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1 – 10 of 16Yongliang Zhang, Jibei Ma, Xingchong Chen and Yun Wang
Under different ground motion excitation modes, the spatial coupling effect of seismic response for the arch bridge with thrust, seismic weak parts and the internal force…
Abstract
Purpose
Under different ground motion excitation modes, the spatial coupling effect of seismic response for the arch bridge with thrust, seismic weak parts and the internal force components of the control section of main arch ribs are analyzed.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking a 490 m deck type railway steel truss arch bridge as the background, the dynamic calculation model of the whole bridge was established by SAP2000 software. The seismic response analyses under one-, two- and three-dimension (1D, 2D and 3D) uniform ground motion excitations were carried out.
Findings
For the steel truss arch bridge composed of multiple arch ribs, any single direction ground motion excitation will cause large axial force in the chord of arch rib. The axial force caused by transverse and vertical ground motion excitation in the chord of arch crown area is 1.4–3.6 times of the corresponding axial force under longitudinal seismic excitation. The in-plane bending moment caused by the lower chord at the vault is 4.2–5.5 times of the corresponding bending moment under the longitudinal seismic excitation. For the bottom chord of arch rib, the arch foot is the weak part of earthquake resistance, but for the upper chord of arch rib, the arch foot, arch crown and the intersection of column and upper chord can all be the potential earthquake-resistant weak parts. The normal stress of the bottom chord of the arch rib under multidimensional excitation is mainly caused by the axial force, but the normal stress of the upper chord of the arch rib is caused by the axial force, in-plane and out of plane bending moment.
Originality/value
The research provides specific suggestions for ground motion excitation mode and also provides reference information for the earthquake-resistant weak part and seismic design of long-span deck type railway steel truss arch bridges.
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Pengfei Zheng and Gonglian Dai
This paper aims to obtain the further and overall generation about the static characteristics of the structure for the better application of the structure.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to obtain the further and overall generation about the static characteristics of the structure for the better application of the structure.
Design/methodology/approach
Through nonlinear finite element simulation, serials of comparative analyses are performed on this structure and other three assumed structures, which illustrate the effect of the main part of the structure on the structural static properties. Meanwhile, adopting the first order method, spatial cable force optimization makes the structural mechanic more rational.
Findings
Under same level stress, this three‐main‐truss and three‐cable‐plane bridge could save almost 38.8 percent vertical chords materials consumption at least. In contrast, this bridge has a lower lateral torsional stiffness, considering the key to raise the lateral and torsional stiffness is enhancing axial stiffness of plane bracing, the suitable plane bracing members area is twice as the original area. After rational optimization, the cable tension ratio between the mid‐cable plane and the two side‐cable planes ranges from 1.09 to 1.14.
Originality/value
The work in this paper of the comparative analysis could give other engineers a way to a deep analysis method for the structural analysis, especially in civil engineering. The conclusions would provide other designers some applied advice.
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Nedhal Jarrar and Suha Jaradat
Industrial heritage is considered an essential part of cultural heritage in the world. This heritage suffers from continued marginalisation in the Arab world, particularly in…
Abstract
Purpose
Industrial heritage is considered an essential part of cultural heritage in the world. This heritage suffers from continued marginalisation in the Arab world, particularly in Jordan, where many industrial heritage sites have not been protected or studied well due to the lack of a clear definition of cultural heritage. Most of these sites, built in the 20th century, are gradually disappearing or scheduled for demolition. This paper explores the de-industrialisation discourse and the loss of modern industrial heritage in the Arab world, especially in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
This research investigates the modern industrial heritage in Jordan as a case study in the Arab world. A comprehensive understanding of the industrial heritage has been obtained by adopting a case study approach and using a reconnaissance survey of potential industrial heritage sites in Jordan.
Findings
Seven categories were used in the analysis of the de-industrialisation phenomenon of heritage sites: ownership, location, design and types; structure, significance, deterioration and physical condition and conservation attempts and alterations. Three main approaches to industrial heritage were identified: demolition, occasional maintenance and rare examples of conservation and adaptive reuse.
