A large number of column-bracing systems were modeled and analyzed by second-order analysis using finite element program ANSYS,in which the random combination of the initial imperfections between columns and horizonta...A large number of column-bracing systems were modeled and analyzed by second-order analysis using finite element program ANSYS,in which the random combination of the initial imperfections between columns and horizontal braces was well considered by Monte Carlo Method.According to the analysis results,four kinds of instability modes of column-bracing systems were found,the probability density function of the mid-height horizontal bracing forces was established based on probability statistics,and the design bracing forces were also obtained.The results indicated that the above design bracing forces are smaller than that proposed by the "Code for design of steel structures"(GB50017-2003) when the top axial compressions on the braced columns are equal,and much smaller than the latter when the top axial compressions on the braced columns are unequal.The results also indicated that the random combination of the initial imperfections between columns and horizontal braces leads to the randomness of the mid-height horizontal bracing forces in compression or in tension,so that the design bracing forces can be reduced.展开更多
Curved twin I-girder bridges (CTIGBs) have low torsional stiffness that makes them vulnerable to dynamic loads. This study investigates the effects of bottom bracings on the torsional dynamic characteristics of CTIGBs...Curved twin I-girder bridges (CTIGBs) have low torsional stiffness that makes them vulnerable to dynamic loads. This study investigates the effects of bottom bracings on the torsional dynamic characteristics of CTIGBs. Five types of bottom bracings are designed to investigate their effects on the dynamic characteristics of CTIGBs with different curvatures under free and forced vibrations. To perform numerical investigations, three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) bridge and vehicle models are established using commercial ANSYS code, and then a vehicle-bridge interaction analysis approach is proposed. Road roughness profiles generated from power spectral density and cross spectral functions are also taken into account in the analyses. The numerical results show that torsional frequencies increase significantly after providing bottom bracings, and the increasing rate depends on the type of bottom bracings and their locations of installation. Bottom bracings can act as load transmitting members from one main girder to the others. Large negative bearing forces that have occurred in bridges with small radii of curvatures can be remarkably reduced by providing bottom bracing systems. It is found that the performances of several bottom bracing systems are effective in improving the torsional dynamic characteristics of the bridges in this study.展开更多
The development of an innovative structural system with satisfactory seismic performance of braced systems is an important and challenging area of interest in structural engineering. In this paper, a device that can r...The development of an innovative structural system with satisfactory seismic performance of braced systems is an important and challenging area of interest in structural engineering. In this paper, a device that can release the compressive force in the bracing members is developed, and its performance is evaluated. For comparison, four steel braced RC frames were constructed and tested under reverse cyclic loads. Two of them had different amounts of bracing and the other two had the same amount of bracing but incorporated different type of device, called compression release device, which is developed and described in this paper. It can be concluded from the test results that the newly developed device can effectively be used in steel braced systems to prevent buckling failure of the bracing members. Therefore, the device enhances the ductility of brace-framed systems by allowing an adequate capacity for energy dissipation.展开更多
The knee bracing steel frame (KBF) is a new kind of energy dissipating frame, which combines excellent ductility and lateral stiffness. As the structural fuse of the frame, the knee element will yield first during a s...The knee bracing steel frame (KBF) is a new kind of energy dissipating frame, which combines excellent ductility and lateral stiffness. As the structural fuse of the frame, the knee element will yield first during a severe earthquake so that no damage occurs to the major structural members and the rehabilitation is easy and economical. To help fully understand the relations be- tween its seismic performance and the structural parameters, systematic elastoplastic analysis of the KBF structure with finite element method was conducted in this work. Finally, general design recommendations were made according to the results of the analysis.展开更多
Determining initial pretension values of pre-stressed cables is one of the key problems for a steel mega frame and pre-stressed composite bracing structure.Through the mechanical analysis of the composite bracing unde...Determining initial pretension values of pre-stressed cables is one of the key problems for a steel mega frame and pre-stressed composite bracing structure.Through the mechanical analysis of the composite bracing under vertical loading,the critical factors deciding the initial pretention value were found.According to these factors,a rule for the initial pretension value was put forward.The determination equations were acquired based on the principle of force equilibrium at nodes.The numerical results indicate that the internal force disequilibrium in composite bracings resulted from symmetrical load can be eliminated only in a symmetrical way,so that initial pretention values are decided only by vertical loads.The influencing coefficient leveling method,taking into account interactions between story and story,is accurate and feasible.展开更多
Background:Scoliosis secondary to neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1)in children aged<10 years is an important etiology of earlyonset scoliosis(EOS).This study was performed to investigate the curve evolution of patients...Background:Scoliosis secondary to neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1)in children aged<10 years is an important etiology of earlyonset scoliosis(EOS).This study was performed to investigate the curve evolution of patients with EOS secondary to NF1 undergoing bracing treatment and to analyze high-risk indicators of rapid curve progression.Methods:Children with EOS due to NF1 who underwent bracing treatment from 2010 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.The angle velocity(AV)at each visit was calculated,and patients with rapid curve progression(AV of>10°/year)were identified.The age at modulation and the AV before and after modulation were obtained.Patients with(n=18)and without rapid curve progression(n=10)were statistically compared.Results:Twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 6.5±1.9 years at the initial visit were reviewed.The mean Cobb angle of the main curve was 41.7°±2.4°at the initial visit and increased to 67.1°±8.6°during a mean follow-up of 44.1±8.5 months.The overall AV was 6.6°±2.4°/year for all patients.At the last follow-up,all patients presented curve progression of>5°,and 20(71%)patients had progressed by>20°.Rapid curve progression was observed in 18(64%)patients and was associated with younger age at the initial visit and a higher incidence of modulation change during follow-up(t=2.868,P=0.008 and<0.001,respectively).The mean AV was 4.4°±1.2°/year before modulation and 11.8°±2.7°/year after modulation(t=11.477,P<0.010).Conclusions:Curve progression of>10°/year is associated with younger age at the initial visit,and modulation change indicated the occurrence of the rapid curve progression phase.展开更多
