Estimation of peak relative velocity and peak absolute acceleration of linear SDOF systems

In the seismic analysis and design of structures, the true velocity and absolute acceleration are usually approximated by their corresponding pseudo-values. This approach is simple and works well for structures with small damping （say, less than 15%）. When the damping of a structure is enhanced for the purpose of response reduction, it may result in large analysis and design errors. Based on theory of random vibration and the established mechanism of seismic response spectra analysis, a method is developed （1） to predict the relative velocity spectra with any damping ratio level directly from the 5% standard pseudo-acceleration spectrum; and （2） to estimate the peak absolute acceleration. The accuracy of both is validated by using two selected ensembles of ground motion records.

Artificial ground motion compatible with specified ground shaking peaks and target response spectrum

This article describes a hybrid simulation method to generate artificial ground motion time histories that are compatible with specified peak seismic acceleration, velocity and displacement as well as the target response spectrum of absolute acceleration. First, based on traditional methods that match the target spectrum in the frequency domain, an initial acceleration time history was synthesized to satisfy the specified peak acceleration, target spectral acceleration and intensity envelope. Second, by using the inversion formula of the seismic input to a linear single-degree-of-freedom system and by superimposing a series of narrow-band time histories in the time domain, the initial time history is further modified to allow its peak velocity and displacement to approach the targets and improve its matching precision with the target spectrum. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate that the proposed method achieves good agreement with the target values.

Artificial ground motion compatible with specified peak velocity and target spectrum

In this paper, a method, which synthesizes the artificial ground motion compatible with the specified peak velocity as well as the target acceleration response spectrum, was proposed. In this method, firstly, an initial acceleration time history α8^（0） （t）, which satisfies the prescribed peak ground acceleration, the target spectral acceleration ST（ω, ζ）,and the specified intensity envelope, is generated by the traditional method that generates the requency domain; secondly,α8^（0） （t）is further modulated by superimposing narrow-band time histories upon it in the time domain to make its peak velocity, approach the target peak ground velocity, and at the same time to improve its fitting precision to the target spectrum. Numerical examples show that this algorithm boasts high calculation precisions.

Effect of Thermal Shock Process in Accelerated Environment Spectrum on the Fatigue Life of 7B04-T6 Aluminum Alloy

The effect of thermal shock, in an accelerated-corrosion environment spectrum, on the fatigue and corrosion behavior of 7B04-T6 aluminum alloy, was determined. The environment spectrum consists of two modules, namely： salt-spray corrosion and thermal shock. The effect of thermal shock on the mechanical properties was determined via tensile tests; SEM, DCS, and XRD were used to determine the effect of thermal shock on the corrosion products. In addition, the corrosion resistance of the products was ascertained through electrochemical testing. The results show that the mechanical properties and fatigue life of the aluminum alloy will decline with prolonged thermal shock time. The thermal shock process may result in denser surface corrosion products than those formed on the no thermal shock specimens, and transformation of some Al（OH）_3 into Al OOH. Al OOH may have resulted in improved corrosion resistance and hence a lower decrease in the fatigue life after corrosion, compared with that of the no thermal shock specimen. Repeated corrosion/thermal shock may have delayed further decease in the fatigue life. Therefore, selection of an appropriate equivalent thermal shock temperature and time was essential for designing the environmental spectrum.

Electron acceleration by tightly focused radially polarized few-cycle laser pulses

Within the framework of plane-wave angular spectrum analysis of the electromagnetic field structure, a solution valid for tightly focused radially polarized few-cycle laser pulses propagating in vacuum is presented. The resulting field distribution is significantly different from that based on the paraxial approximation for pulses with either small or large beam diameters. We compare the electron accelerations obtained with the two solutions and find that the energy gain obtained with our new solution is usually much larger than that with the paraxial approximation solution.

