Evaluation of seismic forces under modified structural schemes in the process of vibrations

The aim of the work - development of one of the possible methods for seismic analysis that considers the inelastic behavior of structures under seismic loads. This requires the development of seismic analysis methods that take into account the change (decrease) in the bearing capacity or the destruction of individual elements until the final loss of the bearing capacity of the structure. Methods. The dependences and algorithms include determining seismic forces using the method of normal forms, which until now is the main one in solving problems of the seismic resistance theory in seismic regions, calculation formulas to calculate seismic forces at each time step are presented in the form of expansions into natural vibration modes, which regard the changes in the design scheme. The calculation is repeated at each time step as a static calculation for the action of seismic forces determined at the previous stage, before the building collapses. Results. The developed dependencies and algorithms allow to consider changes in the design scheme during vibrations at each time step, changes in the dynamic properties of the building and, as a result, the values of seismic forces. The value of the coefficient of inelastic work of structures K 1, which are given in regulatory documents, do not give fully correspond to the actual behavior of the structure under seismic influences. The proposed calculation method allows to determine the estimated values of seismic forces and their distribution taking into account the influence of damage of elements and the appearance of inelastic zones in the design process of fluctuations at each time step and to assess the dynamic behavior of the building.

The Refined Model of the Elastic-Plastic Dynamic Behavior of Reinforced Curved Panels Sensitive to Strain Rate

The initial-boundary value problem of dynamic elastic-viscoplastic deformation of flexible curved panels (shallow shells) with plane -cross and spatial reinforcement structures is formulated. The inelastic behavior of the materials of the composition components is described by the constitutive equations of the theory of plastic flow with isotropic hardening, and their sensitivity to strain rate is taken into account. The geometric nonlinearity of the problem is taken into account in the Karman approximation. The used kinematic and dynamic two-dimensional relations and the corresponding boundary conditions make it possible to describe, with varying degrees of accuracy, the mechanical bending behavior of shallow composite shells. This takes into account the possible weak resistance of such reinforced panels to transverse shears. In the first approximation, the used two-dimensional equations, the initial and boundary conditions degenerate into the relations of the traditional non-classical Ambartsumyan theory. For the numerical integration of the formulated nonlinear dynamic problem, an algorithm of time steps is applied, based on the use of an explicit scheme of the cross type. The elastoplastic and elastic-viscoplastic behavior of the reinforced cylindrical shallow shells under transverse dynamic loads generated by an air blast wave is investigated. Metal-composite and fiberglass thin-walled constructions are considered. It is shown that the refusal to take into account the dependence of the plastic properties of the components of the composition on the rate of their deformation does not allow adequately describing the inelastic dynamic behavior of both metal-composite and fiberglass shallow shells. It is shown that in the calculations of even relatively thin reinforced cylindrical panels (with a relative thickness of 1/50), the use of the Ambartsumyan theory leads to completely unacceptable results in comparison with the refined bending theory. It has been demonstrated that even for relatively thin curved fiberglass panels, replacing the traditional flat -cross reinforcement structure with a spatial structure with obliquely laid fiber families can significantly reduce not only the intensity of deformations in the binder, but also the maximum deflection values in modulus. For metal-composite shallow shells with a weakly expressed anisotropy of the composition, the positive effect of the indicated replacement of reinforcement structures is practically not manifested.

Effect of bidirectional excitation on seismic performance of regular RC frame buildings designed for modern codes

The existing practice to estimate seismic performance of a regular building is to carry out nonlinear time history analysis using two-dimensional models subjected to unidirectional excitations, even though the multiple components of ground motion can affect the seismic response, significantly. During seismic shaking, columns are invariably subjected to bending in two orthogonal vertical planes, which leads to a complex interaction of axial force with the biaxial bending moments. This article compares the seismic performance of regular and symmetric RC moment frame buildings for unidirectional and bidirectional ground motions. The buildings are designed and detailed according to the Indian codes, which are at par with the other modern seismic codes. A fiber-hinge model, duly calibrated with the biaxial experimental results, is utilized to simulate the inelastic behavior of columns under bidirectional bending. A comparison of the estimated seismic collapse capacity is presented, illustrating the importance of considering the bidirectional effects. The results from fragility analysis indicate that the failure probabilities of buildings under the bidirectional excitation are significantly higher as compared to those obtained under the unidirectional excitation.

Seismic Vulnerability and Risk of Losses Case Study Center of the City of Azogues

Ecuador is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a country with high risk and seismic sensitivity, evidenced by the 6.8-degree earthquake in Ambato in 1949, which left approximately 6000 dead, the 7.8-degree earthquake in Manabí and Esmeraldas in the year 2016 with 663 victims and 29672 buildings without the possibility of use. Currently there is a problem about seismic performance in reinforced concrete buildings, since many were built with old regulations; so, it is necessary to assess their vulnerability. Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, large cities in Ecuador, have formal studies of seismic vulnerability, mostly carried out by university students and teachers. In contrast, most small cities do not have these studies; or, they need to be updated to validate their results. This is the case of the city of Azogues. The objective of this research is to evaluate the vulnerability of structures using the Hazus methodology, adapted to Ecuador, in the downtown area of the city of Azogues, in structures located around the Central Park, to establish the seismic performance in reinforced concrete buildings. The Hazus methodology, which determines the vulnerability of buildings from fragility curves, which are entered with inputs as the capacity, performance level and drift curves calculated through Ecuadorian models. The capacity curves, depending on various aspects such as: the material, number of floors, spans between columns, among others; they vary from building to building. In this sense, capacity curves were defined for sets of buildings with similar characteristics, coinciding with the Hazus methodology. The performance levels and the displacements were calculated with the ETABS computer package. For fragility curves, the model that most real simulates the response of a structure is the non-linear analysis, because it considers the decrease in stiffness in columns and beams, as well as the deterioration of the properties of the materials. In this sense, there are fragility curves of Ecuadorian buildings for four levels. The earthquake readings enable the construction of a demand spectrum, which, when contrasted with the capacity spectrum, leads to the performance point. Its position sometimes varies per the elastic demand spectrum, which is diminished by its inelastic behavior. As the demand spectrum decreases, the damage will increase. Once the coordinates of the performance point are known, the fragility curves are used; and, the possible damages are defined, quantifying them in percentage.

