Effectiveness of structural control based on control energy perspectives

A computational algorithm for maximizing the control efficiency in actively controlling the elastic structural responses during earthquake is proposed. Study of optimal linear control using a single degree of freedom shows that applying active control is very effective in reducing the structural displacement and velocity responses for long‐period structures, but at the same time it has an adverse effect in increasing the absolute acceleration response. The extent of this adverse effect reduces the effectiveness of the control system, and therefore it poses a limit on the maximum control force in order to provide maximum control efficiency. In view of this shortcoming, maximum control energy dissipation is used to define the most effective optimal linear control law. Less displacement and velocity response are expected as larger control force is applied, but there is always a limit that maximum control energy can be dissipated. This study shows that this limit depends on the structural characteristics as well as the input ground motion, and a general trend is that the maximum control energy decreases as damping increases. Finally, application of the proposed algorithm on a six‐storey hospital building is presented to show the effectiveness of using optimal linear control on a multi‐degree‐of‐freedom system from the control energy perspectives. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Principal axes of m-DOF structures PartⅠ:Static loading

This paper is the first in a two-part series that discusses the principal axes of M-DOF structures subjected to static and dynamic loads. The primary purpose of this series is to understand the magnitude of the dynamic response of structures to enable better design of structures and control modification devices/systems. Under idealized design conditions, the structural responses are obtained by using single direction input ground motions in the direction of the intended control devices/systems,and by assuming that the responses of the structure is decoupleable in three mutually perpendicular directions. This standard practice has been applied to both new and retrofitted structures using various seismic protective systems. Very limited information is available on the effects of neglecting the impact of directional couplings (cross effects - of which torsion is a component) of the dynamic response of structures. In order to quantify such effects, it is necessary to examine the principal axes of structures under both static and dynamic loading.This first paper deals with quantitative definitions of principal axes and "cross effects" of three-dimensional structures under static load by using linear algebra. It shows theoretically that, for three-dimensional structures, such principal axes rarely exist. Under static loading conditions, the cross effect is typically small and negligible from the viewpoint of engineering applications. However, it provides the theoretical base for subsequent quantification of the response couplings under dynamic loads, which is reported in part Ⅱ of this series.     

Design of dampers for structures based on optimal control theory

The aim of this paper was to propose a design guideline for using visco‐elastic dampers for the control of building structures subjected to earthquake loading as well as suspension roof structures subjected to wind loading. The active control algorithm was used to calculate the control forces. Based on the single‐mode approach the control forces were transformed to the forces which visco‐elastic dampers can provide. Application of the method to the design of the building structure with passive damping devices in the bracing system and to the suspension roof with dampers was studied. Through the application of optimal control theory a systematic design procedure to implement dampers in structures is proposed. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Testing of dynamically substructured,base‐isolated systems using adaptive control techniques

Experimental techniques for testing dynamically substructured systems are currently receiving attention in a wide range of structural, aerospace and automotive engineering environments. Dynamic substructuring enables full‐size, critical components to be physically tested within a laboratory (as physical substructures), while the remaining parts are simulated in real‐time (as numerical substructures). High quality control is required to achieve synchronization of variables at the substructuring interfaces and to compensate for additional actuator system(s) dynamics, nonlinearities, uncertainties and time‐varying parameters within the physical substructures. This paper presents the substructuring approach and associated controller designs for performance testing of an aseismic, base‐isolation system, which is comprised of roller‐pendulum isolators and controllable, nonlinear magnetorheological dampers. Roller‐pendulum isolators are typically mounted between the protected structure and its foundation and have a fundamental period of oscillation far‐removed from the predominant periods of any earthquake. Such semi‐active damper systems can ensure safety and performance requirements, whereas the implementation of purely active systems can be problematic in this respect. A linear inverse dynamics compensation and an adaptive controller are tailored for the resulting nonlinear synchronization problem. Implementation results favourably compare the effectiveness of the adaptive substructuring method against a conventional shaking‐table technique. A 1.32% error resulted compared with the shaking‐table response. Ultimately, the accuracy of the substructuring method compared with the response of the shaking‐table is dependent upon the fidelity of the numerical substructure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modified precise time step integration method of structural dynamic analysis

The precise time step integration method proposed for linear time-invariant homogeneous dynamic systems can provide precise numerical results that approach an exact solution at the integration points. However, difficulty arises when the algorithm is used for non-homogeneous dynamic systems, due to the inverse matrix calculation and the simulation accuracy of the applied loading. By combining the Gaussian quadrature method and state space theory with the calculation technique of matrix exponential function in the precise time step integration method, a new modified precise time step integration method （e.g., an algorithm with an arbitrary order of accuracy） is proposed. In the new method, no inverse matrix calculation or simulation of the applied loading is needed, and the computing efficiency is improved. In particular, the proposed method is independent of the quality of the matrix H. If the matrix H is singular or nearly singular, the advantage of the method is remarkable. The numerical stability of the proposed algorithm is discussed and a numerical example is given to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the algorithm.     

