Optimal yield level of bilinear seismic isolation devices

The yield level of an insulator is one of the important parameters which are related to responses and absorbing energy under seismic input energy in isolated structures. The purpose of this paper is to determine the optimal ratios of yield force of the isolator (Q_y) to the total weight of the structures (W). To obtain the optimal ratio, 1044 two-degree-of-freedom isolated bridge models, which have bilinear isolators, were selected. These 2-DOF isolated bridge models with superstructure isolation can consider pier flexibility and various parameters of the isolator. Two formulas for determining the optimal yield ratio are proposed and compared with the previous researches. RAE (the ratio of absorbed energy by the isolator to the total input energy) is related directly to structural responses, and Optimal Yield Ratio (OYR), defined as a yield ratio at maximum RAE, can be obtained from the relationship between RAE and Q_y/W. Here, we found that RAE is a reliable factor to evaluate OYR, and it is proportional to earthquake amplitudes under the same kinds of earthquake loadings. Using the proposed formulas, OYR is determined and the optimal yield force of the isolator can be obtained easily and reliably at a seismic isolation design stage. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Real-time on-line test for MDOF systems

This paper presents a test system for conducting on-line tests in a real time and a series of real-time on-line tests conducted to verify the effectiveness of the system. The proposed system is characterized by (1) use of a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) now readily available, (2) adoption of the C language to ensure easy programming, and (3) separation of response analysis and displacement signal generation to apply the system for tests with complex structures. To create displacement signals successively without being interrupted by the computation of equations of motion, extrapolation and interpolation procedures using present and past target displacements are developed. Base-isolated building models were chosen for the real-time on-line test. The effectiveness of the extrapolation and interpolation procedures was demonstrated through a series of real-time on-line tests applied to the models treated as SDOF structures. A five-storey base-isolated building model (treated as a six DOF structure) was tested for various ground motions, and it was verified that the system is able to simulate earthquake responses involving large displacements and large velocities. The number of DOFs that can be handled in the proposed system was investigated, and it was found that the system is capable of performing the test with reasonable accuracy for up to 10 DOF structures with a range of response frequency not greater than 3·0 Hz, or 12 DOF structures with a range of response frequency not greater than 2·0 Hz. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of buildings to near-field pulse-like ground motions

Ground motions affected by directivity focusing at near-field stations contain distinct pulses in acceleration, velocity, and displacement histories. For the same Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) and duration of shaking, ground motions with directivity pulses can generate much higher base shears, inter-storey drifts, and roof displacements in high-rise buildings as compared to the 1940 El Centro ground motion which does not contain these pulses. Also, the ductility demand can be much higher and the effectiveness of supplemental damping lower for pulse-like ground motions. This paper presents a simple interpretation of the response characteristics of three recorded and one synthetic near-field ground motions. It is seen that for pulse-like ground motions—similar to any other ground motion—the Peak values of Ground Acceleration, Velocity, and Displacement (PGA, PGV and PGD) are the key response parameters. Near-field ground motions with directivity effects tend to have high PGV/PGA ratio, which dramatically influences their response characteristics. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

泡沫混凝土隧道减震层减震机制

基于泡沫混凝土隧道减震材料,通过室内试验研究了不同密度、围压、应变率条件下泡沫混凝土材料的力学特性。试验结果表明：随着密度的增加,试样的单轴破坏形态由骨架坍塌破坏逐渐转化为劈裂剪切破坏,峰后应变软化与材料脆性增强;随着围压的增加,材料强度增加且延性增强,峰后由应变软化逐渐转换为应变硬化。在中等应变率范围内（10?5/s ～10?3/s）,随着应变率的增加,泡沫混凝土材料的强度近似呈指数增长,同时峰后残余应力增长明显,且塑性应变越大,应变率对峰后应力的影响越大。基于上述试验结果初步建立了泡沫混凝土材料的本构模型。依托嘎隆拉隧道,采用数值方法研究了减震层剪切模量、厚度及减震层-衬砌界面特性3个因素对减震效果的影响规律,相关研究成果可为高烈度区隧道工程减震层的设计提供参考。     

Finite‐element analysis of laminated rubber bearing of building frame under seismic excitation

Finite element analysis is carried out for a building frame supported by laminated rubber bearings to simultaneously investigate global displacement and local stress responses under seismic excitation. The frame members and the rubber bearings are discretized into hexahedral solid elements with more than 3 million degrees of freedom. The material property of rubber is represented by the Ogden model, and the frame is assumed to remain in elastic range. It is shown that the time histories of non‐uniform stress distribution and rocking behavior of the rubber bearings under a frame subjected to seismic excitation can be successfully evaluated, and detailed responses of base and frame can be evaluated through large‐scale finite element analysis. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of base‐isolated reinforced concrete buildings under bidirectional seismic excitation considering pounding with retaining walls including friction effects

