Acceleration response modification factors for nonstructural components attached to inelastic moment‐resisting frame structures

A statistical analysis of the peak acceleration demands for nonstructural components (NSCs) supported on a variety of stiff and flexible inelastic regular moment‐resisting frame structures with periods from 0.3 to 3.0 s exposed to 40 far‐field ground motions is presented. Peak component acceleration (PCA) demands were quantified based on the floor response spectrum (FRS) method without considering dynamic interaction effects. This study evaluated the main factors that influence the amplification or decrease of FRS values caused by inelasticity in the primary structure in three distinct spectral regions namely long‐period, fundamental‐period, and short‐period region. The amplification or decrease of peak elastic acceleration demands depends on the location of the NSC in the supporting structure, periods of the component and building, damping ratio of the component, and level of inelasticity of the supporting structure. While FRS values at the initial modal periods of the supporting structure are reduced due to inelastic action in the primary structure, the region between the modal periods experiences an increase in PCA demands. A parameter denoted as acceleration response modification factor (R_acc) was proposed to quantify this reduction/increase in PCA demands. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

钢筋混凝土桥墩非线性地震反应分析

采用Takeda滞回曲线模型,对三个不同周期的桥墩,分别输入多条具有相同反应谱的地震波,计算了桥墩的线性和非线性时程响应,通过比较线性和非线性最大地震位移响应发现,在这些地震波作用下,虽然线性位移响应最大值基本相同,但非线性位移响应最大值差别很大。     

Sliding mode fuzzy control: Theory and verification on a benchmark structure

A sliding mode fuzzy control (SMFC) algorithm is presented for vibration reduction of large structures. The rule base of the fuzzy inference engine is constructed based on the sliding mode control, which is one of the non‐linear control algorithms. In general, fuzziness of the controller makes the control system robust against the uncertainties in the system parameters and the input excitation, and the non‐linearity of the control rule makes the controller more effective than linear controllers. For verification of the present algorithm, a numerical study is carried out on the benchmark problem initiated by the ASCE Committee on Structural Control. To achieve a high level of realism, various aspects are considered such as actuator–structure interaction, sensor noise, actuator time delay, precision of the A/D and D/A converters, magnitude of control force, and order of control model. Performance of the SMFC is examined in comparison with those of other control algorithms such as H_{mixed 2/∞}, optimal polynomial control, neural networks control, and SMC, which were reported by other researchers. The results indicate that the present SMFC is efficient and attractive, since the vibration responses of the structure can be reduced very effectively and the design procedure is simple and convenient. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

村镇滑移隔震建筑瞬时摩擦耗能的参数敏感性分析

给出了村镇滑移隔震建筑瞬时摩擦耗能的概念,并以此概念为响应指标。通过极差大小的对比,分析了该响应指标对刚度比、第二阶段刚度系数、隔震层屈服位移、隔震层摩擦系数、系统质量比和上部结构自振周期六个参数变化的敏感程度,阐述了上述系统参数对瞬时摩擦耗能这一响应指标的影响规律。研究表明:场地条件和地震动幅值大小对瞬时摩擦耗能均有显著影响;在所考虑的参数范围内,上部结构自振周期总是对瞬时摩擦耗能有较为显著的影响,摩擦系数对瞬时摩擦耗能的影响跟场地条件有关,Ⅰ类场地条件中摩擦系数对瞬时摩擦耗能影响不显著,而Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ类场地条件中,摩擦系数对瞬时摩擦耗能的影响则非常显著;隔震层屈服位移、刚度比和第二阶段刚度系数总得来讲对瞬时摩擦耗能影响不显著,质量比对瞬时摩擦耗能影响居中。     

An answer to an important controversy and the need for caution when using simple models to predict inelastic earthquake response of buildings with torsion

