J. Alberto Escobar

Yielding seismic response of code-designed single-storey asymmetric structures

A study on the seismic performance of asymmetric structures with non-linear behaviour and random properties is presented. The structural response of single-storey models, designed using different code criteria is studied using both a deterministic and a probabilistic approach. The worst structural behaviour, in terms of ductility demands, is obtained for symmetric models considering uncertain properties. It is shown that an arbitrary increase of the total lateral strength of the structures does not lead to an increment of the structural safety proportional to the total lateral strength increase, implying that an expensive structure is not always the safest.

Some technical aspects of the construction of the new high speed railway in Mexico

The Institute of Engineering has participated as an advisor agency for the construction of the viaducts of the new and first high speed railway project in Mexico. In this paper we present different tasks that we have carried out for the Ministry of Communication and Transportation in order to validate some structural design and environmental assumptions. The activities comprised the review of the seismic spectra, instrumentation and load testing of large foundation piles, quality assurance for the construction of a box steel superstructure, ambient vibration of piers and the evaluation of noise vibration related problems. Each one of these tasks will be described as well as a general presentation of the project.

Instrumentation and monitoring of segmental post-tensioned girders

As a result of the failure of prefabricated segmental girders during their construction, and in order to evaluate the structural safety of the superstructures of three bridges, different activities of instrumentation, monitoring and mathematical modelling were performed. This paper presents the first stage of a study describing the tasks of instrumentation and monitoring of stresses in an isolated precast post-tensioned beam during the process of application of the tension loading, and before being placed in its final position. The main goal of this task was to confirm the transmission and distribution of stresses at segmental joints. Also, ambient vibration tests were carried out in different phases of tensioning, as well as in the final position of the girder. Recorded stories of accelerations are presented and fundamental periods of vibrating of the isolated girder are derived. The results of the measurements will be used for the calibration of mathematical models and simulation of different scenarios of loads and thus assess the structural safety of the different sections of the superstructures of the three bridges in question.

The Baseline Stiffness Method for Damage Detection in Buildings Without Baseline Modal Parameters

A new method called the Baseline Stiffness Method (BSM), used to locate and quantify damage in buildings without baseline modal parameters (undamaged state), is presented. In order to determine this reference state, the BSM uses modal parameters from the damaged state of the building and the lateral stiffness matrix of the first story without damage. Afterwards, by means of an iterative process using singular value decomposition, location and severity of damage are obtained by comparing information about the damaged and non damaged states. Numerical and experimental examples are presented and discussed showing the advantages of the application of the proposed BSM.