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Displacement Response (displacement + response)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Engineering	75%

Selected Abstracts

Design of multiple tuned mass dampers by using a numerical optimizer

EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2005
Nam Hoang
Abstract A new method to design multiple tuned mass dampers (multiple TMDs) for minimizing excessive vibration of structures has been developed using a numerical optimizer. It is a very powerful method by which a large number of design variables can be effectively handled without imposing any restriction before the analysis. Its framework is highly flexible and can be easily extended to general structures with different combinations of loading conditions and target controlled quantities. The method has been used to design multiple TMDs for SDOF structures subjected to wide-band excitation. Some novel results have been obtained. To reduce displacement response of the structure, the optimally designed multiple TMDs have distributed natural frequencies and distinct damping ratios at low damping level. The obtained optimal configuration of TMDs was different from the earlier analytical solutions and was proved to be the most effective. A robustness design of multiple TMDs has also been presented. Robustness is defined as the ability of TMDs to function properly despite the presence of uncertainties in the parameters of the system. Numerical examples of minimizing acceleration structural response have been given where the system parameters are uncertain and are modeled as independent normal variates. It was found that, in case of uncertainties in the structural properties, increasing the TMD damping ratios along with expanding the TMD frequency range make the system more robust. Meanwhile, if TMD parameters themselves are uncertain, it is necessary to design TMDs for higher damping ratios and a narrower frequency range. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Efficiency of base isolation systems in structural seismic protection and energetic assessment

EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 10 2003
Giuseppe Carlo Marano
Abstract This paper concerns the seismic response of structures isolated at the base by means of High Damping Rubber Bearings (HDRB). The analysis is performed by using a stochastic approach, and a Gaussian zero mean filtered non-stationary stochastic process is used in order to model the seismic acceleration acting at the base of the structure. More precisely, the generalized Kanai,Tajimi model is adopted to describe the non-stationary amplitude and frequency characteristics of the seismic motion. The hysteretic differential Bouc,Wen model (BWM) is adopted in order to take into account the non-linear constitutive behaviour both of the base isolation device and of the structure. Moreover, the stochastic linearization method in the time domain is adopted to estimate the statistical moments of the non-linear system response in the state space. The non-linear differential equation of the response covariance matrix is then solved by using an iterative procedure which updates the coefficients of the equivalent linear system at each step and searches for the solution of the response covariance matrix equation. After the system response variance is estimated, a sensitivity analysis is carried out. The final aim of the research is to assess the real capacity of base isolation devices in order to protect the structures from seismic actions, by avoiding a non-linear response, with associated large plastic displacements and, therefore, by limiting related damage phenomena in structural and non-structural elements. In order to attain this objective the stochastic response of a non-linear n -dof shear-type base-isolated building is analysed; the constitutive law both of the structure and of the base devices is described, as previously reported, by adopting the BWM and by using appropriate parameters for this model, able to suitably characterize an ordinary building and the base isolators considered in the study. The protection level offered to the structure by the base isolators is then assessed by evaluating the reduction both of the displacement response and the hysteretic dissipated energy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Proportioning earthquake-resistant RC frames in central/eastern U.S.

EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 6 2002
JoAnn Browning
Abstract A maximum allowable period criterion is used to determine reasonable stiffness requirements for reinforced concrete frames with the seismicity associated with central and eastern U.S. A general relationship is developed to describe the displacement demand expected for central and eastern U.S. based on a survey of available ground motions, opinions of seismologists, and code-based provisions. A series of hypothetical reinforced concrete frames is proportioned using a maximum allowable period criterion and evaluated for expected maximum displacement response using non-linear dynamic analyses and a suite of ground motions. Results indicate that for the reinforced concrete structural systems considered in the study, proportioning for gravity loads will provide sufficient stiffness in central and eastern U.S. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Regularized sequentially linear saw-tooth softening model