This paper presents evidence that the extension of conclusions based on the widely used simplified, one story, eccentric systems of the shear‐beam type, to actual, nonsymmetric buildings and consequent assessments of the pertinent code provisions, can be quite erroneous, unless special care is taken to match the basic properties of the simplified models to those of the real buildings. The evidence comes from comparisons of results obtained using three variants of simplified models, with results from the inelastic dynamic response of three‐ and five‐story eccentric buildings computed with detailed MDOF systems, where the members are idealized with the well‐known plastic hinge model. In addition, a convincing answer is provided on a pertinent hanging controversy: For frame‐type buildings, designed in accordance with the dynamic provisions of modern codes (such as EC8 or IBC2000), which allow reduced shears at the stiff edge due to torsion, the frames at the flexible sides are the critical elements in terms of ductility demands. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A review of the climatological characteristics of landfalling Gulf hurricanes for wind, wave, and surge hazard estimation

The climatological characteristics of landfalling Gulf of Mexico hurricanes are presented, focusing on the basic parameters needed for accurately determining the structure and intensity of hurricanes for ocean response models. These include the maximum sustained wind, radius of maximum winds, the Holland-B parameter, the peripheral or far-field pressure, the surface roughness and coefficient of drag, and the central pressure for historical hurricanes in the Gulf.Despite evidence of a slight increase in the annual number of named storms over the past 50 years, presently there is no statistically significant trend in tropical storms, hurricanes, or major hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, the long-term variability of tropical cyclones in the Gulf reflects the observed variability in the Atlantic basin as a whole. Analyses of hurricane winds from multiple sources suggest the presence of a bias toward overestimating the strength of winds in the HURDAT dataset from 7% to 15%. Results presented comparing HURDAT with other sources also show an overestimation of intensity at landfall, with an estimated bias of ~10%.Finally, a review of recent studies has shown that hurricane frequencies and intensities appear to vary on a much more localized scale than previously believed. This exacerbates the sampling problem for accurate characterization of hurricane parameters for design and operational applications.     

Seismic Response Control of Offshore Platform Structures with Shape Memory Alloy Dampers

In this study, the seismic response control of offshore platform structures with Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) dampers is investigated. A new SMA damper and its restoring force medel are introduced for the calculation of seismic response reduction. Based on an actual platform structure and its mechanical medel, the parameters which may affect the rate of shock absorption are analyzed, such as the number, position and characteristics of the SMA dampers and the condition of the site where the platform is located. The results show that the SMA damper is an effective control device for offshore platforms and satisfactory control can be achieved by proper selection of the parameters.     

Study on topographic compensation model of the Okinawa Trough I. Calculation of theoretical isostatic response function

INTRODUCTIONTo study the compensation model of sea topography and isostatic states by using toPOgraphicand gravity data, is an imPOrtant mean for further researching deep structures as elastic structure,stress state of lithosphere, and so on. Since Airy and Pratt proPOsed local isostatic model in the1850' s, greater development on the theoretical study has been attained. Veining Meinesz (1941 )introduced regional compensation mechanism by considering it as floating crust in elastic fie…     

Field Study on the Behavior of Destructive and Non-Destructive Piles Under Compression

This paper presents a series of full-scale load tests on long bored piles instrumented with strain gauges along the shafts, including eight field tests of piles loaded to failure and one non-destructive pile load test. The load-displacement response, skin friction, end resistance, and the threshold of the pile-soil relative displacement for fully mobilizing skin resistance were discussed. A simple softening model was proposed to describe the degradation behavior of the skin friction along the pile-soil interface and the load-displacement relationship developed at the pile base. It is found that the shaft resistance degradation investigated in the non-destructive load test only occurs at a shallow depth, and the skin friction of deeper soil is not fully developed. However, unlike the results of the non-destructive load tests, the softening is accompanied by a reduction in skin friction and observed to be along the whole pile depth. The thresholds of pile-soil relative displacement for fully mobilizing skin resistances in different soils have been found to be in the range 0.6% to 2.4% of the pile diameter. Moreover, in practical applications, a bilinear model is assumed to be feasible in analyzing the load-settlement relationship developed at the end of non-destructive pile, whereas the load transmission curve of the soils below the pile base corresponds to a softening model in the field tests of piles loaded to failure.