The design of wind turbines installed in various regions of the world where earthquakes are likely must take into account loads imposed on the turbine due to ground shaking. Currently, design standards such as the International Electrotechnical Commission’s standard, IEC 61400-1, do not provide detailed guidelines for assessing loads on wind turbines due to seismic input excitation. In regions of high seismic hazard, it is extremely important to perform a thorough seismic analysis. Various simplified and full-system wind turbine models have been published and used for seismic analysis of turbine loads in recent years. Among these models, the open-source software, FAST, allows for full-system simulation of the response of wind turbines subjected to earthquake ground motion along with other sources of loading such as from the mean wind field and turbulence. This study employs this open-source software to simulate seismic loads and presents statistical and spectral summaries resulting from extensive analyses undertaken by simulating turbine response to various input motions from Western U.S. earthquakes. A total of 150 different earthquake ground motion records with varying magnitude and distance from fault rupture are selected and normalized/scaled to selected target levels prior to response simulation using a utility-scale 5-MW wind turbine model. The records selected are divided into six groups of 25 records each; the groups consist of different magnitude and distance-to-rupture values. The records in each bin are scaled to have similar demand levels as the average of the demand of the unscaled records in that bin. Two different normalization options are considered—in one, the scaling is at the rotor rotation rate (or the once-per-rev or 1P frequency); in the other, the scaling is done at the tower fore-aft first mode frequency. A study of various turbine load measures is conducted. It is found that turbine tower loads, in particular, are especially influenced by the earthquake excitation. / text

As an alternative to lap splicing, mechanical splices can be used for retrofit purposes. They are generally most economical than traditional lap splices when available spacing or length makes laps difficult to utilize. Mechanical splices are frequently used in new construction. However, their use is limited and not practical for use in retrofitted structures. However, if the bars to be joined do not need to be threaded in order to be connected with a special mechanical splice, such mechanical splices can be useful. It is presented a proposal of using two types of mechanical splices for retrofit purposes. Cycle Tension and cycle tension-compression tests are presented and discussed. It was found that mechanical splices are suitable and have acceptable response under seismic loads.

This thesis approaches the problem of the cost-efficient wind turbine foundation on an onshore site of clayey soil characteristics. The given soil stratigraphy includes a layer of clay and two sands of different density. The characteristics of the soil and the water level that were used as input come from a site in Peloponissos, Greece. The applied wind, static and seismic loads on this study were resolved with the German DIN standards, and other related research and European standards. The safety factors were adjusted for wind turbines. For the pile solution, after the bearing and overturning adequacy against the horizontal and vertical loads was proven with the calculation of the DIN equations, then the model was inserted in the Pfahl program using DIN 4017 equations to calculate settlements. Firstly, a shallow foundation of various dimensions in the clay layer over the water level with all the necessary checks was considered. Afterward, a deep foundation solution of a single bored pile, with reinforcement steel casing, of various diameters was investigated. The different foundation solutions were assessed and compared on a technical and economic basis. As a conclusion, the 0.70 meter diameter single pile was chosen as the best solution because it needs only a few days for construction, and it is the most cost-efficient. The chosen circular footing was of a diameter of 10 meters and 1.5 meter raft thickness, but proved unfeasible because of high excavations costs. The checks on the DIN standards and Eurocode that set the boundaries for the design in the two cases were recognised and possible future work goals were discussed.

No description available.

