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6 pages, 158 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application

by Su Chen, Chong Xu and Shuang Li

Sustainability 2024, 16(15), 6703; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16156703 - 5 Aug 2024

Viewed by 927

Abstract

Recent earthquakes, such as the Osaka–Kobe earthquake (1995) and the Wenchuan earthquake (2008), have challenged earthquake engineering and its application [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

Research

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20 pages, 44389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geometry and Kinematics of Northmost Yilan-Yitong Fault Zone, China: Insights from Shallow Seismic Data and Field Investigation

by Qinghai Wei, Guanghao Ha, Wei Min and Menghao Zhu

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051943 - 27 Feb 2024

Viewed by 725

Abstract

Detailed geological and geomorphological evidence has suggested that the Yilan-Yitong fault (YYF), one of the key branches of the Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone in northeastern China, has been an active fault since the Holocene that has extended from Liaoning Province to far-eastern Asia. However, [...] Read more.

Detailed geological and geomorphological evidence has suggested that the Yilan-Yitong fault (YYF), one of the key branches of the Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone in northeastern China, has been an active fault since the Holocene that has extended from Liaoning Province to far-eastern Asia. However, there are no clear fault traces or late Quaternary active features northeast of Tangyuan County. In this study, we carried out shallow seismic reflection exploration, field geological investigation, and trench excavation across the YYF north of Tangyuan. The results revealed that the YYF is composed of two main branches: the west YYF branch is a late Pleistocene active fault, and the east one is a middle-to-early Pleistocene fault. In Heli Town, the west branch of YYF presents fault scarps with heights of ~0.6 m. Across the scarps, we excavated a trench, and we propose that the YYF displaced the late Pleistocene to Holocene deposits, as this was indicated by the geochronological data. The seismic reflection data and sedimentary sequence revealed that the YYF north of Tangyuan is composed of three tectonic belts: the western depression, the central bulge, and the eastern depression. Each tectonic belt is composed of several small folds formed from the end of the Paleogene to the beginning of the Neogene. After the Neogene, different subsidence and uplift events occurred in various parts of the YYF, and after the early Pleistocene, the fault showed a consistent subsidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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23 pages, 5867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning Assessment of Damage Grade for Post-Earthquake Buildings: A Three-Stage Approach Directly Handling Categorical Features

by Yutao Li, Chuanguo Jia, Hong Chen, Hongchen Su, Jiahao Chen and Duoduo Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13847; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813847 - 18 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1463

Abstract

The rapid assessment of post-earthquake building damage for rescue and reconstruction is a crucial strategy to reduce the enormous number of human casualties and economic losses caused by earthquakes. Conventional machine learning (ML) approaches for this problem usually employ one-hot encoding to cope [...] Read more.

The rapid assessment of post-earthquake building damage for rescue and reconstruction is a crucial strategy to reduce the enormous number of human casualties and economic losses caused by earthquakes. Conventional machine learning (ML) approaches for this problem usually employ one-hot encoding to cope with categorical features, and their overall procedure is neither sufficient nor comprehensive. Therefore, this study proposed a three-stage approach, which can directly handle categorical features and enhance the entire methodology of ML applications. In stage I, an integrated data preprocessing framework involving subjective–objective feature selection was proposed and performed on a dataset of buildings after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. In stage II, four machine learning models, KNN, XGBoost, CatBoost, and LightGBM, were trained and tested on the dataset. The best model was judged by comprehensive metrics, including the proposed risk coefficient. In stage III, the feature importance, the relationships between the features and the model’s output, and the feature interaction effects were investigated by Shapley additive explanations. The results indicate that the LightGBM model has the best overall performance with the highest accuracy of 0.897, the lowest risk coefficient of 0.042, and the shortest training time of 12.68 s due to its relevant algorithms for directly tackling categorical features. As for its interpretability, the most important features are determined, and information on these features’ impacts and interactions is obtained to improve the reliability of and promote practical engineering applications for the ML models. The proposed three-stage approach can provide a reference for the overall ML implementation process on raw datasets for similar problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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18 pages, 10075 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Study on Shaking Table Tests for a Pile–Nuclear Island Structure under Different Soil Conditions

by Yunlun Sun, Gang Wang, Yougang Wang, Jian Tu, Liping Jing and Wenhao Qi

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11988; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511988 - 4 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1076

