Thesis (Ph. D.)--California Institute of Technology, 1995. / "Submitted May 8, 1995." Includes bibliographical references (p. 143-147).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--California Institute of Technology, 2004. / "October 2004." Includes bibliographical references. EERL report series available at their website: http://caltecheerl.library.caltech.edu.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo comparativo entre análises no domínio do tempo e análises espectrais, como forma de sugerir uma abordagem alternativa para o projeto de pontes de seção celular submetidas à ação de terremotos. Com esse propósito, desenvolveu-se um programa em linguagem JAVA para a geração de sismos artificiais, usando como base o Eurocode 8. A saída do programa foi utilizada para o desenvolvimento de um estudo de caso, que consiste em uma modelagem simplificada no software ADINA, de um vão de 21 m da Ponte Alverca, em Portugal. Após a extração e comparação de resultados dos dois métodos, é possível perceber que o método alternativo proposto - no domínio do tempo, que consiste na aplicação de acelerogramas artificiais ao modelo - possui resultados bastante coerentes com a análise espectral, além de ser mais recomendado se efeitos geométricos ou fisicamente não lineares forem considerados na modelagem. / This work presents a comparative study between time-domain analysis and spectral analysis, as a way of suggesting an alternative approach for treating cell section bridges subjected to earthquakes. To reach this goal, it was developed a program in JAVA language for the artificial earthquakes generation, using the Eurocode 8 as a basis. The program output was used for a case study that consists in a simplified modeling using ADINA software, of a twenty-one-meter-long span of Alverca Bridge, in Portugal. After the results extraction of both methods, it is possible to notice that the alternative method - in the time-domain, which consists of the application of artificial accelerograms to the model - has fairly consistent results with spectral analysis, not to mention that it is the most suitable one, in case geometrical or physical non-linearities are considered in the modelling.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo comparativo entre análises no domínio do tempo e análises espectrais, como forma de sugerir uma abordagem alternativa para o projeto de pontes de seção celular submetidas à ação de terremotos. Com esse propósito, desenvolveu-se um programa em linguagem JAVA para a geração de sismos artificiais, usando como base o Eurocode 8. A saída do programa foi utilizada para o desenvolvimento de um estudo de caso, que consiste em uma modelagem simplificada no software ADINA, de um vão de 21 m da Ponte Alverca, em Portugal. Após a extração e comparação de resultados dos dois métodos, é possível perceber que o método alternativo proposto - no domínio do tempo, que consiste na aplicação de acelerogramas artificiais ao modelo - possui resultados bastante coerentes com a análise espectral, além de ser mais recomendado se efeitos geométricos ou fisicamente não lineares forem considerados na modelagem. / This work presents a comparative study between time-domain analysis and spectral analysis, as a way of suggesting an alternative approach for treating cell section bridges subjected to earthquakes. To reach this goal, it was developed a program in JAVA language for the artificial earthquakes generation, using the Eurocode 8 as a basis. The program output was used for a case study that consists in a simplified modeling using ADINA software, of a twenty-one-meter-long span of Alverca Bridge, in Portugal. After the results extraction of both methods, it is possible to notice that the alternative method - in the time-domain, which consists of the application of artificial accelerograms to the model - has fairly consistent results with spectral analysis, not to mention that it is the most suitable one, in case geometrical or physical non-linearities are considered in the modelling.

No description available.

