A new type of steel plate shear wall has been devised which resists out-of-plane buckling without requiring stiffeners. The ring-shaped steel plate shear wall (RS-SPSW) includes a web plate that is cut with a pattern of holes leaving ring-shaped portions of steel connected by diagonal links. The ring shape resists out-of-plane buckling through the mechanics of how a circular ring deforms into an ellipse. It has been shown that the ring's compression diagonal will shorten a similar amount as the tension diagonal elongates, essentially eliminating the slack in the direction perpendicular to the tension field. Because of the unique features of the ring's mode of distortion, the load-deformation response of the resulting RS-SPSW system can exhibit full hysteretic behavior and possess greatly improved stiffness relative to thin unstiffened SPSW. The concept has been validated through testing on seven 34 in x 34 in panels. General conclusions about influence of different geometric parameters on plate behavior have been made. / Master of Science

With the rise in constructing using FRP reinforcement, owing to corrosion problems in steel-reinforced structures, there is a need for a system to resist lateral loads induced from wind and earthquake loads. The present study addressed the applicability of reinforced-concrete shear walls totally reinforced with glass-fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars to attain reasonable strength and drift requirements as specified in different codes. Four large-scale shear walls - one reinforced with steel bars (as reference specimen) and three totally reinforced with GFRP bars - were constructed and tested to failure under quasi-static reversed cyclic lateral loading. The GFRP-reinforced walls had different aspect ratios covering the range of medium-rise walls. The reported test results clearly showed that properly designed and detailed GFRPreinforced walls could reach their flexural capacities with no strength degradation, and that shear, sliding shear, and anchorage failures were not major problems and could be effectively controlled. The results also showed recoverable and self-centering behavior up to allowable drift limits before moderate damage occurred and achieved a maximum drift meeting the limitation of most building codes. Acceptable levels of energy dissipation accompanied by relatively small residual forces, compared to the steel-reinforced shear wall, were observed. Finite element simulation was conducted and the analyses captured the main features of behavior. Interaction of flexural and shear deformations of the tested shear walls was investigated. It was found that relying on the diagonal transducers tended to overestimate shear distortions by 30% to 50%. Correcting the results based on the use of vertical transducers was assessed and found to produce consistent results. Decoupling the flexural and shear deformations was discussed. Using GFRP bars as elastic material gave uniform distribution of shear strains along the shear region, resulting in shear deformation ranging from 15 to 20% of total deformation. The yielding of the steel bars intensified the shear strains at the yielding location, causing significant degradation in shear deformation ranging from 2 to 40% of total deformation. The results obtained demonstrated significantly high utilization levels of such shear wall type, therefore, primary guidelines for seismic design of GFRP-reinforced shear wall in moderate earthquakes regions was presented, as no design guidelines for lateral load resistance for GFRP-reinforced walls are available in codes. The ultimate limit state was addressed by providing strength capacity that limit ductility demand to their safe flexural displacement capacity. The strength demands were derived from ground motion spectra using modification factors that depend on both the strength and energy absorption of the structure. Deformation capacity was derived by proposing new definitions for elastic (virtual yield) displacement and maximum allowable displacement. Strength modification factor was proposed based on the test results. The occurrence of "virtual plastic hinge" for GFRP-reinforced shear walls was described providing new definitions convenient with the behavior of the GFRP-reinforced shear walls. "Virtual plastic hinge" length was estimated based on observations and calculations. Subsequently, the experimental results were used to justify the proposed design procedure. The promising results could provide impetus for constructing shear walls reinforced with GFRP bars and constitute a step toward using GFRP reinforcement in such lateral-resisting systems.

