Seismic responses of postyield hardening single–degree-of-freedom systems incorporating high-strength elastic material

It is widely accepted that ductility design improves the seismic capacity of structures worldwide. Nevertheless, inelastic deformation allows serious damage to occur in structures. Previous studies have shown that a certain level of postyield stiffness may reduce both the peak displacement and residual deformation of a structure. In recent years, several high-strength elastic materials, such as fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) and high-strength steel bars, have been developed. Application of these materials can easily provide a structure with a much higher and more stable postyield stiffness. Many materials, members, and structures that incorporate both high-strength elastic materials and conventional materials show significant postyield hardening (PYH) behaviors. The significant postyield stiffness of PYH structures can help effectively reduce both peak and residual deformations, providing a choice when designing resilient structures. However, the findings of previous studies of structures with elastic-perfectly plastic (EPP) behavior or small postyield stiffness may not be accurate for PYH structures. The postyield stiffness of a structure must be considered an important primary structural parameter, in addition to initial stiffness, yielding strength, and ductility. In this paper, extensive time history and statistical analyses are carried out for PYH single–degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems. The mean values and coefficients of variation of the peak displacement and residual deformation are obtained and discussed. A new R-μ_p-T-α relationship and damage index for PYH structures are proposed. A theoretical model for the calculation of residual deformation is also established. These models provide a basis for developing the appropriate seismic design and performance evaluation procedures for PYH structures.     

EFFECT OF SLAB FLEXIBILITY ON INTERACTION BETWEEN TWO CIRCULAR FOUNDATIONS

The paper is aimed at investigating the effect of foundation rigidity on dynamic stiffness for two circular foundations on a viscoelastic medium. To generate the dynamic stiffness, a substructure technique is employed. For the substructure of a viscoelastic medium, the solution for wave motion reported in Reference 11 is used. For the substructures of two flexible foundations, classical plate theory with the inertial force neglected is employed to find the displacement fields of the foundation plates subjected to the interaction stresses. Then, the continuity condition for all the substructures is imposed implicitly by using the variational principle; then with the help of the reciprocal theorem the dynamic stiffness for the two flexible foundations can be obtained. For the numerical study, the boundary condition at the rims of both foundation plates is assumed to be a hinge connection to superstructures. Some numerical investigations are performed and the effect of foundation rigidity on dynamic stiffness is examined. Some discussions and conclusions are also made.     

SEQUENTIAL STIFFNESS DESIGN FOR SEISMIC DRIFT RANGES OF A SHEAR BUILDING–PILE–SOIL SYSTEM

A shear building supported by a prescribed pile–soil system is subjected to bedrock earthquake input. A new design procedure is presented for generating a sequence of stiffness designs satisfying the constraints on interstorey drifts. The mean peak interstorey drifts of the shear building subjected to a set of spectrum-compatible ground motions at the bedrock are evaluated by a modal combination rule. Tuning of the fundamental natural period of a shear building with a fixed base with that of a shear beam ground results in a non-monotonic sequence of stiffness designs with respect to a ground stiffness parameter and previous approaches cannot be applied to such a problem. This difficulty in finding such a non-monotonic sequence is overcome by utilizing the ground stiffness parameter and the superstructure stiffness parameter alternately in multiple design phases and by developing a new multi-phase perturbation technique. Fundamental characteristics of this sequence of stiffness designs and the effect of ground stiffnesses on the design of the shear building are disclosed. It is further shown that the stiffness contour method is also useful for the design procedure such that a scattering effect in the estimates of ground stiffnesses is taken into account. The usefulness of the proposed procedure of sequential stiffness design and contour line method is demonstrated through several sequential design examples.     