Mitigation strategies of underground tunnels against blast loading

An evaluation of mitigation strategies of underground tunnels against explosions is important to the society. Therefore, a small scale tunnel was modeled against blast loading using finite element software ABAQUS. The inelastic behavior of concrete and steel bar has been incorporated through concrete damage plasticity model and Johnson-cook models respectively, available in ABAQUS. The Drucker-Prager model as well as acoustic infinite medium have been used to model the damage behavior of soil and tunnel respectively. The simulated results thus obtained from the present study were compared with the experimental results available in the literature and found in good agreement. Further, the simulations were carried to predict the damage intensity in tunnel in terms of acceleration, impulse velocity, displacement, and Mises stresses. There are many parameters which were taken into consideration to assess the mitigation strategies for the underground tunnels. The critical parameters include the influence of tunnel shapes, lining materials, lining thickness, burial depth of the tunnels, inclusion of a barrier in between the blast source-the tunnel and layered configuration of tunnel lining, and were considered to evaluate the mitigation strategy. It was concluded that the square shape of tunnel was most vulnerable as compared to circular and U-shaped tunnels. It was also concluded that plain concrete monolithic lining as well as layered configuration consisting of Dytherm foam layer between Steel Fiber reinforced Concrete layers, was found to be more vulnerable among the chosen lining materials. Also, the thickness of lining and burial depth of the tunnel found to be a significant role against blast loading.

The Dahl’s Model for the Inelastic Bending Behavior of Textile Composite Preforms. Analysis of its Influence in Draping Simulation

Most of the numerical simulations of dry textile reinforcements forming are based on a macroscopic approach and continuous material models whose behavior is assumed to be elastic (linear or nonlinear). On the one hand, the experience shows that under loading/unloading stresses, residual inelastic deformations are observed. On the other hand, among the deformations that a woven reinforcement undergoes during forming, in most cases, only bending is subject to loading/unloading stresses. The first objective of this work is to highlight the inelastic bending behavior of textile reinforcements during a forming process and to find the possible origins of inelasticity. The second objective is to find the cases generating bending loading/unloading during forming as well as to study the influence of the bending inelasticity on forming simulation. For this purpose, the inelastic bending behavior was characterized by three-point bending tests. Then, the Dahl friction model was adapted to bending to describe the inelastic behavior. Finally, this model was implemented in a finite element code based on shell elements allowing the study of the influence of taking into account the inelastic behavior in bending on the numerical simulation of forming.

Distribution of Seismic Damage in Steel Buildings Component Equipped by Viscoelastic Dampers against Far-Field Earthquake

Damage to structures with the concept of inelastic behavior and consequently hysteresis energy is very close. Therefore, it can be said that hysteresis energy at these levels can be a significant criterion for designing or controlling the structure. In this research, the first three steel frames of 4, 8, and 12 floors with the medium bending frame system have been designed with the statically equivalent method according to valid international regulations; then, all frames have been subjected to nonlinear dynamic analysis by seven accelerometers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the distribution of damage, energy, relative displacement, roof displacement, and base shear in the studied frames. In the following, the necessity of using the retrofitting method to reduce the relative displacement is described based on the regulations. Then, viscoelastic dampers are used to strengthen and reduce damage in the studied frames in the face of distant field records. The obtained results indicate that despite the uniform distribution of resistance in the height of the floors, the hysteresis energy distribution and damage diagrams do not follow this distribution and other parameters such as hysteresis energy, which play a major role in structural members’ damage, should be included in the design process. In this research, viscoelastic dampers have been used for retrofitting. The results show that this type of damper shows good performance in reducing damage under earthquakes in the remote area.

Inelastic Behavior of Polyoxymethylene for Wide Strain Rate and Temperature Ranges: Constitutive Modeling and Identification

The aim of this paper is to present experimental data and the constitutive model for the inelastic behavior of polyoxymethylene in wide strain rate and temperature ranges. To capture the non-linearity of the stress responses for both loading and unloading regimes, the composite model of inelastic deformation is utilized and further developed. The equivalent inelastic strain rate is described by the Prandtl–Eyring law, while the temperature dependence is characterized by the modified Arrhenius-type law. Generalized equivalent stress and the flow rule are formulated to capture pressure sensitivity, transverse strain and volumetric strain responses. The results obtained by the constitutive law are compared with experimental data for stress vs. axial strain from standard tension tests as well as with axial and transverse strains measured by digital image correlation. The developed composite model is able to capture the non-linearity of stress–strain curves for complex loading paths within the small strain regime. For higher strains, apart from geometrically non-linear theory, evolution laws for the volume fraction of the constituents should be modified and calibrated. For the small strain regime, the inelastic dilatation is negligible. For higher axial strain values, a decrease in Poisson’s ratio under tension and increase in it under compression are observed. The Drucker–Prager-type equivalent stress and the developed flow rule provide a better description of both the transverse and volumetric strains than that of the classical von Mises–Odqvist flow rules.