Sharif Digital Repository

In this study the dynamic responses of finite Euler-Bernoulli beams and homogeneous isotropic 2D half-spaces, as one and two dimensional structures, under a moving object are investigated. First, the dynamic responses of finite beams with various boundary conditions were investigated. The results illustrated that the speed of a moving mass has direct influence on the entire structural dynamic response, depending on its boundary conditions. Critical influential speeds in the moving mass problems were introduced and obtained in numerical examples for various BC’s. Dynamic response of a half-space under an inertial foundation subjected to a time-harmonic loading was investigated in the next... 

Finding suitable locations for installing conventional concentric bracings such as X and V, without interfering with building architecture and its openings, is a routine challenge in building design. One of the less known forms of concentric bracings which can be used to solve this issue, is the y-shaped bracing composed of three braces. In the current thesis, results of analytical studies, computer modeling and experimental tests are presented to extend the knowledge of structural behavior of y-bracings. As the first step, effective buckling lengths of braces with rigid connections were found from equilibrium equations incorporating the effect of axial force on rotational stiffness of... 

Through the recent years application of FRP material in structural engineering has been developed significantly. According to possible changes of a building function during its lifetime or alteration of the building codes, building structures usually need to be strengthened. Referring to merits of FRP material, its application seems to be a convenient idea toward the cited requirement. Curved beam and slab are known as highly used elements in building structures. Bridges composed of horizontal or vertical arches could be noted as common examples which need to be reinforced by FRP. However curved concrete surfaces, reinforced by FRP plates, seem to be studied than it is really required; For,... 

During times, reinforced concrete sturctures might need to be strengthened due to environmental factors, material properties, design errors or changes indesign guidelines.Fibre-reinforced-polymer (FRP)composites are prominentmaterialsfor this purpose. Externally full bonding systemhas been widely used for flexural strengthening of reinforced concrete sturctures with FRP. However, the drawback of using this strengthening system is the high reduction of structure's deformability.In this research, partially bonding system used in finite element modeling of a bridge’s deck to increase deformability compared to full bonding system. Results showed that not only deformability but also load... 

Steel shear wall system has been used in recent years as the lateral-load resisting system in the design and retrofit of high-rise buildings. This system consists of infill shear panel is framed by surrounding steel frames. Infill shear panel can be applied in two types: stiffened or unstiffened. Considering to the previous studies, the stiffened type is more convenient in the seismic performance and utility condition. However, in the stiffened system, the construction cost is considerably higher because of the complicated construction details. This dissertation concentrates on the experimental and analytical studies of trapezoidally corrugated steel shear walls as an option for removing the... 

In this research the critical speed of a moving oscillator on a single-span bridge with different support (boundary) conditions and by considering the presence of road surface roughness surface with finite element perspective is studied. Due to the fact that passing a moving load on top of the beam causes increased maximum stress and deformations in beam compared to static situation, therefore in reputable codes for bridge design such as AASHTO a dynamic amplification factor is used for designing bridge components. Moving oscillator is a more precise model compared to moving mass for modeling vehicles and the suspension system is modeled as a spring and damper and the moving mass is... 

Reinforced concrete shells are widely used to cover the small to large area with more aesthetics at minimum cost. Shell structures carries load through their shape rather than material strength. Funicular shells are special type of shells that their shape is obtained so that stresses be compressive under a special load (for shell, this load is its dead weight). This study deals with forced vibration of funicular shells on a rectangular ground plan under impulse loads using shallow shells theory. Two boundary conditions, simply supported and clamped, are considered. Displacement components are product of position and time functions. The analysis is based on the expansion of displacement... 

In recent decades, most of the codes have placed a high value on Performance Based Design of structures; however, these methods are computationally complex and time-consuming, and caused researchers to seek new and efficient methods to investigate performance of structures under different intensities of seismic loading. The Usage of Endurance Time method (ET) and thus reducing the size of analysis can be a useful tool for excuting Performance Based Design of structures. Endurance Time analysis is based on time history analysis, but in this method structure subjected to an intensifying acceleration function and different damage indices of the structure are evaluated through analysis time. The... 

Various theoretical studies have been developed to obtain a deeper understanding of concrete behavior lead to the concrete constitutive models in the macroscale. In these models, however, the microstructure of the concrete and its effects on the concrete behavior has not been taken into account.Several numerical approaches have been incorporated to determine the effects of concrete mesostructure on the overall behavior of concrete. They may be classified at least in three main groups. In the first group, Continuum finite element methods (FEM) equipped with interface elements is incorporated. Second group is to incorporate more efficient elements, such as lattice or truss elements, instead of... 

Endurance Time (ET) method is a dynamic analysis in which structures are subjected to intensifying acceleration time histories. These excitations are also called Endurance Time Excitation Functions (ETEF). The reliability and accuracy of the ET method heavily depends on the accuracy of ETEFs. ETEFs are generated so that ETEFs dynamic characteristics must be consistent with dynamic characteristics of real ground motions. Since the number of ETEFs equations are considerably more than variables noninear optimization is used to generate ETEFs. In order to improve the accuracy of ETEFs two approaches can be used. First, modifying the objective function equations by considering more dynamic... 

Solid foams are novel materials with outstanding characteristics that have found numerous applications in the construction of light, stiff structures during the past two decades. At the micro-level, solid foams benefit from a cellular structure, which is composed of either closed or open cells. Open-cell foams, which were the concern of this study, are described as a network of inter-connected struts (or ligaments) with beam-like action. The mechanical design of foams requires their mechanical properties to meet certain criteria. These criteria can be satisfied by careful selection of the base material and the microstructural morphology (geometry). However, the selected material has to be... 

The unique characteristics of solid foams make them ideal for both natural and man-made structures. The cellular structure of these materials allows for the construction of natural structures such as bone and wood that have high strength and use minimal primary materials. Their unique structure has inspired studies in the automotive and aerospace industries, leading to a new generation of lightweight materials. The focus of this study was the effects of the microstructure of foams on the macro mechanical response of specific structures. Homogenization methods are well suited for the study of these effects due to the random nature of the microstructures. One major problem in using numerical... 

With the transportation progress and appearance of transit industry, necessity of modern vehicles redounded to appearance of heavier trucks with higher speeds, moving on the roads. In addition, with the progress in mechanical engineering and automobile industry, appearance of such trucks is growing increasingly. So, bridges as one of the structures that civil engineers design and construct, nowadays are subjected to higher moving dynamic loads in comparison with the past. As a result, lots of investigation and researches in the universities and institutions all over the world are being conducting on the effects of the vehicle speeds on the dynamic stresses of the bridges. Bridge codes...