Uncertainties in dynamic response of buildings with non-linear base-isolators

Dynamic response of base-isolated buildings under uni-directional sinusoidal base excitation is numerically investigated considering uncertainties in the isolation and excitation parameters. The buildings are idealized as single degree of freedom (SDOF) system and multi-degrees of freedom (MDOF) system with one lateral degree of freedom at each floor level. The isolation system is modeled using two different mathematical models such as: (i) code-recommended equivalent linear elastic-viscous damping model and (ii) bi-linear hysteretic model. The uncertain parameters of the isolator considered are time period, damping ratio, and yield displacement. Moreover, the amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal base excitation function are considered uncertain. The uncertainty propagation is investigated using generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) expansion technique. The unknown gPC expansion coefficients are obtained by non-intrusive sparse grid collocation scheme. Efficiency of the technique is compared with the sampling method of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. The stochastic response quantities of interest considered are bearing displacement and top floor acceleration of the building. Effects of individual uncertain parameters on the building response are quantified using sensitivity analyses. Effect of various uncertainty levels of the input parameters on the dynamic response of the building is also investigated. The peak bearing displacement and top floor acceleration are more influenced by the amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal base excitation function. The effective time period of the isolation system also produces a considerable influence. However, in the presence of similar uncertainty level in the time period, amplitude and frequency of the sinusoidal forcing function, the effect of uncertainties in the other parameters of the isolator (e.g., damping ratio and yield displacement) is comparatively less. Interestingly, the mean values of the response quantities are found to be higher than the deterministic values in several instances, indicating the need of conducting stochastic analysis. The gPC expansion technique presented here is found to be a computationally efficient yet accurate alternative to the MC simulation for numerically modeling the uncertainty propagation in the dynamic response analyses of the base-isolated buildings

Influence of Nonlinear Fluid Viscous Dampers on Seismic Response of RC Elevated Storage Tanks

The numerical investigation on the seismic response of RC elevated liquid storage tanks installed with viscous dampers is presented. A discrete two-mass model for the liquid and multi-degree of freedom system for staging, installed with the dampers are developed for Reinforced Concrete (RC) elevated liquid storage tanks. The elevated tank is assessed for seismic response reduction when provided with Linear Viscous Damper (LVD) and Nonlinear Viscous Damper (NLVD), installed in the staging. The RC elevated liquid storage tanks are analyzed for two levels of liquid containment in the tank, 100% and 25% of the tank capacity. Three Configurations of placements of dampers viz. dampers at alternate levels (Configuration I and Configuration II) and dampers at all the panels of the staging of the tank (Configuration III) are considered. To study the effect of peak ground acceleration, eight real earthquake time histories with accelerations varying from 0.1 g to 0.93 g are considered. The nonlinearity in the viscous damper is modified by taking force proportional to various velocity exponents. It is found that the nonlinear viscous dampers with lower damping constant result in a comparable reduction in the response of RC elevated liquid storage tank, to that of linear viscous dampers with higher damping constant. A lower damping constant signifies compact the size of the damper. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2020-SP(EMCE)-09 Full Text: PD

Optimization of shoring/reshoring levels in high-rise building construction

Formwork system is a significant constituent and a basic requirement for high-rise cast-in-place reinforced concrete buildings. Usually, the builders are confronted with the decision to choose the safe, optimum number of levels of shores/reshores for a predetermined safety factor and given grade of concrete, giving due consideration to the cost of formwork system. In this study, MATLAB program is developed to calculate the load distribution between the interconnected slabs and levels of shore/reshore of a slab formwork based on a simplified method. This program is further modified by incorporating genetic algorithm for the optimization of cost of construction for high-rise building. The cost of level of shores and reshores per floor is defined as a function of cycle time which directly reflects the increase in the cost of construction. Various combinations of shore and reshore levels with several grades of concrete for various safety factors are checked to minimize the cost of construction. The optimization equation is solved using genetic algorithm considering appropriate constraints to practically ensure feasible solutions. The case of one level of shores and numerous levels of reshores is better than one level of reshores and numerous levels of shores. The result of certain combination of shore and reshore levels is not the same when the level numbers are reversed. A comparative study is carried out to check the optimum cost for various safety factors. The program is useful for the designers to decide the levels of shores and reshores with minimized cost without compromising the safety of construction

