An experimental study on steel‐encased buckling‐restrained brace hysteretic dampers

This paper describes a seismic test program performed on 12 steel‐encased buckling‐restrained braces (BRBs). The use of rolled or built‐up buckling‐restraining mechanisms with welded or bolted attachments was examined. In addition, the effects of bolt pretension, core‐to‐encasing attachment details, aspect ratio of core segment and imperfections due to manufacturing on the brace response were investigated. All specimens were subjected to a stepwise incremental quasi‐static testing protocol with a maximum axial strain amplitude of 2%. All specimens except one showed satisfactory performance with stable hysteretic response and sustained cumulative inelastic deformations in excess of 200 times the yield deformation. Based on the experimental results, the compression strength adjustment factor, and the strain hardening adjustment factor for each excursion were quantified. Test results revealed that these two factors are significantly influenced by the parameters investigated in the experimental program. BRB details were also found to influence the buckling and the yielding patterns of the core segment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal seismic design of moment‐resisting steel frames with hysteretic passive devices

The effectiveness of hysteretic passive devices to protect and mitigate the response of a structure under seismic loading is well established by both analytical and experimental research. Nevertheless, a systematic and well‐established methodology for the topological distribution and size of these devices in order to achieve a desired structural response performance does not exist. In this paper, a computational framework is proposed for the optimal distribution and design of yielding metallic buckling restrained braces (BRB) and/or friction dampers within steel moment‐resisting frames (MRF) for a given seismic environment. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used to solve the resulting discrete optimization problem. Specific examples involving two three‐story, four‐bay steel MRFs and a six‐story, three‐bay steel MRF retrofitted with yielding and/or friction braces are considered. The seismic environment consists of four synthetic ground motions representative of the west coast of the United States with 5% probability of exceedance in 50 years. Non‐linear time‐history analyses are employed to evaluate the potential designs. As a result of the evolutionary process, the optimal placement, strength and size of the dampers are obtained throughout the height of the steel MRF. Furthermore, the developed computational approach for seismic design based upon GAs provides an attractive procedure for design of MRFs with hysteretic passive dampers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

塔里木巴楚隆起北缘吐木休克楔形基底卷入构造

石油地震资料揭示出塔里木盆地中央巴楚隆起为结晶基底和古生代地层相对隆升区,多数地区缺失中新生界,顶部为第四系陆相碎屑岩不整合覆盖隐伏隆起。在隆起南北两侧构造变形比较强烈,均发育基底卷入的逆冲构造和古生界内逆冲构造。运用断层相关褶皱理论,通过对研究区的二维地震测网解释及钻井标定,综合研究得出巴楚隆起北侧吐木休克卷入基底逆冲断层倾向南,向北逆冲,前寒武系基底到早古生代地层被错断。新生代时期的生长地层特征指示基底卷入构造于古近纪、中新世-上新世和更新世均有活动。构造分析表明基底卷入构造于中生代末期还有一次活动,说明吐木休克构造由多期构造运动形成。向北逆冲的吐木休克基底断层和盖层褶皱构造的向南反冲逆冲断层或滑脱断层共同组成基底卷入楔形构造,楔形点同时位于基底和盖层中。盖层构造以中寒武统膏岩为滑动面,向南逆冲,发育断层扩展或滑脱背斜构造。基底断层和盖层滑脱断层在剖面上组成典型的楔形构造几何形态,平面上形成三角形构造。地震剖面综合解释成果图显示,吐木休克弧形逆冲构造东部盖层反冲构造,即基底卷入楔形构造表现较为清楚,向西则表现不太明显,但地震反射波组(地层转折)指示盖层中仍存在这些反冲构造。纵向地震剖面和联络地震剖面均显示出存在该类构造。吐木休克基底卷入断层弧形构造顶部位移最大,盖层变形相对最小;向东西两侧基底断层位移逐渐减小,盖层构造位移相应逐渐增加。研究认为,塔里木巴楚隆起系挤压作用下,刚性地壳发生挠曲而形成的变形区带。     

Upheaval buckling of surface-laid offshore pipeline

Offshore pipelines operating under high pressure and temperature are subjected to upheaval buckling. Pipeline behaviour in upheaval buckling depends on a number of factors including the shape of pipeline imperfection, installation stresses, loading types, seabed sediment behaviour and the flexural stiffness of the pipe. Current method of predicting upheaval buckling is based on simplified shapes of pipeline imperfection developed for idealized seabed conditions. To account for the effect of internal pressure, the pressure load is represented using an equivalent temperature. However, the applicability of these idealizations on the prediction of upheaval buckling has not been well-investigated. In this paper, the three-dimensional finite element modelling technique is used to investigate the applicability of idealized shapes and their effects on the upheaval buckling of pipeline for a seabed condition at offshore Newfoundland in Canada. The finite element model is then used to conduct a parametric study to investigate the effects of installation stress, loading types, seabed parameters and the flexural stiffness of the pipe. Finally, a design chart is developed to determine the optimum height of seabed features to manage pipeline stability against upheaval buckling under different temperature and pressure loadings.     