Abstract

In this paper, the shaking table tests of a Seismic–Soil–Pile–Superstructure Interaction (SSPSI) in medium-soft and hard base soil were carried out. Silted clay with a unit weight of 1.70 g/cm³ and a shear wave velocity of 175 m/s was adopted to simulate [...] Read more.

In this paper, the shaking table tests of a Seismic–Soil–Pile–Superstructure Interaction (SSPSI) in medium-soft and hard base soil were carried out. Silted clay with a unit weight of 1.70 g/cm³ and a shear wave velocity of 175 m/s was adopted to simulate the medium-soft soil, while the composite soil obtained by adding 20% quicklime to silted clay with a unit weight of 1.75 g/cm³ and a shear wave velocity of 300 m/s was adopted to simulate the hard soil in the tests. By inputting the artificial seismic motion time history with different amplitudes synthesized by the RG1.60 response spectrum commonly used in nuclear power engineering to the models, the dynamic interaction characteristics and seismic response laws of the soil–pile–nuclear island structure in the medium-soft and hard base soil were compared, the internal force and deformation distribution characteristics of the pile foundation under different ground conditions were analyzed, and the site conditions and mechanism of seismic failure of the pile group foundation were described. The research results can provide a reference for site selection and seismic design of a nuclear power plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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18 pages, 4607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shaking Table Test for Seismic Response of Nuclear Power Plant on Non-Rock Site

by Xinyu Lu, Liping Jing, Ying Ma, Jianhua Yang and Wenhao Qi

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10366; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310366 - 30 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1231

Abstract

In order to compare and analyze the seismic response characteristics of a safety-related nuclear structure on a non-rock site in the condition of raft and pile group foundations under unidirectional and multidirectional seismic motion input, a large-scale shaking table test of the soil-nuclear [...] Read more.

In order to compare and analyze the seismic response characteristics of a safety-related nuclear structure on a non-rock site in the condition of raft and pile group foundations under unidirectional and multidirectional seismic motion input, a large-scale shaking table test of the soil-nuclear structure system was carried out in this paper. In the test, the soil was uniform silted clay, and the shear wave velocity was 213 m/s. Considering the similarity of the superstructure natural frenquency, the actual nuclear power structure was simplified to a three-story frame shear wall structure model. The annular laminated shear model box was used to take the boundary effect of soil into consideration; the seismic motions = were input in only one horizontal direction or three directions at the same time for the shaking table test, and the results were analyzed. The results of the test show that the acceleration response of the safety-related nuclear plant is affected by the directions of input seismic motion and the forms of the foundation. When the seismic motion is input simultaneously in three directions, the acceleration responses of the horizontal motion and vertical rocking of the safety-related plant are larger than those of the single-direction input. The acceleration response of the horizontal motion and vertical rocking of the safety-related structure with the pile group foundation is smaller than that with the raft foundation. The values of most frequency bands in the horizontal acceleration Fourier amplitude spectrum at the top of the pile-foundation structure are smaller than that at the top of the raft-foundation structure, while the displacement is basically the same as that of the raft-foundation structure. This is related to the relation between the frequency component of input seismic motion and the natural frequency of the structure system. Therefore, it is more reasonable to use three-dimensional seismic input in the seismic response analysis of nuclear power plants. The seismic performance of nuclear power plants can be enhanced by using pile group foundations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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16 pages, 4642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Borehole Casing on Received Signals in Downhole Method

by Shi Yan, Yan Yu, Wenjun Zheng, Jie Su and Zhenghua Zhou

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9805; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129805 - 20 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1475

Abstract

Borehole shrinkage and collapse are likely to occur when downhole testing is conducted in soft or loose sandy soils, resulting in testing interruption. To prevent this situation from occurring, installing casing in the borehole is a common approach. However, in actual testing, the [...] Read more.