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Water-retaining structures are commonly used in South Africa for the storage of potable water and waste water. However, a South African code pertaining to the design of concrete water-retaining structures do not currently exist and therefore use is made of the British Standard BS 8007 (1987). For the design of concrete water-retaining structures in South Africa, only the hydrostatic loads are considered while forces due to seismic activity are often neglected even though seismic excitations of moderate magnitude occur within some regions of the country. Hence, the primary aim of this study was to determine whether seismic activity, as it occurs in South Africa, has a significant influence on water-retaining structures and whether it should be considered as a critical load case. In order to assess the influence of seismic activity on the design of water-retaining structures the internal forces in the wall and the required area of reinforcement were compared. Comparisons were made between the seismic analyses and static analyses for both the ultimate and serviceability limit states. In order to obtain the internal forces in the wall use was made of an appropriate Finite element model. Three Finite element models were investigated in this study and the accuracy of each model was assessed based on the fundamental frequency, base shear force and overturning moment. These values were compared to the values obtained with the numerical method presented by Veletsos (1997) which was verified with Eurocode 8: Part 4 (2006). The results obtained indicated that seismic excitations of moderate magnitude do have a significant influence on the reinforcement required in concrete water-retaining structures. For both the ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state the required reinforcement increased significantly when seismic loads were considered in the design. As in the case for static design of water-retaining structures, the serviceability limit state also dominated the design of these structures under seismic loading. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Beton waterhoudende strukture in Suid-Afrika word op ‘n gereelde basis gebruik vir die stoor van drink- sowel as afvalwater. ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse kode vir die ontwerp van hierdie strukture bestaan egter nie en dus word die Britse kode BS 8007 (1987) hiervoor gebruik. Vir ontwerp doeleindes word soms slegs die hidrostatiese kragte beskou terwyl kragte as gevolg van seismiese aktiwiteite nie noodwendig in berekening gebring word nie. Seismiese aktiwiteite van gematigde grootte kom egter wel voor in sekere dele van Suid-Afrika. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was dus om die invloed van seismiese aktiwiteite, soos voorgeskryf vir Suid-Afrikaanse toestande, op beton waterhoudende strukture te evalueer asook om te bepaal of dit ‘n kritiese lasgevalle sal wees. Vir hierdie doel is die interne kragte asook die area staal bewapening vir elk van die statiese en dinamiese lasgevalle vergelyk. Vergelykings is getref tussen die dinamiese en statiese resultate vir beide die swigtoestand en die diensbaarheidstoestand. Vir die bepaling van die interne kragte is gebruik gemaak van eindige element modelle. Tydens hierdie studie was drie eindige element modelle ondersoek en die akkuraatheid van elk geëvalueer op grond van die fundamentele frekwensie, die fondasie skuifkrag en die omkeermoment. Hierdie waardes was ondermeer bereken met twee numeriese metodes soos uiteengesit in Veletsos (1997) en Eurocode 8: Part 4 (2006). Die resultate dui daarop dat die invloed van seismiese aktiwiteite op beton waterhoudende strukture in Suid-Afrika nie weglaatbaar klein is nie en wel in berekening gebring behoort te word tydens die ontwerp. Die interne kragte vir beide die swigtoestand en diensbaarheidstoestand is aansienlik hoër vir die seismiese lasgeval as vir die statiese geval. Die diensbaarheidstoestand het deurentyd die ontwerp van beton waterhoudende strukture vir seismiese toestande oorheers.

[pt] Apresenta-se uma avaliação numérica estatística de metodologia para obtenção de espectros de resposta uniformemente prováveis, ERUP, Diniz [2], fundamentada na determinação da distribuição de probabilidade dos valores extremos da resposta de um sistema com um grau de liberdade, submetido a movimentos de terreno oriundos de terremotos. Tais movimentos são caracterizados por funções de densidade de espectro de potência, cada uma das quais representando uma família de sismos. Para tal, utiliza-se uma função densidade de espectro de potência, FDEP, como base à avaliação. A partir da FDEP, são gerados acelerogramas artificiais utilizando o programa SISMOSINV, desenvolvido internamente ao trabalho. Empregam-se estes acelerogramas para obterem-se espectros de resposta, utilizando o programa SAP2000. Os ERUP são então calculados, utilizando as distribuições de probabilidade acumulada dos valores espectrais obtidas por técnicas adequadas de estatística, implementadas especialmente para o caso. Efetua-se a comparação entre os ERUP obtidos estatisticamente e os produzidos pela metodologia probabilística e são formuladas conclusões e recomendações sobre os limites de emprego desta última. Comparam-se, ainda, os ERUP obtidos pelo procedimento estatístico com o espectro de resposta de projeto recomendado pela USNRC [13] para avaliar o compromisso entre estes espectro e a FDEPo da USNRC [1]. / [en] One presents a statistic evaluation of Diniz metodology [2], to obtain uniformly probable response espectra, UPRS, based on the determination of the probability distribuition of the response extreme values of a single- degree of freedom structure, under a ground movement caused by an earthquake. Such movements are characterized by power spectrum density functions, each one of them representing a family of seismic events. On this way, one considers a power spectral density function, PSD, as a basis for the evaluation. Using the PSD, one generates artificial ground acceleration functions with the program SISMOSINV, developed within this work. From these artificial ground acceleration functions one obtains the response spectra with the SAP2000 program. Then, the UPRS are calculated, using the spectral value distributions, by adequate statistical techniques, implemented for the case. One then compares the UPRS obtained statiscally with those obtained by the probabilistic methodology and conclusions and recommendations are formulated concerning the applicability limits of this methodology One still compares the statiscally obtained UPRS with the design response spectrum prescribed by the USNRC [13] to evaluate the compromise between this spectrum and the target power spectral density function, TPSD, prescribed by the USNRC [1].

