Seismic response control of high arch dams including contraction joint using nonlinear super-elastic SMA damper

In this study, the shape memory alloy (SMA) restrainer bars utilized to reduce the seismic response of arch dams with vertical contraction joints were investigated. The SMA damper model and the nonlinear behavior of arch dams affected by contraction joint opening/closing during earthquakes were simulated in ANSYS. Moreover, the nonlinear damping control principle and method were discussed. The effectivity of the SMA restrainer bars in arch dams was assessed through comparing with a traditional measure of reinforced steel across contraction joints. The SMA restrainer bars were effective in limiting the relative openings of the contraction joints and reducing the seismic acceleration. In addition, the new SMA vibration damper devices of arch dams are simple and easy to install.     

Computational studies on the seismic response of the State Route 99 bridge in Seattle with SMA/ECC plastic hinges

This paper reports a computational study on the seismic response of a three-span highway bridge system incorporating conventional and novel substructure details for improved seismic performance. The bridge has three continuous spans supported by two single-column piers and integral abutments founded on drilled shafts. It will be the first full-scale highway bridge to use superelastic shape memory alloy bars (SMA) and engineered cementitious composite (ECC) to mitigate column plastic hinge damage and minimize residual displacements after a strong earthquake. A three-dimensional computational model capturing the nonlinear constitutive response of the novel materials and the effects of dynamic soil-structure interaction was developed to assess the seismic response of the bridge in finite-element software OpenSees. Two versions of the same bridge were analyzed and compared, one with conventional cast-in-place reinforced concrete columns, and the other with top plastic hinges incorporating Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) SMA reinforcing bars and ECC. The novel SMA/ECC plastic hinges were found to substantially reduce damage and post-earthquake residual displacements in the bridge substructure, but led to larger maximum drifts relative to the bridge with conventional reinforced concrete plastic hinges. The analysis results suggested that the novel plastic hinges could lead to improved post-earthquake serviceability of bridges after intense earthquakes.     

Application of shape memory alloy dampers in the seismic control of cable-stayed bridges

This paper focuses on introducing and investigating the performance of a new passive seismic control device for cable-stayed bridges made with shape memory alloys (SMAs). The superelasticity and damping capability of SMAs is sought in this study to develop a supplementary recentering and energy dissipation device for cable-stayed bridges. Three-dimensional long-span bridge model, including the effect of soil-structure interaction is developed and utilized in the study. SMA dampers are implemented at the bridge’s deck-pier and deck-tower connections. The bridge is subjected to three orthogonal components from two historic ground motion records. The effectiveness of the SMA dampers in controlling the deck displacement and limiting the shear and bending moment demands on the bridge towers is assessed. Furthermore, a study is conducted to determine the sensitivity of the bridge response to the hysteretic properties of the SMA dampers. The analytical results show that SMA dampers can successfully control the seismic behavior of the bridge. However, the effectiveness of the new dampers is significantly influenced by the relative stiffness between the dampers used at the deck-tower and deck-pier connections. The results also show that the variation in the SMAs’ strain hardening during phase transformation has a small effect on the bridge response compared to the variation in the unloading stress during reverse phase transformation.     

Application of shape memory alloy bars in self-centring precast segmental columns as seismic resistance

The objective of this study is to investigate analytically the performance of self-centring precast segmental bridge columns with shape memory alloy (SMA) starter bars under nonlinear static and lateral seismic loading. For this purpose, a 3D finite element model for hybrid post-tensioned bridge column has been developed. The precast post-tensioned segmental bridge columns possessing a central tendon and adequate transverse confinement provided by the steel tube jacketing as self-centring bridge columns have an undesirable high lateral seismic demand due to their low energy dissipation. In order to eliminate this deficiency while keeping the residual displacement small, SMA starter bars are applied in this system. The effect of post-tensioning (PT) forces of the central strands and SMA bar size are investigated. The results indicate that in high seismicity zones, bridge columns with SMA bars at a higher level of PT forces have a superior performance against earthquake loading.     

