Home About us Contact | |||
Dissipation Capacity (dissipation + capacity)
Selected AbstractsSelf-centering structural systems with combination of hysteretic and viscous energy dissipationsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 10 2010Weng Yuen Kam Abstract This paper presents an innovative set of high-seismic-resistant structural systems termed Advanced Flag-Shaped (AFS) systems, where self-centering elements are used with combinations of various alternative energy dissipation elements (hysteretic, viscous or visco-elasto-plastic) in series and/or in parallel. AFS systems is developed using the rationale of combining velocity-dependent with displacement-dependent energy dissipation for self-centering systems, particularly to counteract near-fault earthquakes. Non-linear time-history analyses (NLTHA) on a set of four single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems under a suite of 20 far-field and 20 near-fault ground motions are used to compare the seismic performance of AFS systems with the conventional systems. It is shown that AFS systems with a combination in parallel of hysteretic and viscous energy dissipations achieved greater performance in terms of the three performance indices. Furthermore, the use of friction slip in series of viscous energy dissipation is shown to limit the peak response acceleration and induced base-shear. An extensive parametric analysis is carried out to investigate the influence of two design parameters, ,1 and ,2 on the response of SDOF AFS systems with initial periods ranging from 0.2 to 3.0,s and with various strength levels when subjected to far-field and near-fault earthquakes. For the design of self-centering systems with combined hysteretic and viscous energy dissipation (AFS) systems, ,1 is recommended to be in the range of 0.8,1.6 while ,2 to be between 0.25 and 0.75 to ensure sufficient self-centering and energy dissipation capacities, respectively. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] HDR devices for the seismic protection of frame structures: Experimental results and numerical simulationsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 10 2009Laura Ragni Abstract As part of a national research programme an experimental campaign was carried out on a real scale mock-up consisting of a steel,concrete composite frame equipped with dissipative bracings, based on high damping rubber (HDR) devices. Free vibration tests, followed by force-controlled and displacement-controlled cyclic tests were performed. The experimental tests were aimed at studying the dynamic response of the coupled system in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of HDR devices in increasing the stiffness and dissipation capacity of the frame and investigating the ability of the constitutive HDR model proposed by the authors to predict the dynamic response of the coupled system. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Tensile strength equation for HSS bracing members having slotted end connectionsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 8 2007Sang-Whan Han Abstract In the previous study, the authors investigated the effect of w/t ratios on the behaviour of bracing members under symmetric cyclic loading in compression and tension. In this study, 11 bracing members with slotted end sections made of cold-formed square hollow structural sections (HSS) were tested. The w/t ratios ranged from 8 to 28. Unlike the test results of other former studies obtained under compression-oriented cyclic loading, the results of this study showed that bracing members having a smaller w/t ratio (<14) had less deformation and less energy dissipation capacity, and a shorter fracture life compared with other specimens. Such inferior behaviour resulted from early fracture at the slotted end section. This study compares tensile strength obtained from the design equations in the AISC LRFD manual and Eurocode 3 using the actual strengths of the tested specimens. This study found that for preventing early fracture in HSS bracing members, design fracture strength should be larger than design yield strength. Design strength equations are proposed for bracing members in special concentrically braced frames (SCBF). The proposed design equations are verified by experimental tests conducted under symmetric cyclic loading in tension and compression using two HSS bracing members designed according to the proposed equation. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Daily dynamics of photosynthesis of the freshwater red alga Sirodotia delicatula (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta)PHYCOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2009Thiago Kusakariba SUMMARY The daily course of photosynthetic parameters of a population of the freshwater red alga Sirodotia delicatula from São Paulo State, Brazil (20°43,24,S, 49°18,21,W) was investigated under natural and laboratory conditions using dissolved oxygen and in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence techniques. Field specimens in laboratory conditions showed a defined daily pattern for net photosynthesis (NP) with two peaks observed in marine macroalgae and some freshwater red algae: the first (the highest) during the morning, and the second (the lowest and less evident) during the afternoon. Values of electron transport rate did not show a clear pattern of daily variation. NP results suggest the existence of an endogenous rhythm controlling photosynthesis. The study under natural conditions in two contrasting periods (autumn (June) and spring (October)) showed that the daily course of effective and potential quantum yield values was negatively correlated with irradiance and values were similar in the beginning and end of the day. These data evidenced, respectively, high excitement pressure on photosystem II and good recovery capacity (with lower values in spring) and a lack of irreversible photodamage to photosynthetic apparatus due to the prolonged exposure to high irradiances. Non-photochemical quenching values were also negatively correlated with the irradiance, suggesting a low dissipation capacity of excess energy absorbed by reaction centers. The results evidenced a typical pattern of daily variation with evident response to irradiance. [source] Four sites with contrasting environmental stress in southeastern Brazil: relations of species, life form diversity, and geographic distribution to ecophysiological parametersBOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 4 2001F. R. SCARANO FLS Some ecophysiological parameters related to plant performance and fitness (carbon and nitrogen isotope composition and total C and N concentrations; in situ chlorophyll fluorescence measurements) were determined for over 30 species in four habitats bordering the montane Atlantic rain forest of Brazil, along a gradient of altitude and rainfall: a dry coastal forest, two areas of sandy coastal plain vegetation (restingas), and a high altitude campo. There was a considerable diversity of ecophysiological behaviour within and between the functional groups we created based on plant life-forms. For instance, both crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and C3 species were found in most life-forms sampled and throughout all habitats. Despite the variation in rainfall regimes, average overall water-use efficiency was similar between sites, particularly for C3 species, while no clear pattern regarding nitrogen-use emerged in this respect. Acute and chronic photoinhibition were found in many species across this gradient, even in CAM plants. However, on average, chronic photoinhibition and lower energy dissipation capacity were more characteristic of plants from the restinga habitats. This suggests that, although plants colonizing these habitats have evolved features to deal with water shortage, adaptation to high light levels has not been fully achieved yet. The ecophysiological performance of some individual species in distinct habitats and in distinct microhabitats within habitats is also discussed. [source] |