The objective of this research is to create a computationally efficient seismic analysis framework for cold-formed steel (CFS) framed-buildings supported by hysteretic nonlinear models for CFS members and screw-fastened connections. Design of CFS structures subjected to lateral seismic forces traditionally relies on the strength of subassemblies subjected to lateral loading of systems, such as strapped/sheathed shear walls and diaphragms, to provide adequate protection against collapse. Enabling performance-based seismic design of CFS buildings requires computationally efficient and accurate modeling tools that predict the nonlinear cyclic behavior of CFS buildings, the individual CFS components and connections. Such models should capture the energy dissipation and damage due to buckling and cross-sectional deformations in thin-walled CFS components subjected to cyclic loads such as those induced by earthquakes. Likewise, models for screw-fastened CFS connections should capture the energy dissipation and damage due to tilting, bearing, or screw shear when subjected to cyclic loading. In this dissertation, an analysis framework for CFS structures that captures the nonlinear cyclic behavior of critical components including axial members, flexural members, and screw fastened connections is presented. A modeling approach to simulate thin-walled behavior in CFS members is introduced where parameters were developed using results from an experimental program that investigated the cyclic behavior and energy dissipation in CFS axial members and flexural members. Energy dissipation and cyclic behavior of CFS members were characterized for members experiencing global, distortional and local buckling. Cyclic behavior and energy dissipation in thin steel plates and members was further investigated through finite element analysis in ABAQUS to provide a strategy for modeling steel columns cyclic behavior including local buckling. Model parameters were developed as generalized functions of the hysteretic energy dissipated and slenderness. The capabilities of the analysis framework are demonstrated through simulations of CFS wood sheathed shear wall cyclic responses validated with experimental results from full scale shear wall tests. / Ph. D.

Les travaux de thèse visent à améliorer les connaissances sur le comportement parasismique des bâtiments à ossature en bois. Le comportement de ces bâtiments sous sollicitations sismiques est lié à celui de ses assemblages par connecteurs métalliques (pointes, vis, équerres, etc.). La modélisation numérique d'une telle structure s'appuie sur une démarche multi-échelles, afin de représenter les comportements locaux à l'échelle de l'ouvrage. Trois échelles sont définies. Échelle 1 : assemblages, échelle 2 : éléments de structure (mur, plancher, toiture), échelle 3 : bâtiment. A chaque échelle, une loi de comportement dédiée (hystérétique avec endommagement) permet la modélisation. Les calages ou validations s'appuient sur des campagnes d'essais expérimentaux. Diverses configurations de spécimen et divers chargements sont testés afin de construire une vaste base de données de résultats. Les essais sur les assemblages par connecteurs métalliques ont permis le calage du modèle numérique à l'échelle 1. Un modèle éléments finis (EF) détaillé de mur est validé expérimentalement en quasi-statique et en dynamique. Un modèle EF simplifié de mur (macro) permet de passer à l'échelle du bâti. Cet élément macro, calibré sur le modèle détaillé, permet de reproduire avec une précision satisfaisante le comportement dynamique d'un mur. L'assemblage d'éléments de murs (pleins ou avec ouverture) permet de tendre vers la modélisation tridimensionnelle d'une structure. Ce modèle numérique de structure permettra d'étudier, localement et globalement, le comportement parasismique des constructions à ossature bois afin de proposer des dispositifs constructifs et un dimensionnement adaptés à ces ouvrages en zone sismique. / This research aims at a better understanding of the vulnerability of timber-frame buildings against earthquakes. The behavior of these structures under seismic loading relies on their joints with metal fasteners (nails, screws, 3 dimensionnal connections, etc.). The numerical modeling of such a structure is based on a multi-scale approach, which allows to take into account the local behaviors at the structural scale. Three scales are defined: Scale 1: joints, scale 2: structural elements (shear walls, floors, roofs), scale 3: buildings. At each scale, a behavior law (hysteretic with damage) is used. The calibrations or validations are based on experimental tests. Tests on joints with metal fasteners are used to calibrate the numerical model at scale 1. A detailed finite elements (FE) model of shear wall is developped and its predictions are confronted to quasi-static and dynamic experimental results for validation. A simplified FE model of shear wall (macro element) is used to generate a numerical model at the building scale. This macro element, calibrated on the detailed FE model, accurately reproduces the dynamic behavior of a shear wall despite its simplicity. The numerical model of timber-frame buildings will be used to study, locally and globally, their behavior against earthquake in order to propose construction details and design adapted to these structures in seismic areas.

