scholarly journals Seismic Behavior of Moment-Resisting Frames with Conventional and Innovative Connections

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2091
Author(s):  
Sabatino Di Benedetto ◽  
Antonella Bianca Francavilla ◽  
Massimo Latour ◽  
Giovanni Ferrante Cavallaro ◽  
Vincenzo Piluso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Damage ◽  
Structural Engineering ◽  
Dynamic Testing ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cyclic Fatigue ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Input Energy ◽  
Ductility Demand ◽  
Seismic Input

In the last few decades, increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of beam-to-column connections able to accommodate the local ductility demand dissipating, contemporaneously, the seismic input energy. Among the typologies proposed, the so-called RBS (Reduced Beam Section) has gained wide acceptance in the construction market, leading to easy-to-construct and cost-effective solutions. As an alternative, new proposals based on the inclusion of friction devices in beam-to-column joints have recently been made. Such a practice has the merit, in case of destructive events, of exhibiting wide and stable hysteretic cycles concentrating damage in elements that undergo only minor yielding. Both RBS and friction joints have been widely studied, carrying out experimental tests on sub-assemblies investigating their cyclic rotational response. Nevertheless, the available experimental results on full-scale structures equipped with these connections are still quite limited. This is the reason why two experimental campaigns aimed at performing pseudo-dynamic testing of a full-scale two-storey steel building equipped with RBS and friction connections have been planned at the STRENGTH (STRuctural ENGineering Test Hall) Laboratory of the University of Salerno. The first experimental campaign with the structure equipped with RBSs has already been performed; the connections showed higher resistance than expected, and exhibited brittle fracture due to cyclic fatigue. The second campaign has not yet been carried out, but in this paper the blind analysis of the supposed behavior is reported. It is expected that the friction joints allow to dissipate the seismic input energy without any structural damage in the members, but only through the friction pads of the devices, which can be easily replaced at the end of a severe seismic event.

scholarly journals Experimental Strain Measurement Approach Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Monitoring of Railway Switches and Crossings

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3639
Author(s):  
Abdelfateh Kerrouche ◽  
Taoufik Najeh ◽  
Pablo Jaen-Sola
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Bragg Grating ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Measuring Method ◽  
Bragg Grating ◽  
Railway Network ◽  
System Failures ◽  
Railway Infrastructure ◽  
Train Speed ◽  
And Control

Railway infrastructure plays a major role in providing the most cost-effective way to transport freight and passengers. The increase in train speed, traffic growth, heavier axles, and harsh environments make railway assets susceptible to degradation and failure. Railway switches and crossings (S&C) are a key element in any railway network, providing flexible traffic for trains to switch between tracks (through or turnout direction). S&C systems have complex structures, with many components, such as crossing parts, frogs, switchblades, and point machines. Many technologies (e.g., electrical, mechanical, and electronic devices) are used to operate and control S&C. These S&C systems are subject to failures and malfunctions that can cause delays, traffic disruptions, and even deadly accidents. Suitable field-based monitoring techniques to deal with fault detection in railway S&C systems are sought after. Wear is the major cause of S&C system failures. A novel measuring method to monitor excessive wear on the frog, as part of S&C, based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) optical fiber sensors, is discussed in this paper. The developed solution is based on FBG sensors measuring the strain profile of the frog of S&C to determine wear size. A numerical model of a 3D prototype was developed through the finite element method, to define loading testing conditions, as well as for comparison with experimental tests. The sensors were examined under periodic and controlled loading tests. Results of this pilot study, based on simulation and laboratory tests, have shown a correlation for the static load. It was shown that the results of the experimental and the numerical studies were in good agreement.

scholarly journals Multivariate empirical mode decomposition–based structural damage localization using limited sensors

2021 ◽  
pp. 107754632110069
Author(s):  
Sandeep Sony ◽  
Ayan Sadhu
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Mode Decomposition ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Damage Localization ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition ◽  
Percentage Difference ◽  
Mode Decomposition

