Domenico Nigro

Jet-Pacs Project: Dynamic Experimental Tests and Numerical Results Obtained for a Steel Frame Equipped with Hysteretic Damped Chevron Braces

The experimental and numerical results obtained by Research Units of the University of Basilicata and University of Calabria for a steel frame, bare or equipped with metallic yielding hysteretic dampers (HYDs), are compared. The shaking table tests were performed at the Structural Laboratory of the University of Basilicata within a wide research program, named JETPACS (“Joint Experimental Testing on Passive and semiActive Control Systems”), which involved many Research Units working for the Research Line 7 of the ReLUIS (Italian Network of University Laboratories of Earthquake Engineering) 2005–2008 project. The project was entirely founded by the Italian Department of Civil Protection. The test structure is a 1/1.5 scaled two-story, single-bay, three-dimensional steel frame. Four HYDs, two for each story, are inserted at the top of chevron braces installed within the bays of two parallel plane frames along the test direction. The HYDs, constituted of a low-carbon U-shaped steel plate, were designed with the performance objective of limiting the inter-story drifts so that the frame yielding is prevented. Two design solutions are considered, assuming the same stiffness of the chevron braces with HYDs, but different values of both ductility demand and yield strength of the HYDs. Seven recorded accelerograms matching on average the response spectrum of Eurocode 8 for a high-risk seismic region and a medium subsoil class are considered as seismic input. The experimental results are compared with the numerical ones obtained considering an elastic-linear law for the chevron braces (in tension and compression), providing that the buckling be prevented, and the Bouc-Wen model to simulate the response of HYDs.

Cyclic Tests on External RC Beam-Column Joints: Role of Seismic Design Level and Axial Load Value on the Ultimate Capacity

A wide experimental program on beam-column RC joints carried out in the framework of the DPC-Reluis Project (DPC: Department of Civil Protection, Reluis: Network of University Laboratories of Earthquake Engineering) is presented. All the experimental tests were performed at the Laboratory of Structures of the University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy. The main objective of the experimental campaign is to study and compare the post-elastic behavior of beam-column joints with different earthquake-resistant design levels, indicating the role of some structural parameters such as the axial load value acting on the column, beam dimensions, and steel type, on the joint performances and failure mechanism. The analyses have mainly been devoted to improving the assessment procedures regarding existing buildings but also to verifying the prediction capability of the capacity models relevant to beam-column joints contained in literature and in the new seismic codes. Following a short description of the experimental methodologies used in other campaigns, the experimental program is presented, providing a detailed description of the specimens and of the testing set-up. This is followed by a report of the main results of the cyclic tests performed on the beam-column specimens that highlight the role played by axial load and seismic design level in determining the failure mechanism and the global response of the joints.

Post-Tensioned Glulam Beam-Column Joints with Advanced Damping Systems: Testing and Numerical Analysis

This article describes tests investigating a feasible source of passive damping for post-tensioned glue-laminated (glulam) timber structures. This innovative structural system adapts precast concrete PRESSS technology [Priestley et al., 1999] to engineered wood products combining the use of post-tensioned tendons with large timber members. Current testing is aimed at further improvement of the system through additional energy dissipation. Testing has favorably compared glue-laminated timber (not previously implemented in this way) with laminated veneer lumber (LVL) used in New Zealand. After initial benchmark testing with post-tensioning only, a simple, minimally invasive and replaceable type of hysteretic damper was added.

Experimental and numerical behaviour of hysteretic and visco-recentring energy dissipating bracing systems

An extensive program of shaking table tests under the name Project JetPacs (Joint experimental testing on Passive and semi active control systems) has been developed with the goal of assessing the effectiveness of seven different passive and semi-active energy dissipating bracing (EDB) systems in controlling the seismic vibrations of framed buildings. The experimental program, carried out considering a 3D 1/1.5 scaled steel frame, was entirely funded by the Italian Department of Civil Protection as part of the RELUIS 2005–2008 project. The following article focuses on the experimental tests carried out considering only two EDB systems, based on hysteretic dampers (HD) and visco-recentring devices (SMA + VD) respectively. Specially shaped low carbon steel plates were used to provide hysteresis in the HD based devices, while the innovative SMA + VD visco-recentring system was made up of a combination of viscous dampers (VD) and shape memory alloy (SMA) wires. In this paper a displacement focused design procedure based on non linear static analysis has been proposed in order to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of both types of energy dissipating device. The aim of this design procedure is to limit inter-storey drifts after frame yielding. In order to assess the robustness of the design procedure and to evaluate the effects of the viscous and recentring components, two different sets of HD and SMA + VD devices characterized by slight alterations in the mechanical properties have been tested and compared. Finally, the experimental seismic response of the structure equipped with and without the HD and SMA + VD elements is reported and compared with numerical results obtained using non linear time history analysis.

