ABSTRACT Fundamental period of vibration is one of the most critical parameters to evaluate in the seismic design of new buildings, considering its role in the seismic forces estimation. The challenge of this research is to define a new approach for predicting the fundamental period of vibration for reinforced concrete buildings, designed according to the new generation seismic codes. The proposed

ABSTRACT To investigate the correlations of duration indexes and the nonlinear seismic responses of long-span continuous rigid-frame bridges with high-rise piers (CRFB-LH), an irregular CRFB-LH was selected as the prototype bridge. A construction stage analysis model was simulated in MIDAS/Civil, where the actual construction process was considered and the internal force state was extracted. After

ABSTRACT Multi-span simply supported (MSSS) highway bridges are one of the most common bridge types across the world and have several vulnerable components, including bearings, piers, and abutments. Although several past studies have evaluated the seismic response and fragility of common multi-span simply supported bridges, there is negligible research that explores the influence of bearing types,

ABSTRACT A new three-dimensional finite element modeling methodology for nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete walls is developed and implemented in OpenSees software. The model is validated against broad experimental data obtained for nine planar (unidirectional loading) and two U-shaped (multidirectional loading) specimens. Results of the detailed validation studies presented indicate that the

ABSTRACT The recorded floor acceleration responses of a wide variety of instrumented buildings are used to evaluate the findings of previous numerical studies regarding the effect of different parameters on the seismic response of nonstructural components (NSCs). These relevant parameters include, but are not limited to, the lateral force resisting system, modal periods, and inelastic behavior of supporting

ABSTRACT This work uses a nonsmooth dynamic model to study the motion of rocking-block structures with base excitation. In this study, the rocking blocks are modeled with respect to two contact points that represent the bottom face of the block. Each of these contact points can assume a state of either (a) free-flight, (b) contact, or (c) impact. Two of the key differences of this work from other studies

ABSTRACT To avoid the limitations of the assumptions for the traditional probabilistic seismic demand model (PSDM), this study proposed a novel PSDM for conducting fragility analysis of subway stations based on artificial neural network (ANN). The proposed ANN-based PSDM consists of an ANN-based trend model and a probabilistic-neural-network (PNN)-based error model. A two-story and three-span subway

ABSTRACT The modeling of structural damping due to the excitation of elastic-waves into the surrounding soil domain, and its effect on structural response as apparent modal damping is explored herein. Four high-fidelity, linear finite-element models of building-site systems, with 20–50 storeys and 2–7 basement levels, are simulated in OpenSees to evaluate their frequency response. Radiation-damping

ABSTRACT Reinforced concrete intake towers are considered as main hydraulic structures constructed in dams’ reservoirs, connected to the dam or as a separate structure. If an intake tower is damaged, the powerhouse or downstream of the dam may experience serious problems. In this research, the influence of mainshock-aftershock seismic sequences is studied on real intake tower. The intake tower of Encino

ABSTRACT We attempted a comprehensive site response study of Garhwal-Kumaun Himalaya in the Central seismic Gap (CSG) using the data collected from 97 strong motion, microtremor and broadband stations. Site response parameters such as predominant frequency (fpeak), site amplification (Amax) and average shear-wave velocity up to a depth of 30 m (VS30) were estimated by adopting the Nakamura technique

ABSTRACT The dependence of displacement on the low-cut frequency suggests that the low-frequency noise is responsible for the drift. Although the cause of the noise is unknown, at least one case is certain that the low-cut frequency should ensure the displacement drift within a reasonable range. To obtain the low-cut frequency, this paper proposes an adaptive method to quantify the threshold for newly-proposed

ABSTRACT A two-parameter expression for the quantification of topographic effects in ground response analysis at sites located in the vicinity of a topographic feature is presented. The expression is derived from parametric analysis of convex and concave canonical shapes after identifying that the diffracted field in these geometries remains relatively stable in the low dimensionless frequency regime

ABSTRACT The aim of this research is to develop a probability method that can identify the flexure, shear or flexural-shear failure of RC columns. A total of 336 columns of cyclic load test results were collected, and a probabilistic model was constructed using the Bayesian procedure. Then, the model was simplified by Bayesian updating. The boundaries for each failure mode were selected through an

ABSTRACT The construction of low damage, self-centering, unbonded post-tensioned seismic systems requires special techniques and equipment such as hydraulic jacks to stress tendons that may not be readily available in developing communities. The recently proposed spring anchored rocking system (SARS) uses a spring at the anchorage of the post-tensioning tendon to facilitate applying force to the tendons

ABSTRACT An essential and emerging task in the area of performance-based seismic assessment of bridges is to improve the estimation of the seismic demands. Existing research proved that the bridge column is one of the dominant components in estimating the bridge system vulnerability. However, the seismic performance of bridges with tall piers is not deeply investigated yet. This study aims to address

