Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration 

About: Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Vibration is an academic journal published by Springer Science+Business Media. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Seismic analysis & Earthquake engineering. It has an ISSN identifier of 1671-3664. Over the lifetime, 1447 publications have been published receiving 17310 citations.

3D viscous-spring artificial boundary in time domain

Abstract: After a brief review of studies on artificial boundaries in dynamic soil-structure interaction, a three-dimensional viscous-spring artificial boundary (VSAB) in the time domain is developed in this paper. First, the 3D VSAB equations in the normal and tangential directions are derived based on the elastic wave motion theory. Secondly, a numerical simulation technique of wave motion equations along with the VSAB condition in the time domain is studied. Finally, numerical examples of some classical elastic wave motion problems are presented and the results are compared with the associated theoretical solutions, demonstrating that high precision and adequate stability can be achieved by using the proposed 3D VSAB. The proposed 3D VSAB can be conveniently incorporated in the general finite element program, which is commonly used to study dynamic soil-structure interaction problems.

Seismic damage of highway bridges during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

Abstract: Many highway bridges were severely damaged or completely collapsed during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. A field investigation was carried out in the strongly affected areas and over 320 bridges were examined. Damage to some representative highway bridges is briefly described and a preliminary analysis of the probable causes of the damage is presented in this paper. The most common damage included shear-flexural failure of the pier columns, expansion joint failure, shear key failure, and girder sliding in the transversal or longitudinal directions due to weak connections between girder and bearings. Lessons learned from this earthquake are described and recommendations related to the design of curved and skewed bridges, design of bearings and devices to prevent girder collapse, and ductility of bridge piers are presented. Suggestions for future seismic design and retrofitting techniques for bridges in moderate to severe earthquake areas are also proposed.

Output only modal identification and structural damage detection using time frequency & wavelet techniques

Abstract: The primary objective of this paper is to develop output only modal identification and structural damage detection. Identification of multi-degree of freedom (MDOF) linear time invariant (LTI) and linear time variant (LTV—due to damage) systems based on Time-frequency (TF) techniques—such as short-time Fourier transform (STFT), empirical mode decomposition (EMD), and wavelets—is proposed. STFT, EMD, and wavelet methods developed to date are reviewed in detail. In addition a Hilbert transform (HT) approach to determine frequency and damping is also presented. In this paper, STFT, EMD, HT and wavelet techniques are developed for decomposition of free vibration response of MDOF systems into their modal components. Once the modal components are obtained, each one is processed using Hilbert transform to obtain the modal frequency and damping ratios. In addition, the ratio of modal components at different degrees of freedom facilitate determination of mode shape. In cases with output only modal identification using ambient/random response, the random decrement technique is used to obtain free vibration response. The advantage of TF techniques is that they are signal based; hence, can be used for output only modal identification. A three degree of freedom 1:10 scale model test structure is used to validate the proposed output only modal identification techniques based on STFT, EMD, HT, wavelets. Both measured free vibration and forced vibration (white noise) response are considered. The secondary objective of this paper is to show the relative ease with which the TF techniques can be used for modal identification and their potential for real world applications where output only identification is essential. Recorded ambient vibration data processed using techniques such as the random decrement technique can be used to obtain the free vibration response, so that further processing using TF based modal identification can be performed.

Performance-based seismic design of nonstructural building components: The next frontier of earthquake engineering

Abstract: With the development and implementation of performance-based earthquake engineering, harmonization of performance levels between structural and nonstructural components becomes vital. Even if the structural components of a building achieve a continuous or immediate occupancy performance level after a seismic event, failure of architectural, mechanical or electrical components can lower the performance level of the entire building system. This reduction in performance caused by the vulnerability of nonstructural components has been observed during recent earthquakes worldwide. Moreover, nonstructural damage has limited the functionality of critical facilities, such as hospitals, following major seismic events. The investment in nonstructural components and building contents is far greater than that of structural components and framing. Therefore, it is not surprising that in many past earthquakes, losses from damage to nonstructural components have exceeded losses from structural damage. Furthermore, the failure of nonstructural components can become a safety hazard or can hamper the safe movement of occupants evacuating buildings, or of rescue workers entering buildings. In comparison to structural components and systems, there is relatively limited information on the seismic design of nonstructural components. Basic research work in this area has been sparse, and the available codes and guidelines are usually, for the most part, based on past experiences, engineering judgment and intuition, rather than on objective experimental and analytical results. Often, design engineers are forced to start almost from square one after each earthquake event: to observe what went wrong and to try to prevent repetitions. This is a consequence of the empirical nature of current seismic regulations and guidelines for nonstructural components. This review paper summarizes current knowledge on the seismic design and analysis of nonstructural building components, identifying major knowledge gaps that will need to be filled by future research. Furthermore, considering recent trends in earthquake engineering, the paper explores how performance-based seismic design might be conceived for nonstructural components, drawing on recent developments made in the field of seismic design and hinting at the specific considerations required for nonstructural components.

A preliminary report on the Great Wenchuan Earthquake

Abstract: The May 12, 2008 Great Wenchuan Earthquake has resulted in more than 68,858 deaths and losses in the hundreds of billions RMB as of May 30, 2008, and these numbers will undoubtedly increase as more information becomes available on the extent of the event. Immediately after the earthquake, the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) responded quickly by sending teams of experts to the affected region, eventually including over 60 staff members from the Institute of Engineering Mechanics (IEM). This paper reports preliminary information that has been gathered in the first 18 days after the event, covering seismicity, search and rescue efforts, observed ground motions, and damage and loss estimates. The extensive field investigation has revealed a number of valuable findings that could be useful in improving research in earthquake engineering in the future. Once again, this earthquake has shown that the vertical component of ground motion is as significant as horizontal ground motions in the near-source area. Finally, note that as more information is gathered, the numbers reported in this paper will need to be adjusted accordingly.