Borehole shrinkage and collapse are likely to occur when downhole testing is conducted in soft or loose sandy soils, resulting in testing interruption. To prevent this situation from occurring, installing casing in the borehole is a common approach. However, in actual testing, the quality of the signal obtained from measuring points within the depth of the casing is often not ideal, and there is still no clear and unified justification for the causes of interference generated by the casing. Therefore, the team attempt to investigate and elucidate the impact of casing through on-site experiments and numerical simulations. Firstly, on-site tests on the impact of different materials of casing on the wave velocity test utilizing the downhole method are conducted, the waveform characteristics of the measurement points inside the PVC casing and steel casing boreholes are analyzed, and the usability of the test results are evaluated. Next, the contact state between shallow soil and casing is changed, and its impact on the waveform characteristics of signal at different depth measurement points is analyzed. Then, the ABAQUS finite element software is utilized to establish a three-dimensional finite element model for wave velocity testing using the casing method, and the dynamic response of the measuring points on the casing wall inside the hole under surface excitation is solved. By numerically simulating different casing materials, the contact state between the casing and the hole wall, and the presence of low wave velocity filling soil around the casing, the variation patterns of the affected measurement point signals in the time and frequency domains are investigated. Furthermore, combined with the measured data, the impact characteristics of the casing on the results of the wave velocity testing using the downhole method are systematically explored. This research can provide some insights for the application and data interpretation of signals in the downhole methods of cased wells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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23 pages, 5867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Discussion on Adjustment Method of the Characteristic Period of Site Response Spectrum with Soft Soil Layer

by Yuandong Li, Bing Hao, Zhen Chen, Zhenghua Zhou, Zhu Bian, Yi Han and Cheng Peng

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8837; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118837 - 31 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1215

Abstract

Twelve site models were established based on the analysis of the influence of site conditions on earthquake damage and the influence of the soft soil layer on-site seismic response. The equivalent linearization site seismic response analysis is carried out at different input ground [...] Read more.

Twelve site models were established based on the analysis of the influence of site conditions on earthquake damage and the influence of the soft soil layer on-site seismic response. The equivalent linearization site seismic response analysis is carried out at different input ground motion levels to discuss the influence of soft soil layer thickness and buried depth. The results show that the characteristic period of the response spectrum exhibits a gradual increase as the buried depth or thickness of the soft soil layer increases. Furthermore, the characteristic period of the response spectrum also increases with the rise in the input ground motion peak. Moreover, according to the influence characteristics of soft soil thickness, buried depth, and input ground motion intensity on the characteristic period of the site acceleration response spectrum, a method for adjusting the characteristic period of the site acceleration response spectrum with a soft soil layer is put forward. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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15 pages, 6518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Earthquake Distribution and Associated Losses in Chinese Mainland from 1949 to 2021

by Tongyan Zheng, Lei Li, Chong Xu and Yuandong Huang

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8646; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118646 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2343

Abstract

A comprehensive earthquake hazard database is crucial for comprehending the characteristics of earthquake-related losses and establishing accurate loss prediction models. In this study, we compiled the earthquake events that have caused losses since 1949, and established and shared a database of earthquake hazard [...] Read more.

A comprehensive earthquake hazard database is crucial for comprehending the characteristics of earthquake-related losses and establishing accurate loss prediction models. In this study, we compiled the earthquake events that have caused losses since 1949, and established and shared a database of earthquake hazard information for the Chinese mainland from 1949 to 2021. On this basis, we preliminarily analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of 608 earthquake events and the associated losses. The results show the following: (1) The number of earthquakes is generally increasing, with an average of annual occurrence rising from three to twelve, and the rise in the economic losses is not significant. The number of earthquakes occurring in the summer is slightly higher than that in the other three seasons. (2) The average depths of earthquakes within the six blocks display a decreasing trend from west to east, with a majority (63.8%) of earthquakes occurring at depths ranging from 5 to 16 km. (3) Although the number of earthquakes in the east is lower than that in the west, earthquakes in the east are more likely to cause casualties when they have the same epicenter intensity. Southwest China is located in the Circum-Pacific seismic zone where earthquake hazards are highly frequent. The results can provide fundamental data for developing earthquake-related loss prediction models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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20 pages, 23287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki Earthquake on the Locking Characteristics and Seismic Risk of the Yishu Fault Zone in China

