The objective of this paper is to assess the promise of a novel tool for structural safety decision-making in severe unforeseen hazards. A straightforward measure is put forth for measuring the intensity of unforeseen hazards: the number of connected members removed from a structure in a brittle fashion. The tool selected for assessing this severe demand is the reduction in the buckling load ca...

Near field earthquakes have imposed major damage to buildings in the past years. In some cases, the intensity of such damage is too considerable to be disregarded. The most effective way to improve seismic performance of buildings is applying a seismic control technique. The cylindrical friction damper is one of these methods, which has become popular for its desirable performance in the energy...

Many existing reinforced concrete structures were constructed with substandard characteristics. Low quality concrete, poor transverse reinforcement details and insufficient flexural strength are among the most common deficiencies. While substandard structures are in need of retrofitting, particularly in seismic areas, problems such as high costs and disturbance to occupants are major obstacles ...

Nine full-scale light-framed wood construction (LFWC) specimens were tested cyclically to study the effect of the upper storey and the vertical load on the performance of wall framed shear wall (WFSW) in the first storey. Results showed that the effects of the upper storey with the vertical load on the performance of WFSW were to: (1) increase the elastic stiffness, (2) reduce the ultimate defl...

This paper discusses the accuracy of a finite element model of a coupled piping system subjected to earthquake loads, as well as the differences in seismic behavior between coupled and welded piping system models. The test setup of a Victaulic coupled piping system tested at Lehigh University was modeled and analyzed with finite element methods. Two models were developed: (1) a welded pipe mode...

The nonlinear seismic responses of 3D steel buildings with perimeter moment resisting frames (PMRF) and interior gravity frames (IGF) are studied explicitly considering the contribution of the IGF. The effect on the structural response of the stiffness of the beam-to-column connections of the IGF, which is usually neglected, is also studied. It is commonly believed that the flexibility of shear...

This paper presents the application of the harmony search based algorithm to the optimum detailed design of special seismic moment reinforced concrete (RC) frames under earthquake loads based on American Standard specifications. The objective function is selected as the total cost of the frame which includes the cost of concrete, formwork and reinforcing steel for individual members of the fram...

Advanced finite element techniques are used to investigate the multi-hazard (earthquake and blast) performance of Concrete-Filled Steel Tubes (CFSTs) and Concrete Filled Double Skinned Tubes (CFDSTs) for bridge engineering applications. Specimens of both sections are analyzed using the finite element package LS-DYNA under similar seismic and blast loading. First, behavior of CFSTs recorded in s...

Silos generally work as storage structures between supply and demand for various goods, and their structural safety has long been of interest to the civil engineering profession. This is especially true for dynamically loaded silos, e.g., in case of seismic excitation. Particularly thin-walled cylindrical silos are highly vulnerable to seismic induced pressures, which can cause critical bucklin...

Seismic design loads for tunnels are characterized in terms of the deformations imposed on the structure by surrounding ground. The free-field ground deformations due to a seismic event are estimated, and the tunnel is designed to accommodate these deformations. Vertically propagating shear waves are the predominant form of earthquake loading that causes the ovaling deformations of circular tun...