The Role of Soil Structure Interaction in the Fragility Assessment of HP/HT Unburied Subsea Pipelines

Subsea high pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) pipelines may be significantly affected by the effects of soil structure interaction (SSI) when subjected to earthquakes. Numerical simulations are herein applied to assess the role of soil deformability on the seismic vulnerability of an unburied pipeline. Overcoming most of the contributions existing in the literature, this paper proposes a comprehensive 3D model of the system (soil + pipeline) by performing OpenSees that allows the representation of non-linear mechanisms of the soil and may realistically assess the induced damage caused by the mutual interaction of buckling and seismic loads. Analytical fragility curves are herein derived to evaluate the role of soil structure interaction in the assessment of the vulnerability of a benchmark HP/HT unburied subsea pipeline. The probability of exceeding selected limit states was based on the definition of credited failure criteria.

Undrained capacity of circular shallow foundations on two-layer clays under combined VHMT loading

Wind turbines are typically designed based on fatigue and serviceability limit states, but still require an accurate assessment of bearing capacity. Overconsolidated clay deposits in Canada often have a thin layer of crust with a relatively high undrained shear strength developed from weathering, desiccation, and geo-chemical processes. However, existing design methods only assess the bearing capacity using effective area and inclination factor without consideration of surficial crusts. This paper studies the undrained VHMT (vertical, horizontal, moment and torsional) failure envelope of circular foundations founded on a surficial crust underlain by a uniform soil with a zero-tension interface condition using finite element analysis. An analytical expression for the VHMT failure envelope is derived.

Seismic reliability assessment of a non-seismic reinforced concrete framed structure designed according to ABNT NBR 6118:2014

abstract: Due to the paucity of studies regarding the seismic assessment of buildings in Brazil, this study aims to present and discuss a seismic reliability assessment of a reinforced concrete framed structure designed according to the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 6118:2014 without the consideration of the seismic design requirements of ABNT NBR 15421:2006. Herein, fragility functions are generated through probabilistic seismic demand analysis, and integrated with hazard curves for Northeastern Brazil to generate regional failure probability maps for three limit-states: Immediate Occupancy (IO), Life Safety (LS), and Collapse Prevention (CP). The results indicated that the building performance is adequate for IO; however, for LS and CP, an unacceptable performance is observed.

Exact solutions and aysmptotic state analysis of a modified Toda lattice system with a perturbation parameter

Under consideration is a modified Toda lattice system with a perturbation parameter, which may describe the particle motion in a lattice. With the aid of symbolic computation Maple, the discrete generalized [Formula: see text]-fold Darboux transformation (DT) of this system is constructed for the first time. Different types of exact solutions are derived by applying the resulting DT through choosing different [Formula: see text]. Specifically, standard soliton solutions, rational solutions and their mixed solutions are given via the [Formula: see text]-fold DT, [Formula: see text]-fold DT and [Formula: see text]-fold DT, respectively. Limit states of various exact solutions are analyzed via the asymptotic analysis technique. Compared with the known results, we find that the asymptotic states of mixed solutions of standard soliton and rational solutions are consistent with the asymptotic analysis results of solitons and rational solutions alone. Soliton interaction and propagation phenomena are shown graphically. Numerical simulations are used to explore relevant soliton dynamical behaviors. These results and properties might be helpful for understanding lattice dynamics.

Evaluation of Damage Limit State for RC Frame Based on FE Modeling

Many damage limit states have been defined to characterize the extent of damages occurred in RC frame. Some of the damage limit states are defined by models that relate the limit states with the control points. Both control points and the limit state are expressed in term of response quantities. This research aims to evaluate the validity of such models by identifying the defined damage limit state with the corresponding damage based on FE modeling. The FE modeling provides a direct link between the damage and the response quantities. This link can be exploited as a basis for the evaluation. Based on the evaluation, this study proposed modified damage limit states. The response quantities with its corresponding progressive damage from FE simulation will also be used to inspect whether damage that can be expected to occur in the model structure is within the range estimated by the code based approach (CBA) damage limit state. Finally, fragility curves are constructed to assess the probability of the expected damage in the model structure under Design Basis Earthquake (DBE) and Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCE) scenarios. Utilizing the proposed damage limit states, the most probable damage in the structure falls in the category of slight if an earthquake at a level of DBE or MCE strikes the structure. However, at MCE level the probability of moderate damage attains 35%, or an increase by 23% compared to the DBE level.

