Department of Civil Engineering
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Articles
Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering (03151468)23(5)pp. 1051-1063
The Geological Survey of Canada is currently producing a suite of new hazard maps for Canada. These maps take into account the additional recorded data obtained during the past 13 years, as well as the new geological and tectonic information that has recently become available. They provide elastic spectral acceleration values for a uniform probability of exceedance of 10% in 50 years. A method of using the uniform hazard spectral values to obtain design response spectral curves for different values of ductility is presented here. The method uses two spectral values obtained from the hazard maps, the peak spectral acceleration for the site and the spectral acceleration corresponding to a period of 0.5 s. Empirical expressions are developed to represent the design response spectra. It is shown that by using inelastic spectral accelerations rather than the elastic spectral values in association with a reduction factor, the new method provides a more reliable estimate of the design forces.
Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering (03151468)25(1)pp. 1-15
Observations during many earthquakes have shown that building structures are able to sustain without damage earthquake forces considerably larger than those they were designed for. This is explained by the presence in such structures of significant reserve strength not accounted for in design. Relying on such overstrength, many seismic codes permit a reduction in design loads. The possible sources of reserve strength are outlined in this paper, and it is reasoned that a more rational basis for design would be to account for such sources in assessing the capacity rather than in reducing the design loads. As an exception, one possible source of reserve strength, the redistribution of internal forces, may be used in scaling down the design forces. This is because such scaling allows the determination of design forces through an elastic analysis rather than through a limit analysis. To assess the extent of reserve strength attributable to redistribution, steel building structures having moment-resisting frames or concentrically braced frames and from 2 to 30 storeys in height are analyzed for their response to lateral loading. A static nonlinear push-over analysis is used in which the gravity loads are held constant while the earthquake forces are gradually increased until a mechanism forms or the specified limit on interstorey drift is exceeded. It is noted that in moment-resisting frames the reserve strength reduces with an increase in the number of storeys as well as in the level of design earthquake forces. The P-Δ effect causes a further reduction. In structures having braced frames the main parameter controlling the reserve strength is the slenderness ratio of the bracing members. In these structures, reserve strength is almost independent of both the height of the structure and the effect of building sway.
Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering (03151468)27(3)pp. 563-580
The use of uniform hazard spectra for obtaining the seismic design forces is being considered for the next version of the National Building Code of Canada. Such spectra provide the spectral accelerations of a single-degree-of-freedom system for a range of periods but for a uniform level of hazard. One of the issues that need to be resolved before uniform hazard spectra are used in the design of multistorey buildings is the adjustment required in the base shear to account for the higher mode effects present in a multi-degree-of-freedom system. This issue is examined through analytical studies of the response of idealised elastic and inelastic multistorey building frames to ground motions representative of the seismic hazard in the eastern and western regions of Canada. Representative values are obtained for the adjustment factors that must be applied to the design base shear and to the base overturning moment.
Shock and Vibration Digest (17413184)32(1)pp. 67-67
The use of uniform hazard spectra for obtaining the seismic design forces is being considered for the next version of the national building code of Canada. Such spectra provide the spectral accelerations of a single-degree-of-freedom system for a range of periods but for a uniform level of hazard. One of the issues that needs to be resolved before uniform hazard spectra are used in design is the adjustment required in the base shear to account for the higher mode effects present in a multi-degree-of-freedom system. This issue is examined through analytical studies of the response of idealized multistorey building frames to ground motions representative of the seismic hazard in east and west Canada.
Institute of Physics Conference Series (09513248)180pp. 25-34
Geometry has a ritual origin and utilisation of Sacred Geometry by man goes back many centuries. Certain specific ratios can be found in the design of lifeforms in nature Traditional civilisations regarded architecture as a sacred means by which the heavens were manifested. Persian architecture utilised proportions comprehensively and by means of Sacred Geometry measured the proportions of heaven and reflected them in the dimensions of buildings on Earth. In this paper, the design of a number of Persian historical buildings by the use of the science of geometry will be presented. The geometric factors upon which the design of these buildings is made, from both architectural and structural viewpoints, will be discussed and common design laws between Persian monuments and creatures in nature will be explained.
Advances in Earthquake Engineering (1361617X)13pp. 157-165
Iranian traditional domes are of the most notable samples of traditional construction in Iran spanning thousands of years, many of which have been standing on seismic parts of the country for many centuries. Structurally, Iranian domes can be categorised into single, double and triple-shell domes. Single-shell domes are the earliest type of domes. The single-shell is the main load bearing part. Double-shell domes consist of two shells, and they are divided into continuous and discontinuous types. In continuous double-shell domes the distance between the two shells is small and shells are connected by brick connectors. In discontinuous double-shell domes there is a considerable distance between the two shells. For the structural stability of some domes meridional walls or stiffeners are built in the space between the two shells. There are also a few domes with three shells. In this paper, structural systems of a number of Iranian historical domes made of masonry materials will be discussed and their structural strength and stability due to dynamic effects of earthquakes will be presented. The document will also explain the structural role of meridional stiffeners in double-shell domes.
