Experimental study on the bidirectional inelastic deformation capacity of U‐shaped steel dampers for seismic isolated buildings

Hysteretic dampers are used to dissipate earthquake‐induced energy in base‐isolated structures by acquiring inelastic deformations, rendering their hysteretic behavior of vital importance. The present paper focuses on investigating the behavior of U‐shaped steel dampers under bidirectional loading; this is significantly different from their corresponding uniaxial behavior. Two main sets of loading tests on full‐scale specimens are conducted in this regard: (i) quasi‐static tests with simple histories and (ii) dynamic tests with realistic loading histories. Based on the results obtained in the quasi‐static tests, an interaction curve that accounts for the reduction of the cyclic deformation capacity is proposed. However, the fidelity of this relation must be assessed under loading conditions similar to those of a seismically isolated structure subjected to an earthquake, which represents the goal of the second set of tests. The results of the dynamic tests validate the proposed interaction curve for estimating the deformation capacity of U‐shaped steel dampers under bidirectional loading. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Process‐based modeling of kilometer‐scale alongshore sandbar variability

Subtidal nearshore sandbars may exhibit cyclic net offshore migration during their multi‐annual lifetime along many sandy coasts. Although this type of behavior can extend continuously for several kilometers, alongshore variations in cross‐shore bar position and bar amplitude are commonly observed. Alongshore variability is greatest when bars display km‐scale disruptions, indicative of a distinct alongshore phase shift in the bar cycle. An outer bar is then attached to an inner bar, forming a phenomenon known as a bar switch. Here, we investigate such large‐scale alongshore variability using a process‐based numerical profile model and observations at 24 transects along a 6 km section of the barred beach at Noordwijk, The Netherlands. When alongshore variability is limited, the model predicts that the bars migrate offshore at approximately the same rate (i.e. the bars remain in phase). Only under specific bar configurations with high wave‐energy levels is an increase in the alongshore variability predicted. This suggests that cross‐shore processes may trigger a switch in the case of specific antecedent morphological configurations combined with storm conditions. It is expected that three‐dimensional (3D) flow patterns augment the alongshore variability in such instances. In contrast to the observed bar behaviour, predicted bar morphologies on either side of a switch remain in different phases, even though the bars are occasionally located at a similar cross‐shore position. In short, the 1D model is not able to remove a bar switch. This data‐model mismatch suggests that 3D flow patterns are key to the dissipation of bar switches. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地铁列车循环荷载试验论证研究

地铁循环荷载作用下饱和软黏土的动力特性研究对于揭示软黏土在地铁荷载下的孔压、强度以及变形模式具有重要意义,可以为控制地铁长期沉降、降低运营风险提供理论依据。试验加载形式的不同会带来不同的动力特性表征,需选取最能反映地铁列车真实性质的荷载形式。本文在列车荷载作用下研究土动力特性,采用室内动三轴试验的方法,对比分析不同形式下动力荷载作用效果。试验研究表明:偏压正弦波可以作为简化波形研究列车荷载,它不仅可以确保加载过程中地基土只有压应力,而且能较好地模拟列车循环荷载。     

残积土含水率对其动力特性影响试验研究

选取厦门某建筑工程地基浅层残积土重塑试样,利用SDT-10微机控制电液伺服动态三轴测试系统,在呈正弦变化的动态荷载作用下,测试含水率分别为10%、15%、20%和23%时残积土试样的动应力-应变、动变形-作用时间(作用次数)、动弹性模量等动力学特性曲线与参数。分析试验数据表明:试样在动荷载作用下表现为黏弹塑性变形特性,且随着含水率提高,试样累积塑性轴向变形逐步增大,最大弹性模量逐步减少,但含水率由20%增至23%时,最大动弹性模量降低幅度不大。     

地铁循环荷载作用下交叉隧道沉降分析

采用FLAC3D软件建立了交叉隧道的三维有限差分模型,以人工数定激励力模拟列车荷载,计算列车动荷载作用下土体的变形和应力。采用修正动偏应力长期沉降计算模型,结合分层总和法计算软土的沉降,预测交叉隧道的长期沉降规律。分析3种不同行车工况下地基长期沉降,工况1为一辆列车单独通过1#隧道,工况2为一辆列车单独通过2#隧道,工况3为两辆列车同时通过1#和2#隧道。对比不同的列车行驶速度、隧道衬砌刚度及厚度对隧道地基的长期影响。结果表明,由列车荷载引起的地基沉降主要集中在距隧道中心轴20 m范围内;在工况3下土体沉降大于工况1、2沉降之和;车速越快,沉降越小;衬砌刚度和厚度越小,沉降越大,且衬砌厚度对沉降的影响较大,衬砌刚度影响较小。     

