Ongoing Projects - Overview

  ·   NEES: Hybrid Simulation Framework Project, Phase I  

The phase I project of Hybrid Simulation Framework Development is the first stage of a lager project in which a HSF for NEES community will be developed. The Phase I project is an important step toward the development of a general HSF in Phase II as it revealed the strengths and weakness of the current HSF. Also the Phase I project illustrated many other technical and administrative issues in running hybrid simulation which should be systematically resolved in the development of HSF in the next phase. As a final product of the Phase I project, the improved UI-SIMCOR including many documents is ready to delivery to NEES users for hybrid simulation. For successful completion of this project, many interactions among other sites, UIUC, UCB, and SDSC were accomplished as this project is collaborative in nature. The interactions include installing software, if necessary, at each site and assuring detailed experimental aspects such as scale factors, coordinate systems, communication protocols, etc. Read more...

• NEESG: Controlled Rocking of Steel-Framed Buildings with Replaceable Energy Dissipating Devices

This project is to develop a new structural building system that employs rocking action and replaceable structural fuses to provide safe and cost effective resistance to earthquakes. The system combines desirable aspects of conventional steel-braced framing (or equally valid, of reinforced concrete walls) with two alternative and complementary fuse concepts – shear panel fuses and axial column fuses.  Read more...

• NEESR-II: System Behavior Factors for Composite and Mixed Structureal Systems

This project is to develop system performance factors (R, C_d, and W_o) for composite frame structural systems and to provide practical guidelines for the analysis and design of such structures.  The project will develop advanced computational models to (a) conduct parametric studies on composite frames to develop rational systems factors and (b) develop simplified recommendations for the equivalent rigidities to be used for composite beam-column elements and their connections in braced and unbraced mixed and composite frames subjected to large cyclic drifts.  Read more...

• NEESR-SG: Seismic Simulation and Design of Bridge Columns under Combined Actions and Implications on System Response
  
  

  The performance assessment of bridge piers subjected to the complex loading combination of bending, shear, axial load and torsion has been a challenge to structural engineers. Analytical solutions that were developed for such combined loadings are not sufficient and the lack of large scale experiments has deprived the community from the necessary resources to improve the models. To provide a context for this complex problem and to overcome limited laboratory capabilities, the pseudo dynamic (PSD) test method will be employed using the Multi-Axial Full-Scale Sub-Structured Testing and Simulation (MUST-SIM) facility. Read more ...

• NEESR-SG: Evaluation of the Response of Planar, C-shaped, Coupled-wall and Core-wall Systems

Two LBCBs will be rigidly connected to the top of the wall specimen and used in combination to apply a constant axial compression in the wall, a prescribed lateral displacement pattern, and a constant moment-to-shear ratio at the top of the wall.  In addition, ancillary actuators will be placed at the first and second storey level of the wall to impose lateral forces that are prescribed fraction of the top lateral load. Read more ...