This study focuses on variations in the hysteretic behavior of buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)configured with or without out-of-plane eccentricity under cyclic loading.Quasi-static experiments and numerical simulatio...This study focuses on variations in the hysteretic behavior of buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)configured with or without out-of-plane eccentricity under cyclic loading.Quasi-static experiments and numerical simulations were carried out on concentrically and eccentrically loaded BRB specimens to investigate the mechanical properties,energy dissipation performance,stress distribution,and high-order deformation pattern.The experimental and numerical results showed that compared to the concentrically loaded BRBs,the stiffness,yield force,cumulated plastic ductility(CPD)coefficient,equivalent viscous damping coefficient and energy dissipation decreased,and the yield displacement and compression strength adjustment factor increased for the eccentrically loaded BRBs.With the existence of the out-of-plane eccentricity,the initial yield position changes from the yield segment to the junction between the yield segment and transition segment under a tensile load,while the initial high-order buckling pattern changes from a first-order C-shape to a secondorder S-shape under a compressive load.展开更多
A local design scheme for origami energy dissipation braces was proposed by combining local Miura units at both ends and a straight segment in the middle.This design was implemented to address the issue of uneven axia...A local design scheme for origami energy dissipation braces was proposed by combining local Miura units at both ends and a straight segment in the middle.This design was implemented to address the issue of uneven axial stiffness observed in global origami braces.Globally and locally designed origami braces were simulated and compared under cyclic loading to validate the advantages of the proposed design scheme in terms of hysteretic properties.Additionally,an analysis was conducted on the designed braces with varying straight segment lengths,geometric angles,and origami plate thicknesses for comparison.Results indicate that the local design significantly increases the tensile bearing load,enhances the anti-buckling capability,and improves the energy dissipation performance compared to the global design.The positive impact on bearing capacity and energy dissipation performance was observed with increased straight segment length,geometric angles,and origami plate thickness.However,excessively large parameter values result in brace buckling under compression,diminishing energy dissipation capacity.展开更多
Buckling-restrained braced frames(BRBFs) are vulnerable to relatively higher post-earthquake residual drifts under high intensity ground shakings. This is primarily due to the low axial elastic and post-elastic stiffn...Buckling-restrained braced frames(BRBFs) are vulnerable to relatively higher post-earthquake residual drifts under high intensity ground shakings. This is primarily due to the low axial elastic and post-elastic stiffness of bucklingrestrained braces(BRBs) satisfying the design force demand requirements. In the present study, a hybrid buckling restrained bracing system consisting of a short yielding core length BRB component and a conventional buckling-type brace component connected in series has been developed with an aim to increase the axial stiffness of braces. This study is focused on the experimental investigation of six hybrid bucking restrained braces(HBRBs) to investigate their overall behavior, loadresisting capacity, strength-adjustment factors and energy dissipation potential. The main parameters varied are the crosssectional area, the yielding length of core elements as well as the detailing of buckling-restraining system of short yielding core length BRBs. Test results showed that the HBRBs with yielding core length in the range of 30% of work-point to workpoint lengths withstood an axial strain of 6% without any instability and can deliver stable and balanced hysteretic response and excellent energy dissipation under reversed cyclic loading conditions.展开更多
Buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)are widely used to improve the seismic performance of buildings.This paper aims to introduce BRBs to suspension bridges and assess the seismic performance of bridges with BRBs.Taking th...Buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)are widely used to improve the seismic performance of buildings.This paper aims to introduce BRBs to suspension bridges and assess the seismic performance of bridges with BRBs.Taking the Dadu River Bridge as a case study,an FEA model of the bridge is established,and different seismic measures(BRBs between the deck and the tower,BRBs at the middle of the span to replace the inclined suspenders to connect the deck and the main cables,fluid viscous dampers(FVDs)between the deck and the tower,the combination of BRBs to replace the inclined suspenders as well as FVDs between the deck and the tower)are applied to the suspension bridge.The influence of the parameters of BRBs on the seismic response of the suspension bridge is studied,and the performance of the bridge with BRBs is compared with that of the bridge with FVDs.The results indicate that the use of BRBs in place of the inclined suspenders is beneficial to reduce the displacement of the deck and limit the shear force and bending moment of the tower.The seismic performance of the suspension bridge with BRBs and FVDs is better than that of the bridge with BRBs or FVDs.Therefore,the application of BRBs is a feasible method to improve the seismic performance of the suspension bridge.展开更多