ABSTRACT A novel bracing system called here fan-bracing system (FBS) has been introduced. Despite its relatively simple mechanism and manufacturing process, FBS can considerably enhance the ductility and energy absorption capacity of the structure by preventing the undesirable premature buckling effects through replacing axial deformations by flexural deformations. The excellent seismic performance

ABSTRACT In this paper, a simple numerical model is presented for analyzing arbitrarily shaped alluvial valleys subjected to propagating obliquely incident plane SH-waves. A time-domain half-plane boundary element method (BEM) was successfully used to prepare the model in which the interface needs only to be discretized. First, the problem was decomposed into two parts, a half-plane valley-shaped feature

ABSTRACT This paper aims to study the combined effects of incident wave angularity and geometrical characteristics on the seismic spectral response of curved valleys filled with alluvium. The parametric studies were carried out using a numerical tool, called HYBRID, which combines the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Boundary Element Method (BEM) to model the near field and far field, respectively.

ABSTRACT Miniature buckling-restrained braces (MBRBs) have been widely used as energy dissipating dampers in precast concrete and steel beam-to-column connections for their superior seismic performance. This paper proposes a new type of all-steel MBRBs with corrugated core bars, termed as corrugated MBRBs (CMBRBs), of which the core bars are confined by circular hollow section restraining tubes. Several

ABSTRACT A health assessment technique for infrastructures is presented following earthquakes using uncertainty-filled information. A system identification (SI)-based concept is used to identify the stiffness of structural elements following earthquakes. The excitation information is not required, and responses need not be measured at all dynamic degrees of freedom. To consider uncertainty in representing

ABSTRACT In this study, four full-scale reinforced concrete columns were built replacing 50% of natural coarse aggregates in concrete mix by recycled aggregates. Three of the columns were exposed to standard ISO-834 fire for 30, 60 or 90 minutes, while the reference specimen was not exposed. Sixty days after fire exposure, the columns were tested under constant axial load and reversed cyclic lateral

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a novel earthquake-resilient steel joint with a replaceable buckling-restrained link (RBRL). To study its seismic behavior and post-earthquake resilience performance, five full-scale specimens are tested under cyclic loads, during which three parameters are investigated: the web connection type, the connecting plate thickness and the core plate stiffeners. The experimental

ABSTRACT A portion of Byzantine land walls from “Mevlanakapi” to “Belgradkapi”, part of Theodosian walls, is surveyed by laser scanners for recording the current condition and for identification of the damage levels towards the establishment of restoration approaches. Based on the failure mechanism of the structure and review of the earlier restorations, a restoration approach with minimum interventions

ABSTRACT Subways, as one of the critical structures in urban design for solving traffic problems, require continuous monitoring during operation. Therefore, it is imperative to study the scattering of seismic waves caused by the presence of these underground structures. System identification is one of the most efficient methods for investigating structural behavior during operation and identifying

ABSTRACT A new technique is proposed for online model identification and updating in multi-platform pseudo-dynamic simulation of steel structures which brings novelty through eliminating the need for optimization during the identification stage of material/section behavior. Furthermore, the proposed procedure requires no prior information about the updated component of the numerical substructure and

ABSTRACT An improved seismic vulnerability index methodology is formulated on the basis of eight modeled parameters that are designed according to earthquake-resistant design concept and derived from the empirical vulnerability index that was initiated by the Group of National Defense against earthquake, named as GNDT Level approach. The results indicated that there is a good correlation between the

ABSTRACT The integrity of precast concrete (PC) shear walls depends strongly on the structural measures and construction quality of the reinforcement connections, which impedes complete equivalence with cast-in-place connections, the construction height, and the applicability to high-seismicity regions. The seismic behaviour of hybrid precast concrete-encased concrete-filled twin steel tube (PCCS)-reinforced

ABSTRACT Servo-hydraulic actuators are often used in real-time hybrid simulation to impose desired displacements to specimens and to maintain the boundary compatibility between substructures. Previous studies often consider the servo-hydraulic system as deterministic while experimental results indicate otherwise due to different sources of uncertainties. This study utilizes the generalized likelihood

ABSTRACT The earthquake resilience of low-damage self-centering precast concrete frame connections (LDSCPC) is studied in this article. Cyclic load tests are carried out, and the results show that the overall damage of the precast beam of specimen LDSCPC1 at 3% drift is even less than that of specimen RC1 at 0.25% drift. The LDSCPC connections can still maintain the original performance to a large

ABSTRACT The prestressed column, where unbonded posttensioned tendons are arranged along the axis of the RC column, showed self-centering behavior after lateral loading. To investigate the detailed hysteretic response, nine prestressed RC columns with different axial loads and transverse reinforcement arrangements were tested and subjected to the combined action of cyclic horizontal loading and constant

