Thin Domain Walls in Lyra Geometry

This paper studies thin domain walls within the frame work of Lyra Geometry. We have considered two models. First one is the thin domain wall with negligible pressures perpendicular and transverse direction to the wall and secondly, we take a particular type of thin domain wall where the pressure in the perpendicular direction is negligible but transverse pressures are existed. It is shown that the thin domain walls have no particle horizon and the gravitational force due to them is attractive.     

2D modelling of a dry joint masonry wall retaining a pulverulent backfill

This work focuses on an analysis of dry joint retaining structures based on yield design theory: the stability of the masonry is assessed using rigid block and shear failure mechanisms in the wall and its backfill. An application of this simulation on 2D scale‐down brick and wood models is then addressed, showing close agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results. Further development on this work, including application of this theory on dry‐stone retaining walls, is discussed as a conclusion. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incremental plasticity analysis of frictional soils

Three constitutive models of soil are used in finite element analyses of lateral earth pressure and bearing capacity. The three models are an elasto-plastic formulation derived from the Mohr-Coulomb law, a similar model with the plastic dilatancy removed, and a strain hardening model with a capped yield criterion. Stiffness formulations are described; the non-dilatant model has a non-symmetric stiffness. The results for the retaining walls are in close agreement with classical soil mechanics, but the bearing capacity analyses greatly overestimate the bearing capacity. The patterns of motion are, however, reasonable. Reasons for the discripancies in the bearing capacity case include: (a) the elements are too stiff and do not permit sliding on discrete failure planes; (b) the bearing capacity problem is itself not well settled theoretically; (c) very fine element divisions are necessary in areas of strong stress gradients and (d) rotation of principal stresses is significant.     

Load and resistance factor design (LRFD) calibration for steel grid reinforced soil walls

This paper reports the results of load and resistance factor design (LRFD) calibration for pullout and yield limit states for steel grid reinforced soil walls owing to soil self-weight loading plus permanent uniform surcharge. The calibration method uses bias statistics to account for prediction accuracy of the underlying deterministic models for reinforcement load, pullout capacity and yield strength of the steel grids, and random variability in input parameters. A new revised pullout design model is proposed to improve pullout resistance prediction accuracy and to remove hidden dependency with calculated pullout resistance values. Load and resistance factors are proposed that give a uniform probability of failure of 1% for both pullout and yield limit states. The approach adopted in this paper has application to a wide variety of other reinforced soil wall technologies.     

Experimental investigation on dynamic and quasi‐static behavior of low‐rise reinforced concrete walls

Experimental evidence supporting the fact that results from quasi‐static (QS) test of low‐rise reinforced concrete walls may be safely assumed as a lower limit of strength and displacement, and energy dissipation capacities are still scarce. The aim of this paper is to compare the seismic performance of 12 reinforced concrete walls for low‐rise housing: six prototype walls tested under QS‐cyclic loading and six models tested under shaking table excitations. Variables studied were wall geometry, type of concrete, web steel ratio, type of web reinforcement and testing method. Comparison of results from dynamic and QS‐cyclic tests indicated that stiffness and strength properties were dependent on the loading rate, the strength mechanisms associated with the failure mode, the low‐cycle fatigue, and the cumulative parameters, such as displacement demand and energy dissipated. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seismic capacity of irregular unreinforced masonry walls with openings

Masonry buildings are often characterized by geometric irregularities. In many cases, such buildings meet global regularity requirements provided by seismic codes, but they are composed by irregular walls with openings. The latter are masonry walls characterized by (i) openings of different sizes, (ii) openings misaligned in the horizontal and/or vertical direction, or (iii) a variable number of openings per story. An irregular layout of openings can induce not only a nonuniform distribution of gravity loads among masonry piers but also unfavorable damage localizations resulting in a premature collapse of the wall and hence a higher seismic vulnerability. This paper is aimed at providing a simplified methodology to assess the effects of irregularities on the in‐plane seismic capacity of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls with openings. To this end, a macroelement method was developed and validated through experimental results available in the literature. The proposed methodology was based on the quantification of wall irregularities by means of geometric indices and their effects on seismic capacity of URM walls with openings through both sensitivity and regression analyses. Sensitivity analysis was based on a high number of static pushover analyses and allowed to assess variations in key seismic capacity parameters. Regression analysis let to describe each capacity parameter under varying irregularity index, providing empirical models for seismic assessment of irregular URM walls with openings. The in‐plane seismic capacity was found to be significantly affected by wall irregularities, especially in the case of openings with different heights. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Viscoelastic coupling dampers (VCDs) for enhanced wind and seismic performance of high‐rise buildings