The dependence of response spectrum on the tectonic ambient shear stress field

It has been analyzed the influence of the tectonic ambient shear stress value on response spectrum based on the previous theory. Based on the prediction equation BJF94 presented by the famous American researchers, CLB20, a new prediction formula is proposed by us, where it is introduced the influence of tectonic ambient shear stress value on response spectrum. BJF94 is the prediction equation, which mainly depends on strong ground motion data from western USA, while the prediction equation SEA99 is based on the strong ground motion data from exten-sional region all over the world. Comparing these two prediction equations in detail, it is found that after BJF94′s prediction value lg(Y) minus 0.16 logarithmic units, the value is very close to SEA99′s one. This case demonstrates that lg(Y) in extensional region is smaller; the differences of prediction equation are mainly owe to the differences of tectonic ambient shear stress value. If the factor of tectonic ambient shear stress value is included into the pre-diction equation, and the magnitude is used seismic moment magnitude to express, which is universal used around the world, and the distance is used the distance of fault project, which commonly used by many people, then re-gional differences of prediction equation will become much less, even vanish, and it can be constructed the uni-versal prediction equation proper to all over the world. The error in the earthquake-resistant design in China will be small if we directly use the results of response spectrum of USA (e.g. BJF94 or SEA99).

Characteristics of response spectra for long-periods of main-shock recordings of the Chi-Chi earthquake

Current practice uses predictive models to extrapolate long-period response spectra based on far-field recordings in moderate and weak earthquakes. However, the spectra are not long enough and the data are often not reliable, which means that the seismic design code cannot accurately define seismic design requirements for long-period structures. The near-field recordings in the main-shock of the Chi-Chi earthquake have a large signal-to-noise ratio （SNR）, which makes them suitable for studying the long-period acceleration response spectrum up to 20 sec. The acceleration response spectra from 246 stations within 120 km of the causative fault are statistically analyzed in this paper. The influence of distance and site conditions on long-period response spectrum is discussed, and the shapes of the amplification spectra are compared with the standard spectra specified in the seismic design code of China. Finally, suggestions for future revisions to the code are proposed.

Parametric study on collapse margin ratio of structure

The determination of collapse margin ratio(CMR)of structure is influenced by many uncertain factors.Some factors that can affect the calculation of CMR,e.g.,the elongation of the structural fundamental period prior to collapse,the determination of earthquake intensity measure,the seismic hazard probability,and the difference of the spectral shapes between the median spectrum of the ground motions and the design spectrum,were discussed.Considering the elongation of the structural fundamental period,the intensity measure Sa(T1)should be replaced with *aS in the calculation of CMR for short-period and medium-period structures.The reasonable intensity measure should be determined by the correlation analysis between the earthquake intensity measure and the damage index of the structure.Otherwise,CMR should be adjusted according to the seismic hazard probability and the difference in the spectral shapes.For important long-period structures,CMR should be determined by the special site spectrum.The results indicate that both Sa(T1)and spectrum intensity(SI)could be used as intensity measures in the calculation of CMR for medium-period structures,but SI would be a better choice for long-period structures.Moreover,an adjusted CMR that reflects the actual seismic collapse safety of structures is provided.

Development of Design Response Spectra Based on Various Attenuation Relationships at Specific Location

Peninsular Malaysia is located and lies in a low seismic region. Although Malaysia is not located in the active fault seismic area, it is closed to the Sumatran active seismic zones. Tall building are fIequently felt the tremor generated fTom Sumatran subduction and fault zones especially in the west cost of Peninsular Malaysia such as Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Existing design response spectra was developed based on attenuation relationship for each subduction and fault zone. In this study, the design response spectra were developed based on various attenuation relationships for selected location in Kuala Lumpur area, namely, Mutiara Damansara, Bandar Petaling Jaya and Bandar Puteri Puchong. The development of design response spectra based on various attenuation relationships is more reliable in selecting the appropriate attenuation relationship for the study area. Seven attenuations have been chosen and results show that Megawati et al. are the most appropriate attenuation relation for fault zone, where the predicted PGA （peak ground acceleration） is 0.0187 g which is the proposed PGA value for this study area. This study also found that most of soil in the study area can be categorized into SD （stiff soil） according to site classification in the NEHRP 2000 Provision/UBC 97. Bandar petaling Jaya was found to be highest AF （amplification factor） of 3.74 for stiff soil and Mutiara Damansara with AF of 2.67 for very dense soil or soft rock. The proposed design response spectra for each location were developed based on UBC 1997 （Uniform Building Code 1997）. The peak RSA （response spectrum acceleration） of 0.30 g for soil type SD for Bandar Petaling Jaya is the maximum level of acceleration on the soil surface with a period range of 0.10 to 0.52 seconds. All these values can be used for the seismic safety evaluation of existing structures and as a guideline in designing new structures to resist future earthquake, within the study area.