Research limitations/implications
This study sheds light on the ownership issue of industrial structures in Jordan and invites policymakers, relevant authorities, private organisations and the public to consider the challenges and impact of de-industrialisation of such sites.
Originality/value
This research raises awareness of the de-industrialisation discourse, and highlights the value of industrial architecture dating back to the modernity period, which was short-lived in Jordan. It also calls for serious consideration of these sites to support sustainable development in the Arab World.
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BISRA 1958. Thickness measuring instruments may not be as accurate as their makers claim, judging from the results of some long‐standing researches on methods of corrosion testing…
Abstract
BISRA 1958. Thickness measuring instruments may not be as accurate as their makers claim, judging from the results of some long‐standing researches on methods of corrosion testing which have been completed by the Corrosion Section of the British Iron and Steel Research Association. In the Annual Report for 1958, published last month, it is stated that collaborative tests on various commercial thickness testers for metal coatings on steel were carried out. More than 4,000 thickness measurements were made on 18 different types of aluminium and zinc coatings with seven different instruments. Statistical analysis of the results showed that there are considerable variations in the performance of the instruments.
Civil engineering encompasses such a wide array of subject areas that it would be very difficult to cover all of them in one survey. Basically, civil engineers are concerned with…
Abstract
Civil engineering encompasses such a wide array of subject areas that it would be very difficult to cover all of them in one survey. Basically, civil engineers are concerned with the planning, design and construction of buildings, transporation facilities and other structures required for human health, safety and welfare. A major part of their job relates to achieving a coherent relationship between the “built environment” and the “natural environment.” They are required to fulfil this function within the framework of constraints imposed by the present day building codes, union regulations and economic considerations. This survey concerns itself mostly with the general civil engineering reference books and some selected sources on specialized topics like construction engineering, foundation engineering, structural engineering, highway and dam engineering and codes and specifications. A forthcoming survey will deal with the major area of environmental and sanitary engineering.
Jiao-Long Zhang, Xian Liu, Yong Yuan, Herbert A. Mang and Bernhard L.A. Pichler
Transfer relations represent analytical solutions of the linear theory of circular arches, relating each one of the kinematic and static variables at an arbitrary cross-section to…
Abstract
Purpose
Transfer relations represent analytical solutions of the linear theory of circular arches, relating each one of the kinematic and static variables at an arbitrary cross-section to the kinematic and static variables at the initial cross-section. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the significance of the transfer relations for structural analysis by means of three examples taken from civil engineering.
Design/methodology/approach
The first example refers to an arch bridge, the second one to the vault of a metro station and the third one to a real-scale test of a segmental tunnel ring.
Findings
The main conclusions drawn from these three examples are as follows: increasing the number of hangers/columns of the investigated arch bridge entails a reduction of the maximum bending moment of the arch, allowing it to approach, as much as possible, the desired thrust-line behavior; compared to the conventional in situ cast method, a combined precast and in situ cast method results in a decrease of the maximum bending moment of an element of the vault of the studied underground station by 46%; and the local behavior of the joints governs both the structural convergences and the bearing capacity of the tested segmental tunnel ring.
Originality/value
The three examples underline that the transfer relations significantly facilitate computer-aided engineering of circular arch structures, including arch bridges, vaults of metro stations and segmental tunnel rings.
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Huizhong Xiong, Shengtang Jiang, Yong Huang and Jian Zhang
In order to explore the damage probability of bridge engineering in the event of earthquake in the construction stages, the analysis method of seismic vulnerability in the…
Abstract
Purpose
In order to explore the damage probability of bridge engineering in the event of earthquake in the construction stages, the analysis method of seismic vulnerability in the construction stages is proposed in this paper.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the joint simulation function of construction stage conditions and seismic response conditions of MIDAS/Civil finite element analysis software, combined with the method of IDA analysis and compared the relationship between demand and capacity.
