Design,simulation, and large‐scale testing of an innovative vibration mitigation device employing essentially nonlinear elastomeric springs

This study proposes an innovative passive vibration mitigation device employing essentially nonlinear elastomeric springs as its most critical component. Essential nonlinearity denotes the absence (or near absence) of a linear component in the stiffness characteristics of these elastomeric springs. These devices were implemented and tested on a large‐scale nine‐story model building structure. The main focus of these devices is to mitigate structural response under impulse‐like and seismic loading when the structure remains elastic. During the design process of the device, numerical simulations, optimizations, and parametric studies of the structure‐device system were performed to obtain stiffness parameters for the devices so that they can maximize the apparent damping of the fundamental mode of the structure. Pyramidal elastomeric springs were employed to physically realize the optimized essentially nonlinear spring components. Component‐level finite element analyses and experiments were conducted to design the nonlinear springs. Finally, shake table tests using impulse‐like and seismic excitation with different loading levels were performed to experimentally evaluate the performance of the device. Experimental results demonstrate that the properly designed devices can mitigate structural vibration responses, including floor acceleration, displacement, and column strain in an effective, rapid, and robust fashion. Comparison between numerical and experimental results verified the computational model of the nonlinear system and provided a comprehensive verification for the proposed device. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Full-scale experimental modal analysis of an arch dam: The first experience in Iran

Forced vibration field tests and finite-element studies were conducted on the Shahid Rajaee concrete arch dam in Northern Iran to determine the dynamic properties of the dam–reservoir–foundation system. The first forced vibration tests on the dam were performed with two different types of exciter units, with a limited maximum force, bolted on the dam crest for alternative in-phase and out-of-phase sequencing. Because of an insufficient number of recording sensors, two arrangements of sensors were used to cover sufficient points on the dam crest and one gallery during tests. Two kinds of vibration tests, on–off and frequency sweeping, were carried out on the dam. The primary natural frequencies of the coupled system for both symmetric and anti-symmetric vibration modes were approximated during on–off tests in two types of sequencing of exciters, in phase and out-of-phase, with a maximum frequency of 14 Hz. The principal forced vibration tests were performed at precise resonant frequencies based on the results of the on–off tests in which sweeping around the approximated frequencies at 0.1 Hz increments was performed. Baseline correction and suitable bandpass filtering were applied to the test records and then signal processing was carried out to compute the auto power, cross power and coherence spectra. Nine middle modes of vibration of the coupled system and corresponding damping ratios were estimated. The empirical results are compared against the results from calibrated finite-element modeling of the system using former ambient vibration tests, considering the dam–reservoir–foundation interaction effects. Good agreement is obtained between experimental and numerical results for eight middle modes of the dam–reservoir–foundation system.     

Full-scale model testing on a ballastless high-speed railway under simulated train moving loads

Model testing in laboratory, as an effective alternative to field measurement, provides valuable data to understand railway׳s dynamic behaviors under train moving loads. This paper presents comprehensive experimental results on track vibration and soil response of a ballastless high-speed railway from a full-scale model testing with simulated train moving loads at various speeds. A portion of a realistic ballastless railway comprising slab track, roadbed, subgrade, and subsoil was constructed in a larger steel box. A computer-controlled sequential loading system was developed to generate equivalent vertical loadings at the track structure for simulating the dynamic excitations due to train׳s movements. Comparisons with the field measurements show that the proposed model testing can accurately reproduce dynamic behaviors of the track structure and underlying soils under train moving loads. The attenuation characteristics of dynamic soil stresses in a ballastless slab track is found to have distinct differences from that in a ballasted track. The model testing results provide better understanding of the influence of dynamic soil–structure interaction and train speed on the response of track structure and soils.     

Prediction of ground motion due to the collapse of a large-scale cooling tower under strong earthquakes

The ground motion owing to the collapse of a large-scale cooling tower under strong earthquakes was appropriately predicted using a comprehensive approach. The predicted results can be used for the safety evaluation of nuclear-related facilities adjacent to the cooling tower as well as in the planning of nuclear power plant construction in China. In this study, a cooling tower–soil model was first developed based on a falling weight–soil model, which the authors verified by falling weight tests. Then the collapse process of a cooling tower was simulated, and the collapse-induced ground vibrations were assessed by using the proposed model. Finally, the ground motion, which was a combination of the earthquake-induced ground motion and the collapse-induced ground vibrations, was estimated based on the superposition principle of waves. It was found that the cooling tower may collapse under strong earthquakes with the peak ground accelerations (PGAs) in the range of 0.35–0.45 g in x (EW) and y (NS) directions, respectively. These PGAs are far beyond the PGA range of major earthquakes in the common seismic design in China. The types of the site geologies of towers can significantly affect the collapse-induced ground vibrations. For a typical hard soil consisting of strongly weathered sandy slate, moderate ground vibrations may occur in the considered region. The collapse-induced PGAs were in the range of 0.017–0.046 g for the observed points at distances of 350 m in radial direction. For a rock-like foundation, the collapse-induced radial PGAs may be as high as 0.08 g at distances of 350 m, indicating that the effect of the collapse-induced ground vibrations on the nuclear-related facilities should be seriously assessed in certain scenarios.     