Anomalous structural evolution of the Shimanto Accretionary Prism at Murotomisaki, Shikoku Island, Japan

Abstract The Late Oligocene-Early Miocene Nabae Sub-belt of the Shimanto Accretionary Prism was created coevally (ca 25-15 Ma) with the opening of the Shikoku back-arc basin, located to the south of the southwest Japan convergent margin. The detailed geology of the sub-belt has been controversial and the interaction of the Shimanto accretionary prism and the opening of the Shikoku Basin has been ambiguous. New structural analysis of the sub-belt has led to a new perception of its structural framework and has significant bearing on the interpretation of the Neogene tectonics of southwest Japan. The sub-belt is divided into three units: the Nabae Complex; the Shijujiyama Formation; and the Maruyama Intrusive Suite. The Nabae Complex comprises coherent units and mélange, all of which show polyphase deformation. The first phase of deformation appears to have involved landward vergent thrusting of coherent units over the mélange terrane. The second phase of deformation involved continued landward vergent shortening. The Shijujiyama Formation, composed mainly of mafic volcanics and massive sandstone, is interpreted as a slope basin deposited upon the Nabae Complex during the second phase of deformation. The youngest deformational pulse involved regional flexing and accompanying pervasive faulting. During this event, mafic rocks of the Maruyama Intrusive Suite intruded the sub-belt. Fossil evidence in the Nabae Complex and radiometric dates on the intrusive rocks indicate that this tectonic scheme was imprinted upon the sub-belt between ～23 and ～14 Ma. The timing of accretion and deformation of the sub-belt coincides with the opening of the Shikoku Basin; hence, subduction and spreading operated simultaneously. Accretion of the Nabae Sub-belt was anomalous, involving landward vergent thrusting, magmatism in newly accreted strata and regional flexing. It is proposed that this complex and anomalous structural history is largely related to the subduction of the active Shikoku Basin spreading ridge and associated seamounts.     

澜沧江某冰水堆积体演化过程及工程地质问题探讨

第四纪冰期大型山岳冰川运动遗留下的大型冰水堆积体是我国西南高山峡谷地区一类重要的第四系堆积物.本世纪以来,随着该地区大型基础工程的陆续上马,这种大型冰水堆积体的存在常常成为工程建设必须面临的工程地质问题,这些冰水堆积体因其形成演化过程的特殊性,使得其在结构、物质组成、力学特性、水理特性等诸多方面与一般松散堆积体存在显著差别,因而研究其结构特征、形成演化过程以及带来的工程地质问题具有重要意义.以澜沧江某电站坝前冰水堆积体为例,在调查分析其结构特征的基础上,对冰水堆积体的形成演化过程进行分析和研究,并对冰水堆积体的工程特性,以及带来的工程地质问题进行了探讨,认为该冰水堆积体的工程特性明显好于其他第四系松散堆积体,电站蓄水后整体失稳的可能性较小,但其前缘仍存在局部失稳的可能.     

Relationships between Tourist Experiential Value and Ice-Snow Tourism Loyalty in Zhangjiakou City,and the Moderating Effects of Travel Companions

The successful bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics has provided a new opportunity for the popularization of ice-snow sports and making improvements in the efficiency of ice-snow tourism in China. Taking Zhangjiakou City in Hebei Province as the research object and using questionnaire analysis and the structural equation model (SEM), this paper examined several hypotheses of the relationship between tourist experiential value and tourist loyalty in the context of ice-snow tourism, and a mediation analysis was conducted to explore the moderating role of travel companions. The results show that: (1) The functional value, emotional value and social value have significant positive effects on tourist loyalty; (2) Tourist satisfaction is a partial mediator between functional value, emotional value, social value and tourist loyalty, and a full mediator between cognitive value and tourist loyalty; and (3) Travel companions play a significant moderating role in the influence of emotional value on tourist loyalty. Based on these findings, several suggestions are put forward for the high-quality development of ice-snow tourism in China, including developing ice-snow family tourism products, building an ice-snow brand with winter Olympics characteristics, constructing the ice-snow industrial system, and cultivating ice-snow culture.     

干侵入对我国东部一次强飑线过程的作用分析

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、雷达资料、FY2E卫星资料等,对2014年7月30日至31日发生在我国东部的一次强飑线天气过程进行综合分析,并着重分析了干侵入对此次飑线过程的作用。结果表明：中层阶梯槽引导高层干冷空气向下入侵后叠加在低层暖湿气流之上,增强了大气不稳定,不稳定能量累积;低空切变线促使不稳定能量释放,是此次飑线的重要触发机制。对干侵入的分析结果表明：此次飑线过程中,干侵入来源于高空槽后下沉气流,干侵入底部风场调整使得飑线在移动过程中发生了转向。在飑线发展过程中,干侵入范围扩大、强度增强;干侵入使飑线发生区域上空空气变冷、变干,增强了大气不稳定。干侵入底部的低相当位温空气与飑线内部高相当位温空气混合是飑线长时间维持的重要原因。     

Spontaneous Structural Reform in Australian Local Government: the case of the Gilgandra Co-operative Model in New South Wales

Dire financial constraints and the threats of forced structural reform have had the unforeseen effect of forcing municipal councils across Australia to reconsider their operational activities and organisational arrangements. With considerable ingenuity, numerous municipalities have proposed and sometimes adopted new structural formations that embody various forms of co-operative service provision. This remarkable development has unfortunately been largely ignored in the scholarly literature on Australian local government. In a modest effort aimed at remedying this neglect, the present paper seeks to outline the small, rural New South Wales Gilgandra Shire Council's (2004) ‘Co-operative/Local Government Service Company’ model, place it in the broader context of alternative models of local governance suitable for Australian conditions, and evaluate its characteristics.