Findings
The research shows that: (1) the average seismic loss in different construction stages varies greatly; (2) the seismic vulnerability varies greatly in different construction stages. The vulnerability of the bridge in stage 6 is determined by the longitudinal direction of bridge. Therefore, during the construction of the whole bridge, we should focus on strengthening the disaster and loss prevention strategy of earthquake insurance in the longitudinal direction of bridge. (3) The application of the secondary dead load mainly affects the fragilityin the longitudinal direction of bridge, but has little effect on the fragility in the transversal direction of bridge.
Originality/value
This paper is to explore the seismic vulnerability of a typical simply supported continuous bridge during the construction stages, and to trace the entire construction stage of a typical simply supported continuous bridge. According to the characteristics of the system transformation in the actual construction steps, demand-capacity ratios were established based on incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) and performance indicators of moment curvature and stability, and the seismic vulnerability research is carried out for the construction stages prone to earthquake damage. Furthermore, it provides a basis for seismic risk assessment of such bridges in different construction stages.
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Y.M. Xie and G.P. Steven
The structural optimization presented in this paper is based on anevolutionary procedure, developed recently, in which the low stressed part ofa structure is removed from the…
Abstract
The structural optimization presented in this paper is based on an evolutionary procedure, developed recently, in which the low stressed part of a structure is removed from the structure step‐by‐step until an optimal design is obtained. Various tests have shown the effectiveness of this evolutionary procedure. The purpose of this paper is to present applications of such an evolutionary procedure to the optimal design of structures with multiple load cases or with a traffic (moving) load.
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Rafael Castro-Triguero, Enrique Garcia-Macias, Erick Saavedra Flores, M.I. Friswell and Rafael Gallego
The purpose of this paper is to capture the actual structural behavior of the longest timber footbridge in Spain by means of a multi-scale model updating approach in conjunction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to capture the actual structural behavior of the longest timber footbridge in Spain by means of a multi-scale model updating approach in conjunction with ambient vibration tests.
Design/methodology/approach
In a first stage, a numerical pre-test analysis of the full bridge is performed, using standard beam-type finite elements with isotropic material properties. This approach offers a first structural model in which optimal sensor placement (OSP) methodologies are applied to improve the system identification process. In particular, the effective independence (EFI) method is used to determine the optimal locations of a set of sensors. Ambient vibration tests are conducted to determine experimentally the modal characteristics of the structure. The identified modal parameters are compared with those values obtained from this preliminary model. To improve the accuracy of the numerical predictions, the material response is modeled by means of a homogenization-based multi-scale computational approach. In a second stage, the structure is modeled by means of three-dimensional solid elements with the above material definition, capturing realistically the full orthotropic mechanical properties of wood. A genetic algorithm (GA) technique is adopted to calibrate the micromechanical parameters which are either not well-known or susceptible to considerable variations when measured experimentally.
Findings
An overall good agreement is found between the results of the updated numerical simulations and the corresponding experimental measurements. The longitudinal and transverse Young's moduli, sliding and rolling shear moduli, density and natural frequencies are computed by the present approach. The obtained results reveal the potential predictive capabilities of the present GA/multi-scale/experimental approach to capture accurately the actual behavior of complex materials and structures.
Originality/value
The uniqueness and importance of this structure leads to an intensive study of its structural behavior. Ambient vibration tests are carried out under environmental excitation. Extraction of modal parameters is obtained from output-only experimental data. The EFI methodology is applied for the OSP on a large-scale structure. Information coming from several length scales, from sub-micrometer dimensions to macroscopic scales, is included in the material definition. The strong differences found between the stiffness along the longitudinal and transverse directions of wood lumbers are incorporated in the structural model. A multi-scale model updating approach is carried out by means of a GA technique to calibrate the micromechanical parameters which are either not well-known or susceptible to considerable variations when measured experimentally.
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