Self-centering earthquake-resistant structures have received increased attention due to their ability to reduce post-earthquake residual deformations and,thus,repair time and cost.This stimulated the development of re...Self-centering earthquake-resistant structures have received increased attention due to their ability to reduce post-earthquake residual deformations and,thus,repair time and cost.This stimulated the development of recentering shape memory alloy(SMA)dampers that use superelastic nitinol wires to dissipate energy and self-center the structure.However,there are still a few case studies applications on full-scale RC buildings in the literature.Moreover,general guidelines or even simplified approaches for the practical design of SMA damped braces are still lacking.This paper focuses on evaluating the effect of using self-centering shape memory alloy dampers for buckling-restrained braces applied for the seismic retrofit of a complex RC building structure.A design method originally proposed for elastoplastic dampers was implemented to size the SMA dampers to be placed on selected spans and stories of a building.The effectiveness of the design procedure was demonstrated by nonlinear time-history analyses under different sets of earthquake strong ground motions.The analysis results show that the recentering shape memory alloy bracing system is effective in limiting the maximum transient inter-story drifts and reducing the residual inter-story drifts after strong seismic events,due to its excellent recentering behavior together with its not negligible energy dissipation capacity.展开更多
It is known that the seismic response of a structural system is highly influenced, in addition to the earthquake input, by the dynamic characteristics of the system itself. This paper presents an approach for the iden...It is known that the seismic response of a structural system is highly influenced, in addition to the earthquake input, by the dynamic characteristics of the system itself. This paper presents an approach for the identification of the characteristics of the structural system resisting to horizontal loads which enables to satisfy given seismic performance objectives. This is achieved by considering a total conceptual separation between the structural systems resisting to vertical and horizontal loads. The proposed approach is first briefly developed in general within a Performance-Based Seismic Design （PBSD） framework and then fully applied to the case study of a five-storey steel building structure. It is composed of three basic steps： （1） identification of the fundamental characteristics which should be possessed by the horizontal resisting system to satisfy a multiplicity of performance objectives, （2） development of a peculiar horizontal resisting system composed of ＂crescent shaped braces＂ which are specifically calibrated to satisfy given performance objectives, （3） verification, by means of appropriate time-history analyses, of the seismic performances achieved. In detail, the horizontal resisting system is calibrated to satisfy a multiplicity of performance objectives through the identification of an ＂objectives curve＂, in the Force-Displacement diagram, of the mechanical characteristics of the structure. The calibration is obtained by methods/tools borrowed either from Direct Displacement-Based Design （DDBD） or Force-Based Design （FBD）, depending on the specific performance objective to be imposed. The applicative example has been carried out with reference to three performance objectives and has led to the identification of a horizontal resisting system composed of special bracing elements capable of realizing a sort of properly-calibrated seismic isolation called crescent-shaped braces. The results obtained through non-linear dynamic analyses have shown that the proposed approach leads to the congruity between the imposed and the achieved seismic performances.展开更多
The present work discusses the outcomes of recent experimental tests and numerical simulations carried out on full scale reinforced concrete （RC） non-ductile frames retrofitted with dissipative steel braces, i.e. in...The present work discusses the outcomes of recent experimental tests and numerical simulations carried out on full scale reinforced concrete （RC） non-ductile frames retrofitted with dissipative steel braces, i.e. innovative buckling restrained braces （BRBs）. Experimental tests were performed on two sample full scale RC framed buildings designed for gravity loads only. Such frames were subjected to cyclic pushovers to investigate their structural performance under different levels of earthquake loadings. The outcomes of the performed experimental tests demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of utilizing BRBs to retrofit non ductile RC frames. These outcomes were confirmed by refined non linear static and response history analyses carried out on an existing RC school framed building designed