La presente tesis consiste en proponer una alternativa de control antisísmico de alta tecnología para la construcción de hospitales en el Perú, que en su normativa exige el uso de aislamiento de base para edificaciones esenciales. Para ello, se opta por la evaluación estructural con el sistema de disipación de energía SLB (Shear Link Bozzo) de tecnología peruana en dos hospitales con tipo de suelos S1 y S2 ubicados en zonas de sismicidad 4 y 3 respectivamente, los cuales son proyectos ya construidos con sistema de aislamiento de base. El desarrollo del proyecto ha sido llevado a cabo empleando principalmente las normativas nacionales NTP E.030 y NTP E.031 siguiendo directrices y recomendaciones propuestas en códigos internacionales como el ASCE 7-14, FEMA P58, ASCE 41-17. En el estudio se comparan las respuestas sísmicas de ambas metodologías obtenidas de un análisis tiempo-historia no lineal empleando 7 pares de registros sísmicos para cada hospital según las condiciones de suelo que lo conforman, obteniendo derivas, aceleraciones de piso, curvas histeréticas, balance de energía y formación de rótulas plásticas; todo ello para evaluar la condición de funcionalidad continua, necesaria en estructuras hospitalarias. Adicionalmente, se determinan los costos iniciales aproximados de estos proyectos con ambas tecnologías de control antisísmico. En base a los resultados se concluye, que los disipadores SLB efectivamente constituyen una opción más para poder implementar en el diseño de hospitales logrando menores costos iniciales, aproximadamente del 50% al monto obtenido con los aisladores, tomando en cuenta partidas con gran incidencia en los costos totales. No obstante, su elección tiene que estar sujeto al correcto análisis estructural y evaluación de daños en el proyecto a realizar, haciendo un balance entre cada una de las ventajes y desventajas que se presentan en esta tesis para ambas técnicas, adecuándolo a los requerimiento y objetivos deseados. / The present thesis consists of proposing a high-tech anti-seismic control alternative for the construction of hospitals in Peru, which in its regulations requires the use of base insulation for essential buildings. For this, the structural evaluation is chosen with the SLB (Shear Link Bozzo) energy dissipation system of Peruvian technology in two hospitals with soil type S1 and S2 located in seismic zones 4 and 3 respectively, which are projects already built with base insulation system. The development of the project has been carried out mainly using the national regulations NTP E.030 and NTP E.031, following guidelines and recommendations proposed in international codes such as ASCE 7-14, FEMA P58, ASCE 41-17. The study compares the seismic responses of both methodologies obtained from a non-linear time-history analysis using 7 pairs of seismic records for each hospital according to the soil conditions that comprise it, obtaining drifts, floor accelerations, hysterical curves, balance of energy and formation of plastic hinges; all this to evaluate the condition of continuous functionality, necessary in hospital structures. Additionally, the approximate initial costs of these projects with both anti-seismic control technologies are determined. Based on the results, it is concluded that the SLB heatsinks effectively constitute one more option to be able to implement in the design of hospitals, achieving lower initial costs, approximately 50% of the amount obtained with the isolators. However, your choice must be subject to the correct structural analysis and damage evaluation in the project to be carried out, making a balance between each of the advantages and disadvantages that are presented in this thesis for both techniques, adapting it to the requirements and objectives. desired. / Tesis

As typically designed, the beam-column-brace connections of buckling-restrained braced steel frames have undesirable failure modes that compromise the integrity and performance of the frames and are costly to repair. To decrease the time and resources needed to repair the frames following an earthquake, a new connection design was developed that attempts to confine yielding to replaceable frame components. The design incorporates a gap in the beam beyond the edge of the beam-gusset weld that acts as a hinge and reduces moment forces transferred to the connection; it is bridged by splice plates that are bolted to the beam top flanges. The splice plates and buckling-restrained braces are the only frame components that are expected to yield. To investigate the performance of the proposed connection design, a prototype bay was designed and two test specimens were fabricated and tested. Each specimen represented a corner of the prototype braced bay and consisted of a beam, column, gusset plate, brace core extension assembly, splice plates, and lateral bracing angles. Both standard design procedures and newly developed criteria were used to design the connection. In preparation for testing, a method was developed for estimating the hysteretic response of a buckling-restrained brace. By using this method to program an actuator, the specimens could be tested without using actual braces, resulting in a significant reduction in testing cost. Testing was conducted using two 600 kip actuators; the first followed a static loading protocol with a maximum design drift of 6.5%, and the second replicated the prototype BRB's response. The tests yielded promising results: both specimens withstood the maximum displacements and avoided yielding in the beams, columns, and gusset plates; yielding did occur in the splice plates and BRB core extension assembly, as anticipated. Possible limitations in the design may arise under the presence of increased shear loads, concrete floor slabs, or out-of-plane loading. Additional testing is recommended.