In this article, multivariate empirical mode decomposition is proposed for damage localization in structures using limited measurements. Multivariate empirical mode decomposition is first used to decompose the acceleration responses into their mono-component modal responses. The major contributing modal responses are then used to evaluate the modal energy for the respective modes. A damage localization feature is proposed by calculating the percentage difference in the modal energies of damaged and undamaged structures, followed by the determination of the threshold value of the feature. The feature of the specific sensor location exceeding the threshold value is finally used to identify the location of structural damage. The proposed method is validated using a suite of numerical and full-scale studies. The validation is further explored using various limited measurement cases for evaluating the feasibility of using a fewer number of sensors to enable cost-effective structural health monitoring. The results show the capability of the proposed method in identifying as minimal as 2% change in global modal parameters of structures, outperforming the existing time–frequency methods to delineate such minor global damage.

Full‐scale shake‐table tests on two unreinforced masonry cavity‐wall buildings: effect of an innovative timber retrofit

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Miglietta ◽  
Nicolò Damiani ◽  
Gabriele Guerrini ◽  
Francesco Graziotti
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Vulnerability ◽  
Concrete Slab ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Unreinforced Masonry ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Cavity Wall ◽  
Masonry Walls ◽  
Shake Table ◽  
Earthquake Excitation ◽  
Reinforced Concrete Slab

AbstractTwo full-scale building specimens were tested on the shake-table at the EUCENTRE Foundation laboratories in Pavia (Italy), to assess the effectiveness of an innovative timber retrofit solution, within a comprehensive research campaign on the seismic vulnerability of existing Dutch unreinforced masonry structures. The buildings represented the end-unit of a two-storey terraced house typical of the North-Eastern Netherlands, a region affected by induced seismicity over the last few decades. This building typology is particularly vulnerable to earthquake excitation due to lack of seismic details and irregular distribution of large openings in masonry walls. Both specimens were built with the same geometry. Their structural system consisted of cavity walls, with interior load-bearing calcium-silicate leaf and exterior clay veneer, and included a first-floor reinforced concrete slab, a second-floor timber framing, and a roof timber structure supported by masonry gables. A timber retrofit was designed and installed inside the second specimen, providing an innovative sustainable, light-weight, reversible, and cost-effective technique, which could be extensively applied to actual buildings. Timber frames were connected to the interior surface of the masonry walls and completed by oriented strands boards nailed to them. The second-floor timber diaphragm was stiffened and strengthened by a layer of oriented-strand boards, nailed to the existing joists and to additional blocking elements through the existing planks. These interventions resulted also in improved wall-to-diaphragm connections with the inner leaf at both floors, while steel ties were added between the cavity-wall leaves. The application of the retrofit system favored a global response of the building with increased lateral capacities of the masonry walls. This paper describes in detail the bare and retrofitted specimens, compares the experimental results obtained through similar incremental dynamic shake-table test protocols up to near-collapse conditions, and identifies damage states and damage limits associated with displacements and deformations.

scholarly journals Exceedance of design actions in epicentral areas: insights from the ShakeMap envelopes for the 2016–2017 central Italy sequence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iunio Iervolino ◽  
Pasquale Cito ◽  
Chiara Felicetta ◽  
Giovanni Lanzano ◽  
Antonio Vitale
Keyword(s):  
Earthquake Engineering ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Structural Engineering ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Civil Defense ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Seismic Sequence ◽  
Ground Shaking ◽  
Motion Effect ◽  
Observed Damage

