Evaluation of collapse resistance of RC frame structures for Chinese schools in seismic design categories B and C

According to the Code for Seismic Design of Buildings （GB50011-2001）, ten typical reinforced concrete （RC） frame structures, used as school classroom buildings, are designed with different seismic fortification intensities （SFIs） （SFI=6 to 8.5） and different seismic design categories （SDCs） （SDC=B and C）. The collapse resistance of the frames with SDC=B and C in terms of collapse fragility curves are quantitatively evaluated and compared via incremental dynamic analysis （IDA）. The results show that the collapse resistance of structures should be evaluated based on both the absolute seismic resistance and the corresponding design seismic intensity. For the frames with SFI from 6 to 7.5, because they have relatively low absolute seismic resistance, their collapse resistance is insufficient even when their corresponding SDCs are upgraded from B to C. Thus, further measures are needed to enhance these structures, and some suggestions are proposed.

Test and simulation of full-scale self-centering beam-to-column connection

A new type of beam-to-column connection for steel moment flames, designated as a ＂self-centering connection,＂ is studied. In this connection, bolted top-and-seat angles, and post-tensioned （PT） high-strength steel strands running along the beam are used. The PT strands tie the beam flanges on the column flange to resist moment and provide self-centering force. After an earthquake, the connections have zero deformation, and can be restored to their original status by simply replacing the angles. Four full-scale connections were tested under cyclic loading. The strength, energy-dissipation capacity, hysteresis curve, as well as angles and PT strands behavior of the connections are investigated. A general FEM analysis program called ABAQUS 6.9 is adopted to model the four test specimens. The numerical and test results match very well. Both the test and analysis results suggest that： （1） the columns and beams remain elastic while the angles sustain plastic deformations for energy dissipation when the rotation of the beam related to the column equals 0.05 tad, （2） the energy dissipation capacity is enhanced when the thickness of the angle is increased, and （3） the number of PT strands has a significant influence on the behavior of the connections, whereas the distance between the strands is not as important to the performance of the connection.

Dynamic performance analysis of a seismically isolated bridge under braking force

In order to study the dynamic performance of seismically isolated bridges under the most unfavorable loads in the longitudinal direction, a dynamic equation for vehicle braking in the longitudinal direction is established. A four or five- order Runge-Kutta method is adopted to obtain the time-history response of a wheel set under braking force. The quadratic discretization method is then used to transform this time-history into a braking and bending force time-history of a structural fixed node, and a dynamic response analysis of the seismically isolated bridge under the vehicle＇s braking force is carried out using ANSYS, a universal finite element analysis software. According to the results, seismic isolation design results in a more rational distribution of braking force among piers; the influence of the initial braking velocity on the vehicle braking force is negligible; the location where the first wheel set leaves the bridge is the most unfavorable parking location; a seismic isolation bridge bearing constructed according to typical design methods enters into a yield stage under the braking force, while the shearing force at the bottom of the pier declines as the isolation period is extended; the design requirements can be met when the yield displacement of the seismic isolation bearing is less than 5 mm and the yield strength is greater than the braking force.

Collapse simulation of a super high-rise building subjected to extremely strong earthquakes

In recent years, super high-rise buildings (>500 m) are developing very quickly and become an important frontier of civil engineering. The collapse resistance of super high-rise buildings subjected to extremely strong earthquake is a critical problem that must be intensively studied. This paper builds up a nonlinear finite element model of the tallest building in China, Shang- hai Tower (632 m), and proposes the modeling method and failure criteria for different structural elements. The dynamic char- acters of this building are then analyzed, and the possible failure modes and collapse processes due to earthquakes are pre- dicted, as well as the corresponding collapse mechanism. This work will be helpful in collapse prevention and the seismic design of super high-rise buildings.

Engineering practice of seismic isolation and energy dissipation structures in China

The concepts of seismic isolation and energy dissipation structures emerged in the early 1970s.In China,the first seismic isolation structure was finished in 1993,and the first energy dissipation structure was built at about the same time.Up to 2007,China had more than 600 seismic isolation and about 100 energy dissipation building structures.In 2008,the huge Wenchuan earthquake hit the southwest of China,which triggered a bloom of new seismic isolation and energy dissipation structures.This paper presents the development history and representative applications of seismic isolation and energy dissipation structures in China,reviews the state-of-the-practice of Chinese design,and discusses the challenges in the future applications.Major findings are as follows:Basic design procedures are becoming standardized after more than ten years of experiences,which mainly involve determination of design earthquake forces,selection of ground motions,modeling and time-history analyses,and performance criteria.Nonlinear time-history analyses using multiple ground motions are the characteristic of the design of seismic isolation and energy dissipation structures.Regulations,standardization and quality control of devices,balance between performance and cost,comparison with real responses,and regular inspection are identified as the issues that should be improved to further promote the application of seismic isolation and energy dissipation structures in China.

An improved ground motion intensity measure for super high-rise buildings

Ground motion intensity measure (IM) is an important part in performance-based seismic design. A reasonable and efficient IM can make the prediction of the structural seismic responses more accurate. Therefore, a more reasonable IM for super high-rise buildings is proposed in this paper. This IM takes into account the significant characteristic that higher-order vibration modes play important roles in the seismic response of super high-rise buildings, as well as the advantages of some existing IMs. The key parameter of the proposed IM is calibrated using a series of time-history analyses. The collapse simulations of two super high-rise buildings are used to discuss the suitability of the proposed IM and some other existing IMs. The results indicate that the proposed IM yields a smaller coefficient of variation for the critical collapse status than other existing IMs and performs well in reflecting the contribution of higher-order vibration modes to the structural response. Hence, the proposed IM is more applicable to seismic design for super high-rise buildings than other IMs.

Uniform-risk-targeted seismic design for collapse safety of building structures

Seismic design should quantitatively evaluate and control the risk of earthquake-induced collapse that a building structure may experience during its design service life.This requires taking into consideration both the collapse resistant capacity of the building and the earthquake ground motion demand.The fundamental concept of uniform-risk-targeted seismic design and its relevant assessment process are presented in this paper.The risks of earthquake-induced collapse for buildings located in three seismic regions with the same prescribed seismic fortification intensity but different actual seismic hazards are analyzed to illustrate the engineering significance of uniform-risk-targeted seismic design.The results show that with China's current seismic design method,the risk of earthquake-induced collapse of buildings varies greatly from site to site.Additional research is needed to further develop and implement the uniform-risk-targeted seismic design approach proposed in this paper.