ChatGPT in transforming communication in seismic engineering: Case studies, implications, key challenges and future directions

Seismic engineering,a critical field with significant societal implications,often presents communication challenges due to the complexity of its concepts.This paper explores the role of Artificial Intelligence(AI),specifically OpenAI’s ChatGPT,in bridging these communication gaps.The study delves into how AI can simplify intricate seismic engineering terminologies and concepts,fostering enhanced understanding among students,professionals,and policymakers.It also presents several intuitive case studies to demonstrate the practical application of ChatGPT in seismic engineering.Further,the study contemplates the potential implications of AI,highlighting its potential to transform decision-making processes,augment education,and increase public engagement.While acknowledging the promising future of AI in seismic engineering,the study also considers the inherent challenges and limitations,including data privacy and potential oversimplification of content.It advocates for the collaborative efforts of AI researchers and seismic experts in overcoming these obstacles and enhancing the utility of AI in the field.This exploration provides an insightful perspective on the future of seismic engineering,which could be closely intertwined with the evolution of AI.

Application of passive source surface-wave method in site engineering seismic survey

Site engineering seismic survey provides basic data for seismic effect analysis. As an important parameter of soil, shear-wave velocity is usually obtained through wave velocity testing in borehole. In this paper, the passive source surface-wave method is introduced into the site engineering seismic survey and practically applied in an engineering site of Shijingshan District. By recording the ubiquitous weak vibration on the earth surface, extract the dispersion curve from the surface-wave components using the SPAC method and obtain the shear-wave velocity structure from inversion. Over the depth of 42 m under- ground, it totally consists of five layers with interface depth of 3.31, 4.50, 7.23, 17.41, and 42.00 m; and shear-wave velocity of 144.0, 198.3, 339.4, 744.2, and 903.7 m/s, respectively. The inversion result is used to evaluate site classification, determine the maximum shear modulus of soil, provide basis for further seismic hazard analysis and site assessment or site zoning, etc. The result shows that the passive source surface-wave method is feasible in the site engineering seismic survey and can replace boreholes,shorten survey period, and reduce engineering cost to some extent.

Present situation of the research and application of engineering multiwave seismic prospecting in China

In four aspects, which are the leading exploration of mine and tunnel f engineering geological hazard prospecting and engineering shock resistance; non-destructive testing of engineering quality 1 the measurement of rock physical properties, this pope gives a detailed summary and some comments on the present situation of the research and application of the ideas, theories and methods of engineering multiwave seismic prospecting. The content includes: the prospecting of coal field caved pillar, underground gallery, underground cavity and the fault ahead of tunnel; the exploration of earth surface Karst collapse, active fault, and shock resistance Of underground lifeline engineering; the dynamic non-destructive testing of quality and boring capacity of pile foundation, the non-destructive testing of strength, thickness and defects of concrete pavement, and the non-destructive testing of sub marine tunnel engineering quality ; the measurement of rock physical properties under high temperature and high pressure and the determination of physical properties of irregular rock samples. Some existing problems are discussed and the direction which should be developed in the future is proposed.

A conceptual evolutionary aseismic decision support framework for hospitals

In this paper, aconceptual evolutionary framework for aseismic decision support for hospitalsthat attempts to integrate a range of engineering and sociotechnical models is presented. Genetic algorithms are applied to find the optimal decision sets. A case study is completed to demonstrate how the frameworkmay applytoa specific hospital.The simulations show that the proposed evolutionary decision support framework is able to discover robust policy sets in either uncertain or fixed environments. The framework also qualitatively identifies some of the characteristicbehavior of the critical care organization. Thus, by utilizing the proposedframework, the decision makers are able to make more informed decisions, especially toenhance the seismic safety of the hospitals.

Optimal seismic retrofit model for steel moment resisting frames with brittle connections

Based on performance-based seismic engineering, this paper proposes an optimal seismic retrofit model for steel moment resisting frames（SMRFs） to generate a retrofit scheme at minimal cost. To satisfy the acceptance criteria for the Basic Safety Objective（BSO） specified in FEMA 356, the minimum number of upgraded connections and their locations in an SMRF with brittle connections are determined by evolutionary computation. The performance of the proposed optimal retrofitting model is evaluated on the basis of the energy dissipation capacities, peak roof drift ratios, and maximum interstory drift ratios of structures before and after retrofitting. In addition, a retrofit efficiency index, which is defined as the ratio of the increment in seismic performance to the required retrofitting cost, is proposed to examine the efficiencies of the retrofit schemes derived from the model. The optimal seismic retrofit model is applied to the SAC benchmark examples for threestory and nine-story SMRFs with brittle connections. Using the retrofit efficiency index proposed in this study, the optimal retrofit schemes obtained from the model are found to be efficient for both examples in terms of energy dissipation capacity, roof drift ratio, and maximum inter-story drift ratio.