ABSTRACT A detailed numerical framework for seismic analysis of liquid storage tanks considering soil-structure interaction (SSI) is presented. Lumped mass model for the tank and finite element approach for the soil domain are adopted. Effects of SSI on seismic performance of ground supported and elevated liquid storage tanks, with fixed base and base isolated conditions, are studied under near-field

ABSTRACT In this paper, the probabilistic performance-based approach is adopted to evaluate the seismic performance of multi-story reinforced concrete wall-frame asymmetric buildings considering soil–structure interaction (SSI) and identify appropriate stiffness and strength centers configurations. A group of fixed- and flexible-base models with different stiffness and strength eccentricities were

ABSTRACT The velocity pulses produced by forward-directivity effects in the near-fault regions can have destructive effects on structures. Proper estimation of the duration of such velocity pulses is an essential step in the near-fault seismic hazard analysis and mitigating potential damage. In this study, the effects of different source, path, source-to-site geometry, and local site parameters on

ABSTRACT Seismic retrofitting of exiting building structures is a technical and social issue aimed as earthquake risk mitigation. In this study, a new technique for seismic retrofitting via the attachment of an external steel frame with length-adjustment control box (ESFLC) was developed to strengthen medium-to-low-rise reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The developed method, categorized as a strength

ABSTRACT The performance of a new type of concrete columns reinforced with multi-tied spiral transverse reinforcements called MTSTR columns has not yet been investigated and compared with other types of columns under eccentric loads. In this regard, three types of concrete columns, concrete-filled steel tube column (CFST), traditional concrete column (TCC) and MTSTR column were simulated in this study

ABSTRACT The rocking response of anchored rigid bodies with irregular geometry is evaluated, incorporating the non-linearity of restrainers. A parametric analysis is performed, introducing the concept of Probability Reduction Spectra (PRS) to identify the influence of the main parameters into the rocking response as a function of the fundamental frequencies (excitation/body). The results allow identifying

ABSTRACT Elastic flexibility of a viscous damper sub-system can alter the phasing of damper and structural forces. This paper investigates how damper sub-system flexibility affects overall seismic response, using linear and nonlinear dampers. A suite of analyses with damped single degree-of-freedom systems show that a damper with significant flexibility can experience median peak displacements 40%

ABSTRACT For underground structures with large spans, such as buried pipelines, the seismic motions may vary not only at distinct horizontal locations due to the wave passage, incoherence and local site effects; but also at different vertical soil depths owing to the site amplification effect. This paper numerically investigates the influences of underground spatially correlated earthquake motions

ABSTRACT Spatial correlations of peak ground and pseudo spectral acceleration are estimated as a function of intersite separation distance and natural vibration periods. More than 2286 three-component records from 461 Iranian earthquakes are employed to evaluate the intra-event residual correlation based on multiple earthquakes, considering both local and regional ground motion prediction equations

ABSTRACT Based on the proposed material model, through the finite element method, the influences of the strain rate and the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement ratio on the structural behaviors and the damage evolution of the recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) structure are thoroughly investigated. The corresponding empirical formulas of the influence factors are proposed. It is revealed that

ABSTRACT This article reviews the current state of practice in seismic risk mitigation, focusing on policies in ten of the most earthquake-prone countries around the world. In particular, the review compares policies to retrofit existing buildings and mechanisms for financing seismic risk mitigation, within the context of seismic risk and design standards for each country. The goal of the review is

ABSTRACT A methodology based on probabilistic seismic risk analysis to estimate damping factors (Fmd) which modify the spectrum of elastic displacement with uniform annual exceedance rates (UAER), is proposed. Such factors take into account both a) energy dissipation of the hysteretic dissipaters and b) seismic hazard of the site. It is shown the importance of taking into account the type of soil for

ABSTRACT In this research, dynamic characteristics of 46 damaged or retrofitted buildings (22 RC and 24 steel buildings) induced by Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake are determined by ambient vibration tests. The obtained results are compared with the results of proposed empirical relations between codes and literature. Furthermore, empirical relations are proposed for calculation of fundamental periods of

ABSTRACT The uplift effects on the seismic demands of flexible SDOF structures rocking on a stiff surface were numerically investigated, under impulse excitations. The final results were represented in the form of spectra for the seismic demands including the foundation rotation angle, structural drift and base shear. Comparing the results indicated that as the normalized natural frequency surpassed

ABSTRACT This paper presents an application of the Conditional Mean Spectrum (CMS) methodology for sourcing accelerogram records for use in dynamic analyses of structures in intraplate regions of lower seismicity. The main challenges with deriving CMS for selecting and scaling accelerograms in regions of lower seismicity stem from the paucity of representative strong motion data and event recurrence