BACKGROUND Malignant obstructive jaundice(MOJ)is characterized by the presence of malignant tumors infiltrating or compressing the bile duct,causing poor bile drainage,generalized yellowing,pain,itching,and malaise.MO...BACKGROUND Malignant obstructive jaundice(MOJ)is characterized by the presence of malignant tumors infiltrating or compressing the bile duct,causing poor bile drainage,generalized yellowing,pain,itching,and malaise.MOJ is burdensome for both the society and the families of affected patients and should be taken seriously.AIM To evaluate the clinical effect of stent placement during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for relieving MOJ and the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in terms of liver function improvement,complication rates,and long-term patient outcomes.METHODS The clinical data of 59 patients with MOJ who were admitted to our hospital between March 2018 and August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the treatment method,the patients were divided into an observation group(29 patients)and a control group(30 patients).General data,liver function indices,complications,adverse effects,and 3-year survival rates after different surgical treatments were recorded for the two groups.RESULTS There were no significant differences in baseline information(sex,age,tumor type,or tumor diameter)between the two groups(P>0.05).Alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and total bilirubin levels were significantly better in both groups after surgery than before surgery(P<0.05).The overall incidence of biliary bleeding,gastrointestinal bleeding,pancreatitis,and cholangitis was 6.9%in the observation group and 30%in the control group(P<0.05).No significant differences in the rates of blood transfusion,intensive care unit admission,or death within 3 years were observed between the two groups at the 1-month follow-up(P>0.05).The 3-year survival rates were 46.06%and 39.71%in the observation and control groups,respectively.CONCLUSION Endoscopic biliary stenting effectively relieves MOJ and significantly improves liver function,with minimal complications.This technique is a promising palliative approach for patients ineligible for radical surgery.However,further research is needed to optimize current treatment strategies and to explore their potential in treating nonmalignant cases of obstructive jaundice.展开更多
Actuator dynamics introduce a synchronization disparity between commanded displacements transmitted to the actuator and the actual displacements generated by the actuator,thereby affecting its precision and potentiall...Actuator dynamics introduce a synchronization disparity between commanded displacements transmitted to the actuator and the actual displacements generated by the actuator,thereby affecting its precision and potentially leading to instability in real-time hybrid simulation(RTHS).This study aims to elucidate the relationship between calculated and measured displacements by analyzing their magnitude and phase in the frequency domain via transformations.The physical implications of these relationships are explored in the context of frequency domain evaluation indices(FEI),the transfer function of actuator dynamics,and delay compensation.Formulations for achieving perfect compensation of actuator dynamics are developed,and an enhanced compensation approach,termed improved windowed frequency domain evaluation index-based compensation(IWFEI),is introduced.The efficacy of IWFEI is assessed using a RTHS benchmark model,with perturbed simulations conducted to validate its robustness.Uncertainties inherent in actuator dynamics are represented as random variables in these simulations.Comparative analysis of the mean values and variances of evaluation criteria demonstrates that IWFEI enables more accurate and robust compensation.Furthermore,strong correlations observed among criteria in the time and frequency domains underscore the effectiveness of the proposed frequency domain-based compensation method in mitigating amplitude errors and phase delays in RTHS.展开更多
Structures modelled with flexible-base assumptions,incorporating soil effects,generally exhibit longer natural periods and higher damping compared to fixed-base models that exclude soil-structure interaction(SSI).Howe...Structures modelled with flexible-base assumptions,incorporating soil effects,generally exhibit longer natural periods and higher damping compared to fixed-base models that exclude soil-structure interaction(SSI).However,the beneficial or detrimental nature of SSI remains contentious in current earthquake damage analyses and research findings.This study introduces a numerical modelling technique,validated by experimental shaking table tests,to examine the effects of SSI on high-rise buildings.The study considers various substructure parameters,including foundation types,soil types,and bedrock depths.Both advantageous and adverse impacts of SSI are identified and analysed.Numerical simulations reveal that increased subsoil stiffness significantly amplifies the base shear of structures compared to bedrock depth effects.Additionally,increased foundation rocking results in higher inter-storey drifts and reduced base shear.Overall,SSI tends to amplify inter-storey drifts,indicating detrimental effects.Specifically,the study found that the inclusion of SSI increased maximum inter-storey drifts by up to 38%,particularly in softer soils,while reducing base shear by up to 44%in structures with classical compensated foundations on D_(e)and E_(e)soil types.In contrast,piled foundation systems experienced an increase in base shear of up to 27%under the same conditions.Conversely,SSI has beneficial impacts on base shear for structures with classical compensated foundations on soil types of D_(e)and E_(e),as it reduces the base shear.For structures with piled foundations and those with classical compensated foundations on C_(e)soil,SSI effects are detrimental.C_(e),D_(e),and E_(e)soils correspond to geotechnical classifications per AS1170,representing stiff,medium,and soft soils respectively.The study also presents minimum base shear ratios considering SSI reduction effects for various foundation types.展开更多