without seismic details and retrofitted with BRBs similar to those adopted for the tested full-scale frame. In such sample building the BRBs are placed along the perimeter of the existing frames to minimize the interruption of the functionality of the school and for easy of maintenance in the aftermath of major earthquake ground motions. The seismic performance assessment of the retrofitted structural system is illustrated in a detailed manner. Local and global response quantities are presented. The values of the global overstrength Ω for the case study vary between 2.14 and 2.54 for the retrofitted framed building. The translation ductility μ△-values range between 2.07 and 2.36. The response modification factor （or behaviour factor, namely R- or q-factor） is on average equal to 5.0. Additionally, the estimated maximum axial ductility of the BRBs is about 10. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of the adopted retrofitting scheme is emphasized and further needs for the application of BRBs are highlighted.展开更多
The research presented in this paper deals with the seismic protection of existing frame structures by means of passive energy dissipation. An iterative displacement-based procedure, based on capacity spectrum, to des...The research presented in this paper deals with the seismic protection of existing frame structures by means of passive energy dissipation. An iterative displacement-based procedure, based on capacity spectrum, to design dissipative bracings for seismic retrofitting of the frame structures is described, and some applications are discussed. The procedure can be used with any typology of dissipative device and for different performance targets. In this work, the procedure has been applied, with both traditional pushover （load profile proportional to first mode） and multimodal pushover, to an existing RC （reinforced concrete） frame building. In the application, the buckling restrained braces have been used in order to prevent damages to both the structure and non structural elements. The use of multimodal pushover proves to be more effective than pushover based on single mode in case of medium rise RC frame building （higher than 30 m） but, once this building is retrofitted, and therefore regularized, with a bracing system, the difference between using monomodal or multimodal pushover becomes insignificant.展开更多
Objective To investigate the indication,feasibility and technique of minimally invasive Nuss procedure with thoracoscope by using double braces in the treatment of wide-scope pectus excavatum repairing in adolescence....Objective To investigate the indication,feasibility and technique of minimally invasive Nuss procedure with thoracoscope by using double braces in the treatment of wide-scope pectus excavatum repairing in adolescence. Methods 31 patients including 24 boys and 7 girls,suffered from pectus excavtum were corrected by Nuss procedure under thoracoscope. The average age展开更多
Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a sport version of a semi-rigid ankle brace (ElementTM) and a soft ankle brace (ASO) on ankle biomechanics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) during a drop la...Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a sport version of a semi-rigid ankle brace (ElementTM) and a soft ankle brace (ASO) on ankle biomechanics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) during a drop landing activity in subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI)compared to healthy subjects with no history of CAI.Methods:Ten healthy subjects and 10 subjects who had multiple ankle sprains participated in the study as the control and unstable subjects,respectively.The CAI subjects were age,body mass index and gender matched with the control subjects.The arch index and ankle functions of the subjects were measured in a subject screening session.During the biomechanical test session,participants performed five trials of drop landing from 0.6 m,wearing no brace ( NB),ElementTM brace and ASO brace.Simultaneous recording of three-dimensional kinematic (240 Hz)and GRF (1200 Hz) data were performed.Results:The CAI subjects had lower ankle functional survey scores.The arch index and deformity results showed greater arch deformity of ElementTM against a static load than in NB and ASO due to greater initial arch position held by the brace.CAI participants had greater eversion velocity than healthy coutrols.The ASO brace reduced the first peak vertical GRF whereas ElementTM increased 2nd peak vertical GRF.ElementTM brace reduced eversion range of motion (ROM) and peak eversion velocity compared to NB and ASO.In addition,ElementTM reduced dorsiflexion ROM and increased peak plantarflexion moment compared to NB and ASO.Conclusion:Results of static arch measurements and dynamic ankle motion suggest that the restrictions offered by both braces are in part due to more dorsiflexed ankle positions at contact,and higher initial arch position and stiffer ankle for ElementTM.展开更多