EXPERIMENTAL TESTS AND APPLICATIONS OF A NEW BIAXIAL ELASTO-PLASTIC DEVICE FOR THE PASSIVE CONTROL OF STRUCTURES

A new biaxial elasto-plastic device is described. The device is made up of bended U-shaped steel elements arranged in a radial pattern. Each element can deform along any direction. The radial arrangement allows for a full exploitation of the energy dissipating capability of each element as well as for the possibility of calibrating the resisting forces in the horizontal directions. The experimental and the numerical results show a good non linear behavior of the u-elements as well as of the complete device, with high energy dissipation capacity and allowance for large displacements. Some applications on bridges are described in order to show the potential uses of this device.

REPEATABLE DYNAMIC RELEASE TESTS ON A BASE-ISOLATED BUILDING

The main activities and the relevant results of an experimental program aimed at evaluating the dynamic characteristics of a large seismically isolated building are described. The building is situated in Potenza (Italy) and is the largest of five seismically isolated blocks of the University of Basilicata. Cyclic shear tests on scaled isolators and some small amplitude free vibration tests were preliminarily carried out. The latter ones were aimed at getting a preliminary linear characterisation of the structure. Finally, many in situ release tests on the isolated structure were carried out, using a mechanical device purposely designed to statically move the building and then suddenly release it, thus making it vibrate freely. The variations of the dynamic characteristics of the system while the oscillation amplitude decreases have been evaluated by using the “Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT)”. The results were elaborated in terms of stiffness and equivalent damping and compared to the results of the laboratory tests on scaled isolators, finding an excellent agreement.

Assessment of the performance of hysteretic energy dissipation bracing systems

The advantages of passive supplemental dampers for performance enhancement of new and existing structures have been demonstrated extensively in the past. The big amount of experimental tests carried out all over the world on framed structures upgraded by energy dissipating bracing (EDB) systems based on hysteretic dampers (HDs), have shown their effectiveness in reducing seismic effects on buildings. The mechanical characteristics of the HDs in some cases may be different from those arising by the design procedure due to industrial tolerance or because of some damage suffered during previous earthquakes. In order to assess the robustness of this technique, in terms of capacity of seismic vibrations control even for significant changes in the mechanical characteristics of the EDB system respect to the design ones, in this paper experimental tests and parametric nonlinear time history analysis have been carried out changing the characteristics of the HD stiffness and strength. The experimental results refer to the shaking table tests performed at the Structural Laboratory of the University of Basilicata within a wide research program, named Joint Experimental Testing on Passive and semiActive Control Systems. The program has been completely funded by the Italian Department of Civil Protection within the activity of the Research Line 7 of the ReLUIS (Italian Network of University Laboratories of Earthquake Engineering) 2005–2008 project. A displacement-focused design procedure has been considered to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of the dissipating system, with the aim of limiting inter-storey drifts after frame yielding. From the experimental point of view, two design solutions have been tested for chevron braces equipped with HD, assuming the same stiffness but different values of both ductility demand and yield strength of the HDs. Moreover, parametric studies have been performed through numerical simulations. This paper provides an overview of the experimental set up and briefly summarizes the experimental outcomes and the comparison with the results of numerical nonlinear time history analysis. Moreover, the results of the parametric analysis for the assessment of the performances of the dissipating system in controlling structural response are presented.

Influence of Axial Load on the Seismic Behavior of RC Beam-Column Joints with Wide Beam

Beam-column joints can play a key role on the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete buildings. Until now studies and experimental investigations on this topic have been mainly focused on beam-column joints with stiff beams, i.e. beams with height larger than the thickness of the adjacent floor slab. However, especially in the European residential building stock, frame structures are often equipped with wide - therefore rather flexible - beams. However, not many studies have been devoted so far to this type of connection, therefore an experimental investigation on full scale beam-column joints with wide beam was planned at the University of Basilicata and is currently in progress. In the present paper the main results of two cyclic tests are reported and discussed specifically analyzing the role of the axial load applied to the column on the joint performances and damage mechanisms. Test results highlights that the axial load value has a significant influence of on deformation capacity and ductility behavior.

Shaking Table Tests of the Smart Restorable Sliding Base Isolation System (SRSBIS)

This article reports on the experimental investigation of the Smart Restorable Sliding Base Isolation System (SRSBIS), proposed for the earthquake-resistant design of structures. SRSBIS is composed of steel-PTFE Flat Sliding Bearings (FSBs), supporting gravity loads while allowing large horizontal displacements, and superelastic Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires, providing the necessary horizontal stiffness and restoring capability. Three different configurations can be alternatively considered based on the arrangement of the SMA elements in vertical, bracing, and horizontal directions. A model scale test-structure has been set up for the system with the SMA wires arranged in vertical direction, representing the isolation units that can be practically used under each column of base-isolated buildings. A shaking table test program has been then conducted on the model structure. The experimental outcomes clearly showed that SRSBIS can be reliably used for the passive control of the seismic vibrations of buidlings and other structures.