The current deep learning models for braced excavation cannot predict deformation from the beginning of excavation due to the need for a substantial corpus of sufficient historical data for training purposes.To addres...The current deep learning models for braced excavation cannot predict deformation from the beginning of excavation due to the need for a substantial corpus of sufficient historical data for training purposes.To address this issue,this study proposes a transfer learning model based on a sequence-to-sequence twodimensional(2D)convolutional long short-term memory neural network(S2SCL2D).The model can use the existing data from other adjacent similar excavations to achieve wall deflection prediction once a limited amount of monitoring data from the target excavation has been recorded.In the absence of adjacent excavation data,numerical simulation data from the target project can be employed instead.A weight update strategy is proposed to improve the prediction accuracy by integrating the stochastic gradient masking with an early stopping mechanism.To illustrate the proposed methodology,an excavation project in Hangzhou,China is adopted.The proposed deep transfer learning model,which uses either adjacent excavation data or numerical simulation data as the source domain,shows a significant improvement in performance when compared to the non-transfer learning model.Using the simulation data from the target project even leads to better prediction performance than using the actual monitoring data from other adjacent excavations.The results demonstrate that the proposed model can reasonably predict the deformation with limited data from the target project.展开更多
This study numerically investigates the seismic response of a nine-story self-centering concentrically braced frame building incorporating force-limiting connections between the floor system and the lateral force-resi...This study numerically investigates the seismic response of a nine-story self-centering concentrically braced frame building incorporating force-limiting connections between the floor system and the lateral force-resisting system.Nonlinear earthquake simulations are conducted under design basis earthquake ground motions,and the results are compared against a baseline model with rigid-elastic connections.The study discusses connection design considerations and evaluates the effectiveness of force-limiting connections in mitigating higher-mode effects.The findings show that force-limiting connections significantly reduce the magnitude and variability of floor accelerations,brace forces,and connection forces,while maintaining comparable story drifts.limiting Force-connections primarily reduce the contribution of higher-mode responses,while the controlled rocking base mechanism modifies the first-mode response.Overall,the reduced dispersion in structural response improves the reliability of seismic design and enhances resilience by minimizing damage to both structural components and acceleration-sensitive nonstructural elements.展开更多
Self-centering systems are increasingly studied after devastating earthquakes in the 2010s that caused irreparable damage to buildings.Currently,there is conflicting evidence as to whether the re-centering(restoring)c...Self-centering systems are increasingly studied after devastating earthquakes in the 2010s that caused irreparable damage to buildings.Currently,there is conflicting evidence as to whether the re-centering(restoring)capabilities are gained at the expense of hysteretic damping,potentially leading to larger peak displacements and damage to non-structural elements.This study examines the earthquake response of self-centering and non-self-centering systems through analyses of 4-storey and 8-storey steel-braced frames.The Resilient Slip Friction Joint(RSFJ)dampers,combined with steel braces in series,represent the self-centering bracing system,whereas the Buckling Restrained Braces(BRBs)represent the non-self-centering bracing system.Results suggest that peak displacements,base shears,and floor accelerations were comparable between the two systems.A possible explanation is that the peak response occurs on the first major excursion;similar peaks result from similar backbone curves in the run-up to the peak.Conversely,the amount of hysteretic damping only begins to affect the post-peak behavior.For instance,the RSFJ system reintroduces seismic energy into the structure post-peak(rather than dissipating it like the BRB).Subsequently,it leads to larger vibration amplitudes about the central position,increasing the risk of secondary peaks.This contrasts with the BRB system,which exhibits smaller vibration amplitudes about an increasingly deformed position due to seismic ratcheting.Unsurprisingly,residual deformations were high for the BRBs(1.7%on average)and negligible for the RSFJ.However,RSFJ produced smaller peak inter-storey drifts between 13%–18%but higher peak accelerations by 4%–5%.The results suggest that multi-storey braced frames could be designed with similar or smaller forces when self-centering systems are used.展开更多
Operative management of humeral shaft fractures demonstrates superior early functional recovery(6-month Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder,and Hand scores)and significantly lower nonunion rates(63.9%reduction)compared t...Operative management of humeral shaft fractures demonstrates superior early functional recovery(6-month Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder,and Hand scores)and significantly lower nonunion rates(63.9%reduction)compared to functional bracing,particularly in complex cases,while conservative treatment remains viable for low-demand patients.Surgical techniques,including open reduction internal fixation,intramedullary nailing,and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis,offer trade-offs between anatomic precision and complication risks(e.g.,radial nerve injury vs rotator cuff damage),with over 90%of radial nerve injuries resolving spontaneously.Ultrasound-guided diagnosis(89%sensitivity,95%specificity)optimizes decision-making for nerve entrapment.Individualized treatment selection,prioritizing fracture complexity and patient needs,is critical to balance accelerated rehabilitation with minimized complications.展开更多
In this study, four 1/5 scaled shaking table tests were conducted to investigate the seismic performance of recycled concrete frame-shear wall structures with different recycled aggregates replacement rates and concea...In this study, four 1/5 scaled shaking table tests were conducted to investigate the seismic performance of recycled concrete frame-shear wall structures with different recycled aggregates replacement rates and concealed bracing detail. The four tested structures included one normal concrete model, one recycled coarse aggregate concrete model, and two recycled coarse and fi ne aggregate concrete models with or without concealed bracings inside the shear walls. The dynamic characteristics, dynamic response and failure mode of each model were compared and analyzed. Finite element models were also developed and nonlinear time-history response analysis was conducted. The test and analysis results show that the seismic performance of the recycled coarse aggregate concrete frame-shear wall structure is slightly worse than the normal concrete structure. The seismic resistance capacity of the recycled concrete frame-shear wall structure can be greatly improved by setting up concealed bracings inside the walls. With appropriate design, the recycled coarse aggregate concrete frame-shear wall structure and recycled concrete structure with concealed bracings inside the walls can be applied in buildings.展开更多