Seismic pounding of base‐isolated buildings has been mostly studied in the past assuming unidirectional excitation. Therefore, in this study, the effects of seismic pounding on the response of base‐isolated reinforced concrete buildings under bidirectional excitation are investigated. For this purpose, a three‐dimensional finite element model of a code‐compliant four‐story building is considered, where a newly developed contact element that accounts for friction and is capable of simulating pounding with retaining walls at the base, is used. Nonlinear behavior of the superstructure as well as the isolation system is considered. The performance of the building is evaluated separately for far‐fault non‐pulse‐like ground motions and near‐fault pulse‐like ground motions, which are weighted scaled to represent two levels of shaking viz. the design earthquake (DE) level and the risk‐targeted maximum considered earthquake (MCE_R) level. Nonlinear time‐history analyses are carried out considering lower bound as well as upper bound properties of isolators. The influence of separation distance between the building and the retaining walls at the base is also investigated. It is found that if pounding is avoided, the performance of the building is satisfactory in terms of limiting structural and nonstructural damage, under DE‐level motions and MCE_R‐level far‐fault motions, whereas unacceptably large demands are imposed by MCE_R‐level near‐fault motions. In the case of seismic pounding, MCE_R‐level near‐fault motions are found to be detrimental, where the effect of pounding is mostly concentrated at the first story. In addition, it is determined that considering unidirectional excitation instead of bidirectional excitation for MCE_R‐level near‐fault motions provides highly unconservative estimates of superstructure demands. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An advanced numerical model of elastomeric seismic isolation bearings

The nuclear accident at Fukushima Daiichi in March 2011 has led the nuclear community to consider seismic isolation for new large light water and small modular reactors to withstand the effects of beyond design basis loadings, including extreme earthquakes. The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission is sponsoring a research project that will quantify the response of low damping rubber (LDR) and lead rubber (LR) bearings under loadings associated with extreme earthquakes. Under design basis loadings, the response of an elastomeric bearing is not expected to deviate from well‐established numerical models, and bearings are not expected to experience net tension. However, under extended or beyond design basis shaking, elastomer shear strains may exceed 300% in regions of high seismic hazard, bearings may experience net tension, the compression and tension stiffness will be affected by isolator lateral displacement, and the properties of the lead core in LR bearings will degrade in the short‐term because of substantial energy dissipation. New mathematical models of LDR and LR bearings are presented for the analysis of base isolated structures under design and beyond design basis shaking, explicitly considering both the effects of lateral displacement and cyclic vertical and horizontal loading. These mathematical models extend the available formulations in shear and compression. Phenomenological models are presented to describe the behavior of elastomeric isolation bearings in tension, including the cavitation and post‐cavitation behavior. The elastic mechanical properties make use of the two‐spring model. Strength degradation of LR bearing under cyclic shear loading due to heating of lead core is incorporated. The bilinear area reduction method is used to include variation of critical buckling load capacity with lateral displacement. The numerical models are coded in OpenSees, and the results of numerical analysis are compared with test data. The effect of different parameters on the response is investigated through a series of analyses. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shake table tests of a new steel–asphalt composite layer system for the seismic base isolation of housing units

Base isolation is an effective way to reduce earthquake energy transfer from ground to structure, but existing seismic isolation systems are not very suitable for rural buildings for some reasons. A new steel–asphalt composite layer for the seismic base isolation of housing units is present in this paper. Its dynamic characteristics and isolation effect are studied by shake table tests of two full-scale specimens. Different earthquake waves with different peak ground accelerations (PGA, from 0.1 g to 0.4 g) are input. Test results show that the isolation layer could efficiently reduce the input acceleration. Moreover, as the PGA increase, the isolation layer shows good function of the displacement limit.     

核电站结构隔震研究进展

基底隔震已经大量应用于一般民用建筑中,被认为是在剧烈地震中保护建筑物最具发展前景的技术之一,但对于核电站这类特殊的建筑物应用较少,且研究比较薄弱。介绍了核电站水平及三维隔震装置的研发及性能测试,概述了核电站隔震系统抗震性能的研究进展和核电站隔震设计规范,指出了在核电站中应用隔震技术还有待解决的问题,对今后核电站隔震的研究提出了一些建议。     

梯队式变刚度滞变-摩擦隔震体系的抗震设计方法

首先,在简述已有隔震体系抗震设计方法的基础上,分析了滞变一摩擦隔震体系各种因素对基底剪力的影响;然后,通过大量仿真分析,采用多项式回归的方法提出了与规范衔接的水平地震作用的计算公式;最后,提出了梯队式变刚度滞变一摩擦隔震体系的抗震设计方法,并通过工程实例验证了方法的有效性。