A High-Performance Quadrilateral Flat Shell Element for Seismic Collapse Simulation of Tall Buildings and Its Implementation in OpenSees

Shear walls are important lateral force-resistant components of tall buildings. Hence, a reliable numerical model that can accurately represent the mechanical characteristics and large deformations of shear walls is critical for realistic collapse simulation of tall buildings. Based on the theory of generalized conforming element, a high-performance quadrilateral flat shell element, NLDKGQ, accounting for the large deformation using the updated Lagrangian formulation, is proposed herein and implemented in OpenSees. The reliability of NLDKGQ is validated using classical benchmark problems and reinforced concrete specimens. In addition, its capability in simulating the collapse of a tall building is also demonstrated.     

The Numerical Study of Base-Isolated Buildings Under Near-Field and Far-Field Earthquakes

The behavior of base-isolated building frame is investigated with the help of a numerical study for far-field and near-field earthquakes with directivity and fling-step effects. Both design-level and extreme-level earthquakes are considered. Selected response parameters are peak floor displacement, acceleration, base shear, and isolator displacement. Inelastic behavior of base-isolated structure during the earthquake is investigated performing nonlinear time history analysis of a ten-story building frame. This study shows that base isolation is not effective for near-field earthquakes. Even for design-level earthquake, the frame gets significantly into inelastic range for earthquakes with fling-step effect.     

高精度变形监测预警系统在明显陵遗址保护中的应用研究

为在遗址完整性保护与滑坡灾害预警方面制定切实有效的解决方案,使用基于高精度全球卫星定位系统GPS与远程遥测终端RTU的高精度变形监测预警系统,并结合无线通讯方式实现对遗址保护区陵墓边坡的安全监测。系统完成墓冢内部环境监测与滑坡方位的监测定位。并通过通用无线分组业务GPRS方式将监测参数与警情信号实时传输至监控中心,在管理软件平台上进行实时显示并提示安保人员及时出警。该系统可针对不同规模野外文物保护区和古墓群实现有效的滑坡监测与预警防范,具有广泛的应用推广价值。     

Multiple Degrees of Freedom Positioning Correction for Hybrid Simulation

This study proposes a high-precision positioning correction method for multiple degree-of-freedom loading units in hybrid simulation. These loading units can impose inaccurate displacements to the specimens due to the elastic deformation at the reaction wall or connections. To compensate for these displacement errors, an online correction method adjusts the displacement command by the difference between the target and achieved displacement. This correction method also accompanies an accurate 6DOF monitoring system to detect the displacement errors. Two examples of hybrid simulation tests are provided to demonstrate the precise displacements attained on the specimens through this control method.     

虎丘塔的维修加固与变形测量

对虎丘塔的沉降、位移、层面倾斜等指标进行了测量,进而了解塔体的结构趋向变化。经过维修加固,虎丘塔塔体倾斜得到控制,现在塔体变化趋于稳定状态。     

出土饱水竹简失水干缩的复形研究——以海昏侯墓葬出土竹简等为例

失水干缩竹简不仅改变了竹简的形貌,而且字迹无法辨认,不能进行考古释文,极大地影响了其承载的历史价值和研究价值。通过海昏侯墓葬等出土竹简等残片的干缩复形研究实验,对复形前后外形尺寸、化学组分、微观结构等方面进行比较。结果表明:经生物碱和表面活性剂等材料浸润后的干缩竹简残片,外形尺寸可恢复到干缩前的98%以上,竹简残片内部干缩变小的空隙结构得到恢复,化学组分无明显变化。运用该技术对干缩竹简进行复形处理,复形后的竹简基本恢复到饱水时的状态,而且对字迹无损伤。     

Experimental Evaluation of Seismic Performance of Squat RC Structural Walls with Limited Ductility Reinforcing Details