Apesar de fortes eventos sísmicos serem raros no Brasil, engenheiros estruturais brasileiros são frequentemente envolvidos em tal análise para os países latino-americanos vizinhos. Informações sobre históricos de aceleração sísmica, de natureza aleatória, não estão em geral disponíveis, devido, em parte, à falta de registros. Para contornar tal situação, os códigos de construção indicam o uso de acelerogramas artificiais, mas não fornecem metodologia para sua obtenção. A informação normalizada é o chamado espectro de resposta elástico, que fornece a aceleração de resposta máxima para um sistema linear de um grau de liberdade. Muitas pesquisas estão sendo desenvolvidas a fim de gerar acelerogramas artificiais compatíveis com os espectros de norma. Assim, neste trabalho se apresenta uma proposta para a geração de acelerograma artificial compatível com espectro de resposta regulamentar. Para exemplo de aplicação, é gerado um acelerograma artificial compatível com a Norma Brasileira NBR 15421: 2006 e aplicado à base de um edifício shear building de dez pavimentos e através de integração numérica por diferenças finitas passo-a-passo no domínio do tempo é calculado o deslocamento do último pavimento deste edifício. De forma semelhante, é gerado um acelerograma artificial compatível com a Norma Venezuelana COVENIN 1756: 2001 e aplicado à base de um reservatório d\'água sobre quatro pilares e estudado o seu comportamento elastoplástico perfeito. / Although strong seismic events are rare in Brazil, Brazilian structural engineers are often involved in such an analysis for neighboring Latin American countries. Information on seismic acceleration histories of a random nature is not generally available, due in part to the lack of records. To circumvent such a situation, building codes indicate the use of artificial accelerograms, but do not provide a methodology for obtaining them. The normalized information is the so-called elastic response spectrum, which provides the maximum response acceleration for a linear system of a degree of freedom. Many researches are being developed in order to generate artificial accelerograms compatible with the norm spectra. Thus, this paper presents a proposal for the generation of an artificial accelerogram compatible with a regulatory response spectrum. For an application example, an artificial accelerogram compatible with the Brazilian Standard NBR 15421: 2006 is generated and applied to the base of a ten-story shear building and through numerical integration by finite differences step-by-step in the time domain is calculated the displacement of the last floor of this building. Similarly, an artificial accelerogram is generated that is compatible with the Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 1756: 2001 and applied on the basis of a water reservoir on four pillars and studied its perfect elastoplastic behavior.

Time history-analyses of building structures have been used for a quite long time for research at universities. Considering the advantage of time-history analysis relative to the equivalent static force method, the National Building of Canada and other modern building codes around the world require the use of time-history analysis in the design of specified types of buildings located in seismic regions. One of the main issues in the use of time-history analysis is related to the selection and scaling of the seismic excitations (i.e., accelerograms) to be compatible with the design spectrum for the location considered. Currently, both recorded (i.e., “real”) accelerograms and artificial accelerograms are used in the analyses. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the selection and scaling of seismic excitations on the response of reinforced concrete frame buildings. Three reinforced concrete frame buildings with heights of 4 storey, 10 storey and 16 storey, designed for Vancouver (high seismic zone) were used in this study. Five sets of seismic excitations were used in the analysis – one set of “real” accelerograms, and four sets of artificial accelerograms obtained by different methods. All sets were scaled to be compatible with the design spectrum for Vancouver. Both linear and nonlinear time history analyses were conducted on the buildings considered. Interstorey drifts and storey shear forces were used as response parameters. The results from the linear analysis show that both the interstorey drifts and the shear forces are affected significantly by the type of the excitation set. Similarly, the effects of the type of the seismic excitations on the drifts from nonlinear analysis are substantial. On the other hand, the influence of the excitation sets on the storey shears from nonlinear analysis are quite small. Based on the results from this study, sets of scaled real records are preferred for use in time-history analysis of building structures. If such records are not available, then sets of simulated accelerograms based on the regional seismic characteristics should be used.

Time history-analyses of building structures have been used for a quite long time for research at universities. Considering the advantage of time-history analysis relative to the equivalent static force method, the National Building of Canada and other modern building codes around the world require the use of time-history analysis in the design of specified types of buildings located in seismic regions. One of the main issues in the use of time-history analysis is related to the selection and scaling of the seismic excitations (i.e., accelerograms) to be compatible with the design spectrum for the location considered. Currently, both recorded (i.e., “real”) accelerograms and artificial accelerograms are used in the analyses. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the selection and scaling of seismic excitations on the response of reinforced concrete frame buildings. Three reinforced concrete frame buildings with heights of 4 storey, 10 storey and 16 storey, designed for Vancouver (high seismic zone) were used in this study. Five sets of seismic excitations were used in the analysis – one set of “real” accelerograms, and four sets of artificial accelerograms obtained by different methods. All sets were scaled to be compatible with the design spectrum for Vancouver. Both linear and nonlinear time history analyses were conducted on the buildings considered. Interstorey drifts and storey shear forces were used as response parameters. The results from the linear analysis show that both the interstorey drifts and the shear forces are affected significantly by the type of the excitation set. Similarly, the effects of the type of the seismic excitations on the drifts from nonlinear analysis are substantial. On the other hand, the influence of the excitation sets on the storey shears from nonlinear analysis are quite small. Based on the results from this study, sets of scaled real records are preferred for use in time-history analysis of building structures. If such records are not available, then sets of simulated accelerograms based on the regional seismic characteristics should be used.