Because nearby construction has harmful effects,precisely predicting blast-induced ground vibration is critical.In this paper,a hybrid artificial bee colony(ABC)and support vector machine(SVM)model was proposed for pr...Because nearby construction has harmful effects,precisely predicting blast-induced ground vibration is critical.In this paper,a hybrid artificial bee colony(ABC)and support vector machine(SVM)model was proposed for predicting the value of peak particle velocity(PPV),which is used to describe blast-induced ground vibration.To construct the model,5 potentially relevant factors,including controllable and uncontrollable parameters,were considered as input parameters,and PPV was set as the output parameter.Forty-five samples were recorded from the Hongling lead-zinc mine.An ABC-SVM model was developed and trained on 35 samples via 5-fold cross-validation(CV).A testing set(10 samples)was used to evaluate the prediction performance of the ABC-SVM model.SVM and four empirical models(United States Bureau of Mines(USBM),Amraseys-Hendron(A-H),Langefors-Kihstrom(L-K),and Central Mining Research Institute(CMRI))also were introduced for comparison.Next,the performances of the models were analyzed by using 3 statistical parameters:the correlation coefficient(R2),root-mean-square error(RMSE),and variance accounted for(VAF).ABC-SVM had the highest R2 and VAF values followed by the SVM,A-H,USBM,CMRI,and L-K methods.The results demonstrated that ABC-SVM outperformed SVM and the empirical predictors for predicting PPV.Moreover,the best results from the R2,RMSE,and VAF indices were 0.9628,0.2737,and 96.05%for the ABC-SVM model.The sensitivities of the parameters also were investigated,and the height difference between the blast point and the monitoring station was found to be the parameter that had the most influence on PPV.展开更多
This study investigates the efficiency of two types of rehabilitation methods based on economic justification that can lead to logical decision making between the retrofitting schemes. Among various rehabilitation met...This study investigates the efficiency of two types of rehabilitation methods based on economic justification that can lead to logical decision making between the retrofitting schemes. Among various rehabilitation methods, concentric chevron bracing（CCB） and cylindrical friction damper（CFD） were selected. The performance assessment procedure of the frames is divided into two distinct phases. First, the limit state probabilities of the structures before and after rehabilitation are investigated. In the second phase, the seismic risk of structures in terms of life safety and financial losses（decision variables） using the recently published FEMA P58 methodology is evaluated. The results show that the proposed retrofitting methods improve the serviceability and life safety performance levels of steel and RC structures at different rates when subjected to earthquake loads. Moreover, these procedures reveal that financial losses are greatly decreased, and were more tangible by the application of CFD rather than using CCB. Although using both retrofitting methods reduced damage state probabilities, incorporation of a site-specific seismic hazard curve to evaluate mean annual occurrence frequency at the collapse prevention limit state caused unexpected results to be obtained. Contrary to CFD, the collapse probability of the structures retrofitted with CCB increased when compared with the primary structures.展开更多
Modern Earthquake Risk Assessment（ERA） methods usually require seismo-tectonic information for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment（PSHA） that may not be readily available in developing countries. To bypass thi...Modern Earthquake Risk Assessment（ERA） methods usually require seismo-tectonic information for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment（PSHA） that may not be readily available in developing countries. To bypass this drawback, this paper presents a practical event-based PSHA method that uses instrumental seismicity, available historical seismicity, as well as limited information on geology and tectonic setting. Historical seismicity is integrated with instrumental seismicity to determine the long-term hazard. The tectonic setting is included by assigning seismic source zones associated with known major faults. Monte Carlo simulations are used to generate earthquake catalogues with randomized key hazard parameters. A case study region in Pakistan is selected to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The results indicate that the proposed method produces seismic hazard maps consistent with previous studies, thus being suitable for generating such maps in regions where limited data are available. The PSHA procedure is developed as an integral part of an ERA framework named EQRAM. The framework is also used to determine seismic risk in terms of annual losses for the study region.展开更多
This study describes the seismic performance of an existing five storey reinforced concrete building which represents the typical properties of low-rise non-ductile buildings in Turkey. The effectiveness of shear wall...This study describes the seismic performance of an existing five storey reinforced concrete building which represents the typical properties of low-rise non-ductile buildings in Turkey. The effectiveness of shear walls and the steel bracings in retrofitting the building was examined through nonlinear static and dynamic analyses. By using the nonlinear static analysis, retrofitted buildings seismic performances under lateral seismic load were compared with each other. Moreover, the performance points and response levels of the existing and retrofitting cases were determined by way of the capacity-spectrum method described in ATC-40 (1996). For the nonlinear dynamic analysis the records were selected to represent wide ranges of duration and frequency content. Considering the change in the stiffness and the energy dissipation capacities, the performance of the existing and retrofitted buildings were evaluated in terms of story drifts and damage states. It was found that each earthquake record exhibited its own peculiarities, dictated by frequency content, duration, sequence of peaks and their amplitude. The seismic performance of retrofitted buildings resulted in lower displacements and higher energy dissipation capacity depending mainly on the properties of the ground motions and the retrofitting strategies. Moreover, severe structural damage (irreparable or collapse) was observed for the existing building. However, buildings with retrofit alternatives exhibited lower damage levels changing from no damage to irreparable damage states.展开更多
The 8-node iso-parametric thin shell element was employed in the study of stress concentrations in the welded tubular “K” joint. Element equilibrium equations were derived using isoparametric formulation based on th...The 8-node iso-parametric thin shell element was employed in the study of stress concentrations in the welded tubular “K” joint. Element equilibrium equations were derived using isoparametric formulation based on thin shell theory. After assembly, the resulting system equations were solved using existing fortran programs. Numerical experiments were conducted to isolate and locate ideal gap (positions) for the two braces of the “K” joint. The nominal stresses were calculated from which stress concentration factors were obtained. The resulting stress concentration factors were presented both as tables and as figures. A good agreement between our solutions and those for model joints in the literature is good and acceptable. It was found that the wider apart the brace spacing is, the weaker the strength of the joint. It was also found that the best location for the braces occurs when the stress level changes sign either from positive to negative or vice versa at a critical sampling point.展开更多