As high‐rise buildings are built taller and more slender, their dynamic behavior becomes an increasingly critical design consideration. Wind‐induced vibrations cause an increase in the lateral wind design loads, but more importantly, they can be perceived by building occupants, creating levels of discomfort ranging from minor annoyance to severe motion sickness. The current techniques to address wind vibration perception include stiffening the lateral load‐resisting system, adding mass to the building, reducing the number of stories, or incorporating a vibration absorber at the top of the building; each solution has significant economic consequences for builders. Significant distributed damage is also expected in tall buildings under severe seismic loading, as a result of the ductile seismic design philosophy that is widely used for such structures. In this paper, the viscoelastic coupling damper (VCD) that was developed at the University of Toronto to increase the level of inherent damping of tall coupled shear wall buildings to control wind‐induced and earthquake‐induced dynamic vibrations is introduced. Damping is provided by incorporating VCDs in lieu of coupling beams in common structural configurations and therefore does not occupy any valuable architectural space, while mitigating building tenant vibration perception problems and reducing both the wind and earthquake responses of the structure. This paper provides an overview of this newly proposed system, its development, and its performance benefits as well as the overall seismic and wind design philosophy that it encompasses. Two tall building case studies incorporating VCDs are presented to demonstrate how the system results in more efficient designs. In the examples that are presented, the focus is on the wind and moderate earthquake responses that often govern the design of such tall slender structures while reference is made to other studies where the response of the system under severe seismic loading conditions is examined in more detail and where results from tests conducted on the viscoelastic material and the VCDs in full‐scale are presented. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Capturing strain localization behind a geosynthetic‐reinforced soil wall

This paper presents the results of finite element (FE) analyses of shear strain localization that occurred in cohesionless soils supported by a geosynthetic‐reinforced retaining wall. The innovative aspects of the analyses include capturing of the localized deformation and the accompanying collapse mechanism using a recently developed embedded strong discontinuity model. The case study analysed, reported in previous publications, consists of a 3.5‐m tall, full‐scale reinforced wall model deforming in plane strain and loaded by surcharge at the surface to failure. Results of the analysis suggest strain localization developing from the toe of the wall and propagating upward to the ground surface, forming a curved failure surface. This is in agreement with a well‐documented failure mechanism experienced by the physical wall model showing internal failure surfaces developing behind the wall as a result of the surface loading. Important features of the analyses include mesh sensitivity studies and a comparison of the localization properties predicted by different pre‐localization constitutive models, including a family of three‐invariant elastoplastic constitutive models appropriate for frictional/dilatant materials. Results of the analysis demonstrate the potential of the enhanced FE method for capturing a collapse mechanism characterized by the presence of a failure, or slip, surface through earthen materials. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

附加或不附加粘滞阻尼墙的RC框架试验与分析

本文阐述了附加或不附加粘滞阻尼墙的2个相同的RC框架模型振动台试验和理论分析的情况.这2个钢筋混凝土框架模型为3层1跨两开间,几何相似关系大致为1：2.将阻尼墙附加到一个RC框架模型当中,先后对附加或不附加阻尼墙的2个相同的RC框架模型进行振动台试验.试验结果表明,阻尼墙有效减小了框架模型的地震反应.对耗能框架模型和普通框架模型进行了弹性和弹塑性时程分析,计算结果和试验结果吻合良好.改变阻尼墙的参数进行分析,结果表明选取合适的阻尼墙参数,才能达到最好的耗能减振效果;适当减小层间位移较小处的阻尼墙参数,对减振效果影响很小而又能节省投资.     

Evaluation of seismic displacements of quay walls

A new simplified dynamic analysis method is proposed to predict the seismic sliding displacement of quay walls by considering the variation of wall thrust, which is influenced by the excess pore pressure developed in backfill during earthquakes. The method uses the Newmark sliding block concept and the variable yield acceleration, which varies according to the wall thrust, to calculate the quay wall displacement.A series of 1 g shaking table tests were executed to verify the applicability of the proposed method, and a parametric study was performed. The shaking table tests verified that the proposed method properly predicts the wall displacement, and the parametric study showed that the evaluation of a realistic wall displacement is as important as the analysis of liquefaction potential for judging the stability of quay walls.