First passage probability of structures under non-Gaussian stochastic behavior

An analytical moment-based method was proposed for calculating first passage probability of structures under non-Ganssian stochastic behaviour. In the method, the third-moment standardization that constants can be obtained from first three-order response moments was used to map a non-Ganssian structural response into a standard Gaussian process; then the mean up-crossing rates, the mean clump size and the initial passage probability of some critical barrier level by the original structural response were estimated. Finally, the formula for calculating first passage probability was established on the assumption that the corrected up-crossing rates are independent. By a nonlinear single-degree-of-freedom system excited by a stationary Gaussian load,it is demonstrated how the procedure can be used for the type of structures considered. Further, comparisons between the results from the present procedure and those from Monte-Carlo simulation are performed.     

Method of estimating human error probabilities in construction for structural reliability analysis based on analytic hierarchy process and failure likelihood index method

Partial safety factors must be evaluated precisely for the given target reliability index to ensure the certain level of structural reliability due to uncertain factors. The current studies of partial safety factors do not consider human error in construction for structural reliability. A mathematically model should be improved to simulate the partial safety coefficient concerned uncertainty factors which concern the effect of human error in construction. We employ the contaminated distribution to obtain the realistic mean value and standard variance of variable of structural parameters which coexist with random error human error. The reasonable partial safety coefficient can be calculated based on the realistic value of structural parameters concerned the effects of random error and gross error.     

Bond behavior of corroded reinforcement in concrete wrapped with carbon fiber reinforced polymer under cyclic loading

Bond behavior of corroded reinforcement in concrete wrapped with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) under cyclic loading is experimentally investigated. An electrolyte corrosion technique is used to accelerate the corrosion of the steel bar in cylindrical concrete specimens. Wrapped specimens are strengthened with one layer of CFRP after the reinforcements are corroded. The experimental parameters investigated include: corrosion level, CFRP wrapped and number of loading cycles. Test results indicate that bond strength and area of hysteretic curve of CFRP wrapped specimens are larger than those of the unwrapped specimens. With increasing the number of loading cycles, the bond strength and area of hysteretic curve decrease gradually, especially at the 1st cyclic loading. The CFRP wrapping reduces the bond degradation rate effectively and prevents the bond-splitting failure of the corroded concrete specimens.     

Underwater digital terrain model with GPS-aided high-resolution profile-scan sonar images

The whole procedures of underwater digital terrain model (DTM) were presented by building with the global positioning system (GPS) aided high-resolution profile-scan sonar images. The algorithm regards the digital image scanned in a cycle as the raw data. First the label rings are detected with the improved Hough transform (HT) method and followed by curve-fitting for accurate location; then the most probable window for each ping is detected with weighted neighborhood gray-level co-occurrence matrix; and finally the DTM is built by integrating the GPS data with sonar data for 3D visualization. The case of an underwater trench for immersed tube road tunnel is illustrated.     

Vibration analysis of continuous maglev guideway considering the magnetic levitation system

The dynamic interaction between moving vehicles and two-span continuous guideway was discussed. With the consideration of the magnetic levitation system, the maglev vehicle/guideway dynamic interaction model was developed. Numerical simulation was performed to understand dynamic characteristics of the guide- way used in practice. The results show that vehicle speed, span length and primary frequency of the guideway have an important influence on the dynamic responses of the guideway and there is no distinct trend towards resonance vibration when f1 equals 1.0. The definite way is to control the impact coefficient and acceleration of the guideway. The conclusions can serve the design of high speed maglev guideway.     

The Effect of Steel Corrosion on Bond Strength in Concrete Structures

IntroductionStudies conducted by some researchers haveshown steel corrosion has significant influence onthe limited durability of reinforced concrete struc-tures[1,2]. Corrosion of steel creates a volume ex-pansion in reinforcing bars and causes extremelyhigh tensile stress in concrete, and this may lead tothe formation of cracks in the cover concrete due toits relatively low tensile strength.The cracks leadto a weakening bond and anchorage between rein-forcing steel and concrete, which direct…     

Determination of partial safety coefficients of structural reliability based on contaminated distribution

Partial safety factors must be evaluated precisely for the given target reliability index to ensure the certain level of structural reliability due to uncertain factors. The current studies of partial safety factors do not consider human error in construction for structural reliability. A mathematically model should be improved to simulate the partial safety coefficient concerned uncertainty factors which concern the effect of human error in construction. We employ the contaminated distribution to obtain the realistic mean value and standard variance of variable of structural parameters which coexist with random error human error. The reasonable partial safety coefficient can be calculated based on the realistic value of structural parameters concerned the effects of random error and gross error.