Sharif Digital Repository

Traditionally, the effects of seismic forces on structures have been mitigated by installing supplemental energy dissipation systems. In this paper, a new approach is explored for the mitigation of earthquake-induced vibrations by obstructing the entrance of seismic energy to the structure through the insertion of some concrete wave barriers within the soil domain. To do so, genetic algorithm (GA) based adaptive optimization methodology is utilized that is capable of finding the efficient layout of the concrete barriers in a manipulated soil zone around the structure. The optimization methodology is coupled with finite element (FE) method for analyzing the complex wave propagation phenomenon... 

Impact loading leads to micro-crack formation that can compromise the performance of the concrete. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate plain concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete specimens using ultrasound methods under impact loading. These specimens were prepared and subjected to impact loading. Ultrasound tests were performed at different stages of impact loading on each specimen. The loading continued until cracks on the surface of the specimens were observed. Investigations were performed for both plain concrete and fiber-reinforced concrete to establish a correlation between ultrasound response characteristics, and the damage caused by impact loading due to the energy of blows...