Strain field measurements of rubber by image analysis and design criteria for laminated rubber bearings (LRB)

Although seismic isolation rubber bearings in bridges and buildings have proven to be a very effective passive method for reducing earthquake‐induced forces, a detailed mechanical modeling of the rubber that is used in bearings under large strains has not been established. Therefore, a 3D model of failure behavior and the design criteria for the safety evaluation of seismic isolation bearings have not yet been developed. This paper presents: (1) correlation‐based template‐matching algorithms to measure large strain fields of continua; (2) a failure criterion for rubber; and (3) the design criteria for the safety evaluation of laminated algorithms, data‐validation algorithms were developed and implemented to eliminate possible unrealistic displacement vectors present in the measured displacement field. The algorithms were successfully employed in the strain field measurement of LRB and rubber materials that are subjected to failure. The measured local strains for rubber material at failure were used to develop a failure criterion for rubber. The validity of the proposed criterion was evaluated by applying it to the LRB; the criterion was introduced into a 3D finite element model of LRB, compared with the experimental results of bearings failure, and verified. Finally, design criteria are proposed for LRB for the safety evaluation. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Paleomagnetic study of Cretaceous rocks of Peru, South America: Evidence for rotation of the Andes

Paleomagnetic data for the Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks in the Andean region of Peru are given. Reliable paleomagnetic field directions were obtained for three Cretaceous (Albian to Cenomanian) formations from calcareous sediments in northern Peru. Stable remanent magnetization directions were also derived from twelve Cretaceous lava flows and dikes in coastal Peru. Paleomagnetic data of the same age from the stable areas of South America such as Brazil demonstrate that the paleomagnetic poles are nearly coincident with the present pole, but Peruvian paleomagnetic directions studied here showed several tens of degrees of counterclockwise declination shifts. This suggests counterclockwise tectonic rotation of an extensive block which includes the whole of Andean Peru.     

An experimental study on active tendon control of cable-stayed bridges

Active tendon control of cable-stayed bridges subject to a vertical sinusoidal force is experimentally and analytically studied. Emphasis is placed on the effects of linear and non-linear internal resonances on the control (due to the presence of the cable vibration). A simple cable-supported cantilever beam is used as a model. It is found that active tendon control is very effective in vertical girder motion with small cable vibration (girder dominated motion), whereas it is not effective in vertical girder motion with large cable vibration (cable dominated motion). Analytical prediction is very satisfactory except for the latter case.     

Instability due to time delay and its compensation in active control of structures

Time delay problem and its compensation in active control of civil engineering structures were studied. It has been shown by stability analysis of a SDOF system with time delayed feedback that the maximum allowable time delay depends not only on the natural period of the structure but also on feedback gains. We have demonstrated by numerical simulation that the performance of the control system degrades significantly when the time delay is close to this value and it even becomes unstable when time delay is greater than or equal to this value. The maximum allowable time delay decreases with decrease in natural period of the structure as well as with increase in active damping. The paper presents a technique for compensation by modelling time delay as transportation lag. This method ensures the stability of the controlled system as well as the desired response reduction.     

Synchronization of human walking observed during lateral vibration of a congested pedestrian bridge

Observation of human-induced large-amplitude lateral vibration of an actual pedestrian bridge in an extremely congested condition is reported. Walking motions of pedestrians recorded by a video camera are analysed. It is found that walking among 20 per cent or more of the pedestrians on the bridge was synchronized to the girder lateral vibration. With this synchronization, the total lateral force from the pedestrians to the girder is evidently increased and it acts as a resonant force on the girder lateral vibration.     

Reduction of pounding effects in elevated bridges during earthquakes

Pounding of adjacent superstructure segments in elevated bridges during severe earthquakes can result in significant structural damage. The aim of this paper is to analyse several methods of reduction of the negative effects of collisions induced by the seismic wave propagation effect. The analysis is conducted on a detailed three‐dimensional structural component model of an isolated highway bridge. The results show that the influence of pounding on the structural response is significant in the longitudinal direction of the bridge and significantly depends on the gap size between superstructure segments. The smallest response can be obtained for very small gap sizes and for gap sizes large enough to prevent pounding. Further analysis indicates that the bridge behaviour can be effectively improved by placing hard rubber bumpers between segments and by stiff linking the segments one with another. The experimental results show that, for the practical application of such connectors, shock transmission units can be used. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of nonlinear computational models of dispersed structures under strong earthquake excitation

Structural health monitoring of large multispan flexible bridges is particularly important because of their important role in civil infrastructure and transportation systems. In this study, the response of the Yokohama Bay Bridge (YBB), a three‐span cable‐stayed bridge, to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake is used to perform multi‐input multi‐output system identification studies. The extensive multicomponent measurements are also used to develop and validate data‐driven nonlinear mathematical models that can predict the response of YBB to various earthquake records and can accurately estimate its damping characteristics when the system is driven into the nonlinear response range. A combination of least‐square (parametric) and neural network (nonparametric) approaches is used to develop the mathematical models, along with time‐marching techniques for dynamic response calculations. It is shown that the nonlinear mathematical models perform better than the equivalent linear models, both for response prediction and damping estimation. The importance of having an accurate approach for quantifying the damping due to the variety of nonlinear features in the YBB response is shown. This study demonstrates the significance of constructing robust mathematical models that can capture the correct physics of the underlying system and that can be used for computational purposes to augment experimental studies. Given the lack of suitable data sets for full‐scale structures under extreme loads, the availability of the long‐duration measurements from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and its many strong aftershocks provides an excellent opportunity to perform the analyses presented in this study. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stress-induced crack path in Aji granite under tensile stress

The double-torsion test using Aji granite was carried out to investigate the interaction between stress-induced crack path and mineral grains. Crack velocities were controlled at range 10^–7 m/s to 10^–1 m/s. After the stressed specimens were dyed, we checked the crack path by thin section analysis, using an optical microscope. The stress-induced crack path was divided into two types, transgranular and intergranular cracks, and each path was subdivided with respect to mineral grains. In spite of the extensive range of crack velocities, the ratios between the transgranular and intergranular crack lengths did not change. The crack paths were all jagged, and often showed detour around the grain boundary when faced with obstacles like hard grains or preexisting cracks. That is to say, quartz grain played an important role as an obstacle. Feldspar grain could change the crack path because of its cleavage plane. Biolite grain had a serious effect on the path even if its constitution ratio is very small. Fractal dimensions of the crack paths were calculated by three methods, as indicators of surface roughness. The fractal dimensions were shown in a slight trend with the change of crack velocity. This trend can be explained from the point of limited cracking rate in stress corrosion.     

Design formulas for tuned mass dampers based on A perturbation technique

Modal properties of tuned mass damper (TMD)-structure two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) linear systems are studied employing a perturbation technique. Using the perturbation solutions, formulas relevant to designing the TMD for various types of loading are obtained; they are expressed as a function of mass ratio, tuning ratio, damping ratio of the TMD and damping ratio of the structure. Equivalent additional dampings of the structure due to the TMD are derived for random and harmonic forces. Matched expressions of equivalent damping, which are valid for detuned, i.e. non-optimal, conditions are also presented. The stability boundary of TMD-structure systems subject to linear self-excited forces is derived in a closed form. Using the perturbation solutions, procedures for optimizing the TMD parameters for various types of loading are explained and the optimal values are derived. The formulas obtained in this study can be used with good accuracy for mass ratios less than 0.02.