Buckling restrained braces （BRBs） have been widely applied in seismic mitigation since they were introduced in the 1970s. However, traditional BRBs have several disadvantages caused by using a steel tube to envelope...Buckling restrained braces （BRBs） have been widely applied in seismic mitigation since they were introduced in the 1970s. However, traditional BRBs have several disadvantages caused by using a steel tube to envelope the mortar to prevent the core plate from buckling, such as： complex interfaces between the materials used, uncertain precision, and time consumption during the manufacturing processes. In this study, a new device called the multi-curve buckling restrained brace （MC-BRB） is proposed to overcome these disadvantages. The new device consists of a core plate with multiple neck portions assembled to form multiple energy dissipation segments, and the enlarged segment, lateral support elements and constraining elements to prevent the BRB from buckling. The enlarged segment located in the middle of the core plate can be welded to the lateral support and constraining elements to increase buckling resistance and to prevent them from sliding during earthquakes. Component tests and a series of shaking table tests on a full-scale steel structure equipped with MC-BRBs were carried out to investigate the behavior and capability of this new BRB design for seismic mitigation. The experimental results illustrate that the MC-BRB possesses a stable mechanical behavior under cyclic loadings and provides good protection to structures during earthquakes. Also, a mathematical model has been developed to simulate the mechanical characteristics of BRBs.展开更多
This paper presents a new type of structural bracing intended for seismic retrofitting use in framed structures. This special composite brace, termed glass-fiber-reinforced-polymer （GFRP）-tube-confined-concrete comp...This paper presents a new type of structural bracing intended for seismic retrofitting use in framed structures. This special composite brace, termed glass-fiber-reinforced-polymer （GFRP）-tube-confined-concrete composite brace, is comprised of concrete confined by a GFRP tube and an inner steel core for energy dissipation. Together with a contribution from the GFRP-tube confined concrete, the composite brace shows a substantially increased stiffness to control story drift, which is often a preferred feature in seismic retrofitting. An analysis model is established and implemented in a general finite element analysis program - OpenSees, for simulating the load-displacement behavior of the composite brace. Using this model, a parametric study of the hysteretic behavior （energy dissipation, stiffness, ductility and strength） of the composite brace was conducted under static cyclic loading and it was found that the area ratio of steel core to concrete has the greatest influence among all the parameters considered. To demonstrate the application of the composite brace in seismic retrofitting, a three-story nonductile reinforced concrete （RC） frame structure was retrofitted with the composite braces. Pushover analysis and nonlinear time-history analyses of the retrofitted RC frame structure was performed by employing a suite of 20 strong ground motion earthquake records. The analysis results show that the composite braces can effectively reduce the peak seismic responses of the RC frame structure without significantly increasing the base shear demand.展开更多
The buckling resisting brace(BRB)is an efficient system against lateral loads that enjoy high seismic energy absorption capacity.Although desirable behavior of BRBs has been confirmed,the stiffness of the system is no...The buckling resisting brace(BRB)is an efficient system against lateral loads that enjoy high seismic energy absorption capacity.Although desirable behavior of BRBs has been confirmed,the stiffness of the system is not desirable that it can be compensated by changing the configuration of BRB braces.In so doing,the configuration in the form of double K(DK)is investigated to achieve more favorable behavior.Also,the required mathematical formulas were proposed to design the system.Comparison of DK system with other conventional BRB showed that the DK system has a better structural performance and is more economical(due to needing less core area)than other conventional BRB.Numerical results indicated that the DK system increases the lateral ultimate strength,lateral nonlinear stiffness,and energy absorption.Besides,the DK configuration reduces the axial forces created in columns in the nonlinear zone.Reducing material demand,created forces in the main frame,and also increasing of nonlinear stiffens by DK improve the structure’s safety.展开更多
In order to rapidly and accurately evaluate the mechanical properties of a novel origami-inspired tube structure with multiple parameter inputs,this study developed a method of designing origami-inspired braces based ...In order to rapidly and accurately evaluate the mechanical properties of a novel origami-inspired tube structure with multiple parameter inputs,this study developed a method of designing origami-inspired braces based on machine learning models.Four geometric parameters,i.e.,cross-sectional side length,plate thickness,crease weakening coefficient,and plane angles,were used to establish a mapping relationship with five mechanical parameters,including elastic stiffness,yield load,yield displacement,ultimate load,and ultimate displacement,all of which were calculated from load-displacement curves.Firstly,forward prediction models were trained and compared for single and multiple mechanical outputs.The parameter ranges were extended and refined to improve the predicted results by introducing the intrinsic mechanical relationships.Secondly,certain reverse prediction models were established to obtain the optimized design parameters.Finally,the design method of this study was verified in finite element methods.The design and analysis framework proposed in this study can be used to promote the application of other novel multi-parameter structures.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
