Numerical simulations of a highway bridge structure employing passive negative stiffness device for seismic protection

A new passive seismic response control device has been developed, fabricated, and tested by the authors and shown to be capable of producing negative stiffness via a purely mechanical mechanism, thus representing a new generation of seismic protection devices. Although the concept of negative stiffness may appear to be a reversal on the desired relationship between the force and displacement in structures (the desired relationship being that the product of restoring force and displacement is nonnegative), when implemented in parallel with a structure having positive stiffness, the combined system appears to have substantially reduced stiffness while remaining stable. Thus, there is an ‘apparent weakening and softening’ of the structure that results in reduced forces and increased displacements (where the weakening and softening is of a non‐damaging nature in that it occurs in a seismic protection device rather than within the structural framing system). Any excessive displacement response can then be limited by incorporating a damping device in parallel with the negative stiffness device. The combination of negative stiffness and passive damping provides a large degree of control over the expected performance of the structure. In this paper, a numerical study is presented on the performance of a seismically isolated highway bridge model that is subjected to various strong earthquake ground motions. The Negative Stiffness Devices (NSDs) are described along with their hysteretic behavior as obtained from a series of cyclic tests wherein the tests were conducted using a modified design of the NSDs (modified for testing within the bridge model). Using the results from the cyclic tests, numerical simulations of the seismic response of the isolated bridge model were conducted for various configurations (with/without negative stiffness devices and/or viscous dampers). The results demonstrate that the addition of negative stiffness devices reduces the base shear substantially, while the deck displacement is limited to acceptable values. This assessment was conducted as part of a NEES (Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation) project which included shaking table tests of a quarter‐scale highway bridge model. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mass rig system for shaking table tests of slender columns

A new mass rig system is proposed to minimize the deficiencies in current shaking table testing setups. This is accomplished by placing the inertial mass on a convex path designed to impose P‐Delta demands on slender cantilever columns. The design and performance of the mass rig system, and the principles used in deriving the equations of motion and their analytical validation against results obtained from shaking table tests, are presented. Formulation of the governing equations of motion was based on Lagrangian mechanics and solved using an implicit linear acceleration method with an adaptive time step formulation. Friction developed in the sliding system was also incorporated in the equations of motion. Experimental results validated the accuracy in the derivation and solution of the equations of motion. Validated by analytical and experimental results, P‐Delta effects were found to increase the displacement demands on slender columns in the low‐frequency range of acceleration input, while in the high‐frequency range P‐Delta effects led to no increase and in some cases even a reduction in displacement demands. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

松软煤层井下泡沫钻进工艺试验

松软煤层瓦斯抽采孔的深孔施工技术在现有的钻进工艺下不能很好的满足要求。为了提高松软煤层钻进的时效和孔深,提出了煤矿井下松软煤层泡沫钻进工艺,并在淮北邹庄矿进行了现场试验。分析了3个试验孔的具体工况,提出了较为合理的解决方法,使钻孔深度达到了200 m。这不仅有效增加了在松软煤层中的成孔深度,提高了成孔率,还降低了孔口的粉尘污染。      

Implications of geomorphological research for recent and prehistoric avalanches and related hazards at Huascaran,Peru

Detailed research of superficial deposits below the northern peak of Huascaran (Cordillera Blanca) provides new information on the limits of a paleo-avalanche originating from this mountain. Geomorphological mapping of the sediments identified glacial deposits, deposits from historical rock-debris avalanches and huge boulders from a paleo-avalanche. Schmidt Hammer rock-hardness tests were used to distinguish between the several generations of rock-debris avalanches, but largely failed to distinguish between the much older moraine and the paleo-avalanche sediments. Thus, only the field geomorphological mapping proved to be reliable for identifying the limits of the paleo-avalanche. The limits identified as granite boulders deposited over volcanic rocks were found to extend 30 m further up the opposite valley slope than previously had been mapped. This larger extent implies a greater volume and/or greater mobility for the prehistoric event.     

Air-floating towing behaviors of multi-bucket foundation platform

Air-floating towing beha viors of multi-bucket foundation plat form （MBFP） are investigated with the 1/20-scale model tests and hydrodynamic so ftware MOSES. MOSES numerical model was val idated by test results, and M OSES prototype model of MBFP can eliminate scale effect of model. The influences of towing factors of to wing speed, water depth, freeboard, and w ave direction on air-floating tow ing stability of MBFP were analyzed by model tests and validated MOSES prototype mod el. It is sho wn that the re duction of towing sp eed can effectively d ecrease the to wing force and surge acceleration to improve towing stability. Water depth is another f actor in towing s tability. Obvious shallow water effect will appear in shallow water with sma ll water depth-draft ratio and it w ill disappear gradually and air-floating towing becomes more stable with the increase of water depth. Accelerations of surge, s way and heave are small and they have modest changes when freeboard increases from 0.5 to 2 m. For MBFP, the freeboard is not suggested to be larger than 2 m in following wave. Wave direction has large influence on the towing stability, the surge acceleration and towing force are sensitive to the va riation of wave direction, the surge acceleration and towing force in following wave （0°） and counter wave （180°） are much larger than that in transverse sea （90°and 270°）.     

