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CONTENTS
Volume 91, Number 5, September10 2024
 

Abstract
Large-scale cantilever reinforced concrete (RC) columns with footing/stub were examined to determine their seismic response under a quasi-static increasing-magnitude cyclic lateral loading. Three-dimensional (3D) numerical models of RC columns with ductile and non-ductile reinforcement arrangements were developed in a Finite Element (FE) software, i.e., ABAQUS, to corroborate them with the experimental study conducted by the author. Both simulated models were validated with the experimental results in all respects, and the theoretical axial capacity of columns under concentric axial load (P0) was calculated. Subsequently, a detailed parametric study was conducted by adopting the force and reinforcement variables. These variables include axial compression ratios (ACR) varying from 0.35P0 to 0.7P0 and the amount of lateral reinforcements taken as 0.33% and 1.31% representing the non-ductile and ductile columns, respectively. This research outcome conclusively quantifies the combined effect of ACR levels and lateral reinforcement spacing on the flexural response and ductility characteristics of RC columns. The comparative analysis reveals that increased ACR levels resulted in a severe reduction in strength, deformability and ductility characteristics of both ductile and non-ductile columns. Structural response of ductile columns at higher ACR levels was comparable to the non-ductile columns, nullifying the beneficial effects of ductile design provisions. Higher ACR levels caused decline in pre-peak and post-peak response trajectories, leading to an earlier attainment of peak response at lower drift levels.

Key Words
axial compression ratio; ductile columns; non-ductile columns; numerical modelling; seismic performance

Address
Safdar-Naveed Amini and Aditya-Singh Rajput: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, India

Abstract
At present, the traditional concrete surface inspection methods based on artificial vision have the problems of high cost and insecurity, while the computer vision methods rely on artificial selection features in the case of sensitive environmental changes and difficult promotion. In order to solve these problems, this paper introduces deep learning technology in the field of computer vision to achieve automatic feature extraction of structural damage, with excellent detection speed and strong generalization ability. The main contents of this study are as follows: (1) A method based on DeepLabV3+ convolutional neural network model is proposed for surface detection of post-earthquake structural damage, including surface damage such as concrete cracks, spaling and exposed steel bars. The key semantic information is extracted by different backbone networks, and the data sets containing various surface damage are trained, tested and evaluated. The intersection ratios of 54.4%, 44.2%, and 89.9% in the test set demonstrate the network's capability to accurately identify different types of structural surface damages in pixel-level segmentation, highlighting its effectiveness in varied testing scenarios. (2) A semantic segmentation model based on DeepLabV3+ convolutional neural network is proposed for the detection and evaluation of post-earthquake structural components. Using a dataset that includes building structural components and their damage degrees for training, testing, and evaluation, semantic segmentation detection accuracies were recorded at 98.5% and 56.9%. To provide a comprehensive assessment that considers both false positives and false negatives, the Mean Intersection over Union (Mean IoU) was employed as the primary evaluation metric. This choice ensures that the network's performance in detecting and evaluating pixel-level damage in post-earthquake structural components is evaluated uniformly across all experiments. By incorporating deep learning technology, this study not only offers an innovative solution for accurately identifying post-earthquake damage in civil engineering structures but also contributes significantly to empirical research in automated detection and evaluation within the field of structural health monitoring.

Key Words
automatic detection; building structure assessment; DeepLabV3+ deep learning model; image segmentation; structural damage detection

Address
Chengyan Song: College of Civil Engineering and Transportation, Hebei University of Technology, China

Abstract
This study presents a frictionless receding contact problem for an orthotropic elastic layer. It is assumed that the layer is supported by two rigid quarter planes and the material of the layer is orthotropic. The layer of thickness h is indented by a rigid cylindrical punch of radius R. The problem is modeled by using the singular integral equation method with the help of the Fourier transform technique. Applying the boundary conditions of the problem the system of singular integral equations is obtained. In this system, the unknowns are the contact stresses and contact widths under the punch and between the layer and rigid quarter planes. The Gauss-Chebyshev integration method is applied to the obtained system of singular integral equations of Cauchy type. Five different orthotropic materials are considered during the analysis. Numerical results are presented to interpret the effect of the material property and the other parameters on the contact stress and the contact width.

Key Words
contact mechanics; Fourier transform; orthotropy; quarter plane; singular integral equation

Address
Hüseyin Oğuz, İlkem Turhan Çetinkaya: Department of Mathematics, Science and Art Faculty, Kütahya Dumlup

Abstract
Electric transformers are major components of electrical systems, and damage to them caused by earthquakes can result in significant financial loss. The current study modeled a three-dimensional (3D) isolated electrical transformer under horizontal and vertical records from different earthquakes. Instead of using fixed coefficients, an improved wavelet method has been used to create the greatest compatibility between the response spectra and the target spectrum. This method has primarily been used for dynamic analysis of isolated structures with spring-damper devices because it has shown greater accuracy in predicting the response of such structures. The effect of the nonlinear soil-structure interaction on the probability of transformer failure also has been investigated. Soil and structure interaction modeling was carried out using a beam on a nonlinear Winkler foundation. The effect of the nonlinear soil-structure interaction during dynamic analysis of transformers revealed that the greatest increase in the probability of transformer failure was in the fixed-base condition when the structure was located on soft soil. This intensified the response of the structure and increased the probability of transformer failure by up to 27% for far-field and up to 95% for near-field ground motions. A comparison of the results indicates that the use of 3D isolation systems in transformers in areas with soft clay that are subject to near-field ground motions can strongly reduce the probability of failure and improve the seismic performance of the transformer.