基金Sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51008055)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.20100471124)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.DL09BB09)the Heilongjiang Province Postdoctoral Sicence Foundation
文摘A large number of column-bracing systems were modeled and analyzed by second-order analysis using finite element program ANSYS,in which the random combination of the initial imperfections between columns and horizontal braces was well considered by Monte Carlo Method.According to the analysis results,four kinds of instability modes of column-bracing systems were found,the probability density function of the mid-height horizontal bracing forces was established based on probability statistics,and the design bracing forces were also obtained.The results indicated that the above design bracing forces are smaller than that proposed by the "Code for design of steel structures"(GB50017-2003) when the top axial compressions on the braced columns are equal,and much smaller than the latter when the top axial compressions on the braced columns are unequal.The results also indicated that the random combination of the initial imperfections between columns and horizontal braces leads to the randomness of the mid-height horizontal bracing forces in compression or in tension,so that the design bracing forces can be reduced.
文摘Curved twin I-girder bridges (CTIGBs) have low torsional stiffness that makes them vulnerable to dynamic loads. This study investigates the effects of bottom bracings on the torsional dynamic characteristics of CTIGBs. Five types of bottom bracings are designed to investigate their effects on the dynamic characteristics of CTIGBs with different curvatures under free and forced vibrations. To perform numerical investigations, three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) bridge and vehicle models are established using commercial ANSYS code, and then a vehicle-bridge interaction analysis approach is proposed. Road roughness profiles generated from power spectral density and cross spectral functions are also taken into account in the analyses. The numerical results show that torsional frequencies increase significantly after providing bottom bracings, and the increasing rate depends on the type of bottom bracings and their locations of installation. Bottom bracings can act as load transmitting members from one main girder to the others. Large negative bearing forces that have occurred in bridges with small radii of curvatures can be remarkably reduced by providing bottom bracing systems. It is found that the performances of several bottom bracing systems are effective in improving the torsional dynamic characteristics of the bridges in this study.
文摘The development of an innovative structural system with satisfactory seismic performance of braced systems is an important and challenging area of interest in structural engineering. In this paper, a device that can release the compressive force in the bracing members is developed, and its performance is evaluated. For comparison, four steel braced RC frames were constructed and tested under reverse cyclic loads. Two of them had different amounts of bracing and the other two had the same amount of bracing but incorporated different type of device, called compression release device, which is developed and described in this paper. It can be concluded from the test results that the newly developed device can effectively be used in steel braced systems to prevent buckling failure of the bracing members. Therefore, the device enhances the ductility of brace-framed systems by allowing an adequate capacity for energy dissipation.
基金Project (No. 2002CB412790) supported by the National BasicResearch Program (973) of China
文摘The knee bracing steel frame (KBF) is a new kind of energy dissipating frame, which combines excellent ductility and lateral stiffness. As the structural fuse of the frame, the knee element will yield first during a severe earthquake so that no damage occurs to the major structural members and the rehabilitation is easy and economical. To help fully understand the relations be- tween its seismic performance and the structural parameters, systematic elastoplastic analysis of the KBF structure with finite element method was conducted in this work. Finally, general design recommendations were made according to the results of the analysis.
基金Project of Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China(No.2012-K2-28)
文摘Determining initial pretension values of pre-stressed cables is one of the key problems for a steel mega frame and pre-stressed composite bracing structure.Through the mechanical analysis of the composite bracing under vertical loading,the critical factors deciding the initial pretention value were found.According to these factors,a rule for the initial pretension value was put forward.The determination equations were acquired based on the principle of force equilibrium at nodes.The numerical results indicate that the internal force disequilibrium in composite bracings resulted from symmetrical load can be eliminated only in a symmetrical way,so that initial pretention values are decided only by vertical loads.The influencing coefficient leveling method,taking into account interactions between story and story,is accurate and feasible.
基金the Development Project of Nanjing Science and Technology Commission and Foundation(No.YKK16119)the Jiangsu Province 333 Talent Grant(No.2016-III-0114).
文摘Background:Scoliosis secondary to neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1)in children aged<10 years is an important etiology of earlyonset scoliosis(EOS).This study was performed to investigate the curve evolution of patients with EOS secondary to NF1 undergoing bracing treatment and to analyze high-risk indicators of rapid curve progression.Methods:Children with EOS due to NF1 who underwent bracing treatment from 2010 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.The angle velocity(AV)at each visit was calculated,and patients with rapid curve progression(AV of>10°/year)were identified.The age at modulation and the AV before and after modulation were obtained.Patients with(n=18)and without rapid curve progression(n=10)were statistically compared.Results:Twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 6.5±1.9 years at the initial visit were reviewed.The mean Cobb angle of the main curve was 41.7°±2.4°at the initial visit and increased to 67.1°±8.6°during a mean follow-up of 44.1±8.5 months.The overall AV was 6.6°±2.4°/year for all patients.At the last follow-up,all patients presented curve progression of>5°,and 20(71%)patients had progressed by>20°.Rapid curve progression was observed in 18(64%)patients and was associated with younger age at the initial visit and a higher incidence of modulation change during follow-up(t=2.868,P=0.008 and<0.001,respectively).The mean AV was 4.4°±1.2°/year before modulation and 11.8°±2.7°/year after modulation(t=11.477,P<0.010).Conclusions:Curve progression of>10°/year is associated with younger age at the initial visit,and modulation change indicated the occurrence of the rapid curve progression phase.