ABSTRACT The site fundamental period plays a key role in the characterization of site conditions to construct design spectrum models. For layered soil profiles on bedrock, it is generally believed that radiation damping caused by energy leaking into the bedrock does not change the fundamental period. This study finds that radiation damping can significantly affect the fundamental period. The effect

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the ductility demand of self-centering structures with flag-shaped (FS) hysteretic behavior under near-fault (NF) pulse-like ground motions. To this end, the general features of spectral regions for the NF pulse-like ground motion are first described. The effects of structural and ground motion characteristics on the ductility demand spectra are further carried out. The

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the total life-cycle cost of designed structures with different increasing seismic response coefficient from the aspects of the structural and social life-cycle damage costs combined with environmental impacts. The environmental impacts are converted to the equivalent costs as much as possible, to be integrated with other social and economic factors. The proposed framework

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effects of near- and far-fault ground motion on the seismic behavior of historically inclined minarets. Inclined minarets built in Aksaray and Sivas, Turkey, are selected as numerical applications. The top of the Aksaray and Sivas minarets is 1.30 m and 1.23 out-of-plumb and the inclination values are 2.45° and 1.97°, respectively. Firstly, 3D finite element models

ABSTRACT A new external retrofitting sub-structure is proposed, namely, self-centering precast bolt-connected steel-plate reinforced concrete buckling-restrained-brace-frame (SC-PBSPC BRBF). Based on the 3D numerical model and stiffness-based design method, five retrofitting scenarios are performed on a deficient frame building to compare the upgrading effects. Probabilistic seismic performance assessments

ABSTRACT This work aims estimating seismic losses in residential-reinforced concrete buildings, highlighting the influence of infills and services. First, the mechanical-based “POST”-method is used to perform simplified (nonlinear static) structural analyses, in the “shear-type” building hypothesis. Then, drift-based fragility curves and repair cost analysis, specific for infills and services, are

ABSTRACT The seismic performance of a two-story building was investigated through a small-scaled quasi-static test. The test results show that the bolt-assembled PC panel building system can present reliable structural integrity, including transferring shear action and performing deformation ability. Based on the results, the failure mode and force-transfer mechanisms of the system were discussed and

ABSTRACT The displacement-based assessment procedure of Priestley and co-authors was formulated to provide either a pass-fail type of assessment or an indication of the likelihood of exceeding a selected limit state. To account for the effect of uncertainty in demand and capacity as part of the displacement-based assessment, it has also been shown that the SAC-FEMA approach can be adopted. In this

ABSTRACT A variety of yielding dampers have been proposed with different materials and configurations and constructed for various structures to improve their seismic performance. ADAS dampers are considered as energy dissipation tools to experience uniform yielding according to their specific geometry. However, the damper cannot perform ideally in large deformations due to an unexpected tensile axial

ABSTRACT This study presents a mathematical solution to evaluate the response characteristics of a tapered pile embedded in cross-anisotropic medium, under lateral harmonic force. The resistance of the cross-anisotropic viscoelastic half-space to a harmonic force acting in the lateral direction is obtained. The soil is demarcated into an interior weakened and an exterior linear region. The proposed

ABSTRACT Seismic performance of flexurally-dominated reinforced concrete (RC) walls largely depends on the ability of its confined end regions to withstand axial stress reversals. Observed compression failure modes in these end boundary regions during the Chile (2010) and New Zealand (2010–11) earthquakes led to extensive experimental research that involved testing isolated rectangular columns (or

ABSTRACT For the tridirectional time histories for seismic analysis, current codes and standards cannot guarantee isotropy in the horizontal directions, the code formula for statistical independence between components is not rigorous, and the bounds are arbitrary. In this paper, three conditions are defined for the horizontal inputs to be isotropic. Orthogonality is proposed to replace the statistical

ABSTRACT Accelerometers in smart devices have been used to successfully provide valuable information such as early warnings of earthquake activity and health monitoring of buildings. The next important step of using the acceleration measurements from smart devices is to assess building seismic damage, which is a more challenging application. A main challenge is related to the sliding motions of smart

ABSTRACT Glazing damage reported following recent New Zealand earthquakes, i.e. the 2011 (Mw 6.2) Christchurch and 2016 (Mw 7.8) Kaikōura earthquakes, exceeded what would be expected from glazing designed or tested to council’s compliance pathways, which indicates improvements are required to the existing pathways. Two series of proof-of-concept tests were conducted to induce simulated seismic actions

ABSTRACT The Korean peninsula is in a stable continental region with moderate seismicity. The first and second largest instrumented earthquakes occurred in the peninsula on September 12, 2016 and November 15, 2017, respectively, which inflicted major damage on structures in nearby populated cities. This study aims to propose a ground motion prediction equation (GMPE) for the peninsula using both ground