L'objectif de cette thèse est l'étude de la déformation, à l'échelle microscopique, de la phase MAX Ti2AlN, synthétisée par métallurgie des poudres. Ce travail se divise en trois parties : une première dans laquelle l'accent a été mis sur l'hystérèse mécanique des phases MAX via des essais cyclés, en nanoindentation sphérique et compression ex-situ de micro-piliers, sur des grains d'orientations différentes déterminées par l'EBSD. Dans la deuxième nous nous sommes intéressés à la déformation de micropiliers via des essais de compression cyclés in-situ couplés à la micro-diffraction Laue. L'objectif a été d'analyser les taches diffraction au cours de la déformation du pilier afin de mettre en évidence les mécanismes de déformation élémentaires mis en jeu et d'observer les structures finales via des images MEB post-mortem des piliers. Enfin, une dernière dans laquelle l'objectif a été l'étude des mécanismes de déformation en température à l'échelle microscopique via des essais de nano-indentation allant jusqu'à 800°C. La caractérisation des lignes de glissement en surface et des configurations microstructurales sous l'empreinte a été réalisée par AFM et MET respectivement. Toutes les données recueillies par ces divers essais aux petites échelles, ont permis d'affiner notre compréhension des mécanismes de déformation du monocristal de phase MAX, notamment vis à vis des modèles usuellement proposés dans la littérature. / The thesis's goal is to study the deformation, at microscopic scale, of the MAX phase Ti2AlN synthesized by powder metallurgy. This work is divided into three parts: in the first part, the interest has been put on the hysteretic behavior of the MAX phases via cyclic mechanical solicitations, during spherical indentation tests and ex-situ compression of micro-pillars, on differently orientated grains beforehand determined by EBSD. In the second part, we were interested into the micro-pillar's deformation via insitu cyclic compression tests coupled with Laue micro-diffraction. The goal was to analyse the evolution diffraction lines during the pillar's deformation in order to highlight the elementary deformation mechanisms and to observe the finale structures via the post-mortem SEM imaging of the pillars. Finally, a last part was devoted to study the deformation mechanisms in temperature at microscopic scale via nano-indentation tests up to 800°C. The characterization of the slip lines on the surface has been revealed by AFM and that of t he microstructural configurations (dislocations) under the indent has been done by TEM. All data collected by these various tests at the small scales have refined our understanding of the deformation mechanisms of crystal MAX phase, particularly with respect to the models usually proposed in the literature.