by Cunpeng Du, Haitao Yin, Shengwen Yu, Le Yang and Yuan Jia

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4321; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054321 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1491

Abstract

To ascertain the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Mw 9.0 earthquake’s impact on the stability of the Yishu fault zone, this study inverts the fault locking degree and slip rate defect distribution of the Yishu fault zone using GPS horizontal velocity field data covering the period [...] Read more.

To ascertain the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Mw 9.0 earthquake’s impact on the stability of the Yishu fault zone, this study inverts the fault locking degree and slip rate defect distribution of the Yishu fault zone using GPS horizontal velocity field data covering the period from 1999 to 2009 and from April 2011 to 2019. This is based on the block negative dislocation model. Combined with the b value and strain field characteristics, the properties of deformation of the Yishu fault zone before and after the earthquake are comprehensively analyzed. The results show that before the 2011 Tohoku-Oki Mw 9.0 earthquake, the locking degree and depth of the northern segment of the Yishu fault zone were higher, while the locking depth of the southern segment of the fault was shallower. The 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake produced different coseismic effects on the southern and northern sections of the Yishu fault zone. The extension on the southern section and compression on the northern section caused the strain release in the southern sections of the Yishu fault zone following the earthquake. After it, the regional locking degree of the southern section of the Yishu fault zone was relieved. However, the locking degree of the northern segment of the fault zone was still high and the depth was deep, at about 26 km. In addition, the northern section of the Yishu fault zone was a section with an abnormally low b value and small earthquakes in the northern segment are sparse at present. The coseismic compression of the northern section caused by the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake is conducive to its locking and easily accumulates stress, so it is necessary to pay attention to its seismic risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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13 pages, 3217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

V_s30 Prediction Models Based on Measured Shear-Wave Velocities in Tangshan, China

by Yi Fang, Hao Li, Yu Li, Guoxing Chen, Yuejun Lv and Yanju Peng

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3282; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043282 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1517

Abstract

V_s30 (equivalent shear-wave velocity of soil layers within a depth of 30 m underground) is widely used in the field of seismic engineering; however, due to the limitation of funds, time, measuring devices, and other factors, the depth for testing shear-wave velocity [...] Read more.

V_s30 (equivalent shear-wave velocity of soil layers within a depth of 30 m underground) is widely used in the field of seismic engineering; however, due to the limitation of funds, time, measuring devices, and other factors, the depth for testing shear-wave velocity in an engineering site rarely reaches 30 m underground. Therefore, it is necessary to predict Vs30 effectively. We analyzed the existing models using 343 boreholes with depths greater than 30 m in Tangshan, China. It shows that the topographic slope method is not suitable for predicting V_s30 in Tangshan. The Boore (2011) model overestimates, while Boore (2004) underestimates V_s30 in Tangshan, while Junju Xie’s (2016) model has ideal prediction results. We propose three new models in this paper, including the bottom constant velocity (BCV) model, linear model, and conditional independent model. We find that the BCV model has limited prediction ability, and the linear model is more suitable when z ≤ 18 m, while the conditional independent model shows good performance under conditions where z > 18 m. We propose that the model can be accurately and effectively applied in Tangshan and other regions with low shear-wave velocity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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16 pages, 12780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preliminary Analysis of Coseismic Landslides Induced by the 1 June 2022 Ms 6.1 Lushan Earthquake, China

by Xiaoyi Shao, Chong Xu and Siyuan Ma

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16554; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416554 - 9 Dec 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2300

Abstract

At 17:00 (UTC+8) on 1 June 2022, an Ms 6.1 reverse earthquake struck Lushan County, Ya’an City, Sichuan Province. This earthquake event had a focal depth of 10 km and the epicenter was located at 30.37° N and 102.94° E. The purpose of [...] Read more.

