Computer modeling of dynamic behavior of rocking wall structures including the impact-related effects

Abstract

Precast post-tensioned concrete rocking wall system is an innovative damage avoidance structural system for seismic regions. Past experimental works on the dynamic performance of rocking walls have identified the presence of high-frequency acceleration spikes in both lateral and vertical directions during the impact of wall base with the foundation. These acceleration spikes, acting together, can cause shear slip at the wall–foundation connection. This study is focused on the development of a computer model that can predict these acceleration spikes along with the identification of their effects on the dynamic performance of rocking walls. For this purpose, impact phenomenon at the wall–foundation joint has been discussed in detail and some general guidelines are set for the two important parameters of impact or contact modeling named as contact stiffness and contact damping. The finite element numerical models, based on the proposed guidelines, are found to predict the overall dynamic behavior of rocking walls along with the acceleration spikes quite efficiently. The acceleration spikes are found to be dependent on the lateral velocity at impact and the initial contact stiffness. So a velocity-dependent energy dissipation device along with a soft contact is found to be suitable for reducing these effects.

Keywords

acceleration spikes contact finite element modeling rocking wall

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

ABAQUS (2012) Abaqus scripting user’s manual, 6.12-3. Dassault Systèmes Simulia Corp., Providence, RI.

Belleri

Schoettler

Restrepo

. (2014) Dynamic behavior of rocking and hybrid cantilever walls in a precast concrete building. ACI Structural Journal 111(3): 661–672.

Belleri

Torquati

Riva

(2013) Finite element modeling of “rocking walls.” In: 4th ECCOMAS thematic conference on COMPDYN, Kos Island, 12–14 June.

Carr

(2004) Ruaumoko, Vol. 2: User Manual for the 2-Dimensional Version. Christchurch, New Zealand: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury.

Cheng

(2007) Energy dissipation in rocking bridge piers under free vibration tests. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics 36(4): 503–518.

Conley

Sritharan

Priestley

MJN

(2002) Precast seismic structural systems PRESSS-3: the five-story precast test building, vol. 3-1: wall direction response. Report no. SSRP-99/19, July. La Jolla, CA: University of California, San Diego.

Data repository (n.d.) Available at: https://nees.org/warehouse/experiment/918/project/46

Housner

(1963) The behavior of inverted pendulum structures during earthquakes. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America 53(2): 403–417.

Kurama

(2002) Hybrid post-tensioned precast concrete walls for use in seismic regions. PCI Journal 47(5): 36–59.

10.

QTM

(2010) The mechanics of rocking structures subjected to ground motion. PhD Thesis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

11.

Marriott

(2009) The development of high-performance post-tensioned rocking systems for the seismic design of structures. PhD Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

12.

Marriott

Pampanin

Bull

. (2008) Dynamic testing of precast, post-tensioned rocking walls systems with alternative dissipating solutions. Bulletin of the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering 41(2): 90–103.

13.

Morgen

Kurama

(2008) Seismic response evaluation of posttensioned precast concrete frames with friction dampers. Journal of Structural Engineering 134(1): 132–145.

14.

Muthukumar

DesRoches

(2006) A Hertz contact model with non-linear damping for pounding simulation. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics 35(7): 811–828.

15.

Nasi

KTJ

(2011) Stability of rocking structures. MSCE Thesis, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

16.

O’Hagan

Twigden

(2013) Sensitivity of post-tensioned concrete wall response to modelling of damping. In: New Zealand society for earthquake engineering technical conference, Wellington, New Zealand; Auckland, New Zealand 26–28 April, 2013.

17.

Pennucci

(2008) Displacement based design of precast walls with additional dampers. MSc Dissertation, European School for Advanced Studies in Reduction of Seismic Risk (ROSE School), University of Pavia, Pavia.

18.

Pollino

Bruneau

(2007) Analytical and experimental investigation of a controlled rocking approach for the seismic protection of bridge steel truss piers. Technical report MCEER-08-0003. Buffalo, NY: Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, The State University of New York at Buffalo 21 January, 2008.

19.

Priestley

MJN

Sritharan

Conley

. (1999) Preliminary results and conclusions from the PRESSS five-story precast concrete test building. PCI Journal 44(6): 42–67.

20.

Restrepo

Rahman

(2007) Seismic performance of self-centering structural walls incorporating energy dissipators. Journal of Structural Engineering 133(11): 1560–1570.

21.

Schoettler

(2010) Seismic demands in precast concrete diaphragms. PhD Thesis, Department of Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA.

22.

Schoettler

Belleri

Zhang

. (2009) Preliminary results of the shake-table testing for the development of a diaphragm seismic design methodology. PCI Journal 54(1): 100–124.

23.

Smith

Kurama

(2012) Seismic design guidelines for special hybrid precast concrete shear walls. Report no. NDSE-2012-02, June. Notre Dame, IN: Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences, University of Notre Dame.

24.

Spieth

Carr

Murahidy

. (2004) Modelling of post-tensioned precast reinforced concrete frame structures with rocking beam-column connections. Research report no. 2004-X. Christchurch, New Zealand: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Canterbury.

25.

Toranzo

(2002) The use of rocking walls in confined masonry structures: a performance-based approach. PhD Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.

26.

Wiebe

Christopoulos

(2009) Mitigation of higher mode effects in base-rocking systems by using multiple rocking sections. Research report ROSE-2009/01. Pavia: IUSS Press.

27.

Wiebe

Christopoulos

(2010) Characterizing acceleration spikes due to stiffness changes in nonlinear systems. Earthquake Engineering & Structural Dynamics 39(14): 1653–1670.