Concurrent Topology Optimization of Composite Plates for Minimum Dynamic Compliance

This paper proposes a novel density-based concurrent topology optimization method to support the two-scale design of composite plates for vibration mitigation. To have exceptional damping performance, dynamic compliance of the composite plate is taken as the objective function. The complex stiffness model is used to describe the material damping and accurately consider the variation of structural response due to the change of damping composite material configurations. The mode superposition method is used to calculate the complex frequency response of the composite plates to reduce the heavy computational burden caused by a large number of sample points in the frequency range during each iteration. Both microstructural configurations and macroscopic distribution are optimized in an integrated manner. At the microscale, the damping layer consists of periodic composites with distinct damping and stiffness. The effective properties of the periodic composites are homogenized and then are fed into the complex frequency response analysis at the macroscale. To implement the concurrent topology optimization at two different scales, the design variables are assigned for both macro- and micro-scales. The adjoint sensitivity analysis is presented to compute the derivatives of dynamic compliance of composite plates with respect to the micro and macro design variables. Several numerical examples with different excitation inputs and boundary conditions are presented to confirm the validity of the proposed methodologies. This paper represents a first step towards designing two-scale composite plates with optional dynamic performance under harmonic loading using an inverse design method.

Earthquake Analysis of a High-Rise Building Retrofitted with Support Braced Systems

The use of support braced systems represents one of the best solutions for retrofitting or upgrading the tall reinforced concrete buildings in areas with a high earthquake hazard. In this study, the behavior of a reinforced concrete tall structure under seismic loads is examined based on the Turkish Building Earthquake Code 2019 (TBEC-2019). Support braced systems were added to the 25-story structure on 0.4H and 0.8H levels (H is height of structure). For two different models, firstly, the Mode-Superposition Method for linear computational methods used within the scope of strength-based design is performed. In order to determinate more accurately the behavior of tall buildings, as in the earthquake regulations of other developed countries, the TBEC-2019 advises a nonlinear deformation-based design approach. In addition, the nonlinear time history analyses of these buildings were performed. As a result of these analyzes, it was determined whether the two models examined were within the targeted performance effects or not. In the model having support braced system, stiffness and shear forces in shear walls were increased. Thus, displacements, relative story drift, plastic rotations and bending moments of shear walls were decreased.

Evaluation of the Modal Coupling Effect in Midstory Isolation Systems Based on Random Vibration Analysis

At present, the midstory isolation (MSI) technology has great potential for application in historical buildings’ retrofitting and multifunction buildings. The coupling effect due to the variability of the location of the isolation layer may amplify the structural seismic response and is required for in-depth analysis. This paper aims to evaluate the magnitude of the coupling effect and delimitate the region of the coupling effect to be considered. Based on the complex mode superposition method, the explicit formulas for calculating the random response of the simplified model are deduced. The root-mean-square (RMS) ratio of the shear force coefficient of the upper isolation system is adopted as the performance indicator to evaluate the coupling amplification effect of the MSI system. Parameter analysis indicates that the coupling region is closely related to the mass ratio and frequency ratio of the upper and lower structures to the isolation layer. In general, the region of the coupling effect to be considered can be divided into two parts according to parameters of frequency ratios, depending on the thresholds of the performance indicator. As the mass ratio of the upper isolation system to the entire system increases, one of the coupling regions shrinks and eventually disappears, indicating that the coupling amplification effect in this region can be neglected under certain conditions. Finally, the time-domain analysis of three representative numerical cases of MSI buildings was performed to verify the reliability of the results obtained from the frequency-domain analysis. The research results can provide technical guidance for the preliminary design of the MSI buildings.

Study on vibration characteristics of hydraulic planetary transmission considering engine and torque converter excitation

Large-size vehicle loaders are mainly used in various construction projects with complex working environment, which has a serious impact on the internal vibration of the whole system. In this study, the vibration characteristics of hydraulic planetary transmission of vehicle loader considering the influence of the external excitation are evaluated theoretically and experimentally. The output torque of the four-stroke six-cylinder diesel engine is obtained by force calculation of crank and connecting rod mechanism. The equivalent stiffness and damping of the torque converter are solved according to the torsional dynamic equation of the torque converter. The trapped oil area, oil pressure, and flow rate of gear meshing part are extracted to obtain the trapped oil pressure of variable-speed pump. Then, the multi-degree-of-freedom gear system dynamic model is established to calculate the meshing force, which is applied to vibration response analysis model by using mode superposition method. Lastly, the vibration response test is performed on the experimental prototype to verify the calculation method. The conclusion shows that the generation principle of external excitation and its calculation method in this paper are feasible in the analysis of dynamic characteristics of hydraulic planetary torque converter.