Les séismes constituent une source d’aléas importante pour l’étude de la vulnérabilité d’unbâtiment. Le comportement parasismique des bâtiments à ossatures en bois est particulièrementintéressant. Deux familles de structure à ossature en bois peuvent être distinguées : les ossaturesutilisant les produits industriels que sont les panneaux en bois reconstitué servant à contreventerla structure et les connecteurs métalliques, et les ossatures traditionnelles avec remplissage reposantsur des techniques de construction anciennes et dépendantes du contexte local. L’efficacitédu comportement parasismique des bâtiments à ossature en bois traditionnels avec remplissagereste encore peu reconnue en raison du manque de résultats issus des travaux de recherche.Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse visent ainsi à améliorer les connaissances sur le comportementparasismique de cette typologie constructive. Partant de l’hypothèse selon laquellece comportement est gouverné par la réponse des assemblages par connecteurs métalliques, uneapproche multi-échelles, couplant études expérimentales et études numériques est développée.Elle détaille l’analyse à l’échelle 1 de la connexion, en passant par l’échelle 2 des cellules élémentaires,constitutives des murs, par l’échelle 3 des murs de contreventement pour se finaliserà l’échelle 4 du bâtiment dans son ensemble.Sur le plan expérimental, cette approche permet d’une part, de réaliser des études paramétriqueset ainsi d’appréhender l’influence de la réponse de chaque élément (bois, clous, feuillard,remplissage, contreventement, ouvertures) sur le comportement local (échelles 1 et 2) et global(échelles 3 et 4) de la structure. D’autre part, elle permet de fournir une base de données pourla validation des modélisations numériques aux différentes échelles.Sur le plan de la modélisation numérique, cette approche multi-échelles est fondée sur la priseen compte du comportement non-linéaire hystérétique des assemblages à l’échelle supérieure, parl’intermédiaire d’un macro-élément, développé dans la cadre de la méthode des éléments finis.Ainsi, grâce à une modélisation simplifiée (assemblage des macro-éléments), le calcul est rapide,aussi bien à l’échelle du mur qu’à celle du bâtiment, et intègre les phénomènes non-linéaire locaux.Le modèle peut ainsi prédire de manière relativement précise le comportement dynamique de lastructure complète à l’échelle 4, testée sur table vibrante.L’étude présentée dans ce manuscrit fait partie des travaux précurseurs relatifs à l’analysede la vulnérabilité sismique des ossatures bois avec remplissage. Cette étude débouche sur denombreuses perspectives pour l’analyse de cette typologie constructive. Elle confirme que les bâtimentsà ossatures en bois avec remplissage ont un comportement parasismique très performant. / The seismic vulnerabilty is an important issue in the design of a building. The seismicresistant behavior of timber-framed structures is particularly relevant. Two types of timberframedstructures can be distinguished : the timber-framed structures using industrial products,such as wood-products panels used to brace the structure or metal fasteners, and traditionaltimber-framed structures included infill made of natuarl materials (earth or stones masonry).The seismic resistant behavior efficiency of traditional structures remains poorly recognizedbecause of the lack of research results on this kind of construction.Therefore, the thesis aims at improving the seismic behavior knowledge of timber-framedmasonry. Based on the assumption that their behavior is driven by the response of the metalfasteners connections, a multi-scale approach is proposed. It couples experimental and numericalstudies. At the scale 1 of the connection, at the scale 2 of the elementary constitutive cell ofwalls, at the scale 3 of structural elements such as shear walls and finally at the scale 4 of theentire building.In regards to the experimental work, this method allows, on the one hand, to perform parametricstudies and to analyze the influence of each element (wood member, nails, steel strip,infill, bracing, openings) on the local behavior (scales 1 and 2) and on the global behavior(scales 3 and 4) of the structure. On the other hand, it allows to provide a database to validatethe numerical modeling at each scale.In regards to the numerical work, this multi-scale approach allows to take into account thehysteretic behavior of joints in the development of a macro-element at the scale 2. Thus, thanksto a simplified finite element modeling (macro-element assembly), the computational cost islimited and it allows to take into account the local phenomena. The model is able to predictrelatively accurately the dynamic behavior at the scale 4 of the building, tested on a shakingtable.The study, presented herein, is one of the pioneer work that deals with the analysis of theseismic vulnerability of timber-framed structures with infill panels. This study provides outlookfor the analysis of this type of buildings. It confirms that the timbered masonry structures havea relevant seismic resistant behavior.