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
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
This is the first part of a series of two articles.In this paper we enumerate and classify the left braces of size p^(2)q,where p and q are distinct prime numbers,by the classification of regular subgroups of the holo...This is the first part of a series of two articles.In this paper we enumerate and classify the left braces of size p^(2)q,where p and q are distinct prime numbers,by the classification of regular subgroups of the holomorph of the abelian groups of the same order.We also provide the formulas that define the constructed braces.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.51978184。
文摘This study focuses on variations in the hysteretic behavior of buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)configured with or without out-of-plane eccentricity under cyclic loading.Quasi-static experiments and numerical simulations were carried out on concentrically and eccentrically loaded BRB specimens to investigate the mechanical properties,energy dissipation performance,stress distribution,and high-order deformation pattern.The experimental and numerical results showed that compared to the concentrically loaded BRBs,the stiffness,yield force,cumulated plastic ductility(CPD)coefficient,equivalent viscous damping coefficient and energy dissipation decreased,and the yield displacement and compression strength adjustment factor increased for the eccentrically loaded BRBs.With the existence of the out-of-plane eccentricity,the initial yield position changes from the yield segment to the junction between the yield segment and transition segment under a tensile load,while the initial high-order buckling pattern changes from a first-order C-shape to a secondorder S-shape under a compressive load.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U1937202 and 52008064)the Innovation Support Plan-International Cooperation Project(BZ2022049)+1 种基金the Special Foundation for Central Guidance of Local Science and Technology of Shenzhen,China(Grant No.2021Szvup027)The first author acknowledges the scholarship(financial support)received from the China Scholarship Council(202106090085).
文摘A local design scheme for origami energy dissipation braces was proposed by combining local Miura units at both ends and a straight segment in the middle.This design was implemented to address the issue of uneven axial stiffness observed in global origami braces.Globally and locally designed origami braces were simulated and compared under cyclic loading to validate the advantages of the proposed design scheme in terms of hysteretic properties.Additionally,an analysis was conducted on the designed braces with varying straight segment lengths,geometric angles,and origami plate thicknesses for comparison.Results indicate that the local design significantly increases the tensile bearing load,enhances the anti-buckling capability,and improves the energy dissipation performance compared to the global design.The positive impact on bearing capacity and energy dissipation performance was observed with increased straight segment length,geometric angles,and origami plate thickness.However,excessively large parameter values result in brace buckling under compression,diminishing energy dissipation capacity.
基金Department of Science and Technology,Govt. of India for the financial assistance to carry out this experimental work under sponsored project No. IITD/IRD/RP02619。
文摘Buckling-restrained braced frames(BRBFs) are vulnerable to relatively higher post-earthquake residual drifts under high intensity ground shakings. This is primarily due to the low axial elastic and post-elastic stiffness of bucklingrestrained braces(BRBs) satisfying the design force demand requirements. In the present study, a hybrid buckling restrained bracing system consisting of a short yielding core length BRB component and a conventional buckling-type brace component connected in series has been developed with an aim to increase the axial stiffness of braces. This study is focused on the experimental investigation of six hybrid bucking restrained braces(HBRBs) to investigate their overall behavior, loadresisting capacity, strength-adjustment factors and energy dissipation potential. The main parameters varied are the crosssectional area, the yielding length of core elements as well as the detailing of buckling-restraining system of short yielding core length BRBs. Test results showed that the HBRBs with yielding core length in the range of 30% of work-point to workpoint lengths withstood an axial strain of 6% without any instability and can deliver stable and balanced hysteretic response and excellent energy dissipation under reversed cyclic loading conditions.
基金supported by Scientific Research Start Foundation of Chengdu University of Technology(No.10900-KYQD-06455).
