Sharif Digital Repository

This paper is concerned with the reliability assessment of a fixed platform operating in intermediate water depth under extreme environmental conditions. The structure is modelled by two-dimensional frame structure and subjected to quasi-static loads. Extreme wave loads acting on the platform in the unidirectioal mode are estimated together with their probabilistic characteristics. Fully plastic capacities of the members are also treated as random variables. The structure is modelled as a plane truss by using beam-column models and the plastic collapse of the structure is evaluated by using a linearized plasticity condition of the section under effect of axial force to generate the safety... 

In the calculation of the optimum loading pattern for a nuclear reactor, several parameters, including the multiplication factor maximization, the raising of the desired safety threshold during the cycle length and the flattening of the radial power peaking factor should be taken into account. Our evaluation of numerous probable arrangements within the VVER-1000 reactor core (approx. 6 × 10 14 cases) indicated that a direct search of the optimum loading pattern is not feasible. Hence, in this study, the weighting factor method and some constraints on the arrangement of the fuel assemblies were applied so that the above cases were reduced to only 244 possible arrangements. Then, using a... 

The nonlinear static procedures (NSPs) proposed by design codes do not lead to reliable results especially for tall buildings. They generally provide inconsistent estimates of inelastic seismic demands, especially for the top floors due to their inabilities in considering the higher modes effects. In this paper, a new enhanced pushover procedure is proposed which is based on the envelope of the structural responses resulting from two separate pushover analyses as a combination rule. Also, the suggested pushover analyses are performed using a newly proposed modal load pattern, i.e., the Modal Spectra Combination (MSC), and the ASCE41-06 required first mode load pattern. The MSC load pattern... 

In this study, a performance-based optimisation framework is proposed for optimal cross-sectional distribution of steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) subject to earthquake excitations. For the first time, the concept of uniform distribution of damage (UDD) is adopted for the complex optimisation of moment resisting steel frames under dynamic earthquake excitations. To enhance the computational efficiency of the optimisation process, a novel adaptive algorithm is proposed, where the power functions change based on the demand to capacity ratio of the structural elements. The framework is then used for optimisation of 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15-storey steel MRFs under a set of representative... 

The current design procedure known as Force-Based Design (FBD) method, generally, does not lead to uniform distribution of drift, hysteretic energy, and ductility demands (or structural damage) along the height of the moment frames under strong earthquakes and these performance parameters can be much higher and concentrate damage on one or more of the lower structural stories. This paper presents an iterative wave propagation (WP) based technique to calculate the seismic nonlinear response of multistory buildings as an extension of the layered soil media, founded on bedrock and subjected to vertically propagating shear waves, which leads to the introduction of a new Lateral Load Pattern... 

Most of the strategies yet implemented to optimize fuel loading pattern design in the nuclear power reactors, are based on maximizing the core effective multiplication factor (Keff) in order to extract maximum energy and to reduce the local power peaking factor (Pq) from a set value. However, a new optimization criterion would be of interest in order to maximize the burn-up of the plutonium content (Pu) in the fuel assemblies. In this research we have developed a new strategy based on multi objective optimization, to optimize fuel core loading pattern for a VVER-1000 reactor. In this approach we simultaneously have reduced the Pq, maximized Keff and also minimized the plutonium content in... 

Nonlinear static methods are simplified procedures in which the problem of evaluating the maximum expected response of a MDOF system for a specified level of earthquake motion is replaced by response evaluation of its equivalent SDOF system. The common features of these procedures are the use of pushover analysis to characterize the structural system. In pushover analysis both the force distribution and the target displacement are based on the assumptions that the response is controlled by the fundamental mode and that the mode shape remains unchanged after the structure yields. Therefore the invariant force distributions does not account for the change of load patterns caused by the plastic... 

During last decade, the electricity demand in Iran grows up more than 8% per year due to an increasing economic growth. The main part of this load growth is related to industrial and agricultural demand. At this period, electric utilities tried to provide the peak load demand using all different types of available generating units especially with hydro generation plants. However, moving the time of peak demand occurring from night hours to day time and also increasing of load demand at mid day hours, created a new challenge to hydro-generation planning. As the number of daily peak hours increases from the nightly to daily peak hours and considering that Iran is a sub-tropical country, use of... 

A modified dynamic-based pushover (MDP) analysis is proposed to properly consider the effects of higher modes and the nonlinear behavior of the structural systems. For this purpose, first, a dynamic-based story force distribution (DSFD) load pattern is constructed using a linear dynamic analysis, either time history (THA) or response spectrum (RSA). Performing an initial pushover analysis with the DSFD load pattern, a nonlinearity modification factor (NMF) is calculated to modify the DSFD load pattern. The envelope of the peak responses of the structure obtained from 2 pushover analyses with the modified DSFD load pattern as well as the code suggested first mode load pattern are considered... 

Dynamic analyses are necessary problems in offshore jacket structures design and assessment. These analyses have various applications in recognition of dynamic behavior, fatigue analysis, damage detection, etc. Natural frequencies and mode shapes, as inherent vibrational features of a structure, are key parameters in referred analyses. These parameters are mainly affected by mass and stiffness matrices and slightly by damping. Therefore, it is more important to estimate the stiffness matrix of a structure accurately, especially in stiff structures such as offshore jacket platforms. In many cases, the stiffness of levels is required. For example, it can be useful in the construction of an... 

Dynamic analyses are necessary problems in offshore jacket structures design and assessment. These analyses have various applications in recognition of dynamic behavior, fatigue analysis, damage detection, etc. Natural frequencies and mode shapes, as inherent vibrational features of a structure, are key parameters in referred analyses. These parameters are mainly affected by mass and stiffness matrices and slightly by damping. Therefore, it is more important to estimate the stiffness matrix of a structure accurately, especially in stiff structures such as offshore jacket platforms. In many cases, the stiffness of levels is required. For example, it can be useful in the construction of an...