At 17:00 (UTC+8) on 1 June 2022, an Ms 6.1 reverse earthquake struck Lushan County, Ya’an City, Sichuan Province. This earthquake event had a focal depth of 10 km and the epicenter was located at 30.37° N and 102.94° E. The purpose of this study is to document a comprehensive coseismic landslide inventory for this event and analyze the distribution pattern and factors controlling the landslides. After careful visual interpretations, this quake event was determined to have in total triggered about 2352 landslides in an area of 3900 km², including both shallow disrupted landslides and collapses, for which the spatial distribution was statistically related to regional topography, geology, and seismicity. Notably, a vast majority of the landslides were located on the NW plate of the seismogenic fault, and were distributed in the area with a seismic intensity of VII. In addition, coseismic landslides were more likely to appear in areas with high altitude, relief, and large slope. The landslide area density (LAD) increased with an increase in the above factors and is explained by an exponential relationship, indicating that the occurrence of coseismic landslides in this area was more easily affected by topographic factors than seismic factors. Most small-scale landslides were clustered in the ridge area, which shows the seismic amplification effects of mountain slopes. Due to the impact of seismic wave propagation direction, hillslopes facing northeast-east (NE-E) were more prone to collapse than southwest-facing ones. Based on the distribution pattern of the landslides, we suggest that the seismogenic fault of this event was NW dipping. These findings indicate that it is effective to identify the dipping of seismogenic faults using the spatial distribution pattern of coseismic landslides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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18 pages, 4860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Dynamic Constitutive Considering Post-Liquefaction Deformation and Reversible Pore-Water Pressure

by Qing Dong, Zhenghua Zhou, Xiaojun Li, Bing Hao and Liguo Jin

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16512; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416512 - 9 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1562

Abstract

In the seismic response analysis of liquefiable sites, the existing soil dynamic constitutive model is challenging to simulate saturated sand’s post-liquefaction deformation, and the current pore-water pressure buildup model cannot reflect the decrease in the actual pore-water pressure under unloading stress. We aim [...] Read more.

In the seismic response analysis of liquefiable sites, the existing soil dynamic constitutive model is challenging to simulate saturated sand’s post-liquefaction deformation, and the current pore-water pressure buildup model cannot reflect the decrease in the actual pore-water pressure under unloading stress. We aim at these problems to propose a feasible and straightforward time-domain post-liquefaction deformation constitutive model through experimental analysis and theoretical research, consisting of reversible pore-water pressure. According to the dynamic triaxial test data, the regularities of large deformation stress and strain behavior of the saturated sand after liquefaction are obtained, and the corresponding loading and unloading criteria are summarized. Combined with the effective stress constitutive model proposed by the author, a soil dynamic constitutive that can describe saturated sand’s post-liquefaction deformation path is obtained. According to the test results, the model can simulate the deformation of saturated sand during the whole liquefaction process. The self-developed program Soilresp1D realized the dynamic response analysis of the liquefiable site, and the results were compared with the experimental results. It shows that the model based on the effective stress-modified logarithmic dynamic skeleton and post-liquefaction deformation constitutive can be directly applied to the dynamic response analysis of the liquefiable site. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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18 pages, 5307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Structure Economic Loss Optimization Method with the Uncertainty of Ground Motion Amplitude for Chinese Masonry Building

by Jinpeng Zhao, Xiaojun Li and Chen Liu

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113860 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1202

Abstract

In the catastrophe insurance industry, it is impractical for a catastrophe model to simulate millions of sites’ environments in a short time. Hence, the attenuation relation is often adopted to simulate the ground motion on account of calculation speed, and both ground motion [...] Read more.

