Shared Tuned Mass Dampers for Mitigation of Seismic Pounding

This study explores the effectiveness of shared tuned mass damper (STMD) in reducing seismic pounding of adjacent buildings. The dynamics of STMDs is explored through numerical simulations of buildings idealized as single and multiple degree of freedom oscillators. An optimization method proposed in the literature is revisited. It is shown that the optimization results in two different solutions. The first one corresponds to the device being tuned to one of the buildings it is attached to. The second solution corresponds to a very stiff system where the TMD mass hardly moves. This solution, which has been described as an STMD in the literature, is shown to be impractical due to its high stiffness and use of a heavy stationary mass that plays no role in response mitigation but adds unnecessary load to the structure. Furthermore, it is shown that the second solution is equivalent to a viscous coupling of the two buildings. As for the properly tuned solution, i.e., the first solution, sharing the device with an adjacent building was found to provide no added benefits compared to when it is placed on one of the buildings. Based on results from a large set of real earthquake ground motions, it is shown that sharing a TMD mass with an adjacent building, in contrary to what is reported in the literature, is not an effective strategy.

CONVECTIVE MIXING IN AN INCLINED CHANNEL CAUSED BY TERNARY DIFFUSION UNDER CONDITION OF INCREASING DENSITY OF THE MIXTURE WITH HEIGHT

Using methods of numerical simulation, we studied the quasi-stationary mass transfer of isothermal ternary gas mixtures in the vertical and inclined channels for the zone of flow exit from a given channel into the lower flask of a diffusion cell. Convective mixing is considered under conditions involving an increase in the density of the mixture with the height of the channel. The characteristic features of structured flows were studied at a certain content of the component with the highest molecular weight in the mixture. The convective formations in the vertical and inclined channels are compared. The dynamics of structured convective flows at various inclination angles is analysed. Estimates of the lifetime of a structural formation consisting mainly of the component with the highest molecular weight moving in a gas mixture with a lower density value are given.

An Analytical Method for Crack Detection of Beams with Uncertain Boundary Conditions by a Concentrated Test Mass

The aim of this study is to introduce a method for crack detection and simultaneously assessing boundary conditions in beams. This study suggests a method based on the effect of a concentrated test mass on the natural frequency that is defined as a stationary mass, which can be located in different positions of the beam and cannot be separated from the beam. Timoshenko beam theory is used to calculate the frequencies. In this method, a beam with the desired number of cracks is modeled. The beam is divided into separated parts at crack section which are joined together by elastic weightless torsion springs, to avoid non-linearity effects, it is assumed that the crack is always open. At the first step, equations for a cracked beam are extracted by considering the spring boundary conditions. Then, to verify the equations, numerical finite element model is used. In this way, a new method is also applied to model the torsion springs in supports and it is shown that suggested model is acceptable. Eventually, the obtained responses are evaluated and the sources of errors are identified. To correct the existing errors, a modifying function is suggested. Finally, the inverse problem is solved.