Effect of mechanical degradation of laminated elastomeric bearings and shear keys upon seismic behaviors of small-to-medium-span highway bridges in transverse direction

Laminated elastomeric bearings have been widely used for small-to-medium-span highway bridges in China, in which concrete shear keys are set transversely to prohibit large girder displacement. To evaluate bridge seismic responses more accurately, proper analytical models of bearings and shear keys should be developed. Based on a series of cyclic loading experiments and analyses, rational analytical models of laminated elastomeric bearings and shear keys, which can consider mechanical degradation, were developed. The effect of the mechanical degradation was investigated by examining the seismic response of a small-to-medium-span bridge in the transverse direction under a wide range of peak ground accelerations（PGA）. The damage mechanism for small-to-medium-span highway bridges was determined, which can explain the seismic damage investigation during earthquakes in recent years. The experimental results show that the mechanical properties of laminated elastomeric bearings will degrade due to friction sliding, but the degree of decrease is dependent upon the influencing parameters. It can be concluded that the mechanical degradation of laminated elastomeric bearings and shear keys play an important role in the seismic response of bridges. The degradation of mechanical properties of laminated elastomeric bearings and shear keys should be included to evaluate more precise bridge seismic performance.

The application of ultrasonic seismic model experiment in quality test of cement mortar injection of Yongjiang river submarine tun－nel tube foundation

Ultrasonic seismic model experiment plays an important role in engineering multi wave seismic prospecting(EMSP), which has been used to do the complex engineering seismic exploration. It is introduced that the application of the technology in quality test of Yongjiang river submarine tunnel tube foundation in the paper. The material of the model was got from on the spot. The successful test has been made with results of the model experiment.

Fabric characteristics of in situ sand with/without liquefaction verified by anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility

It is well known that fabric of sand may significantly affect mechanical behaviors and liquefaction resistance of sand.Various optical techniques are currently utilized to visualize the fabric,especially the distribution of the long axis of soil particles.However,none of these methods provides an ideal solution in laboratory tests and in situ observation.In this study,anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility(AMS)was first proposed as a convenient and efficient way to evaluate the liquefaction of clean sand.At first,investigations with scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and AMS were simultaneously conducted on two groups of soil specimens with different initial fabrics to verify the feasibility of the AMS technique.Then,80 in situ samples were collected to analyze the feature of liquefied and non-liquefied sand layers through AMS tests.It is clearly known from the test results that the natural sedimentary fabric was destroyed during liquefaction and the fabric anisotropy was greatly changed after liquefaction.The feasibility of evaluating soil fabric using the AMS survey was verified by the laboratory tests.Furthermore,the applicability of AMS in detecting liquefied layer in situ was confirmed for the first time.

A Complementary Engineering-Based Building Damage Estimation for Earthquakes in Catastrophe Modeling

Catastrophe modeling for earthquakes is conventionally designed as a probabilistic model to estimate the losses based on risk and vulnerability of a portfolio of exposures for a foreseeable set of events. This approach lacks a physical science of building damage that is linked to ground-shaking characteristics. A proposed engineeringbased building damage estimation model based on established theories of seismic wave propagation and structural resonance is presented to address some of these shortcomings. A damage factor is introduced to provide an indication of the relative extent of damage to buildings.Analysis based on the proposed methodology is carried out using data derived from four case studies: the 2011 Tohoku earthquake; the 2007 Bengkulu earthquake; the 2011 Christchurch earthquake; and the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake.Results show that the computed damage factors reasonably reflect the extent of actual damage to buildings that was observed in post-earthquake reconnaissance surveys. This indicates that the proposed damage simulation model has a promising future as a complementary assessment tool in building damage estimation in catastrophe modeling.

Elastic-plastic seismic response of CRTS II slab ballastless track system on high-speed railway bridges

China railways track structure II (CRTS II) slab ballastless track on bridge is one kind of track structures unique to China. Its main bearing component of longitudinal force is the continuous base plate rather than rail. And the track-bridge interaction is weakened by the sliding layer installed between base plate and bridge deck. In order to study the dynamic response of CRTS II slab ballastless track on bridge under seismic action, a 3D nonlinear dynamic model for simply-supported bridges and CRTS II track was established, which considered structures such as steel rail, fasteners, track plate, mortar layer, base plate, sliding layer, bridge, consolidation, anchors, stoppers, etc. Then its force and deformation features under different intensities of seismic excitation were studied. As revealed, the seismic response of the system increases with the increase of seismic intensity. The peak stresses of rail, track plate and base plate all occur at the abutment or anchors. Both track plate and base plate are about to crack. Besides, the rapid relative displacement between base plate and bridge deck due to the small friction coefficient of sliding layer is beneficial to improve the seismic performance of the system. During the earthquake, a large vertical displacement appears in base plate which leads to frequent collisions between stoppers and base plate, as a result, stoppers may be damaged.