In the catastrophe insurance industry, it is impractical for a catastrophe model to simulate millions of sites’ environments in a short time. Hence, the attenuation relation is often adopted to simulate the ground motion on account of calculation speed, and both ground motion expectations and uncertainties must be calculated. Due to the vulnerability curves of our model being based on simulations with a large number of deterministic ground motions, it is necessary but not efficient for loss assessment to analyze all possible ground motion amplitudes and their corresponding loss rates. This paper develops a simplified method to rapidly simulate loss expectations and uncertainties. In this research, Chinese masonry buildings are the focus. The result shows that the modified method gives accurate loss results quickly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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14 pages, 3255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seabed Liquefaction around Pipeline with Backfilling Trench Subjected to Strong Earthquake Motions

by Qiuzhe Wang, Jiang Bian, Wenting Huang, Qingrui Lu, Kai Zhao and Zhaoyan Li

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12825; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912825 - 8 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1648

Abstract

As an indispensable part of the lifeline for the offshore gas and oil industry, submarine pipelines under long-term marine environmental loadings have historically been susceptible to earthquakes. This study investigates the impact of trench backfilling on the residual liquefaction around a pipeline and [...] Read more.

As an indispensable part of the lifeline for the offshore gas and oil industry, submarine pipelines under long-term marine environmental loadings have historically been susceptible to earthquakes. This study investigates the impact of trench backfilling on the residual liquefaction around a pipeline and the induced uplift of a pipeline under the combined action of an earthquake, ocean wave and current loading. A fully coupled nonlinear effective stress analysis method, which can consider the nonlinear hysteresis and the large deformation after liquefaction of the seabed soil, is adopted to describe the interaction between the seabed soil and the submarine pipeline. Taking a typical borehole in the Bohai strait as the site condition, the nonlinear seismic response analysis of the submarine pipeline under the combined action of seismic loading and ocean wave and current is carried out. The numerical results show that trench backfilling has a significant impact on the seismic response of the pipeline. The existence of trench backfilling reduces the accumulation of the residual excess pore water pressure, so that the seabed liquefaction around the pipeline is mitigated and the uplift of the pipeline is also decreased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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16 pages, 6372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exceeding Probability of Earthquake-Induced Dynamic Displacement of Rail Based on Incremental Dynamic Analysis

by Hongping Xing, Xiaodan Sun, Yu Liu, Jinzhen Lin and Huilai Song

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11871; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911871 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1430

Abstract

When an earthquake occurs, it can strongly shake high-speed railway bridges. Consequently, the dynamic displacement of the rail on the bridge may exceed the allowable standard. However, few studies have evaluated the probability of rail displacement exceeding the allowable standard, compared to the [...] Read more.

When an earthquake occurs, it can strongly shake high-speed railway bridges. Consequently, the dynamic displacement of the rail on the bridge may exceed the allowable standard. However, few studies have evaluated the probability of rail displacement exceeding the allowable standard, compared to the rich variety of research on the vulnerability of other components of the high-speed railway track-bridge system or other structures. In this paper, incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) is applied to calculate the exceeding probability of rail displacement under different earthquake excitations. A finite element model (FEM) of a high-speed railway track-bridge system is established, which consists of a finite length CRTS II ballastless track laid on a five-span simply supported girder bridge. Records from five stations in the PEER NGA−West2 strong ground motion dataset are selected as seismic excitation. Based on the simulation, the characteristics of the vertical displacement of the rail under different seismic excitations are investigated, and the probability of the vertical displacement of the rail exceeding the allowable standard is calculated using IDA. The results show that: (1) the vertical displacement of the rail above the abutment is significantly smaller than that above other parts of the bridge; (2) the vertical irregularity of the rail caused by earthquakes has a wavelength close to the length of a simply supported girder; (3) under some excitations, two bumps are observed in the Fourier displacement spectrum in the frequency range of 1.3–2.5 Hz and 10–12 Hz, respectively, which may indicate the resonance of the model to the excitation; and (4) the vertical displacement amplitude probability of the rail exceeding 2 mm is 44%, 89%, and 99% when PGA = 0.01 g, 0.20 g, and 0.40 g, respectively. The exceeding probability of the rail above the mid-span is larger than that above other parts of the bridge. Within the mid-span, the exceeding probability of the rail is the largest above the center of the bridge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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22 pages, 6151 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Earthquake Traffic Simulation Considering Road Traversability

by Yingying Wu, Zhen Xu, Chenxi Liang and Ruizhuo Song

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11145; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811145 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2020