International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences (13651609)41(SUPPL. 1)
There are various structural and geological stratigraphies in study area. The main lithology includes the shale, marl, limestone and dolomite that belong to the Cambrian to upper Cretaceous besides Quaternary deposits. To identify the engineering and geotechnical characteristics of the rock mass along the tunnel route, the results of laboratory and in situ tests, geophysical explorations (geoelectrical methods), field observations and borehole logging charts have been used. The well-known rock mass classification systems for tunnelling purposes (RMR, GSI and Q-system) have been used. Using the GSI classification system for rock mass, the modified Hock- Brown criterion parameters of the rock mass for typical section were determined. The RMR was used to determine the required support for the entire length of tunnel. Also the Q system was used to compare the required support from Q system with the RMR system. Finally rock-support interaction analysis was conducted for a typical cross section of the tunnel. Using the above empirical and analytical methods, the required supports were compared for a typical section. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd.
International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (00295981)64(4)pp. 427-460
In this part of paper we shall extend the formulation proposed by Babuška and co-workers for robustness patch test, for quality assessment of error estimators, to more general cases of patch locations especially in three-dimensional problems. This is performed first by finding an asymptotic finite element solution at interior parts of a problem with assumed smooth exact solution and then adding a correction part to obtain the solution near a kinked boundary irrespective of other boundary conditions at far ends of the domain. It has been shown that the solution corresponding to the correction part may be obtained in a spectral form by assuming a suitable proportionality relation between the nodal values of a mesh with repeatable pattern of macro-patches. Ha ving found the asymptotic finite element solution, the performance of error estimators may be examined. Although in this paper we focus on the asymptotic behaviour of error estimators, the method described in this part may be used to obtain finite element solution for two/ three-dimensional unbounded heat/elasticity problems with homogeneous differential equations. Some numerical results are presented to show the validity and performance of the proposed method. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (00295981)64(4)pp. 461-502
In this part of the paper we shall use the formulation given in the first part to assess the quality of recovery-based error estimators using two recovery methods, i.e. superconvergent patch recovery (SPR) and recovery by equilibrium in patches (REP). The recovery methods have been shown to be asymptotically robust and superconvergent when applied to two-dimensional problems. In this study we shall examine the behaviour of the recovery methods on several three-dimensional mesh patterns for patches located either inside or at boundaries. This is performed by first finding an asymptotic finite element solution, irrespective of boundary conditions at far ends of the domain, and then applying the recovery methods. The test procedure near kinked boundaries is explained in a step-by-step manner. The results are given in a series of tables and figures for various cases of three-dimensional mesh patterns. It has been experienced that the full superconvergent property is generally lost due to presence of boundary layer solution and the definition of the recoveries near boundaries though the results of the robustness test is still within an acceptable range. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Building and Environment (03601323)40(10)pp. 1413-1427
Nature displays profound preference for certain specific ratios to design her life-forms. These are geometric relationships that are transcendent and originated from Sacred Geometry. The view that geometry had a ritual origin is a part of a wider view that civilisation itself had a ritual origin, and therefore the history of utilisation of Sacred Geometry by man goes back to many centuries ago. The Pythagorean tradition, and the Egyptian and Babylonian sciences from which it derived, and Persian mathematics, a part of which reflects a Pythagorean intellectuality, are based on the sacred conception of numbers and their symbolism. In the traditional world, geometry was inseparable from the other sciences of the Pythagorean Quadrivium, namely arithmetic (numbers), music and astronomy. Traditional geometry is related to the symbolic configurations of space. Geometric forms such as the triangle, square and various regular polygons, the spiral and the circle are seen in the traditional perspective to be, like traditional numbers, as aspects of the multiplicity of the Unity. Architecture itself has always had a sacred meaning to all traditional civilisations through millennia, by which means man has tried to provide for himself a manifestation of heavens. Persian architecture always emphasised on Beauty, and by means of Sacred Geometry Persians measured the proportions of heaven and reflected them in the dimensions of buildings on the earth. A comprehensive utilisation of proportions in Persian architecture, such as in the design of plans, elevations, geometric and architectural patterns, and mechanical and structural features, can be proved through geometrical analysis of Persian historical buildings. In this paper, the sacred conception of geometry and its symbolism in the Pythagorean tradition, and Sacred Geometry and proportions in natural life-forms will be explained. The use of the science of geometry in design of a number of Persian historical buildings will be presented. The geometric factors upon which the design of these buildings, from both architectural and structural viewpoints, is made will be discussed. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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