TJ-1模拟月壤承载特性的现场试验研究

采用TJ-1模拟月壤作为试验材料,通过静力触探、静载荷试验的对比分析,探讨适合月壤承载力计算的经验公式,以期为未来载人登月时宇航员和着陆器登陆可能涉及到有关月面承载能力的问题提供必要的参考。首先,使用近255 t TJ-1模拟月壤人工制备出13 m×12 m×1.2 m试验用地基,后在试验地基均匀布置6个静力触探测点和2个静载荷试验测点进行测试。针对太沙基承载力计算半经验公式以及规范和国内外学者提出的12个适合中密实砂土静力触探承载力计算的经验公式,对试验结果进行探讨。发现直接运用太沙基提出的半经验公式计算月壤承载力结果明显偏小,而由联合试验小组提出的经验公式 能够用来近似计算月壤地基承载力。计算结果表明,该经验公式在计算承载力时能够与静载荷试验值较好的吻合。     

Dynamic response and optimal design of structures with large mass ratio TMD

This paper investigates the dynamic behavior and the seismic effectiveness of a non‐conventional Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) with large mass ratio. Compared with conventional TMD, the device mass is increased up to be comparable with the mass of the structure to be protected, aiming at a better control performance. In order to avoid the introduction of an excessive additional weight, masses already present on the structure are converted into tuned masses, retaining structural or architectural functions beyond the mere control function. A reduced order model is introduced for design purposes and the optimal design of a large mass ratio TMD for seismic applications is then formulated. The design method is specifically developed to implement High‐Damping Rubber Bearings (HDRB) to connect the device mass to the main structure, taking advantage of combining stiffness and noticeable damping characteristics. Ground acceleration is modeled as a Gaussian random process with white noise power spectral density. A numerical searching technique is used to obtain the optimal design parameter, the frequency ratio alpha, which minimizes the root‐mean‐square displacement response of the main structure. The study finally comprises shaking table tests on a 1:5 scale model under a wide selection of accelerograms, both artificial and natural, to assess the seismic effectiveness of the proposed large mass ratio TMD. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fragility analysis of low‐rise masonry in‐filled reinforced concrete buildings by a coefficient‐based spectral acceleration method

This study presents a seismic fragility analysis of low‐rise masonry in‐filled (MI) reinforced concrete (RC) buildings using a proposed coefficient‐based spectral acceleration method. The coefficient‐based method, without requiring any complicated finite element analysis, is a simplified procedure for assessing the spectral acceleration demand (or capacity) of buildings subjected to earthquakes. This paper begins with a calibration of the proposed coefficient‐based method for low‐rise MI RC buildings using published experimental results obtained from shaking table tests. Spectral acceleration‐based fragility curves for low‐rise MI RC buildings under various inter‐story drift limits are then constructed using the calibrated coefficient‐based method. A comparison of the experimental and estimated results indicates that the simplified coefficient‐based method can provide good approximations of the spectral accelerations at peak loads of low‐rise MI RC buildings, if a proper set of drift‐related factors and initial fundamental periods of structures are used. Moreover, the fragility curves constructed using the coefficient‐based method can provide a satisfactory vulnerability evaluation for low‐rise MI RC buildings under a given performance level. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

绿泥石片岩各向异性特性研究

为研究十堰地区片岩的各向异性特性,开展了武当群绿泥石片岩长方体试样的单轴压缩和圆盘试样的间接拉伸试验,探讨了试样各向异性的力学特性和在不同受力状态下的变形破裂特性,揭示了不同变形破裂的力学机制。研究表明,武当群绿泥石片岩具有明显的各向异性性质,平行片理方向强度高,垂直片理方向强度低。该片岩特殊的定向排列片束状构造和片理间的弱胶结作用,致使不同方向上的破坏特征具有明显差异,其力学机制也不相同。在压应力作用下,泊松效应容易引起平行片理面的张拉劈裂和压杆失稳,垂直片理方向容易发生片理面间的剪切破坏。在同一方向上强度具有一致性,即平行片理面抗压和抗拉强度均较垂直片理面强度大。由于片理面间的抗拉承载力极低,在小角度劈裂荷载下,容易发生张拉劈裂和拉剪破坏,因此,实际工程中应尽可能避免片理面间的受拉破坏和沿片理的拉剪破坏。研究结果可以为隧道、边坡支护加固和防水处理提供参考。     

利用循环强度分析张紧式吸力锚循环承载力的方法

按照在最佳系泊点受倾斜荷载作用的张紧式吸力锚的破坏机制,建议了利用软土不排水循环剪切强度计算软土中吸力锚循环承载力的极限平衡分析方法。该方法考虑了平均系泊荷载在土中引起的平均剪应力对土体循环剪切强度、进而对锚循环承载力的影响。为了说明该方法的可行性,进行了大量张紧式吸力锚在平均系泊荷载与循环荷载共同作用下的承载力模型试验。依据试验结果确定了锚被竖向拔出土层时系泊点的位移破坏标准,并据此确定了与不同模型试验条件对应的循环承载力。进而利用循环三轴试验确定的土层不排水循环强度随平均应力的变化关系和实测的土层剪切强度,通过极限平衡分析计算了与模型试验对应的循环承载力。计算与模型试验结果比较表明,对于张紧式吸力锚被竖向拔出土层的破坏模式,计算结果比模型试验结果偏大,平均偏大1.9%,绝大多数偏差在10%以内。因此,对于软土中的张紧式吸力锚,如果采用该方法计算与竖向拔出土层破坏模式相应的循环承载力时,将结果减小10%是恰当的。