The numerical and empirical evaluation of chimneys considering soil structure interaction and high-temperature effects

During the past strong ground motions, chimneys constructed according to international standards are representative of similar structures at industrial areas throughout the world, including those collapsed or moderately damaged in earthquake-prone regions. This is due to the specialty of structural characteristics and the special loads acting on the structure such as earthquakes, wind and differences in the level of temperature, etc. In this context, the researchers and designers should focus on the dynamic behavior of chimneys especially under high temperature and seismic effects. For this purpose, the main focus of this study is to evaluate the dynamic response of a chimney under the above-mentioned effects considering soil-structure interaction (SSI). A 52 m steel chimney in Yeşilyurt township of Samsun City in Turkey was studied. The in-situ model testing and numerical models were compared. Before the commissioning of the chimney, a series of tests was realized to define its dynamic characteristics in case of no-heat and after the fabric got to work, the same tests were repeated for the same sensor locations to understand the heat effect on the dynamic response of the chimney. The ambient vibration tests are proven to be fast and practical procedures to identify the dynamic characteristics of those structures. The dynamic testing of the towers promises a widespread use, as the identification of seismic vulnerability of such structures becomes increasingly important. The data presented in this study are considered to be useful for the researchers and engineers, for whom the temperature and SSI effects on steel chimneys are a concern. Using the modal analysis techniques, presented finite element simulation for the soil/pile foundation-chimney interaction system is verified. The results of modal analyses using numerical solutions are shown to have acceptable accuracy compared with results obtained by in-situ test. The present study also aims to provide designers with material examples about the influence of these on the seismic performance of steel chimneys by means of reflecting the changes in the dynamic behavior.     

混沌遗传算法在高层结构风振控制优化中的应用研究

将混沌遗传算法(Chaos Genetic Algorithm,简称CGA)引入高层结构的风振控制优化中,对采用黏弹性阻尼器来控制风振响应的高层结构进行参数优化;用Matlab语言编制了均布法、迭代法、简单遗传算法(Simple Genetic Algorithm,简称SGA)和混沌遗传算法的风振控制优化分析程序;对9个高层结构进行风振控制优化,对比了算法程序的计算效率以及无控、均布、迭代、SGA和CGA工况下的结构风振响应。研究结果表明:混沌遗传算法可以应用于高层结构风振控制优化之中;混沌遗传算法的计算效率比简单遗传算法最高提升了29%;经混沌遗传算法优化后,黏弹性阻尼器附加给结构的附加阻尼比与均布和迭代相比最高分别提高了61%和22%,CGA工况的顶层加速度响应与均布和迭代法相比最高分别减小了14%和12%。为高层结构风振控制优化研究提供了新思路,具有一定的理论价值和实际意义。     

An alternative approach for computing seismic response with accidental eccentricity

Accidental eccentricity is a non-standard assumption for seismic design of tall buildings. Taking it into consideration requires reanalysis of seismic resistance, which requires either time consuming computation of natural vibration of eccentric structures or finding a static displacement solution by applying an approximated equivalent torsional moment for each eccentric case. This study proposes an alternative modal response spectrum analysis(MRSA) approach to calculate seismic responses with accidental eccentricity. The proposed approach, called the Rayleigh Ritz Projection-MRSA(RRP-MRSA), is developed based on MRSA and two strategies:(a) a RRP method to obtain a fast calculation of approximate modes of eccentric structures; and(b) an approach to assemble mass matrices of eccentric structures. The efficiency of RRP-MRSA is tested via engineering examples and compared with the standard MRSA(ST-MRSA) and one approximate method, i.e., the equivalent torsional moment hybrid MRSA(ETM-MRSA). Numerical results show that RRP-MRSA not only achieves almost the same precision as ST-MRSA, and is much better than ETM-MRSA, but is also more economical. Thus, RRP-MRSA can be in place of current accidental eccentricity computations in seismic design.     

近距离下穿在建地铁隧道施工爆破变形及控制方法研究

近距离爆破下穿尚未完成二衬的区间隧道是一种较为特殊的工况,涉及初支破坏、既有隧道下沉等诸多问题。以青岛地铁2号线近距离（250 mm）下穿刚完成初支的3号线隧道工程设计及施工为实例,通过在施工时采用自进式管棚、拱顶部位掏空、辅助中孔掏槽、对既有隧道施加张拉力、限载限行等多项措施,并根据类比给出合理的爆破振速控制指标,控制爆破振速及隧道变形。运用有限元分析软件MIDAS-GTS进行三维模型数值分析,揭示在建隧道爆破施工对既有隧道变形及内力变化规律。经过理论计算与实测分析,采取的各项措施能够达到预期的效果,3号线初支结构未见异常,其研究成果对特殊条件下的爆破下穿设计与施工具有参考价值。     

列车振动荷载作用下南京细砂累积变形预测公式对比分析

列车振动荷载引起的路基长期沉降问题一直是影响列车正常运营的重要因素。首先,采用GDS空心圆柱扭剪仪对新近沉积的南京细砂重塑样进行循环三轴试验研究。在该基础上,通过总结国内外学者研究的累积变形模型公式,并与试验数据进行对比,分析了已有多种公式应用于南京细砂动力累积变形的预测时的可行性,给出了相关预测公式的模型参数参考值。根据试验结果,考虑试验围压对土体累积变形的影响规律,对部分公式进行了初步修正,扩大了相关预测公式的使用范围。研究成果对长江中下游轨道交通路基的长期沉降预测具有一定的指导意义和参考价值。     

使用偏心支撑减小不规则高层建筑的扭转振动效应

文章对比分析了一个不规则高层钢筋混凝土框-剪结构和在原结构基础上增设偏心支撑后的新结构的抗震性能,比较了它们的自振特性以及层间位移等地震作用效应。针对不规则高层建筑在地震作用下不可避免的扭转振动问题,提出在结构中适当地增设偏心支撑来减小结构的扭转振动效应及其它结构地震反应这种简单可行、经济适用的方法。