With the rise in hazards that structures are potentially subjected to these days, ranging from pre-contemplated terror attacks to accidental and natural disasters, safeguarding structures against such hazards has increasingly become a common design requirement. The extreme loading conditions associated with these hazards renders the concept of imposing generalized codes and standards guidelines for structural design unfeasible. Therefore, a general shift towards performance-based design is starting to dominate the structural design field. This study introduces a powerful structural analysis tool for reinforced concrete structures, possessing a high level of reliability in handling a wide range of typical and extreme loading conditions in a sophisticated structural framework. VecTor3, a finite element computer program previously developed at the University of Toronto for nonlinear analysis of three-dimensional reinforced concrete structures employing the well-established Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT), has been further developed to serve as the desired tool. VecTor3 is extended to include analysis capabilities for extreme loading conditions, advanced reinforced concrete mechanisms, and new material types. For extreme loading conditions, an advanced coupled heat and moisture transfer algorithm is implemented in VecTor3 for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures subjected to fire. This algorithm not only calculates the transient temperature through the depth of concrete members, but also calculates the elevated pore pressure in concrete, which enables the prediction of the occurrence of localized thermally-induced spalling. Dynamic loading conditions are also extended to include seismic loading, in addition to blast and impact loading. Advancing the mechanisms considered, VecTor3 is developed to include the Disturbed Stress Field Model (DSFM), dowel action and buckling of steel reinforcement bars, geometric nonlinearity effects, strain rate effects for dynamic loading conditions, and the deterioration of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures for fire loading conditions. Finally, the newly-developed Simplified Diverse Embedment Model (SDEM) is implemented in VecTor3 to add analysis capability for steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC). Various analyses covering a wide range of different structural members and loading conditions are carried out using VecTor3, showing good agreement with experimental results available in the literature. These analyses verify the reliability of the models, mechanisms, and algorithms incorporated in VecTor3.

With the rise in hazards that structures are potentially subjected to these days, ranging from pre-contemplated terror attacks to accidental and natural disasters, safeguarding structures against such hazards has increasingly become a common design requirement. The extreme loading conditions associated with these hazards renders the concept of imposing generalized codes and standards guidelines for structural design unfeasible. Therefore, a general shift towards performance-based design is starting to dominate the structural design field. This study introduces a powerful structural analysis tool for reinforced concrete structures, possessing a high level of reliability in handling a wide range of typical and extreme loading conditions in a sophisticated structural framework. VecTor3, a finite element computer program previously developed at the University of Toronto for nonlinear analysis of three-dimensional reinforced concrete structures employing the well-established Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT), has been further developed to serve as the desired tool. VecTor3 is extended to include analysis capabilities for extreme loading conditions, advanced reinforced concrete mechanisms, and new material types. For extreme loading conditions, an advanced coupled heat and moisture transfer algorithm is implemented in VecTor3 for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures subjected to fire. This algorithm not only calculates the transient temperature through the depth of concrete members, but also calculates the elevated pore pressure in concrete, which enables the prediction of the occurrence of localized thermally-induced spalling. Dynamic loading conditions are also extended to include seismic loading, in addition to blast and impact loading. Advancing the mechanisms considered, VecTor3 is developed to include the Disturbed Stress Field Model (DSFM), dowel action and buckling of steel reinforcement bars, geometric nonlinearity effects, strain rate effects for dynamic loading conditions, and the deterioration of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures for fire loading conditions. Finally, the newly-developed Simplified Diverse Embedment Model (SDEM) is implemented in VecTor3 to add analysis capability for steel fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC). Various analyses covering a wide range of different structural members and loading conditions are carried out using VecTor3, showing good agreement with experimental results available in the literature. These analyses verify the reliability of the models, mechanisms, and algorithms incorporated in VecTor3.

This study is conducted for the design and analysis of pressure vessels and associated pressurized equipment using various codes and methods. A computer software is developed as the main outcome of this study, which provides a quick and comprehensive analysis by using various methods utilized in codes and standards together with theoretical and empirical methods which are widely accepted throughout the world. Pressure vessels are analyzed using ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, whereas auxiliary codes, especially ASCE and AISC codes are utilized for structural analyses of these equipment. Effect of wind, seismic, and other types of loadings are also taken into consideration in detail, with dynamic analyses. Support structures and their auxiliary components are also items of analysis. Apart from pressure vessels, many pressurized process equipments that are commonly used in the industy are also included in the scope of the study. They include safety valves which are an integral part of those kinds of pressurized or enclosed systems, two of the heat exchanger components with great importance -tubesheets and expansion joints-, and API 650 tanks for oil or water storage. The computer software called as VESSELAID is written in Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 using SI units. Design and analysis methods of VESSELAID are based on various code rules, recommended design practices and alternative approaches.

No description available.