Thesis (M.Eng.Sc.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2009. Coursework. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-131). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Civil Engineering)--Washington State University. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2006. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-177).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2005. / Advisor: R.G. Drysdale. Includes bibliographical references (p. 270-276). Also available online.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

The investigation described in this thesis represents the first known attempt to develop a simplified method for the seismic design of structures equipped with a novel friction damping system. The system has been shown experimentally to perform very well and is an exciting development in earthquake resistant design. The design of a building equipped with the friction damping system is achieved by determining the optimum slip load distribution to minimize structural response. A new efficient numerical modelling approach for the analysis and design of Friction Damped Braced Frames (FDBF) is presented. The hysteretic properties of the friction devices are derived theoretically and included in a Friction Damped Braced Frame Analysis Program (FDBFAP), which is adaptable to a microcomputer environment. The optimum slip load distribution is determined by minimizing a Relative Performance Index (RPI) derived from energy concepts. The steady-state response of a single storey friction damped structure subjected to sinusoidal ground motion is investigated analytically. Basic design information on the optimum slip load for the friction device is obtained. The parameters governing the optimum slip load, which minimizes the amplitude for any forcing frequency, are derived. The study indicates that the optimum slip load depends on the characteristics of the ground motion and of the structure. Using variational principles on a shear beam analogy, an optimum slip load distribution along the height of the structure is derived when the total amount of slip load is specified. It is shown that the optimum slip load is proportional to the slope of the deflected shape of the structure. The results of the study reveal that only a small improvement in the response is obtained by using this optimum distribution compared to the response obtained with a uniform distribution. Therefore the use of an optimum uniform distribution seems adequate for the design of friction damped structures. Taking into account the analytical results obtained, FDBFAP is then used in a parametric study which leads to the construction of a design slip load spectrum. The spectrum depends on the properties of the structure and ground motion anticipated at the construction site. It is believed that the availability of this design slip load spectrum will lead to a greater acceptance by the engineering profession of this new and innovative structural concept. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

New methods for calculating the stochastic and seismic design response of linear and nonlinear structures are presented. For linear structures, two approaches are developed: (1) the modified mode displacement approach for classically as well as non-classically damped structures, and (2) the generalized force derivative approach for classically damped structures. Both techniques improve the calculation of the pseudostatic contribution of the truncated modes without including them in the analysis. In particular, the modified mode displacement approach is a useful tool for the calculation of seismic design responses affected by the contributions or higher modes. It properly considers the modal correlations as well as the correlation between retained and truncated modes. It is as fast as the mode acceleration method of structural dynamics and it only requires the commonly used ground response spectra employed by the classical mode displacement approach. On the other hand, the generalized force derivative approach requires the input to be defined in terms of its power spectral density function, but it improves even further the estimation of the missing mass effect due to the trucation of modes. For nonlinear structures, the stochastic equivalent linearization technique is employed to develop response spectrum approaches for hysteretic shear buildings and for two dimensional frames with plastic hinges. For this purpose, a generalized modal analysis technique is successfully employed. The proposed response spectrum approaches require the input be defined in terms of the response spectrum of first order oscillators as well as in terms of the commonly used ground response spectra. For shear buildings, the work is extended to include the calculation of floor response spectra. A simulation study is performed to compare the results obtained by the proposed approach. / Ph. D.

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