Abstract

Post-earthquake road traversability is a critical factor that affects traffic conditions. Therefore, a post-earthquake traffic simulation method considering road traversability was proposed in this study. First, the impact ranges of the earthquake-induced building collapse and the post-earthquake fire spread of buildings were analyzed, [...] Read more.

Post-earthquake road traversability is a critical factor that affects traffic conditions. Therefore, a post-earthquake traffic simulation method considering road traversability was proposed in this study. First, the impact ranges of the earthquake-induced building collapse and the post-earthquake fire spread of buildings were analyzed, and road traversability was determined accordingly. Subsequently, the post-earthquake traffic flow was predicted based on building characteristics, and micro-level vehicle behaviors were simulated considering post-earthquake road traversability to determine the traffic conditions. In addition, the simulation model was validated using actual data. Finally, a segment of the Tongzhou road network in Beijing was selected as a case study to analyze post-earthquake road traversability and simulate traffic conditions on critical road sections. The proposed method can provide post-earthquake traffic conditions, which benefits the decision-making of post-earthquake evacuation and rescue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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12 pages, 3433 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Observing Earthquake-Induced Velocity Change on the Rock Slope Following the 2021 M 7.4 Maduo Earthquake 780 km Away

by Huibao Huang, Shigui Dai, Yingdong Yu and Fan Xie

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9345; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159345 - 29 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1366

Abstract

Velocity changes (

d v / v

) during and after earthquakes are important indicators for understanding the earthquake-induced mechanical damage evolution of rock slopes. However, studying slope responses associated with various seismic loading still remains challenging due to limited in situ observations. [...] Read more.

Velocity changes (

d v / v

) during and after earthquakes are important indicators for understanding the earthquake-induced mechanical damage evolution of rock slopes. However, studying slope responses associated with various seismic loading still remains challenging due to limited in situ observations. In this article, we conduct a 20 min temporal resolution monitoring of

d v / v

at the frequency band between 2 and 20 Hz by applying ambient noise interferometry on the Pubugou rock slope in Southwest China. We observe an instantaneous ∼0.41%

d v / v

drop on the slope caused by the 2021 M 7.4 Maduo earthquake at a distance of 780 kM, following a characterized logarithmic recovery process of ∼31.39 h towards its pre-earthquake state. Moreover, the

d v / v

in five narrow frequency bands show a similar drop and subsequently increased recovery times associated with the deceased frequencies due to the long-distant earthquake shaking. We discuss two possible mechanisms related to the heterogeneous rock slope excited by the long-distant earthquake at a low frequency. The study motivates the damage assessment of the rock slope using in situ

d v / v

and furthers the understanding of subsurface geological risks under diverse seismic loadings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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20 pages, 7803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Responses of RC Girder Bridge under Heavy Truck and Seismic Loads Combined

by Lang Liu, Xiaotian Yang, Boquan Yan and Siyu Miao

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9263; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159263 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1667

Abstract

Overloaded truck and earthquake have become two main factors responsible for bridge damage, consequently the combination of heavy truck and seismic loads as a typical occurrence of extreme events is likely to lead to bridge collapse or destructive damage, in which the crucial [...] Read more.