Experimental investigation of the vertical pullout cyclic response of bucket foundations in sand

A series of 1 g model tests was conducted to investigate the accumulated vertical pullout displacement and unloading stiffness of bucket foundations embedded in dry and saturated sands. The foundations were subjected to vertical pullout cyclic loading with different load amplitudes. Cyclic load was applied up to 10⁴ cycles. Test results showed that the accumulated vertical pullout displacement increased with the increase in the number of load cycles and cyclic load amplitudes. The unloading stiffness of the bucket foundations decreased with the increase in load amplitude and number of cycles. Empirical equations were proposed based on the test results to evaluate the accumulated vertical pullout displacement and unloading stiffness of the bucket foundations in saturated sand. These equations can be used for the preliminary design of single or tripod bucket foundations.     

系缆损伤对绷紧式系泊系统动力响应的影响

探究合成纤维系缆损伤对绷紧式系泊系统响应的影响,具有重要的工程意义。通过高强聚乙烯(HMPE)缆绳损伤动刚度实验,获得其动刚度随损伤的演变规律。在数值计算上,借鉴并合理简化了前人提出的动刚度经验公式,通过处理实验结果确定动刚度经验公式的参数并进行验证。在此基础上,以一座采用高强聚乙烯缆绳为主体系缆的FPSO为例,将所得动刚度经验公式导入系泊分析软件,结合水动力分析,计算得到在相同海洋环境中,系缆发生不同程度损伤时,各系缆张力和平台偏移响应的结果。通过处理、分析所得的计算结果,获得合成纤维缆绳损伤演变对绷紧式系泊系统响应的影响规律,并据此为系缆更换提供了建议。这些成果既有利于把握绷紧式系泊系统的非线性动力响应,也对安全、经济、合理地运用合成纤维系缆具有重要意义。     

Motion and Dynamic Responses of A Semisubmersible in Freak Waves

The present research aims at clarifying the effects of freak wave on the motion and dynamic responses of a semisubmersible. To reveal the effects of mooring stiffness, two mooring systems were employed in the model tests and time-domain simulations. The 6-DOF motion responses and mooring tensions have been measured and the 3-DOF motions of fairleads were calculated as well. From the time series, trajectories and statistics information, the interactions between the freak wave and the semisubmersible have been demonstrated and the effects of mooring stiffness have been identified. The shortage of numerical simulations based on 3D potential flow theory is presented. Results show that the freak wave is likely to cause large horizontal motions for soft mooring system and to result in extremely large mooring tensions for tight mooring system. Therefore, the freak wave is a real threat for the marine structure, which needs to be carefully considered at design stage.     

Vertical dynamic impedance of pile considering the dynamic stress diffusion effect of pile end soil

A new analytical model is presented to analyze the dynamic stress diffusion effect of pile end soil on the vertical dynamic impedance of the pile. The surrounding soil of the pile is modeled by using the plane strain model and the pile is simulated by using one-dimensional elastic theory. Finite soil layers below the pile end are modeled as conical fictitious soil pile with stress diffusion angle which reflects the dynamic stress diffusion effect of pile end soil. By means of the Laplace transform and impedance function transfer method, the analytical solution of the vertical dynamic impedance at the pile head in frequency domain is yielded. Then, a comparison with other models is performed to verify the conical fictitious soil pile model. Finally, based on the proposed solution, the selected numerical results are compared to analyze the influence of dynamic stress diffusion effect for different design parameters of the soil-pile system on the vertical dynamic impedance at the pile head.     