分级循环荷载下岩石动力学行为试验研究

利用WDT-1500多功能材料试验机,对砂岩、砾岩和砂砾岩进行了分级循环荷载试验,研究了岩石的动弹性模量对应力幅值和应力水平的响应特性,得到了动弹性模量和耗散能随应力幅值、应力水平及含水率的变化规律。试验结果表明,分级循环荷载下岩石的能量耗散越多,动弹性模量越小;应力水平越高,动弹性模量和耗散能越大;含水率和应力幅值越大,动弹性模量越小,耗散能越大。讨论了邓肯-张模型能够描述分级循环荷载作用下岩石的应力-应变关系,构建了动弹性模量随应力水平、应力幅值及含水率变化的演化模型,探讨了模型参数的确定方法。根据能量耗散的经验法则,建立了耗散能演化模型,结果表明,该模型能够描述分级循环荷载过程中能量耗散行为。     

Out‐of‐plane stability of buckling‐restrained braces including moment transfer capacity

Buckling‐restrained braces (BRBs) are widely used as ductile seismic‐resistant and energy‐dissipating structural members in seismic regions. Although BRBs are expected to exhibit stable hysteresis under cyclic axial loading, one of the key limit states is global flexural buckling, which can produce an undesirable response. Many prior studies have indicated the possibility of global buckling of a BRB before its core yields owing to connection failure. In this paper, BRB stability concepts are presented, including their bending‐moment transfer capacity at restrainer ends for various connection stiffness values with initial out‐of‐plane drifts, and a unified simple equation set for ensuring BRB stability is proposed. Moreover, a series of cyclic loading tests with initial out‐of‐plane drifts are conducted, and the results are compared with those of the proposed equations. © 2013 The Authors. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Cyclic response of saturated silts

Softening and strength loss of sands with increasing excess pore water pressure under repeated loads is well-known. However, extensive damage to the built environment also occurs at the sites underlain by fine grained soils during seismic shaking. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the factors affecting cyclic behavior of saturated low-plastic silt through laboratory testing. For this purpose, an extensive laboratory testing program including conventional monotonic and cyclic triaxial tests was carried out over reconstituted silt samples. The effects of the inherent soil properties and the effects of loading characteristics on the cyclic response of saturated low-plastic reconstituted silt samples were examined separately. Based on the test results, a model was introduced to estimate the effect of initial shear stress on the cyclic response. Besides, liquefaction susceptibility of the samples was examined via current liquefaction susceptibility criteria.     

土-水特征曲线测定过程中潜在影响因素与异常现象研究

基于压力板仪对相同制样参数的4个环刀试样与12个三轴试样进行土-水特征曲线（SWCC）试验,研究影响试验的各种潜在因素以及相关的异常现象。试验结果表明：即便是相同条件制备的试样,其SWCC之间也会存在差异性,这种差异与土的颗粒级配不良有直接关系,而与平衡时间无关;蒸发效应在SWCC试验中持续存在,并在平衡后期成为失水的主要因素,因此,对平衡条件应适当修正;试样的侧面防护对试样的SWCC影响显著,特别对于大高径比试样,蒸发效应将因其侧面防护脱离而成为失水的主要因素,严重影响SWCC的试验结果;横向裂纹这一异常现象并未影响SWCC测量结果,但其产生机制却可能反应了轴平移技术的不足,值得进一步研究。根据上述研究结果和其他相关试验成果,对SWCC试验提出建议和改进方法。     

胶结充填体三轴压缩变形破坏及能量耗散特征分析

充填体的变形破坏、能量耗散与围压的变化密切相关,通过开展不同灰砂配比、浓度的充填体单轴、三轴压缩试验,基于系列试验结果,研究了不同围压加载阶段充填体的变形特征、破坏模式及能量耗散与围压的内在关系。结果表明,随着围压的增加,充填体的峰值应变随之增大,且两者呈线性相关;低围压时充填体呈现脆性破坏,表现为应变软化特征,随着围压增大,充填体由脆性向应变硬化转化,灰砂比越大、浓度越高,充填体发生脆-延性的临界围压值越大。充填体的破坏裂纹发展形式各异,大致可分为单一、平行、交叉和复合4种类型;宏观破坏表现主要呈“X”状、“Y”状剪切模式,破坏面的类型主要分为：直线式光滑摩擦面、圆弧式破碎摩擦面、直线式破碎摩擦面以及台阶式破碎摩擦面。充填体的峰值强度与围压也呈正线性相关,内摩擦角对灰砂比的敏感性要高于浓度。围压的增大能够相当程度上提高充填体各阶段的应变能,峰前、峰后能耗量、单位体积变形能以及总能耗与围压皆呈正相关性。