AbstractShakeMap is the tool to evaluate the ground motion effect of earthquakes in vast areas. It is useful to delimit the zones where the shaking is expected to have been most significant, for civil defense rapid response. From the earthquake engineering point of view, it can be used to infer the seismic actions on the built environment to calibrate vulnerability models or to define the reconstruction policies based on observed damage vs shaking. In the case of long-lasting seismic sequences, it can be useful to develop ShakeMap envelopes, that is, maps of the largest ground intensity among those from the ShakeMap of (selected) events of a seismic sequence, to delimit areas where the effects of the whole sequence have been of structural engineering relevance. This study introduces ShakeMap envelopes and discusses them for the central Italy 2016–2017 seismic sequence. The specific goals of the study are: (i) to compare the envelopes and the ShakeMap of the main events of the sequence to make the case for sequence-based maps; (ii) to quantify the exceedance of design seismic actions based on the envelopes; (iii) to make envelopes available for further studies and the reconstruction planning; (iv) to gather insights on the (repeated) exceedance of design seismic actions at some sites. Results, which include considerations of uncertainty in ShakeMap, show that the sequence caused exceedance of design hazard in thousands of square kilometers. The most relevant effects of the sequence are, as expected, due to the mainshock, yet seismic actions larger than those enforced by the code for structural design are found also around the epicenters of the smaller magnitude events. At some locations, the succession of ground-shaking that has excited structures, provides insights on structural damage accumulation that has likely taken place; something that is not accounted for explicitly in modern seismic design. The envelopes developed are available as supplemental material.

Full-scale dynamic testing and modal identification of a coupled floor slab system

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 167-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.K. Au ◽  
Y.C. Ni ◽  
F.L. Zhang ◽  
H.F. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Testing ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Modal Identification ◽  
Floor Slab

Numerical Investigation of the Performance of a Roadside Safety Barrier Located Behind the Break Point of a Slope

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Mongiardini ◽  
J. D. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Investigation ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Break Point ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Crash Test ◽  
Construction Costs ◽  
Roadside Safety ◽  
The Road ◽  
Safety Barrier ◽  
Mechanically Stabilized

Numerical simulations allow engineers in roadside safety to investigate the safety of retrofit designs minimizing or, in some cases, avoiding the high costs related to the execution of full-scale experimental tests. This paper describes the numerical investigation made to assess the performance of a roadside safety barrier when relocated behind the break point of a 3H:1V slope, found on a Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) system. A safe barrier relocation in the slope would allow reducing the installation width of the MSE system by an equivalent amount, thus decreasing the overall construction costs. The dynamics of a pick-up truck impacting the relocated barrier and the system deformation were simulated in detail using the explicit non-linear dynamic finite element code LS-DYNA. The model was initially calibrated and subsequently validated against results from a previous full-scale crash test with the barrier placed at the slope break point. After a sensitivity analysis regarding the role of suspension failure and tire deflation on the vehicle stability, the system performance was assessed when it was relocated into the slope. Two different configurations were considered, differing for the height of the rail respect to the road surface and the corresponding post embedment into the soil. Conclusions and recommendations were drawn based on the results obtained from the numerical analysis.

High temperature abatement of acid gases from waste incineration. Part I: Experimental tests in full scale plants

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 98-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Biganzoli ◽  
Gaia Racanella ◽  
Lucia Rigamonti ◽  
Roberto Marras ◽  
Mario Grosso
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Waste Incineration ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Acid Gases

Experimental and numerical investigation on ultimate strength of four-legged latticed columns

2021 ◽  
pp. 136943322110015
Author(s):  
Yinqi Li ◽  
Feng Liu ◽  
Wenming Cheng ◽  
Huasen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Ultimate Strength ◽  
Structural Engineering ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Load Carrying Capacity ◽  
Load Carrying ◽  
Compressive Loads ◽  
Initial Geometric Imperfections ◽  
Combined Data ◽  
Loading Eccentricity

Latticed built-up columns are applied more extensively than solid columns in structural engineering because of their excellent load-carrying capacity and light weight. Studies on the bearing capacity of latticed columns, particularly multiple-legged latticed columns, need to be conducted in detail. In this investigation, seven four-legged latticed column specimens of different bar sections, bar distributions and loading eccentricities under compressive loads were subjected to experimental tests. The initial geometric imperfections of the legs and bars were measured and introduced into the FE numerical method. The experimental results were then compared with those of Geometrical and Material Non-Linear Analysis with Imperfection in ABAQUS software. The combined data indicate that the bar section, bar distribution and loading eccentricity significantly influenced the ultimate strength of four-legged latticed columns, producing maximum variations of 105.67%, 65.7% and 48.48%, respectively. This investigation demonstrates the influence of lacing bars and improves the results obtained from FE numerical analytical techniques.

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