Date of Last Revision

2023-05-02 14:15:27

Major

Civil Engineering

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Expected Graduation

Spring 2015

Abstract

This research project consisted of the use of computer aided numerical software to test the response of an earthquake resistance system within various buildings when exposed to various design-level earthquakes. This research project is an extension of an existing NSF research project. The relevant questions and investigations of this and the greater project surround the performance of an earthquake resistance system with the intentions of better understanding its abilities and limitations. This project has been aided by Dr. David Roke, the faculty sponsor, in order to perform the research and collect, organize, and analyze the data. This research was performed using the software package OpenSees and the data was organized and analyzed using Microsoft Excel. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to aid in the NSF research project in any way possible. Ideally, this project will help with the determination of different design parameters of the earthquake resistance system.

Although specific parameters were not established within this project, a few identifiable trends were. Observation of the studied data concludes that decreasing the self-centering concentrically-braced frame’s tributary area also decreases, on average, the resultant force responses within the frame. Correspondingly, increasing the structure’s (and therefore the frame’s) height also produces a decrease in the resultant force responses. Another topic of interest is the location of the maximum brace force within the frame. The investigated data suggests that the maximum brace force will be at or just above the middle of the structure—as the structure height increases, so does the location of the maximum force above the structure’s center.

Not all of the described trends are clearly intuitive. Further research on the topic of the maximum brace force may provide more insight into where the location of the maximum force will occur and why. Also, further study on the relationship of the structure’s height to the experienced forces may provide conclusions as to what causes the described phenomenon.

Research Sponsor

Dr. David Roke

First Reader

Dr. Anil Patnaik

Second Reader

Dr. Teresa Cutright

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