Time history-analyses of building structures have been used for a quite long time for research at universities. Considering the advantage of time-history analysis relative to the equivalent static force method, the National Building of Canada and other modern building codes around the world require the use of time-history analysis in the design of specified types of buildings located in seismic regions. One of the main issues in the use of time-history analysis is related to the selection and scaling of the seismic excitations (i.e., accelerograms) to be compatible with the design spectrum for the location considered. Currently, both recorded (i.e., “real”) accelerograms and artificial accelerograms are used in the analyses. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the selection and scaling of seismic excitations on the response of reinforced concrete frame buildings. Three reinforced concrete frame buildings with heights of 4 storey, 10 storey and 16 storey, designed for Vancouver (high seismic zone) were used in this study. Five sets of seismic excitations were used in the analysis – one set of “real” accelerograms, and four sets of artificial accelerograms obtained by different methods. All sets were scaled to be compatible with the design spectrum for Vancouver. Both linear and nonlinear time history analyses were conducted on the buildings considered. Interstorey drifts and storey shear forces were used as response parameters. The results from the linear analysis show that both the interstorey drifts and the shear forces are affected significantly by the type of the excitation set. Similarly, the effects of the type of the seismic excitations on the drifts from nonlinear analysis are substantial. On the other hand, the influence of the excitation sets on the storey shears from nonlinear analysis are quite small. Based on the results from this study, sets of scaled real records are preferred for use in time-history analysis of building structures. If such records are not available, then sets of simulated accelerograms based on the regional seismic characteristics should be used.

Apesar de fortes eventos sísmicos serem raros no Brasil, engenheiros estruturais brasileiros são frequentemente envolvidos em tal análise para os países latino-americanos vizinhos. Informações sobre históricos de aceleração sísmica, de natureza aleatória, não estão em geral disponíveis, devido, em parte, à falta de registros. Para contornar tal situação, os códigos de construção indicam o uso de acelerogramas artificiais, mas não fornecem metodologia para sua obtenção. A informação normalizada é o chamado espectro de resposta elástico, que fornece a aceleração de resposta máxima para um sistema linear de um grau de liberdade. Muitas pesquisas estão sendo desenvolvidas a fim de gerar acelerogramas artificiais compatíveis com os espectros de norma. Assim, neste trabalho se apresenta uma proposta para a geração de acelerograma artificial compatível com espectro de resposta regulamentar. Para exemplo de aplicação, é gerado um acelerograma artificial compatível com a Norma Brasileira NBR 15421: 2006 e aplicado à base de um edifício shear building de dez pavimentos e através de integração numérica por diferenças finitas passo-a-passo no domínio do tempo é calculado o deslocamento do último pavimento deste edifício. De forma semelhante, é gerado um acelerograma artificial compatível com a Norma Venezuelana COVENIN 1756: 2001 e aplicado à base de um reservatório d\'água sobre quatro pilares e estudado o seu comportamento elastoplástico perfeito. / Although strong seismic events are rare in Brazil, Brazilian structural engineers are often involved in such an analysis for neighboring Latin American countries. Information on seismic acceleration histories of a random nature is not generally available, due in part to the lack of records. To circumvent such a situation, building codes indicate the use of artificial accelerograms, but do not provide a methodology for obtaining them. The normalized information is the so-called elastic response spectrum, which provides the maximum response acceleration for a linear system of a degree of freedom. Many researches are being developed in order to generate artificial accelerograms compatible with the norm spectra. Thus, this paper presents a proposal for the generation of an artificial accelerogram compatible with a regulatory response spectrum. For an application example, an artificial accelerogram compatible with the Brazilian Standard NBR 15421: 2006 is generated and applied to the base of a ten-story shear building and through numerical integration by finite differences step-by-step in the time domain is calculated the displacement of the last floor of this building. Similarly, an artificial accelerogram is generated that is compatible with the Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 1756: 2001 and applied on the basis of a water reservoir on four pillars and studied its perfect elastoplastic behavior.