形状记忆合金丝约束RC墩柱抗震性能试验研究

为增强RC墩柱在强震作用下的耗能、变形及自修复能力,实现震后桥梁结构功能的快速恢复,该文采用超弹性形状记忆合金(shape memory alloys, 简称SMA)丝约束RC墩柱,并通过试验研究水平循环荷载作用下SMA丝约束RC墩柱的抗震性能。试验制作6个SMA丝约束RC墩柱试件和1个普通RC墩柱试件,通过低周往复加载,分析SMA丝配置率和预应力水平对RC墩柱抗震性能的影响,包括破坏模式、滞回曲线、骨架曲线、承载力、延性、刚度和耗能。研究结果表明：相比普通RC墩柱的剪切破坏,SMA丝约束RC墩柱的破坏模式转变为具有一定延性的弯剪破坏或剪弯破坏;随着SMA丝配置率的增大,RC墩柱的抗剪承载力、延性和耗能能力均有所提升,抗震性能得到增强;预应力丝材提供更大的约束力,分担更多的剪力,提高核心混凝土的变形能力,增强RC墩柱的抗震性能。研究成果将为RC墩柱的加固和震后快速恢复提供新思路和试验基础。     

配置HRB600E高强钢筋的混凝土柱抗震性能试验研究

HRB600E钢筋是一种新型高强度钢筋,为改善矩形柱抗震性能并推广HRB600E级高强钢筋的应用,通过对6个配置HRB600E钢筋的不同轴压比、不同钢筋强度和纵筋配筋率的混凝土矩形柱进行低周往复荷载试验,得到试件的滞回曲线、骨架曲线和纵筋应变曲线。对比分析高强钢筋混凝土柱的破坏特征、滞回特性、骨架曲线、刚度退化等抗震性能指标。研究结果表明:配置HRB600E高强钢筋的混凝土柱的破坏特征与配置普通钢筋的混凝土柱相似;通过减小轴压比或增加钢筋强度均能改善配置HRB600E高强钢筋试件的滞回特性、减缓刚度退化、提高试件的抗震性能;配置高强钢筋的构件与高强混凝土配合使用时受力性能更优。     

Numerical assessment of new compound restrainer for seismic retrofit of bridges

This paper studies through numerical simulation a practical compound restrainer to use for the improvement of seismic performance of bridges. A mechanical model has been introduced for the restrainer and a basic optimisation approach has been conducted to evaluate the performance of the restrainer to changes in the properties of its components. A real 2-span simply supported plate girder bridge has been selected for case study. Using a detailed three-dimensional model, several non-linear time history analyses were performed under seismic excitations in order to assess the performance of the bridge retrofitted by conventional restrainers including linear and non-linear viscous dampers on one hand and the new compound restrainer, proposed in this study, on the other hand. The results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed compound restrainer in improving the seismic performance of the bridge by restricting its lateral displacement and applying smaller loads to the substructure. Moreover, noticing past earthquakes have shown the deficiencies of conventional restrainers, the new restrainer seems a suitable alternative since it has been successful in dissipating significant amount of seismic energy as well as reducing the internal forces induced in substructure.     

超弹性形状记忆合金棒的力学性能试验

将超弹性形状记忆合金（Shape Memory Alloy,简称SMA）圆截面棒材原料加工得到标准试件。针对上述SMA棒试件进行了拟静力试验,系统研究了应变幅值、加卸载速率、循环加卸载次数对其相变应力、等效刚度、单位循环耗能量、等效阻尼比和残余应变五个力学性能参数的影响。试验研究表明,SMA棒可提供较为理想的超弹性效应。同时,由试验结果亦可观察到SMA棒的耗能和阻尼能力较低。总的来看,超弹性SMA棒可提供较大的输出力和稳定的复位性能,适合作为大尺寸阻尼器的复位器件用于工程结构的减振控制。     

设置组合工字钢梁的自复位框架抗震性能试验研究

基于“可恢复功能抗震结构”的设计理念,设计并制作了一种设置组合工字钢梁的自复位框架,采用消能杆作为耗能元件,进行了由不同消能杆组成的4个自复位框架的低周往复荷载试验,在分析其受力机理的基础上,对比分析了结构的受力发展过程、耗能能力和卸载后的自复位能力。结果表明：各自复位框架的试验宏观现象基本相同,其荷载-位移滞回曲线均呈“双旗帜”形;锚固板开口后,框架的抗弯刚度由预应力钢绞线和消能杆提供;层间侧移角加载至4%时,骨架曲线仍无下降趋势,结构具有良好的承载能力和变形能力;自复位框架的塑性变形都集中于消能杆,更换消能杆后,结构的抗震性能得以迅速恢复,实现了震后易于修复的设计目标;通过对残余层间侧移角和等效黏滞阻尼系数的分析表明,结构具有良好的自复位能力和耗能能力,且框架的抗震性能主要由自复位参数确定。     

