating Green's functions for displacements and analytical methods for the integrations over the boundary. For surface foundations, the present method applies at all frequencies. For embedded foundations or for constructing energy transmitting boundaries, because the free-field part is modelled by boundary elements and the excavated part is modelled by finite elements, the present method applies only at low frequencies for the spring coefficients (the real parts of the dynamic stiffness matrix) but applies at all frequencies for the damping coefficients (the imaginary part of the dynamic stiffness matrix) for undamped sites. The novelty of the method can be used for three-dimensional foundations. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic behaviour of rigid foundations of arbitrary shape on a halfspace

An approximate method for computation of the compliance functions of rigid plates resting on an elastic or visco-elastic halfspace excited by forces and moments in all degrees of freedon is presented. The method is based on a Green's function approach. These functions are given for all degrees of freedom in form of well-behaved integrals. The numerical procedure is described and is used to evaluate the vertical, horizontal, rocking and torsion compliance functions of rectangular plates with side ratios 1 ≤ b/a ≤ 10 and non-dimensional frequency 0≤a₀≤10. It is shown how this method can be extended to problems concerning a linear visco-elastic halfspace and a halfspace with variable stiffness.     

Dynamic stiffness of foundation embedded in layered halfspace based on wave propagation in cones

An Erratum has been published for this article in Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics 33(6) 2004, 793. The dynamic stiffness of a foundation embedded in a multiple‐layered halfspace is calculated postulating one‐dimensional wave propagation in cone segments. In this strength‐of‐materials approach the sectional property of the cone segment increases in the direction of wave propagation. Reflections and refractions with waves propagating in corresponding cone segments occur at layer interfaces. Compared to rigorous procedures the novel method based on cone segments is easy to apply, provides conceptual clarity and physical insight in the wave propagation mechanisms. This method postulating one‐dimensional wave propagation in cone segments with reflections and refractions at layer interfaces is evaluated, calculating the dynamic stiffness of a foundation embedded in a multiple‐layered halfspace. For sites resting on a flexible halfspace and fixed at the base, engineering accuracy (deviation of ±20%) is achieved for all degrees of freedom with a vast parameter variation. The behaviour below the cut‐off frequency in an undamped site fixed at its base is also reliably predicted. The accuracy is, in general, better than for the method based on cone frustums, which can lead to negative damping. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pile‐head kinematic bending in layered soil

Kinematic effects at the head of a flexible vertical pile embedded in a two‐layer soil deposit are investigated by means of rigorous three‐dimensional elastodynamic finite‐element analyses. Both pile and soil are idealized as linearly viscoelastic materials, modelled by solid elements, without the restrictions associated with the use of strength‐of‐materials approximations. The system is analyzed by a time‐Fourier approach in conjunction with a modal expansion in space. Constant viscous damping is considered for each natural mode, and an FFT algorithm is employed to switch from frequency to time domain and vice versa in natural or generalized coordinates. The scope of the paper is to: (a) elucidate the role of a number of key phenomena controlling the amplitude of kinematic bending moments at the pile head; (b) propose a simplified semi‐analytical formula for evaluating such moments; and (c) provide some remarks about the role of kinematic bending in the seismic design of pile foundations. The results of the study provide a new interpretation of the interplay between interface kinematic moments and corresponding head moments, as a function of layer thickness, pile‐to‐soil stiffness ratio, and stiffness contrast between the soil layers. In addition, the role of diameter in designing against kinematic action, with or without the presence of an inertial counterpart, is discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical artifacts associated with Rayleigh and modal damping models of inelastic structures with massless coordinates

The paper presents a detailed reexamination of the effects of three damping models on the inelastic seismic response of structures with massless degrees of freedom. The models considered correspond to (a) Rayleigh damping based on current properties (tangent stiffness), (b) Rayleigh damping based on initial properties, and (c) modal damping. The results suggest that some nonzero damping forces/moments at massless DOFs obtained in multistory frames for the case of Rayleigh damping with tangent stiffness may be numerical artifacts rather than a deficiency of the damping model. The results also indicate that significant artificial numerical oscillations in the velocities of the secondary components of MDOF structures are introduced when modal damping or mass-proportional damping is used.     

结构阻尼与材料阻尼的关系

针对固体材料在弹性阶段的内阻尼,采用材料粘弹性本构关系,通过有限单元法建立了考虑剪切变形影响的杆单元阻尼矩阵,得到了材料拉压粘滞系数和剪切粘滞系数之间的关系。我们可以通过实验测试材料的损耗因子或粘滞阻尼系数(材料阻尼),像结构质量矩阵、刚度矩阵一样通过比较确切的计算得到弹性阶段结构内阻尼的阻尼矩阵(结构阻尼),而且此阻尼矩阵既基于材料阻尼实验测试,又便于数学处理,且物理意义明确。其次,本文分析了材料阻尼对结构阻尼比影响,得到了材料损耗因子与结构模态阻尼比间的关系,并通过10层钢筋混凝土剪切型框架结构进一步给出了具体的数值结果。