文摘Buckling-restrained braces(BRBs)are widely used to improve the seismic performance of buildings.This paper aims to introduce BRBs to suspension bridges and assess the seismic performance of bridges with BRBs.Taking the Dadu River Bridge as a case study,an FEA model of the bridge is established,and different seismic measures(BRBs between the deck and the tower,BRBs at the middle of the span to replace the inclined suspenders to connect the deck and the main cables,fluid viscous dampers(FVDs)between the deck and the tower,the combination of BRBs to replace the inclined suspenders as well as FVDs between the deck and the tower)are applied to the suspension bridge.The influence of the parameters of BRBs on the seismic response of the suspension bridge is studied,and the performance of the bridge with BRBs is compared with that of the bridge with FVDs.The results indicate that the use of BRBs in place of the inclined suspenders is beneficial to reduce the displacement of the deck and limit the shear force and bending moment of the tower.The seismic performance of the suspension bridge with BRBs and FVDs is better than that of the bridge with BRBs or FVDs.Therefore,the application of BRBs is a feasible method to improve the seismic performance of the suspension bridge.
文摘Self-centering earthquake-resistant structures have received increased attention due to their ability to reduce post-earthquake residual deformations and,thus,repair time and cost.This stimulated the development of recentering shape memory alloy(SMA)dampers that use superelastic nitinol wires to dissipate energy and self-center the structure.However,there are still a few case studies applications on full-scale RC buildings in the literature.Moreover,general guidelines or even simplified approaches for the practical design of SMA damped braces are still lacking.This paper focuses on evaluating the effect of using self-centering shape memory alloy dampers for buckling-restrained braces applied for the seismic retrofit of a complex RC building structure.A design method originally proposed for elastoplastic dampers was implemented to size the SMA dampers to be placed on selected spans and stories of a building.The effectiveness of the design procedure was demonstrated by nonlinear time-history analyses under different sets of earthquake strong ground motions.The analysis results show that the recentering shape memory alloy bracing system is effective in limiting the maximum transient inter-story drifts and reducing the residual inter-story drifts after strong seismic events,due to its excellent recentering behavior together with its not negligible energy dissipation capacity.
文摘It is known that the seismic response of a structural system is highly influenced, in addition to the earthquake input, by the dynamic characteristics of the system itself. This paper presents an approach for the identification of the characteristics of the structural system resisting to horizontal loads which enables to satisfy given seismic performance objectives. This is achieved by considering a total conceptual separation between the structural systems resisting to vertical and horizontal loads. The proposed approach is first briefly developed in general within a Performance-Based Seismic Design （PBSD） framework and then fully applied to the case study of a five-storey steel building structure. It is composed of three basic steps： （1） identification of the fundamental characteristics which should be possessed by the horizontal resisting system to satisfy a multiplicity of performance objectives, （2） development of a peculiar horizontal resisting system composed of ＂crescent shaped braces＂ which are specifically calibrated to satisfy given performance objectives, （3） verification, by means of appropriate time-history analyses, of the seismic performances achieved. In detail, the horizontal resisting system is calibrated to satisfy a multiplicity of performance objectives through the identification of an ＂objectives curve＂, in the Force-Displacement diagram, of the mechanical characteristics of the structure. The calibration is obtained by methods/tools borrowed either from Direct Displacement-Based Design （DDBD） or Force-Based Design （FBD）, depending on the specific performance objective to be imposed. The applicative example has been carried out with reference to three performance objectives and has led to the identification of a horizontal resisting system composed of special bracing elements capable of realizing a sort of properly-calibrated seismic isolation called crescent-shaped braces. The results obtained through non-linear dynamic analyses have shown that the proposed approach leads to the congruity between the imposed and the achieved seismic performances.