文摘BACKGROUND Malignant obstructive jaundice(MOJ)is characterized by the presence of malignant tumors infiltrating or compressing the bile duct,causing poor bile drainage,generalized yellowing,pain,itching,and malaise.MOJ is burdensome for both the society and the families of affected patients and should be taken seriously.AIM To evaluate the clinical effect of stent placement during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for relieving MOJ and the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in terms of liver function improvement,complication rates,and long-term patient outcomes.METHODS The clinical data of 59 patients with MOJ who were admitted to our hospital between March 2018 and August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the treatment method,the patients were divided into an observation group(29 patients)and a control group(30 patients).General data,liver function indices,complications,adverse effects,and 3-year survival rates after different surgical treatments were recorded for the two groups.RESULTS There were no significant differences in baseline information(sex,age,tumor type,or tumor diameter)between the two groups(P>0.05).Alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and total bilirubin levels were significantly better in both groups after surgery than before surgery(P<0.05).The overall incidence of biliary bleeding,gastrointestinal bleeding,pancreatitis,and cholangitis was 6.9%in the observation group and 30%in the control group(P<0.05).No significant differences in the rates of blood transfusion,intensive care unit admission,or death within 3 years were observed between the two groups at the 1-month follow-up(P>0.05).The 3-year survival rates were 46.06%and 39.71%in the observation and control groups,respectively.CONCLUSION Endoscopic biliary stenting effectively relieves MOJ and significantly improves liver function,with minimal complications.This technique is a promising palliative approach for patients ineligible for radical surgery.However,further research is needed to optimize current treatment strategies and to explore their potential in treating nonmalignant cases of obstructive jaundice.
基金Ministry of Science and Technology of China under Grant No.2023YFC3804300National Science Foundation of China under Grant No.52178114。
文摘Actuator dynamics introduce a synchronization disparity between commanded displacements transmitted to the actuator and the actual displacements generated by the actuator,thereby affecting its precision and potentially leading to instability in real-time hybrid simulation(RTHS).This study aims to elucidate the relationship between calculated and measured displacements by analyzing their magnitude and phase in the frequency domain via transformations.The physical implications of these relationships are explored in the context of frequency domain evaluation indices(FEI),the transfer function of actuator dynamics,and delay compensation.Formulations for achieving perfect compensation of actuator dynamics are developed,and an enhanced compensation approach,termed improved windowed frequency domain evaluation index-based compensation(IWFEI),is introduced.The efficacy of IWFEI is assessed using a RTHS benchmark model,with perturbed simulations conducted to validate its robustness.Uncertainties inherent in actuator dynamics are represented as random variables in these simulations.Comparative analysis of the mean values and variances of evaluation criteria demonstrates that IWFEI enables more accurate and robust compensation.Furthermore,strong correlations observed among criteria in the time and frequency domains underscore the effectiveness of the proposed frequency domain-based compensation method in mitigating amplitude errors and phase delays in RTHS.
文摘Structures modelled with flexible-base assumptions,incorporating soil effects,generally exhibit longer natural periods and higher damping compared to fixed-base models that exclude soil-structure interaction(SSI).However,the beneficial or detrimental nature of SSI remains contentious in current earthquake damage analyses and research findings.This study introduces a numerical modelling technique,validated by experimental shaking table tests,to examine the effects of SSI on high-rise buildings.The study considers various substructure parameters,including foundation types,soil types,and bedrock depths.Both advantageous and adverse impacts of SSI are identified and analysed.Numerical simulations reveal that increased subsoil stiffness significantly amplifies the base shear of structures compared to bedrock depth effects.Additionally,increased foundation rocking results in higher inter-storey drifts and reduced base shear.Overall,SSI tends to amplify inter-storey drifts,indicating detrimental effects.Specifically,the study found that the inclusion of SSI increased maximum inter-storey drifts by up to 38%,particularly in softer soils,while reducing base shear by up to 44%in structures with classical compensated foundations on D_(e)and E_(e)soil types.In contrast,piled foundation systems experienced an increase in base shear of up to 27%under the same conditions.Conversely,SSI has beneficial impacts on base shear for structures with classical compensated foundations on soil types of D_(e)and E_(e),as it reduces the base shear.For structures with piled foundations and those with classical compensated foundations on C_(e)soil,SSI effects are detrimental.C_(e),D_(e),and E_(e)soils correspond to geotechnical classifications per AS1170,representing stiff,medium,and soft soils respectively.The study also presents minimum base shear ratios considering SSI reduction effects for various foundation types.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2023YFC3009400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42307218 and U2239251).