带约束拉杆钢板-混凝土组合剪力墙抗震性能试验研究

为研究带约束拉杆钢板-混凝土组合剪力墙的抗震性能,制作10个钢板之间采用八螺母螺栓连接的钢板-混凝土组合剪力墙试件并对其进行拟静力试验,研究试件的破坏模式、变形能力及耗能能力,得到试件的滞回曲线、承载力、骨架曲线、刚度退化曲线、位移延性系数以及累计耗能曲线等,分析高宽比、约束拉杆间距、钢板厚度、核心混凝土厚度、轴压比及边缘增设型钢对试件抗震性能的影响。结果表明：钢板之间采用八螺母螺栓连接可行,带约束拉杆钢板-混凝土组合剪力墙抗震性能较好,随高宽比降低、约束拉杆间距减小、钢板厚度增大、核心混凝土增厚及边缘增设型钢,其抗震性能增强;端部增设型钢可显著提高试件承载力;减小约束拉杆间距可显著提高试件的延性。     

六层两跨现浇柱预制梁框架抗震性能试验研究

以六层现浇柱叠合梁框架实际工程为原型,通过一榀1∶4比例的六层两跨现浇柱预制梁框架的低周反复荷载试验,对其受力过程、破坏形态、破坏机制、位移延性、滞回曲线、骨架曲线、刚度退化、耗能能力以及等效黏滞阻尼系数等进行了较系统的研究。结果表明:现浇柱预制梁框架在低周反复荷载下实现了强柱弱梁、强节点弱构件的设计目标;破坏机制为混合机制,即塑性铰首先在梁端出现,在二层梁端出现塑性铰后柱端才开始出现塑性铰,试件以二层柱脚混凝土部分压碎剥落、柱内纵筋压曲外露为破坏标志,节点核心区内的箍筋在整个试验过程中处于弹性状态;框架整体及层间的滞回曲线表现出一定的捏拢现象;框架正、反向整体位移延性系数分别为3.9和5.3,表明其在低周反复荷载下具有较好的位移延性。研究成果可为预制混凝土框架在地震区的推广应用提供技术依据和基础数据。     

小开洞砌体墙抗震性能研究

为研究小开洞砌体墙的抗震性能,设计了3片小开洞砌体墙试件和1片无洞口砌体墙试件,并进行了低周往复加载试验;介绍了砌体墙试件的主要破坏过程及破坏机理,对比分析了各片砌体墙承载力、抗侧刚度及延性等抗震性能差异;基于试验建立有限元模型,研究了开洞率及洞口位置对砌体墙抗震性能的影响。结果表明：小开洞砌体墙破坏机理较实体墙发生了显著改变,无洞口墙表现为明显的转动破坏特征,小开洞墙主要表现为典型的脆性剪切破坏;开单个小洞口会削弱砌体墙的水平承载力和抗侧刚度,大幅降低墙体的延性;增加洞口数量或高度可适当提高小开洞砌体墙的抗震性能;随着开洞率的增大,墙体承载力和初始刚度逐渐下降,延性性能表现为先降低后提高的趋势;竖直方向上,洞口越往下,墙体抗震性能越差,水平方向上,洞口宜居中布置。     

配置核心钢管的钢筋混凝土柱-钢骨混凝土梁组合框架抗震性能试验研究

进行两榀配置核心钢管的钢筋混凝土柱-钢骨混凝土梁组合框架试件在水平低周往复荷载作用下的试验研究,观察试验过程及破坏形态,研究试件的滞回特性、骨架曲线、刚度退化、耗能能力、残余变形等抗震性能,同时对梁柱端纵筋、钢骨翼缘及钢管在不同加载位移下的应变变化规律进行分析,得到框架结构的出铰顺序。研究结果表明：两榀框架滞回曲线饱满,施加预应力后仍具有较好的耗能能力和延性,表现出良好的抗震性能;框架柱底塑性铰区的钢管环向应变在整个加载过程中呈不均匀变化趋势,截面受压区钢管环向受拉,能够对受压区混凝土提供有效约束;钢骨混凝土梁由于施加预应力的作用,可延缓其裂缝的出现;此外,两榀框架试件均呈现“先梁端后柱底”的出铰顺序,能实现梁铰耗能机制,延迟柱底出铰时刻。     

Parametric study of seismic performance of super-elastic shape memory alloy-reinforced bridge piers