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 7-8 2004
Jan G. Rots
Abstract After a brief discussion on crack models, it is demonstrated that cracking is often accompanied by snaps and jumps in the load,displacement response which complicate the analysis. This paper provides a solution by simplifying non-linear crack models into sequentially linear saw-tooth models, either saw-tooth tension-softening for unreinforced material or saw-tooth tension-stiffening for reinforced material. A linear analysis is performed, the most critical element is traced, the stiffness and strength of that element are reduced according to the saw-tooth curve, and the process is repeated. This approach circumvents the use of incremental,iterative procedures and negative stiffness moduli and is inherently stable. The main part of the paper is devoted to a regularization procedure that provides mesh-size objectivity of the saw-tooth model. The procedure is similar to the one commonly used in the smeared crack framework but, in addition, both the initial tensile strength and the ultimate strain are rescaled. In this way, the dissipated fracture energy is invariant with respect not only to the mesh size, but also to the number of saw-teeth adopted to discretize the softening branch. Finally, the potential of the model for large-scale fracture analysis is demonstrated. A masonry façade subjected to tunnelling induced settlements is analysed. The very sharp snap-backs associated with brittle fracture of the façade automatically emerge with sequentially linear analysis, whereas non-linear analysis of the façade using smeared or discrete crack models shows substantial difficulties despite the use of arc-length schemes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Fully coupled non-linear analysis of piezoelectric solids involving domain switching

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2003
Wenjun Zeng
Abstract Domain switching is the cause of significant non-linearity in the response of piezoelectric materials to mechanical and electrical effects. In this paper, the response of piezoelectric solids is formulated by coupling thermal, electrical, and mechanical effects. The constitutive equations are non-linear. Moreover, due to the domain switching phenomenon, the resulting governing equations become highly non-linear. The corresponding non-linear finite element equations are derived and solved by using an incremental technique. The developed formulation is first verified against a number of benchmark problems for which a closed-form solution exists. Next, a cantilever beam made of PZT-4 is studied to evaluate the effect of domain switching on the overall force,displacement response of the beam. A number of interesting observations are made with respect to the extent of non-linearity and its progressive spread as the load on the beam increases. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NONLINEAR VISCOELASTIC CONSTITUTIVE PROPERTIES OF MILD CHEDDAR CHEESE FROM INDENTATION TESTS

JOURNAL OF TEXTURE STUDIES, Issue 5-6 2005
S.M. GOH
ABSTRACT A methodology to convert the indentation force,displacement response into the stress,strain properties of nonlinear viscoelastic materials was evaluated. Mild cheddar cheese was used as the test material, and indentation tests were performed using two spherical indenters of different sizes. The indentation tests were performed at different speeds, and the corresponding force,displacement responses were fitted with an analytical solution to obtain the time-dependent constants and the instantaneous force,displacement response. An inverse analysis based on the finite element method was performed to obtain the strain-dependent constants from the instantaneous force,displacement response. The predictions of the viscoelastic stress,strain properties from the indentation tests were compared to independent measurements through uniaxial compression tests, and a reasonable agreement was obtained. [source]

Identification of Time-Variant Modal Parameters Using Time-Varying Autoregressive with Exogenous Input and Low-Order Polynomial Function

COMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 7 2009
C. S. Huang
By developing the equivalent relations between the equation of motion of a time-varying structural system and the TVARX model, this work proves that instantaneous modal parameters of a time-varying system can be directly estimated from the TVARX model coefficients established from displacement responses. A moving least-squares technique incorporating polynomial basis functions is adopted to approximate the coefficient functions of the TVARX model. The coefficient functions of the TVARX model are represented by polynomials having time-dependent coefficients, instead of constant coefficients as in traditional basis function expansion approaches, so that only low orders of polynomial basis functions are needed. Numerical studies are carried out to investigate the effects of parameters in the proposed approach on accurately determining instantaneous modal parameters. Numerical analyses also demonstrate that the proposed approach is superior to some published techniques (i.e., recursive technique with a forgetting factor, traditional basis function expansion approach, and weighted basis function expansion approach) in accurately estimating instantaneous modal parameters of a structure. Finally, the proposed approach is applied to process measured data for a frame specimen subjected to a series of base excitations in shaking table tests. The specimen was damaged during testing. The identified instantaneous modal parameters are consistent with observed physical phenomena. [source]