Key Words
3D seismic isolation system; improved wavelet method; nonlinear soil-structure interaction; probability of failure; spectral matching

Address
Mohammad Mahmoudi, Abbas Ghasemi and Shahriar Tavousi Tafreshi: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Earth Resources Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
This study introduces a novel 'multi-mushroom' structural system designed to improve seismic performance in lowrise buildings. Traditional low-rise structures tend to favor sliding over rocking due to their smaller aspect ratios despite the rocking system's superior seismic response reduction. Rocking designs allow structures to pivot at their base during seismic events, reducing damage by dissipating energy. The proposed multi-mushroom system divides the building into four equal sections with small gaps in between, each capable of independent rocking. Numerical analyses are conducted using scaled earthquake records from far- and near-source events to evaluate this system's performance. The results indicated that the multimushroom system significantly reduces plastic hinge formation compared to conventional designs. The system also demonstrated enhanced beam performance and a robust base girder, contributing to reduced collapse vulnerability. The 3-story model exhibited the most favorable behavior, effectively mitigating peak roof drift values, where the rocking system achieved a 21% reduction in mean roof displacement for near-field records and 15% for far-field records. However, the 5-story configuration showed increased roof displacement, and the 7-story model recorded higher incidences of collapse prevention (CP) hinges, indicating areas for further optimization. Overall, the multi-mushroom system enhances seismic resilience by minimizing plastic hinge formation and improving structural integrity. While the system shows significant promise for low-rise buildings, challenges related to roof displacement and inter-story drift ratio in taller structures necessitate further research. These findings suggest that the multi-mushroom system offers a viable solution for seismic risk reduction, contributing to safer and more sustainable urban development in earthquake-prone areas.

Key Words
directed-damage design; multi-mushroom skeleton; nonlinear time history analysis; rocking building; seismic performance level

Address
Mahmoud Alhashash: Department of Civil Engineering, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Türkiye
Ahed Habib: Research Institute of Sciences and Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
Mahmood Hosseini: Department of Civil Engineering, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Türkiye

Abstract
The present research examines the primary resonance (PR) behaviors of oblique stiffened multilayer functionally graded (OSMFG) shallow shells featuring an FG porous (FGP) core under an external excitation. The research considers two distinct types of FGP cores: one characterized by uniform porosity distribution (UPD) and the other by non-uniform porosity distribution (NPD) along the thickness direction. Furthermore, the study explores two types of shallow shells: one with external oblique stiffeners and one with internal oblique stiffeners, which might have angles that are similar or different from each other. Using the stress function alongside the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT), the research establishes a nonlinear model for OSMFG shallow shells. The strain-displacement relationships are obtained utilizing FSDT and von-Kármán's geometric assumptions. The Galerkin approach is utilized to discretize the nonlinear governing equations, allowing for the analysis of stiffeners at varied angles. To validate the obtained results, a comparison is made not only with the findings of previous research but also with the response of PR obtained theoretically with the method of multiple scales, using the P-T method. Renowned for its superior accuracy and reliability, the P-T method is deemed an apt selection within this framework. Additionally, the study investigates how differences in material characteristics and stiffener angles affect the system's PR behaviors. The results of this study can be used as standards by engineers and researchers working in this area, and they can offer important information for the design and evaluation of the shell systems under consideration.

Key Words
FG porous core; FSDT; method of multiple scales; multilayer FG shallow shell; nonlinear primary resonance; oblique stiffeners

Address
Kamran Foroutan and Liming Dai: Industrial Systems Engineering, University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada

Abstract
Due to the asymmetric cross-section of unequal-angle steel, the application of loads can induce axial rotation, leading to a series of buckling failure behaviors. Special attention must be paid during the design process. The present study aims to analyze the structural behavior of asymmetric steel angle members under various eccentric loading conditions, considering the complex biaxial bending interaction that arises when the angle steel is connected to the panel. Several key factors are investigated in this paper, including the effects of uniaxial and biaxial eccentricity on the structural behavior and the eccentric axial compression strength of long and short legs at different load application points. Potential risks associated with the specified load points, based on the AISC specifications, are also discussed. The study observed that the strength values of the members exhibited significant changes when the eccentric load deviates from the specified point. The relative position of the eccentric load point and the slenderness ratio of the member are critical influencing factors. Overall, this research intends to enhance the accuracy and reliability of strength analysis methods for asymmetric single angle steel members, providing valuable insights and guidance for a safer and more efficient design.

Key Words
asymmetric angle steel; axial force-bending moment interaction equation; biaxial eccentricity; corner and endpoint analysis

Address
Shu-Ti Chung and Wei-Ting Hsu: Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC

Abstract
The standard numerical approximation of structural displacement field leads to the thickness-wise transverse shear stress distributions which are quite different from the exact ones. To overcome this inherent problem, an effective and reliable post-processing method is presented based on the strain recovery and the stress equilibrium, particularly for functionally graded cylindrical and conical elastic panels. The present method is developed in the framework of locking-free 2-D natural element method. Through the recovery of displacement component-wise derivatives, the element-wise discontinuous in-plane strain distributions are enhanced to be globally continuous and smoothened. And, using the continuous in-plane strains, the troublesome poor transverse shear stress distributions are enhanced through the thickness-wise integration of static equilibrium equations. The validity of present post-processing method is verified through the comparison with the reference solutions. In addition, the comparative experiments are also performed to investigate the difference between the present method and other available post-processing methods. The numerical results confirm that the present method provides the accurate transverse shear stress distributions which are consistent with the reference solutions and much better than other available methods.

Key Words
ceramic volume fraction; equilibrated T/S stress; functionally graded; integration-based post-processing; locking-free NEM; shell-like structures; strain recovery

Address
Jin-Rae Cho: Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Hongik University, Sejong 30016, Korea

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