Overloaded truck and earthquake have become two main factors responsible for bridge damage, consequently the combination of heavy truck and seismic loads as a typical occurrence of extreme events is likely to lead to bridge collapse or destructive damage, in which the crucial issues of coupling load model, dynamic equations and bridge responses have not been adequately addressed. In this study, a simplified vehicle-bridge model consisting of many containers is established to simulate vehicle passage, and the dynamic equations are derived for a 5-axle truck on a simply supported beam as an illustration. Then, five ground motions selected from PEER with appropriate peak ground accelerations and durations and the three truck models specified in American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Caltrans and Chinese codes are applied on the finite element model of a typical reinforced concrete continuous girder bridge, in which, vehicle speed, number of trucks, ground motion and vehicle type are assumed to be random variables and their influences on dynamic responses of the bridge are analyzed. The results show seismic load is the governing factor in dynamic responses but truck load may change displacement shapes; in addition, dynamic responses present a high sensitivity with the number of trucks (set as truck platoon) and gross vehicle weight but rare with vehicle speed. Specifically, the presence of a few trucks could serve as energy dissipation facilities for the bridge under seismic motions but may amplify the response when more trucks involved; some combinations of truck platoon with seismic excitation produce very large displacements and even cracks on the bridge, therefore, such an extreme event requires higher robustness in bridge design to make it be sustainable and serviceability after earthquakes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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29 pages, 3205 KiB

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A Review on the Modelling Techniques of Liquid Storage Tanks Considering Fluid–Structure–Soil Interaction Effects with a Focus on the Mitigation of Seismic Effects through Base Isolation Techniques

by M. Chaithra, A. Krishnamoorthy and A. R. Avinash

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11040; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411040 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1714

Abstract

Globally, tanks play a major part in the provision of access to clean drinking water to the human population. Beyond aiding in the supply of fresh water, tanks are also essential for ensuring good sanitary conditions for people and for livestock. Many countries [...] Read more.

Globally, tanks play a major part in the provision of access to clean drinking water to the human population. Beyond aiding in the supply of fresh water, tanks are also essential for ensuring good sanitary conditions for people and for livestock. Many countries have realized that a robust water supply and a robust sanitation infrastructure are necessary for sustainable growth. Therefore, there is large demand for the construction of storage tanks. Further, liquid storage tanks are crucial structures which must continue to be operational even after a catastrophic natural event, such as an earthquake, to support rehabilitation efforts. From an engineering point of view, the various forces acting on the tanks and the behaviour of the tanks under various loads are important issues which need to be addressed for a safe design. Analyses of the tanks are challenging due to the interaction between the fluid and tank wall. Thus, researchers have conducted several investigations to understand the performance of storage tanks subjected to earthquakes by considering this interaction. This paper discusses the historical development of various modelling techniques of storage tanks. The interaction with the soil also influences the behaviour of the tanks, and hence, in this paper, various modelling approaches for soil structure interaction are also reviewed. Further, a brief history of various systems of base isolation and modelling approaches of base-isolated structures are also discussed in this article. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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10 pages, 5111 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Theoretical and Experimental Study of Rotational Behaviour of Friction Pendulum Bearings

by Tianbo Peng, Yuxin Liu and Thierno Seydou Ka

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7327; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097327 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1512

Abstract

Friction Pendulum Bearing (FPB for short) is a kind of widely used device to improve seismic capacities of building and bridge structures. Despite the considerable progress made in developing theoretical models to understand the mechanical behaviour of FPB, these models mostly focus on [...] Read more.

Friction Pendulum Bearing (FPB for short) is a kind of widely used device to improve seismic capacities of building and bridge structures. Despite the considerable progress made in developing theoretical models to understand the mechanical behaviour of FPB, these models mostly focus on the horizontal movement behaviour and rarely on the rotational behaviour of FPB. However, rotational displacements of FPBs indeed will occur along with horizontal displacements in earthquakes and may affect the structural seismic performance. Motivated from these findings, a theoretical model of FPB that describes the rotational behaviour is established based on the moment balance theory in this paper. A set of rotational tests are carried out to validate the theoretical model, and comparisons of experimental and theoretical results show that they are in good agreement. The theoretical model developed in this paper will help understand the structural seismic performance more accurately in the case of rotations of FPBs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Earthquake Engineering Technology and Its Application)

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