One of the important measures of post-earthquake functionality of bridges after a major earthquake is residual displacement. In many recent major earthquakes, large residual displacements resulted in demolition of bridge piers due to the loss of functionality. Replacing the conventional longitudinal steel reinforcement in the plastic hinge regions of bridge piers with super-elastic shape memory alloy (SMA) could significantly reduce residual deformations. In this study, numerical investigations on the performance of SMA-reinforced concrete (RC) bridge bents to monotonic and seismic loadings are presented. Incremental dynamic analyses are conducted to compare the response of SMA RC bents with steel RC bents considering the peak and the residual deformations after seismic events. Numerical study on multiple prototype bridge bents with single and multiple piers reinforced with super-elastic SMA or conventional steel bars in plastic hinge regions is conducted. Effects of replacement of the steel rebar by SMA rebar on the performance of the bridge bents are studied. This paper presents results of the parametrical analyses on the effects of various design and geometric parameters, such as the number and geometry of piers and reinforcement ratio of the RC SMA bridge bents on its performance.     

压-弯-剪-扭复合受力钢筋混凝土L形截面柱抗震性能试验研究

为研究压-弯-剪-扭复合受力下钢筋混凝土L形截面柱的抗震性能，以扭弯比、轴压比为变化参数，设计6个钢筋混凝土柱试件在恒定轴力和反复弯-剪-扭复合作用下的加载试验。观察试件的破坏过程和形态，得到其扭矩-扭转角滞回曲线和荷载-位移滞回曲线，以及试件的开裂点、峰值荷载点和破坏点等特征参数。基于试验数据，分析扭弯比和轴压比变化对钢筋混凝土L形截面柱的压碎区高度、钢筋应变、承载力、位移延性、层间侧移角、耗能能力、承载力及刚度退化等抗震性能指标的影响。结果表明：低周反复压-弯-剪-扭钢筋混凝土L形截面柱破坏形态表现为弯曲、弯扭和扭剪破坏，滞回曲线呈捏拢的S形，随着扭弯比的增大，柱根部压碎区高度变小，翼缘裂缝发展更为完善，纵筋应力增大，箍筋应力减少，开裂荷载和受扭承载力均有提高，试件扭转延性提高但位移延性降低，初始刚度较小且退化更为平稳；而轴压比则与受扭承载力和弯曲刚度密切相关，轴压比越大，受扭承载力越大，弯曲刚度提高；试件弯曲耗能的等效黏滞阻尼系数在0.08~0.28之间，扭转耗能的等效黏滞阻尼系数为0.13~0.23，试件耗能占比由初期扭转耗能为主向弯曲耗能转变，L形截面柱性能水平对应的层间位移角均能满足相关规范要求。扭矩的存在对试件抗震性能削弱较大。     

两层两跨现浇柱叠合梁框架抗震性能试验研究

以六层现浇柱叠合梁框架底部两层为原型,通过一榀1/2比例的两层两跨现浇柱叠合梁框架低周反复荷载试验,对其受力过程、破坏形态、破坏机制、恢复力模型、变形恢复能力、位移延性、滞回特性、刚度退化、耗能能力等进行了较系统的研究。研究表明:参照现浇混凝土框架抗震设计方法设计的现浇柱叠合梁框架实现了强柱弱梁、强节点弱构件的设计目标;框架的破坏机制为混合机制,即塑性铰首先在一层梁端出现,在一层梁端出现3个塑性铰后柱端出现塑性铰,试件以柱脚混凝土压溃、柱内纵筋压曲外露为破坏标志;在试件受力全过程中,节点核心区箍筋一直处于弹性状态;框架整体及层间的滞回曲线均较为饱满,表明现浇柱叠合梁框架具有良好的耗能能力;框架正、反向的整体位移延性系数分别为5.1和4.2,表明其在低周反复荷载下具有较好的位移延性;得到了四折线型的框架水平荷载-侧移恢复力模型。     

基于SMA/ECC的新型自复位框架节#br# 点抗震性能试验研究

为了提高框架节点塑性铰区损伤自修复自复位能力,减小结构的残余变形,实现框架结构震后结构功能的快速恢复,文章采用超弹性SMA筋和超高韧性纤维增强水泥基复合材料(ECC)增强RC框架节点的抗震性能。设计制作了5个1/2缩尺比例框架节点,其中2个为考虑了梁端塑性铰区不同长度的SMA增强ECC节点模型,3个为对比节点模型,即普通混凝土节点、ECC增强混凝土节点和SMA增强混凝土节点。在新型SMA/ECC节点梁端塑性铰区,采用超弹性NiTi-SMA筋代替普通纵筋、ECC代替普通混凝土以增强其复位能力和耗能能力。通过低周往复加载试验,研究了新型节点的破坏过程、耗能能力、位移延性、残余变形和自复位性能。试验结果研究表明：往复荷载作用下,SMA节点均呈现“旗帜形”滞回性能,具有良好的自复位能力;ECC材料够优化框架节点梁端塑性铰的发展,提高结构的延性及耗能能力,延缓结构的屈服;SMA/ECC复合材料系统虽然会降低结构的初始刚度,但能够显著提高节点的延性及自复位能力,延缓刚度退化速度,提高结构抗侧移能力,可以实现结构损伤自修复和功能的快速恢复;覆盖梁端塑性铰区,SMA的长度的改变对自复位性能影响不大。     