This article describes an experimental study carried out on of reinforced concrete (RC) walls of less confining reinforcement than that recommended by ACI 318. A total of eight RC walls with boundary elements comprising of five walls with aspect ratio of 1.125 and three walls with aspect ratio of 1.625 were tested by subjecting them to low levels of axial compression loading and simulated seismic loading, to examine the structural performance of the walls with limited transverse reinforcement. Conclusions are reached concerning the failure mode, drift capacity, strength capacity, components of top deformation, and energy dissipation characteristics of walls on the seismic behavior with limited transverse reinforcement. The influences of axial loading, transverse reinforcement in the wall boundary elements, and the presence of construction joints at the wall base on the seismic behavior of walls are also studied in this paper. Lastly, reasonable strut-and-tie models are developed to help in understanding the force transfer mechanism in the walls tested.     

Deformation of Ancient Buildings inferred by Terrestrial Laser Scanning methodology: the Cantalovo church case study (Northern Italy)*

The study of the health of a building connects humanistic and scientific research, and a complete characterization can be achieved by integrating all the available historical documentation, architectural and metrological studies, as well as laboratory and in situ analyses of the materials. A contactless, non‐invasive surveying technique such as terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) allows the acquisition of dense and accurate geometric and radiometric (electromagnetic measurements such as signal intensity) information about the observed surface of the building, which can be easily integrated with data provided by high‐resolution digital imaging. The early Christian Cantalovo church was surveyed for the first time in April 2011, by means of the ILRIS‐3D ER very long range scanner. The second and last survey was performed in June 2012, after the main shocks of the Emilia earthquake seismic sequence. A very long range instrument is suitable for fast, simple and independent measurements, due to its technical characteristics and, for this reason, is easily usable for accurate surveying in emergency conditions. The main results are obtained by applying a data analysis strategy based on the creation of TLS‐based morphological maps computed as point‐to‐primitive differences, which allow the creation of a deformation map and its evolution in time.     

Seismic Retrofitting of Columns with Lap Spliced Smooth Bars Through FRP or Concrete Jackets

The effectiveness of RC jacketing or FRP wrapping for seismic retrofitting of rectangular columns having smooth (plain) bars with 180° hooks lap-spliced at floor level is experimentally investigated. The relatively low deformation capacity and energy dissipation of five unretrofitted columns is found not to depend on lap length, if lapping is not less than 15 bar-diameters. Six columns cyclically tested up to ultimate deformation after RC concrete jacketing demonstrate force and deformation capacity and energy dissipation sufficient for earthquake resistance, regardless of the presence or length of lap splicing in the original column. Another ten columns cyclically tested to ultimate deformation after wrapping of the plastic hinge region with CFRP show that FRP wrapping of the splice region is more effective than concrete jackets for enhancement of the deformation and energy dissipation capacity of old-type columns with smooth bars lap-spliced at floor level, provided that wrapping extends over the member length sufficiently to preclude plastic hinging and early member failure outside the FRP-wrapped length of the column.     

Improving Low-Cycle Fatigue Performance of High-Performance Buckling-Restrained Braces by Toe-Finished Method

The purpose of this research is to improve the low-cycle fatigue life of the buckling-restrained brace (BRB) for the development of the high-performance buckling-restrained brace (HPBRB) used in bridge engineering. The HPBRB is expected to suffer three strong earthquakes without severe damage during the lifecycle of a bridge. This article employs a low-cycle fatigue experiment, including two series of BRB specimens, all of which had been tested to failure. In the second batch, the weld toes of the rib had been ground to improve the weld's low-cycle fatigue life. According to test results under constant and variable strain amplitudes, the specimens have a great low-cycle fatigue performance. The weld of the rib clearly affects the performance of the as-welded specimens tested with the relatively small strain amplitude. The toe-finished method effectively improves the BRB's low-cycle fatigue performance. Besides, the in-plane gap width of the BRB slightly affects the low-cycle fatigue life. Finally, the low-cycle fatigue curves are compared between the BRB and the materials and the low-cycle fatigue damage evaluation formulae of the as-welded and toe-finished BRBs are recommended for the strain-based evaluation of the low-cycle fatigue damage.