文摘The present work discusses the outcomes of recent experimental tests and numerical simulations carried out on full scale reinforced concrete （RC） non-ductile frames retrofitted with dissipative steel braces, i.e. innovative buckling restrained braces （BRBs）. Experimental tests were performed on two sample full scale RC framed buildings designed for gravity loads only. Such frames were subjected to cyclic pushovers to investigate their structural performance under different levels of earthquake loadings. The outcomes of the performed experimental tests demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of utilizing BRBs to retrofit non ductile RC frames. These outcomes were confirmed by refined non linear static and response history analyses carried out on an existing RC school framed building designed without seismic details and retrofitted with BRBs similar to those adopted for the tested full-scale frame. In such sample building the BRBs are placed along the perimeter of the existing frames to minimize the interruption of the functionality of the school and for easy of maintenance in the aftermath of major earthquake ground motions. The seismic performance assessment of the retrofitted structural system is illustrated in a detailed manner. Local and global response quantities are presented. The values of the global overstrength Ω for the case study vary between 2.14 and 2.54 for the retrofitted framed building. The translation ductility μ△-values range between 2.07 and 2.36. The response modification factor （or behaviour factor, namely R- or q-factor） is on average equal to 5.0. Additionally, the estimated maximum axial ductility of the BRBs is about 10. Finally, the cost-effectiveness of the adopted retrofitting scheme is emphasized and further needs for the application of BRBs are highlighted.
文摘The research presented in this paper deals with the seismic protection of existing frame structures by means of passive energy dissipation. An iterative displacement-based procedure, based on capacity spectrum, to design dissipative bracings for seismic retrofitting of the frame structures is described, and some applications are discussed. The procedure can be used with any typology of dissipative device and for different performance targets. In this work, the procedure has been applied, with both traditional pushover （load profile proportional to first mode） and multimodal pushover, to an existing RC （reinforced concrete） frame building. In the application, the buckling restrained braces have been used in order to prevent damages to both the structure and non structural elements. The use of multimodal pushover proves to be more effective than pushover based on single mode in case of medium rise RC frame building （higher than 30 m） but, once this building is retrofitted, and therefore regularized, with a bracing system, the difference between using monomodal or multimodal pushover becomes insignificant.
文摘Objective To investigate the indication,feasibility and technique of minimally invasive Nuss procedure with thoracoscope by using double braces in the treatment of wide-scope pectus excavatum repairing in adolescence. Methods 31 patients including 24 boys and 7 girls,suffered from pectus excavtum were corrected by Nuss procedure under thoracoscope. The average age
基金supported in part by DeRoyal Industries, Inc.,Powell,TN,USA
文摘Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine effects of a sport version of a semi-rigid ankle brace (ElementTM) and a soft ankle brace (ASO) on ankle biomechanics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) during a drop landing activity in subjects with chronic ankle instability (CAI)compared to healthy subjects with no history of CAI.Methods:Ten healthy subjects and 10 subjects who had multiple ankle sprains participated in the study as the control and unstable subjects,respectively.The CAI subjects were age,body mass index and gender matched with the control subjects.The arch index and ankle functions of the subjects were measured in a subject screening session.During the biomechanical test session,participants performed five trials of drop landing from 0.6 m,wearing no brace ( NB),ElementTM brace and ASO brace.Simultaneous recording of three-dimensional kinematic (240 Hz)and GRF (1200 Hz) data were performed.Results:The CAI subjects had lower ankle functional survey scores.The arch index and deformity results showed greater arch deformity of ElementTM against a static load than in NB and ASO due to greater initial arch position held by the brace.CAI participants had greater eversion velocity than healthy coutrols.The ASO brace reduced the first peak vertical GRF whereas ElementTM increased 2nd peak vertical GRF.ElementTM brace reduced eversion range of motion (ROM) and peak eversion velocity compared to NB and ASO.In addition,ElementTM reduced dorsiflexion ROM and increased peak plantarflexion moment compared to NB and ASO.Conclusion:Results of static arch measurements and dynamic ankle motion suggest that the restrictions offered by both braces are in part due to more dorsiflexed ankle positions at contact,and higher initial arch position and stiffer ankle for ElementTM.