The Effects of Deteriorated Boundary Conditions on Horizontally Framed Miter Gates

The U.S. navigable infrastructure is a system of waterways dependent upon hydraulic steel structures (HSS) to facilitate the passage of ships and cargo. The system is linear in the sense that if one HSS is impassable, the entire river system is halted at that point. The majority of the HSS in this system were built in the first half of the 20th Century, and over seventy percent of them are past or near past their design life. Miter gates are critical HSS components within the system and many are showing signs of structural distress from continued operation past their design life. Common distress features include shear cracking within the pintle socket, partially missing Quoin blocks, fatigue fracturing, and bolt failure in the pintle region. This article focuses on gaining a fundamental understanding of the consequences of quoin block deterioration on a miter gate. The work was conducted by developing a computational model of a miter gate with different levels of quoin block deterioration. This model was validated using analytical solutions. The deterioration results demonstrated that the miter gate thrust diaphragm and quoin post experienced changes in their limit states due to deterioration. The results also demonstrated that the miter gate could overcome up to 10% of quoin block deterioration.

Analysis of Nonlinear Static-Dynamic Deformation of Reinforced Concrete Frames in out-of-Limit States

Постановка задачи. Приводятся расчетная модель, алгоритм расчетного анализа и результаты расчета нелинейного статико-динамического деформирования железобетонных рам в запредельных состояниях, вызванных внезапным удалением одной из несущих конструкций. Результаты. Для создания численной модели режима статико-динамического нагружения конструктивной системы использован программный комплекс LS-DYNA с применением детальной 3Д-модели, реализующей явный метод конечных элементов. При проведении расчетного анализа были приняты физико-механические характеристики деформирования материалов в трех вариантах: полученные по опытным данным Г. А. Гениева, по опытным данным Н. В. Федоровой, М. Д. Медянкина при статико-динамическом одноосном режиме испытаний ограниченного числа стандартных образцов призм и по СП 385.1325800.2018. Выводы. Численным анализом статико-динамического деформирования железобетонной рамно-стержневой системы каркаса многоэтажного здания установлено, что дифференцированный учет количественного значения модуля вязкости бетона и соответственно времени и уровня статико-динамического догружения конструкции позволяет более строго определять критерии особого предельного состояния элементов железобетонных конструктивных систем зданий и сооружений. Statement of the problem. The article presents a computational model, an algorithm for computational analysis and the results of calculating the nonlinear static-dynamic deformation of reinforced concrete frames in out-of-limit states caused by the sudden removal of one of the supporting structures. Results. To design a numerical model of the static-dynamic loading mode of a structural system, the LS-DYNA software package was used that makes use of a detailed 3D model implementing an explicit finite element method. During the computational analysis, the physical and mechanical characteristics of the deformation of materials were taken in three variants: those obtained based on the experimental data by G. A. Geniev, the experimental data by N. V. Fedorova and M. D. Medyankin under the static-dynamic uniaxial testing mode of a limited number of standard samples of prisms and according to the Russian standards SP (СП) 385.1325800.2018. Conclusions. Numerical analysis of the static-dynamic deformation of the reinforced concrete frame-rod system of a multi-storey building has established that the differentiated accounting of the quantitative value of the concrete viscosity modulus and, accordingly, the time and level of static-dynamic loading of the structure allows one to identify the criteria for the special limit state of the elements of reinforced concrete structural systems of buildings and structures in a more rigid manner.

Assessment of the Durability of Threaded Joints

The article deals with the determination of the resistance to cyclic loading of the threaded joints of pressure vessels and defective elements according to the failure mechanics criteria. Theoretical and experimental studies do not provide a sufficient basis for the existing calculation methods for the cyclic strength of the threaded joints of pressure vessels. The short crack kinetics in the threaded joints, a shakedown in one of the joint elements of pressure vessels, i.e., in the bolt or stud, has not been studied sufficiently. The calculation methods designed and improved within the study were based on theoretical and experimental investigations and were simplified for convenient application to engineering practice. The findings could be used to investigate the shakedown of studs of a different cross-section with an initiating and propagating crack. Value: the developed model for the assessment of durability of the threaded joints covers the patterns of resistance to cyclic failure (limit states: crack initiation, propagation, final failure) and shakedown (limit states: progressive shape change and plastic failure). Analysis-based solutions of plastic failure conditions and progressive shape change were accurate (the result was reached using a two-sided approach; the solutions were obtained in view of the parameters of the cyclic failure process in the stud (bolt) and based on experimental investigations of the threaded joints).