Evaluation on the behavior of abutment-pile connection in integral abutment bridge

Integral abutment bridges can reduce the amount and cost of construction and maintenance work since they do not have expansion joints and shoes in order to increase stability and durability of the bridges’ system. Integral abutment bridges normally have single-row H-pile systems to resist the behaviors under service loading conditions such as thermal loading. In order to transfer member forces between abutments and H-pile, the abutment-pile connection in the integral abutment bridge should have rigid behavior. Therefore, the installation of reinforcing bars and minimum installed length of the piles in the concrete abutment are required to resist bearing force and deformation caused by shear forces and bending moments. This study examines the abutment-pile connections in the integral abutment bridge to improve the shear and bearing resistance of concrete abutment and constructability of abutment-pile connections for the single-row H-pile system with weak axis. Three types of new abutment-pile connections are proposed in this study. They feature transverse reinforcing bars perforated in H-pile, stud connectors, and perfobond rib connectors on the flange of H-pile, respectively. They are intended to increase the stiffness and strength so that they will better resist the bearing force caused by deformations and rotations at abutment H-pile concrete. Loading tests and FE analysis were conducted to evaluate the stiffness and behaviors of proposed connections for half scale abutment-H-pile connection specimens. From the test results, proposed abutment-H-pile connections were evaluated to secure sufficient stiffness, rotational stiffness, and bearing strength.     

Experimental evaluation of seismic performance of low‐shear strength masonry infills with openings in reinforced concrete frames with deficient seismic details

The influence of openings on lateral behaviour of low‐shear strength masonry infilled reinforced concrete frames is investigated. The design of the reinforced concrete frames in this study are aimed to reflect common seismic design deficiencies, such as location of lap splices at bottom of columns, insufficient transverse reinforcements at column and beam ends and lack of stirrups at beam‐column joints. Six half‐scale single‐storey, single‐bay frame specimens were tested under in‐plane lateral loading. The investigated parameters include shape (window and door), size (regular and large windows) and location of the openings (eccentric and central). The results indicate that presence of openings alters the failure mode, increases the damage level and reduces ductility, strength and stiffness of the infilled frame. The door opening led to reductions of 29% in strength, 34% in the effective stiffness and 23% in the energy dissipation capacity. The window openings led to average reductions of 23% in strength, 8% in effective stiffness and 11% in the energy dissipation capacity. Empirical equations are proposed for estimating overall reductions in stiffness and strength of infilled frames because of the presence of openings, which take into account the effects of size, shape and location of openings. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of a novel bent-up bars system not interacting with concrete

Increasing the bending and shear capacities of reinforced concrete members is an interesting issue in structural engineering. In recent years, many studies have been carried out to improve capacities of reinforced concrete members such as using post and pre-tensioning, Fiber Reinforced Polymer and other techniques. This paper proposes a novel and significant technique to increase the flexural capacity of simply supported reinforced concrete beams. The proposed method uses a new reinforcement bar system having bent-up bars, covered with rubber tubes. This technique will avoid interaction of bent-up bars with concrete. They are located in the zone where compressive and tensile forces act against one another. The compressive force in the upper point of the bent-up bars is exerted to the end point of these bars located under neutral axis. Moreover, the tensile stress is decreased in reinforcements located under the neutral axis. This will cause the Reinforced Concrete (RC) beam to endure extra loading before reaching yield stress. These factors may well be considered as reasons to increase bending capacity in the new system. The laboratory work together with finite element method analysis were carried out in this investigation. Furthermore, bending capacity, ductility, strength, and cracking zone were assessed for the new proposed system and compared with the conventional model. Both the FEM simulation and the experimental test results revealed that the proposed system has significant impact in increasing the load bearing capacity and the stiffness of the RC beams. In the present study, an equation is formulated to calculate bending capacity of a new reinforcement bar system beam.