Cyclic tests on steel and concrete‐filled tube frames with Slit Walls

Cyclic loading tests were performed on three one‐storey steel frames and four three‐storey concrete‐filled tube (CFT) moment frames reinforced with a new type of earthquake‐resisting element consisting of a steel plate shear wall with vertical slits. In this shear wall system, the steel plate segments between the slits behave as a series of flexural links, which provide fairly ductile response without the need for heavy stiffening of the wall. The steel shear walls and the moment frames behaved in a ductile manner up to more than 4% drift without abrupt strength degradation or loss of axial resistance. Results of these tests and complementary analysis provide a basis for an equivalent brace model to be employed in commercially available frame analysis programs. Test and analytical results suggest that the horizontal force is carried by the bolts in the middle portion of the wall–frame connection, while the vertical forces coupled with the moment in the connection are resisted by the bolts in the edge portion of the connection, for which the friction bolts in the connection should be designed. When sufficient transverse stiffening is provided, full plastic strength and non‐degrading hysteretic behaviour can be achieved for this new type of shear wall. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probabilistic performance assessment of low‐ductility reinforced concrete frames retrofitted with dissipative braces

The paper illustrates a probabilistic methodology for assessing the vulnerability of existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings with limited ductility capacity retrofitted by means of dissipative braces. The aim is to highlight the most important parameters controlling the capacity of these coupled systems and specific aspects concerning the response uncertainties. The proposed methodology is based on the use of local engineering demand parameters for monitoring the seismic response and on the development of component and system fragility curves before and after the retrofit. In the first part of the paper, the methodology is illustrated by highlighting its advantages with respect to the existing approaches. Then, its capability and effectiveness are tested by considering a benchmark two‐dimensional RC frame designed for gravity‐loads only. The frame is retrofitted by introducing elasto‐plastic dissipative braces designed for different levels of base shear capacity. The obtained results show the effectiveness of the methodology in describing the changes in the response and in the failure modalities before and after the retrofit, for different retrofit levels. Moreover, the retrofit effectiveness is evaluated by introducing proper synthetic parameters describing the fragility curves and by stressing the importance of employing local engineering demand parameters (EDPs) rather than global EDPs in the seismic risk evaluation of coupled systems consisting in low‐ductility RC frames and dissipative braces. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Subassemblage cyclic loading test of RC frame with buckling restrained braces in zigzag configuration

A new buckling restrained braced frame system is proposed for reinforced concrete building structures, which is featured by the zigzag configuration of the braces and the corresponding connection details. The connection details tend to separate the vertical and horizontal components of force imposed by the braces to be resisted by independent structural components to make the behavior of the connection easier to estimate and control. The performance of the brace connection details was evaluated through cyclic load testing on 1/2‐scale subassemblies of the proposed system, each of which consisted of a reinforced concrete part and a set of buckling restrained braces. To simplify the test control, the specimens were rotated 90° in the test and were loaded by two displacement controlled actuators. The test results show that the normal and the shear resistance of the gusset plate connection are essentially independent of each other. However, the rotation of the gusset plate with respect to the beam‐to‐column joint may result in nonuniform force distribution of the anchor bolts, the primary resistance for tensile force. At the same time, such rotation may also subject the concrete corbels, the primary shear resistance, to unfavorable tensile force. In addition, it is also confirmed that the buckling restrained braces performed well in the proposed system. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

海底管线整体屈曲过程中塑性变形研究

海底管线是海洋油气工程中主要的输送手段。在工作状态下,受高温高压的影响,深海管线可能会发生水平向整体屈曲。随海洋油气作业水深的增大,施加于管线的温度和压强也逐渐增加,导致管线产生较大的屈曲位移和截面应力,使得截面产生塑性应变。本文采用数值模拟方法,对海底管线整体屈曲过程中塑性区的分布及其与整体屈曲影响因素的关联性、塑性变形对水平向变形的影响和塑性变形造成的截面椭圆度的变化规律进行分析,研究塑性变形对整体屈曲过程影响的规律。     

Patran与Abaqus技术在海底管道屈曲分析中的应用研究

针对海底管道屈曲稳定性问题,应用Patran二次开发技术,提出海底管道屈曲分析的参数化自动建模方法,其中核心问题为在Patran中直接建立楔形体单元组成止屈器几何形状以及管道表面skin单元的创建等,生成Abaqus可识别的数据文件。通过算例分析,将计算结果与全尺寸试验和DNV-OS-F101规范进行对比,验证了方法的可靠性。     

饱和软黏土中足尺静压桩挤土效应试验研究

饱和软黏土地基中静压桩挤土效应是岩土工程中常见的问题。监测土体侧向位移、孔隙压力、地面隆起随压桩过程变化的规律是很多研究者希望实施的计划。在饱和软黏土地基中进行了3根足尺静压桩的压入试验,重点监测了沉桩时的侧向位移随深度和距桩轴不同距离、地面隆起量随桩的贯入深度和距桩轴不同距离、孔隙压力随桩的贯入深度和时间的变化规律,并分析了超静孔隙水压力最大值沿径向和深度的变化特性。由测试结果可知,最大的侧向位移发生在距地表0.75L附近,地面隆起从桩贯入开始迅速发展,并在桩压入到6 m左右时达到最大值,测点处超静孔压增量的最大值发生在桩端到达该点所在水平面时,而超孔压的最大值沿径向有滞后性。