Dynamic Impact Factor Determination of an Existing Pre-stressed Concrete I-Girder Bridge Using Vehicle-Bridge Interaction Modelling

The dynamic Impact Factor (IM) of a bridge is influenced by many factors, including Vehicle-Bridge Interaction (VBI), vehicle speed and road roughness. This paper represents the dynamic effects of moving vehicles and the determination of IM of an existing Pre-stressed concrete I-girder bridge utilizing VBI modeling. Evaluation of the IM is expected to provide valuable information for condition assessment and management of the existing bridge. The interaction problem between the vehicle and the bridge includes a dynamic model for the bridge structure subsystem, a dynamic model for the vehicle subsystem, interaction constraints, road roughness modelling and numerical solution techniques for the dynamic systems. The Half-car model is utilized for modelling of the vehicle dynamics and the bridge dynamic model is idealized according to Finite Element Method (FEM). Then FEM along with the mode superposition method are utilized for determining the Equation of Motion (EOM) for the bridge subsystem. D’Alembert’s principle is used for developing EOM for the vehicle subsystem. The interaction between vehicle vibration and bridge vibration is established through the contact forces between the wheels and the bridge by employing the compatibility relationship between the contact points and by applying the static equilibrium condition. Lastly, Newmark’s-β method is used for solving the coupled mathematical model of the vehicle and bridge interaction problem to determine the responses of the two sub-systems. The whole procedure is then performed for different vehicle speeds and various bridge deck surface roughness conditions to determine the dynamic impact on the existing I-girder bridge named Teesta Bridge located in Bangladesh.

MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF HORIZONTAL SWIVEL SYSTEM WITH UHPC SPHERICAL HINGE UNDER SEISMIC ACTION

In the process of rotation, the total weight of the bridge structure is jointly supported by the spherical hinge and the supporting structure, and its lateral stability is poor. It is easy to lose stability under the action of dynamic loads such as seismic action effect. The present paper takes a 10,000-ton continuous rigid frame swivel bridge as the re-search object, analyzes the dynamic response of the seismic action to the horizontal swivel system, and establishes several structure simulation models. Eighteen seismic waves in three directions that meet the calculation requirements are screened for time history analysis and compared with the response spectrum method. Finally, an optimization algorithm for the seismic response of the bridge under horizontal swivel system is proposed based on the mode superposition method. The UHPC spherical hinge bears all the vertical forces and 20% of the bending moment caused by the seismic action, the support structure bearing the remaining 80% of the bending moment. The optimization algorithm proposed in this paper features high accuracy.

Dynamic response of concrete rectangular liquid storage tanks

In this thesis, the dynamic response of concrete rectangular liquid storage tanks is investigated. In previous studies, the tank wall has been assumed as rigid in the calculation of hydrodynamic pressures. The effect of flexibility of tank wall is considered in this study. The analytical solutions for both impulsive pressure and convective pressure induced by both horizontal and vertical ground motions are presented. A 2-D coupled analysis model of tank wall is proposed. The hydrodynamic pressures are considered as external forces applied on the tank wall. Through a technique called the sequential method, the two fields of fluid and structure are coupled. The time-history analysis using the mode superposition method and the direct step-by-step integration method are carried out. Two rectangular tanks are analyzed. From the comparison of the results obtained from the proposed model with those proposed by other researchers, such as added mass model based on the rigid wall boundary condition, it shows that the lumped mass approach overestimates the base shear and wall displacement. The effect of wall flexibility on displacements, base shears and base moments are also discussed. A combination of the added mass method and the sequential method is used to study liquid storage tanks subjected to the vertical ground motion. It is found that the effect of the vertical acceleration should be considered in dynamic analysis of rectangular tanks. It is concluded that the total response of the structures should be based on the sum of the response under both horizontal and vertical components of ground motion.

Dynamic response of concrete rectangular liquid storage tanks

In this thesis, the dynamic response of concrete rectangular liquid storage tanks is investigated. In previous studies, the tank wall has been assumed as rigid in the calculation of hydrodynamic pressures. The effect of flexibility of tank wall is considered in this study. The analytical solutions for both impulsive pressure and convective pressure induced by both horizontal and vertical ground motions are presented. A 2-D coupled analysis model of tank wall is proposed. The hydrodynamic pressures are considered as external forces applied on the tank wall. Through a technique called the sequential method, the two fields of fluid and structure are coupled. The time-history analysis using the mode superposition method and the direct step-by-step integration method are carried out. Two rectangular tanks are analyzed. From the comparison of the results obtained from the proposed model with those proposed by other researchers, such as added mass model based on the rigid wall boundary condition, it shows that the lumped mass approach overestimates the base shear and wall displacement. The effect of wall flexibility on displacements, base shears and base moments are also discussed. A combination of the added mass method and the sequential method is used to study liquid storage tanks subjected to the vertical ground motion. It is found that the effect of the vertical acceleration should be considered in dynamic analysis of rectangular tanks. It is concluded that the total response of the structures should be based on the sum of the response under both horizontal and vertical components of ground motion.

Transient Response of Bridge Piers to Structure Separation under Near-Fault Vertical Earthquake

Given the possible separation problem caused by the double-span continuous beam bridge under the action of the vertical earthquake, considering the wave effect, the transient wave characteristic function method and the indirect mode superposition method are used to solve the response theory of the bridge structure during the earthquake. Through the example analysis, the pier bending moment changes under different vertical excitation periods and excitation amplitudes are calculated. Calculations prove that: (1) When the seismic excitation period is close to the vertical natural vibration period of the bridge, the main girder and the bridge pier may be separated; (2) When the pier has a high height, the separation has a more significant impact on the longitudinal displacement of the bridge, but the maximum relative displacement caused by the separation is random; (3) Large-scale vertical excitation will increase the number of partitions of the structure, and at the same time increase the vertical collision force between the main girder and the pier, but the effect on the longitudinal displacement of the form is uncertain; (4) When V/H exceeds a specific value, the pier will not only be damaged by bending, but will also be damaged by axial compression.