An Abridged Review of Blast Wave Parameters

In case of blast loading on structures, analysis is carried out in two stages, first the blast loading on a particular structure is determined and second, an evaluation is made for the response of the structure to this loading. In this paper, a review of the first part is presented which includes various empirical relations available for computation of blast load in the form of pressure-time function resulting from the explosion in the air. Different empirical techniques available in the form of charts and equations are reviewed first and then the various blast wave parameters are computed using these equations. This paper is providing various blast computation equations, charts, and references in a concise form at a single place and to serve as base for researchers and designers to understand, compare, and then compute the blast wave parameters. Recommendations are presented to choose the best suitable technique from the available methods to compute the pressure-time function for obtaining structural response.Defence Science Journal, 2012, 62(5), pp.300-306, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.62.114

Advancements in Design, Analysis, and Retrofitting of Structures Exposed to Blast

The objective of this special issue is to provide an overview on the current trends and recent advancements in terms of design, analysis, experimental testing, and retrofitting of structural systems and assemblies exposed to exceptional loads such as explosions

Direct Production of Furfural in One-pot Fashion from Raw Biomass Using Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquids

The conversion of raw biomass into C5-sugars and furfural was demonstrated with the one-pot method using Brønsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs) without any mineral acids or metal halides. Various BAILs were synthesized and characterized using NMR, FT-IR, TGA, and CHNS microanalysis and were used as the catalyst for raw biomass conversion. The remarkably high yield (i.e. 88%) of C5 sugars from bagasse can be obtained using 1-methyl-3(3-sulfopropyl)-imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([C 3 SO 3 HMIM][HSO 4 ]) BAIL catalyst in a water medium. Similarly, the [C 3 SO 3 HMIM][HSO 4 ] BAIL also converts the bagasse into furfural with very high yield (73%) in one-pot method using a water/toluene biphasic solvent system

Current pretreatment technologies for the development of cellulosic ethanol and biorefineries

Lignocellulosic materials, such as forest, agriculture, and agroindustrial residues, are among the most important resources for biorefineries to provide fuels, chemicals, and materials in such a way to substitute for, at least in part, the role of petrochemistry in modern society. Most of these sustainable biorefinery products can be produced from plant polysaccharides (glucans, hemicelluloses, starch, and pectic materials) and lignin. In this scenario, cellulosic ethanol has been considered for decades as one of the most promising alternatives to mitigate fossil fuel dependence and carbon dioxide accumulation in the atmosphere. However, a pretreatment method is required to overcome the physical and chemical barriers that exist in the lignin–carbohydrate composite and to render most, if not all, of the plant cell wall components easily available for conversion into valuable products, including the fuel ethanol. Hence, pretreatment is a key step for an economically viable biorefinery. Successful pretreatment method must lead to partial or total separation of the lignocellulosic components, increasing the accessibility of holocellulose to enzymatic hydrolysis with the least inhibitory compounds being released for subsequent steps of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Each pretreatment technology has a different specificity against both carbohydrates and lignin and may or may not be efficient for different types of biomasses. Furthermore, it is also desirable to develop pretreatment methods with chemicals that are greener and effluent streams that have a lower impact on the environment. This paper provides an overview of the most important pretreatment methods available, including those that are based on the use of green solvents (supercritical fluids and ionic liquids)

9th Structural Engineering Convention 2014

The book presents research papers presented by academicians, researchers, and practicing structural engineers from India and abroad in the recently held Structural Engineering Convention (SEC) 2014 at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi during 22 – 24 December 2014. The book is divided into three volumes and encompasses multidisciplinary areas within structural engineering, such as earthquake engineering and structural dynamics, structural mechanics, finite element methods, structural vibration control, advanced cementitious and composite materials, bridge engineering, and soil-structure interaction. Advances in Structural Engineering is a useful reference material for structural engineering fraternity including undergraduate and postgraduate students, academicians, researchers and practicing engineers