Effect of Uncertainties in Material and Structural Detailing on the Seismic Vulnerability of RC Frames Considering Construction Quality Defects

This paper evaluates the effect of construction quality defects on the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete (RC) frames. The variability in the construction quality of material properties and structural detailing is considered to assess the effect on the seismic behavior of RC frames. Concrete strength and yield strength of the reinforcement are selected as uncertain variables for the material properties, while the variabilities in the longitudinal reinforcement ratio and the volumetric ratio of transverse reinforcement are employed for structural detailing. Taking into account the selected construction quality uncertainties, the sensitivity analysis of the seismic vulnerability of the RC frames is performed and the impact of significant parameters is assessed at the global and local levels. This extensive analytical study reveals that the seismic vulnerability of the selected RC frame is particularly sensitive to concrete strength and the volumetric ratio of transverse reinforcement.

The use of GPR in Archaeology: the structural detailing of buried roman baths

<p>Ground Penetrating Radar has widely proven to be an effective tool for archaeological purposes [1-4]. Our contribution concerns a geophysical experimental activity carried out in the Maxentius Complex, an archaeological site located between the second and the third miles of the ancient Appian Way in Rome, Italy. This site is characterized by different phases dated between the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 4th century AD. The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of GPR, in this case using two different antennas (200 MHz and 600 MHz frequencies), for the structural detailing of buried roman baths structures. As a result, GPR analysis confirmed the literature-based information, i.e. to precisely locate the tanks of the thermal area (2nd century AD). The structure was partially brought to light and reburied during the second half of the last century, providing a partial plan view of the area. In addition, the tomographic results, together with the analysis of B-Scans, highlighted the presence of two further tanks, thereby suggesting the possibility of further rooms which are located close to the known ones. Furthermore, the tomographic analysis revealed a wall pattern that seems to suggest the presence of other rooms in the top-right side of the area. In general terms, GPR demonstrated a great applicability to archaeological purposes, for example to detect buried remains and to interpret the function of buried structures, despite the reliability and productivity of the data interpretation are strongly influenced by the expertise of both the geophysicists and the archaeologists involved.</p><p> </p><p>This work falls within the project “ArchaeoTrack”, supported by Regione Lazio, under the Framework “L.R. 13/08, Research Group Project n. 20 prot. 85-2017-14857”.</p><p> </p><ol><li>Bianchini Ciampoli, L., Benedetto, A., Tosti, F., {2018} “The ArchaeoTrack Project: Use of Ground-Penetrating Radar for Preventive Conservation of Buried Archaeology Towards the Development of a Virtual Museum”, In. Proc. of MetroArchaeo, Cassino, Italy</li> <li>Milligan, R., & M., Atkin, {1993}. The use of ground-probing radar within a digital environment on archaeological sites, in Andresen, J., Madsen, T. and Scollar, I., eds., Computing the Past: Computer Application and Quantitative methods in Archaeology: Aarhus, Denmark, Aarhus University Press, pp. 285–291.</li> <li>Oswin, J., {2018}. The Roman Baths, Bath Archway Project Geophysical Survey, January 2018.</li> <li>Pisani Sartorio, G., & Calza R., {1976}. “La villa di Massenzio sulla Via Appia: Il Palazzo - Le Opere D'Arte”, in Monumenti romani VI, Roma.</li> </ol>

High Performance Damage-Resistant Seismic Resistant Structural Systems for Sustainable and Resilient City: A Review

This paper presents a review of high performance damage-resistant seismic resistant structural (DRSRS) systems for the sustainable and resilient city. Firstly, the motivation and the basic principle as well as methodology of the developing DRSRS system are briefly illustrated. Then, the structural detailing and the seismic behaviors of three types of existing DRSRS systems, namely, the replaceable structural element (RSE), rocking seismic resisting structural (RSRS) system, and self-centering seismic resisting structural (SCSRS) system, are summarized in detail. The theoretical and extensive experimental study results indicated that the three existing types of DRSRS system can minimize the postdamage after loading. Types of energy dissipation devices and dampers, as well as fuse sections, can largely enhance the energy dissipation capacity of the proposed structural system. Many numerical and finite element models have been proposed to analyze the dynamic and static cyclic responses of them. The residual deformation after the dynamic response is smaller compared to that following the cyclic response. Then, the current research challenges of DRSRS system are illustrated, and the new research highlights that emerged in recent years are stated. Finally, the conclusions of this paper are summarized; furthermore, the recommendations for the future studies are pointed out at the end of the paper.