基金Science Council in Chinese Taipei Under Grant No.NSC 94-2211-E-035-015
文摘Buckling restrained braces （BRBs） have been widely applied in seismic mitigation since they were introduced in the 1970s. However, traditional BRBs have several disadvantages caused by using a steel tube to envelope the mortar to prevent the core plate from buckling, such as： complex interfaces between the materials used, uncertain precision, and time consumption during the manufacturing processes. In this study, a new device called the multi-curve buckling restrained brace （MC-BRB） is proposed to overcome these disadvantages. The new device consists of a core plate with multiple neck portions assembled to form multiple energy dissipation segments, and the enlarged segment, lateral support elements and constraining elements to prevent the BRB from buckling. The enlarged segment located in the middle of the core plate can be welded to the lateral support and constraining elements to increase buckling resistance and to prevent them from sliding during earthquakes. Component tests and a series of shaking table tests on a full-scale steel structure equipped with MC-BRBs were carried out to investigate the behavior and capability of this new BRB design for seismic mitigation. The experimental results illustrate that the MC-BRB possesses a stable mechanical behavior under cyclic loadings and provides good protection to structures during earthquakes. Also, a mathematical model has been developed to simulate the mechanical characteristics of BRBs.
文摘This paper presents a new type of structural bracing intended for seismic retrofitting use in framed structures. This special composite brace, termed glass-fiber-reinforced-polymer （GFRP）-tube-confined-concrete composite brace, is comprised of concrete confined by a GFRP tube and an inner steel core for energy dissipation. Together with a contribution from the GFRP-tube confined concrete, the composite brace shows a substantially increased stiffness to control story drift, which is often a preferred feature in seismic retrofitting. An analysis model is established and implemented in a general finite element analysis program - OpenSees, for simulating the load-displacement behavior of the composite brace. Using this model, a parametric study of the hysteretic behavior （energy dissipation, stiffness, ductility and strength） of the composite brace was conducted under static cyclic loading and it was found that the area ratio of steel core to concrete has the greatest influence among all the parameters considered. To demonstrate the application of the composite brace in seismic retrofitting, a three-story nonductile reinforced concrete （RC） frame structure was retrofitted with the composite braces. Pushover analysis and nonlinear time-history analyses of the retrofitted RC frame structure was performed by employing a suite of 20 strong ground motion earthquake records. The analysis results show that the composite braces can effectively reduce the peak seismic responses of the RC frame structure without significantly increasing the base shear demand.
文摘The buckling resisting brace(BRB)is an efficient system against lateral loads that enjoy high seismic energy absorption capacity.Although desirable behavior of BRBs has been confirmed,the stiffness of the system is not desirable that it can be compensated by changing the configuration of BRB braces.In so doing,the configuration in the form of double K(DK)is investigated to achieve more favorable behavior.Also,the required mathematical formulas were proposed to design the system.Comparison of DK system with other conventional BRB showed that the DK system has a better structural performance and is more economical(due to needing less core area)than other conventional BRB.Numerical results indicated that the DK system increases the lateral ultimate strength,lateral nonlinear stiffness,and energy absorption.Besides,the DK configuration reduces the axial forces created in columns in the nonlinear zone.Reducing material demand,created forces in the main frame,and also increasing of nonlinear stiffens by DK improve the structure’s safety.
基金supported by the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology Projects(BZ2022049 and BE2023801).
文摘In order to rapidly and accurately evaluate the mechanical properties of a novel origami-inspired tube structure with multiple parameter inputs,this study developed a method of designing origami-inspired braces based on machine learning models.Four geometric parameters,i.e.,cross-sectional side length,plate thickness,crease weakening coefficient,and plane angles,were used to establish a mapping relationship with five mechanical parameters,including elastic stiffness,yield load,yield displacement,ultimate load,and ultimate displacement,all of which were calculated from load-displacement curves.Firstly,forward prediction models were trained and compared for single and multiple mechanical outputs.The parameter ranges were extended and refined to improve the predicted results by introducing the intrinsic mechanical relationships.Secondly,certain reverse prediction models were established to obtain the optimized design parameters.Finally,the design method of this study was verified in finite element methods.The design and analysis framework proposed in this study can be used to promote the application of other novel multi-parameter structures.
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.
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.
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supported by UBACyT 20020171000256BA and PICT 2016-2481.
文摘This is the first part of a series of two articles.In this paper we enumerate and classify the left braces of size p^(2)q,where p and q are distinct prime numbers,by the classification of regular subgroups of the holomorph of the abelian groups of the same order.We also provide the formulas that define the constructed braces.