文摘The current deep learning models for braced excavation cannot predict deformation from the beginning of excavation due to the need for a substantial corpus of sufficient historical data for training purposes.To address this issue,this study proposes a transfer learning model based on a sequence-to-sequence twodimensional(2D)convolutional long short-term memory neural network(S2SCL2D).The model can use the existing data from other adjacent similar excavations to achieve wall deflection prediction once a limited amount of monitoring data from the target excavation has been recorded.In the absence of adjacent excavation data,numerical simulation data from the target project can be employed instead.A weight update strategy is proposed to improve the prediction accuracy by integrating the stochastic gradient masking with an early stopping mechanism.To illustrate the proposed methodology,an excavation project in Hangzhou,China is adopted.The proposed deep transfer learning model,which uses either adjacent excavation data or numerical simulation data as the source domain,shows a significant improvement in performance when compared to the non-transfer learning model.Using the simulation data from the target project even leads to better prediction performance than using the actual monitoring data from other adjacent excavations.The results demonstrate that the proposed model can reasonably predict the deformation with limited data from the target project.
基金financial support provided by Lehigh University,the Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems(ATLSS)Engineering Research Center,and the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of California,San Diegolarge research team led by Professor Robert B.Fleischman under the project“NEESR:Inertial Force-Limiting Floor Anchorage Systems for Seismic Resistant Building Structures”with the support of grants from the National Science Foundation,award no.CMMI-1135033in the George E.Brown,Jr.Network for Earthquake gineering En-Simulation Research(NEESR)program and award no.CMMI-0402490 for the George E.Brown,Jr.Network for Earthquake ing Engineer-Simulation(NEES)consortium operations.
文摘This study numerically investigates the seismic response of a nine-story self-centering concentrically braced frame building incorporating force-limiting connections between the floor system and the lateral force-resisting system.Nonlinear earthquake simulations are conducted under design basis earthquake ground motions,and the results are compared against a baseline model with rigid-elastic connections.The study discusses connection design considerations and evaluates the effectiveness of force-limiting connections in mitigating higher-mode effects.The findings show that force-limiting connections significantly reduce the magnitude and variability of floor accelerations,brace forces,and connection forces,while maintaining comparable story drifts.limiting Force-connections primarily reduce the contribution of higher-mode responses,while the controlled rocking base mechanism modifies the first-mode response.Overall,the reduced dispersion in structural response improves the reliability of seismic design and enhances resilience by minimizing damage to both structural components and acceleration-sensitive nonstructural elements.
文摘Self-centering systems are increasingly studied after devastating earthquakes in the 2010s that caused irreparable damage to buildings.Currently,there is conflicting evidence as to whether the re-centering(restoring)capabilities are gained at the expense of hysteretic damping,potentially leading to larger peak displacements and damage to non-structural elements.This study examines the earthquake response of self-centering and non-self-centering systems through analyses of 4-storey and 8-storey steel-braced frames.The Resilient Slip Friction Joint(RSFJ)dampers,combined with steel braces in series,represent the self-centering bracing system,whereas the Buckling Restrained Braces(BRBs)represent the non-self-centering bracing system.Results suggest that peak displacements,base shears,and floor accelerations were comparable between the two systems.A possible explanation is that the peak response occurs on the first major excursion;similar peaks result from similar backbone curves in the run-up to the peak.Conversely,the amount of hysteretic damping only begins to affect the post-peak behavior.For instance,the RSFJ system reintroduces seismic energy into the structure post-peak(rather than dissipating it like the BRB).Subsequently,it leads to larger vibration amplitudes about the central position,increasing the risk of secondary peaks.This contrasts with the BRB system,which exhibits smaller vibration amplitudes about an increasingly deformed position due to seismic ratcheting.Unsurprisingly,residual deformations were high for the BRBs(1.7%on average)and negligible for the RSFJ.However,RSFJ produced smaller peak inter-storey drifts between 13%–18%but higher peak accelerations by 4%–5%.The results suggest that multi-storey braced frames could be designed with similar or smaller forces when self-centering systems are used.
文摘Operative management of humeral shaft fractures demonstrates superior early functional recovery(6-month Disabilities of the Arm,Shoulder,and Hand scores)and significantly lower nonunion rates(63.9%reduction)compared to functional bracing,particularly in complex cases,while conservative treatment remains viable for low-demand patients.Surgical techniques,including open reduction internal fixation,intramedullary nailing,and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis,offer trade-offs between anatomic precision and complication risks(e.g.,radial nerve injury vs rotator cuff damage),with over 90%of radial nerve injuries resolving spontaneously.Ultrasound-guided diagnosis(89%sensitivity,95%specificity)optimizes decision-making for nerve entrapment.Individualized treatment selection,prioritizing fracture complexity and patient needs,is critical to balance accelerated rehabilitation with minimized complications.
