A structure may subject to several aftershocks after a mainshock. In many seismic design provisions, the effect of the seismic sequences is not directly considered or underestimated. This paper studies the seismic behavior of RC moment-resisting structures with concrete shear wall under seismic sequences. Two three-dimensional structures of short and medium height were designed and analyzed. The former models were studied under a group of real mainshock-aftershock seismic sequences. The models were loaded and designed according to the fourth edition of the Iranian seismic code of standard no. 2800 and ACI-318 respectively. Furthermore, the non-linear dynamic time-history finite element analysis of models was performed via the explicit method. The parameters of maximum displacement, inter-story drift ratio, residual displacement, and finally the effect of the ratio of aftershock acceleration to mainshock acceleration were investigated and assessed. Due to the high lateral stiffness of shear walls, parallel with the complete elastic behavior, aftershocks cause no growth in inter-story drift ratio and relative displacement in the short structure model. In contrast, compared to the structure under the solely mainshock, the medium height structure model under seismic sequences showed significant growth in the amount of relative displacement (even more than 50% growth), inter-story drift ratio, plastic strain, and residual displacement (almost 30% growth). Furthermore, unlike the moment-resisting frame structures, models showed no significant growth in the drift ratio with the height. Assessments indicated that the ratio of aftershock to mainshock acceleration is a determinative parameter in structural behavior under seismic sequences.

No abstract

A mainshock is usually accompanied by a group of ground motions. In many design codes, the effects of the seismic sequences have been neglected or underestimated. Aftershocks can increase structural damage or even cause failure. The current study evaluated the seismic behavior of a rehabilitated and as-built RC structure under real scaled mainshock-aftershocks using nonlinear analysis. Verification was done in two modes. The inter-story drift ratio, maximum residual, and relative displacements were studied. The seismic study of the as-built structure showed that the residual displacement grew, on average, more than 90% under the mainshock-aftershock sequence compared to the mainshock-only record. A beam-column bonded CFRP rehabilitation strategy using six layers of T-700 CFRP was chosen based on the specific performance level. The strategy showed the ability to transfer the plastic strain from the columns to the beams, which could be considered as a change from a weak column-strong beam concept to a strong column-weak beam concept. Compared to the as-built structure under the seismic sequences, the rehabilitated structure showed an average growth of 78% in the first-story drift ratio, which was significant. Unlike the as-built structure, seismic sequences caused no growth drift in the rehabilitated structure. It also was observed that the ratio of aftershock PGA to mainshock PGA could have an intensive effect on the seismic behavior of both rehabilitated and as-built structures.

No abstract

Shear walls are commonly used in areas with moderate to high seismic hazards. They are cost-effective, simple, and significantly reduce the relative displacement. Accurate non-linear assessments of shear wall structures require highly detailed models and finite element (FE) analyses. The inclusion of analyses on the cumulative damage and damage evolution like seismic sequences adds a higher level of complexity to the assessments. Here, an equivalent shell-wire model is used to propose a simple, accurate technique with less computational cost. The areas under the capacity curves were modeled using 3D solid and equivalent shell-wall models and revealed only a 4.48% difference with a 50% difference in computational cost. The hysteresis curves of the experimental and equivalent shell-wire models showed good agreement. To examine the cumulative damage, damage evolution, strength and stiffness degradation of the model, a six-story structure was designed and analyzed under seven mainshocks-aftershocks in both cases of 3D solid and equivalent shell-wire models. The results showed that increasing the plastic strain or damage increased the difference between the results of the models, but this was negligible. Besides the accurate and appropriate results of the equivalent shell-wire model, it required about 39% less computational cost than the 3D solid model.

On Mars, structural loads and the low tensile strength of in-place Martian binders make existing solutions for Martian structures uneconomical because they are based on the terrestrial sources like inflatable units. Here we address this issue by introducing and analyzing three innovative structural forms in accordance with the structural engineering point of view using symmetric optimum parabolic rotated arch shapes and in-place waterless sulfur-based concrete. These forms minimize the tensile stresses under Martian structural loads. Probable Martian structural loads, including gravity, wind, marsquakes, asteroid and meteoroid impact loads and their effects have been investigated and calculated. The proposed models were analyzed under Martian structural loads using the implicit finite element method and the results were compared to two concrete structural forms from previous studies. The proposed models could tolerate Martian structural loads with complete elastic behavior and would significantly decrease the Martian colonization cost due to using Martian resources and reduce element importing from Earth.

A structure may subject to several aftershocks after a mainshock. In many seismic design provisions, the effect of the seismic sequences is not directly considered or underestimated. This paper studies the seismic behavior of RC moment-resisting structures with concrete shear wall under seismic sequences. Two three-dimensional structures of short and medium height were designed and analyzed. The former models were studied under a group of real mainshock-aftershock seismic sequences. The models were loaded and designed according to the fourth edition of the Iranian seismic code of standard no. 2800 and ACI-318 respectively. Furthermore, the non-linear dynamic time-history finite element analysis of models was performed via the explicit method. The parameters of maximum displacement, inter-story drift ratio, residual displacement, and finally the effect of the ratio of aftershock acceleration to mainshock acceleration were investigated and assessed. Due to the high lateral stiffness of shear walls, parallel with the complete elastic behavior, aftershocks cause no growth in inter-story drift ratio and relative displacement in the short structure model. In contrast, compared to the structure under the solely mainshock, the medium height structure model under seismic sequences showed significant growth in the amount of relative displacement (even more than 50% growth), inter-story drift ratio, plastic strain, and residual displacement (almost 30% growth). Furthermore, unlike the moment-resisting frame structures, models showed no significant growth in the drift ratio with the height. Assessments indicated that the ratio of aftershock to mainshock acceleration is a determinative parameter in structural behavior under seismic sequences.

No abstract