三维层状黏弹性半空间中球面SH、P和SV波源自由场

采用刚度矩阵方法结合Hankel积分变换,求解了层状黏弹性半空间中球面SH、P和SV波的自由波场.首先,在柱坐标系下建立层状黏弹性半空间的反轴对称(柱面SH波)和轴对称(柱面P-SV波)情况精确动力刚度矩阵.进而由Hankel变换将空间域内的球面波展开为波数域内柱面波的叠加,然后将球面波源所在层的上下端面固定,求得固定层内的动力响应和固定端面反力,将固端反力反向施加到层状黏弹性半空间上,采用直接刚度法求得固端反力的动力响应,叠加固定层内和固端反力动力响应,求得波数域内球面波源动力响应.最后由Hankel积分逆变换求得频率-空间域内球面波源自由场,时域结果由傅里叶逆变换求得.文中验证了方法的正确性,并以均匀半空间和基岩上单一土层中球面SH、P和SV波为例分别在频域和时域内进行了数值计算分析.研究表明基岩上单一土层中球面波自由场与均匀半空间情况有着本质差异;基岩上单一土层中球面波位移频谱峰值频率与场地固有频率相对应,基岩面的存在使得基岩上单一土层地表点的位移时程非常复杂,振动持续时间明显增长;阻尼的增大显著降低了动力响应的峰值,同时也显著减少了波在土层的往复次数.     

Seismic design and testing of buckling‐restrained braces with a thin profile

A thin‐profile buckling‐restrained brace (thin‐BRB) consists of a rectangular steel casing and a flat steel core that is parallel to a gusset plate. A thin configuration reduces the width of the restraining member and thus saves usable space in buildings. However, deformable debonding layers, which cover the steel core plate in order to mitigate the difference between the peak tensile and compressive axial forces, provide a space for the steel core to form high mode buckling waves when the thin‐BRB is under compression. The wave crests squeeze the debonding layers and produce outward forces on the inner surface of the restraining member. If the restraining member is too weak in sustaining the outward forces, local bulging failure occurs and the thin‐BRB loses its compression capacity immediately. In order to investigate local bulging behavior, a total of 22 thin‐BRB specimens with a ratio of steel core plate to restraining steel tube depth ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 and axial yield force capacities ranging from 421 kN to 3036 kN were tested by applying either cyclically increasing, decreasing, or constant axial strains. The restraining steel tube widths of all the specimens were smaller than 200 mm and were infilled with mortar with a compressive strength of 97 MPa or 55 MPa. Thirteen of the 22 thin‐BRB specimens' restraining members bulged out when the compressive core strains exceeded 0.03. A seismic design method of the thin‐BRB in preventing local bulging failure is proposed in this study. Test and finite element model (FEM) analysis results suggest that the outward forces can be estimated according to the BRB compressive strength, steel core high mode buckling wavelength, and the debonding layer thickness. In addition, the capacity of the restraining member in resisting the outward forces can be estimated by using the upper bound theory in plastic analysis. Both the FEM analysis and test results indicate that the proposed method is effective in predicting the possibility of local bulging failure. Test results indicate that the proposed design method is conservative for thin‐BRB specimens with a large steel core plate to restraining steel tube depth ratio. This paper concludes with design recommendations for thin‐BRBs for severe seismic services. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of non‐moment braced frame seismic deformations on buckling‐restrained brace end connection behavior: Theoretical analysis and subassemblage tests

In‐plane buckling‐restrained brace (BRB) end rotation induced by frame action is a commonly observed phenomenon in buckling‐restrained braced frames (BRBFs). However, its effect on BRB end connection behavior has not yet been clear. In this study, four BRB end deformation modes for quick determination of end rotational demand are proposed for non‐moment BRBF considering different BRB arrangements, installing story of BRBs, and boundary condition of corner gussets connected with column base. Key factors affecting BRB end rotation and flexural moments are examined theoretically by parametric analysis. Subassemblage tests of seven BRB specimens under horizontal cyclic loading were conducted by adopting two loading frames to impose the expected BRB end deformations. It shows that BRB end rotation subjected BRB ends to significant flexural moments, leading to premature yielding of BRB ends or even tendency of end zone buckling. The deformation modes, the flexural rigidity of BRB ends, and the initial geometric imperfections of BRBs were found to have significant influence on BRB end connection behavior. The triggering moment induced by BRB end rotation was the main contributor to end flexural moment. However, the moment amplification effect induced by flexure of BRB end zones became prominent especially for small flexural rigidity of BRB ends. Implications and future research needs for design of BRB end connections are provided finally based on the theoretical and experimental results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.