基金National Science and Technology Support Program of China under Grant No.2011BAJ08B02Natural Science Foundation of Beijing under Grant No.8132016Beijing City University Youth Backbone Talent Training Project under Grant No.PHR201108009
文摘In this study, four 1/5 scaled shaking table tests were conducted to investigate the seismic performance of recycled concrete frame-shear wall structures with different recycled aggregates replacement rates and concealed bracing detail. The four tested structures included one normal concrete model, one recycled coarse aggregate concrete model, and two recycled coarse and fi ne aggregate concrete models with or without concealed bracings inside the shear walls. The dynamic characteristics, dynamic response and failure mode of each model were compared and analyzed. Finite element models were also developed and nonlinear time-history response analysis was conducted. The test and analysis results show that the seismic performance of the recycled coarse aggregate concrete frame-shear wall structure is slightly worse than the normal concrete structure. The seismic resistance capacity of the recycled concrete frame-shear wall structure can be greatly improved by setting up concealed bracings inside the walls. With appropriate design, the recycled coarse aggregate concrete frame-shear wall structure and recycled concrete structure with concealed bracings inside the walls can be applied in buildings.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)under Grant Nos.52104125 and 52104109the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.B220202056+2 种基金the Opening Fund of State Key Laboratory of Mining Response and Disaster Prevention and Control in Deep Coal Mines under Grant No.SKLMRDPC21KF04the Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China(2022JQ-304)the Fund of Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST under Grant No.2021QNRC001。
文摘Because nearby construction has harmful effects,precisely predicting blast-induced ground vibration is critical.In this paper,a hybrid artificial bee colony(ABC)and support vector machine(SVM)model was proposed for predicting the value of peak particle velocity(PPV),which is used to describe blast-induced ground vibration.To construct the model,5 potentially relevant factors,including controllable and uncontrollable parameters,were considered as input parameters,and PPV was set as the output parameter.Forty-five samples were recorded from the Hongling lead-zinc mine.An ABC-SVM model was developed and trained on 35 samples via 5-fold cross-validation(CV).A testing set(10 samples)was used to evaluate the prediction performance of the ABC-SVM model.SVM and four empirical models(United States Bureau of Mines(USBM),Amraseys-Hendron(A-H),Langefors-Kihstrom(L-K),and Central Mining Research Institute(CMRI))also were introduced for comparison.Next,the performances of the models were analyzed by using 3 statistical parameters:the correlation coefficient(R2),root-mean-square error(RMSE),and variance accounted for(VAF).ABC-SVM had the highest R2 and VAF values followed by the SVM,A-H,USBM,CMRI,and L-K methods.The results demonstrated that ABC-SVM outperformed SVM and the empirical predictors for predicting PPV.Moreover,the best results from the R2,RMSE,and VAF indices were 0.9628,0.2737,and 96.05%for the ABC-SVM model.The sensitivities of the parameters also were investigated,and the height difference between the blast point and the monitoring station was found to be the parameter that had the most influence on PPV.
文摘This study investigates the efficiency of two types of rehabilitation methods based on economic justification that can lead to logical decision making between the retrofitting schemes. Among various rehabilitation methods, concentric chevron bracing（CCB） and cylindrical friction damper（CFD） were selected. The performance assessment procedure of the frames is divided into two distinct phases. First, the limit state probabilities of the structures before and after rehabilitation are investigated. In the second phase, the seismic risk of structures in terms of life safety and financial losses（decision variables） using the recently published FEMA P58 methodology is evaluated. The results show that the proposed retrofitting methods improve the serviceability and life safety performance levels of steel and RC structures at different rates when subjected to earthquake loads. Moreover, these procedures reveal that financial losses are greatly decreased, and were more tangible by the application of CFD rather than using CCB. Although using both retrofitting methods reduced damage state probabilities, incorporation of a site-specific seismic hazard curve to evaluate mean annual occurrence frequency at the collapse prevention limit state caused unexpected results to be obtained. Contrary to CFD, the collapse probability of the structures retrofitted with CCB increased when compared with the primary structures.
文摘Modern Earthquake Risk Assessment（ERA） methods usually require seismo-tectonic information for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment（PSHA） that may not be readily available in developing countries. To bypass this drawback, this paper presents a practical event-based PSHA method that uses instrumental seismicity, available historical seismicity, as well as limited information on geology and tectonic setting. Historical seismicity is integrated with instrumental seismicity to determine the long-term hazard. The tectonic setting is included by assigning seismic source zones associated with known major faults. Monte Carlo simulations are used to generate earthquake catalogues with randomized key hazard parameters. A case study region in Pakistan is selected to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The results indicate that the proposed method produces seismic hazard maps consistent with previous studies, thus being suitable for generating such maps in regions where limited data are available. The PSHA procedure is developed as an integral part of an ERA framework named EQRAM. The framework is also used to determine seismic risk in terms of annual losses for the study region.
文摘This study describes the seismic performance of an existing five storey reinforced concrete building which represents the typical properties of low-rise non-ductile buildings in Turkey. The effectiveness of shear walls and the steel bracings in retrofitting the building was examined through nonlinear static and dynamic analyses. By using the nonlinear static analysis, retrofitted buildings seismic performances under lateral seismic load were compared with each other. Moreover, the performance points and response levels of the existing and retrofitting cases were determined by way of the capacity-spectrum method described in ATC-40 (1996). For the nonlinear dynamic analysis the records were selected to represent wide ranges of duration and frequency content. Considering the change in the stiffness and the energy dissipation capacities, the performance of the existing and retrofitted buildings were evaluated in terms of story drifts and damage states. It was found that each earthquake record exhibited its own peculiarities, dictated by frequency content, duration, sequence of peaks and their amplitude. The seismic performance of retrofitted buildings resulted in lower displacements and higher energy dissipation capacity depending mainly on the properties of the ground motions and the retrofitting strategies. Moreover, severe structural damage (irreparable or collapse) was observed for the existing building. However, buildings with retrofit alternatives exhibited lower damage levels changing from no damage to irreparable damage states.
文摘The 8-node iso-parametric thin shell element was employed in the study of stress concentrations in the welded tubular “K” joint. Element equilibrium equations were derived using isoparametric formulation based on thin shell theory. After assembly, the resulting system equations were solved using existing fortran programs. Numerical experiments were conducted to isolate and locate ideal gap (positions) for the two braces of the “K” joint. The nominal stresses were calculated from which stress concentration factors were obtained. The resulting stress concentration factors were presented both as tables and as figures. A good agreement between our solutions and those for model joints in the literature is good and acceptable. It was found that the wider apart the brace spacing is, the weaker the strength of the joint. It was also found that the best location for the braces occurs when the stress level changes sign either from positive to negative or vice versa at a critical sampling point.
