Development and Use of Advanced Hybrid Simulation Methods for Performance Evaluation of Seismically Resilient Structural Steel Frames with Advanced Supplemental Damping Systems James Ricles, PhD, PE
Bruce Johnson Professor of Structural EngineeringDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA USA
Haythornthwaite Seminar – College of Engineering, Temple University, February 25, 2011
EA – 126
Conventional earthquake-resistant steel frame systems are designed to develop inelastic deformations under the design earthquake, and as a result develop significant damage and residual drift during the earthquake. A majority of building losses are associated with structures being condemned because of damage and residual drift rather than collapse. Over the past 10 years Dr. James Ricles and his students at Lehigh University have been developing advanced hybrid simulation methods that enable complex structural systems to be assessed for response to dynamic loading conditions, including strong earthquake ground motions. These methods include real-time hybrid simulation, where hybrid models consisting of analytical and experimental substructures are combined by considering their inter-relationship to form complex models of complete structural systems. Simulations are executed with these models using real-time computing; synchronizing finite element model state determination results (i.e., analytical substructure) with the measured state of test structures constructed in the laboratory (i.e., experimental substructure). Real-time hybrid simulation enables the performance of advanced structural systems to be evaluated, where rate-dependent response modification devices (e.g., passive or semi-active dampers) are placed in the structure to enhance seismic performance and reduce damage to structural and non-structural. This seminar will review the current philosophy in U.S. earthquake resistant building design; an overview of the Real-time Multi-directional Earthquake Simulation Facility, which is a NEES equipment site located at Lehigh University; and the use of the facility in the development and validation of performance-based seismic design procedures to reduce structural and nonstructural damage in structural steel building systems utilizing supplement damper systems.
Biosketch
Dr. James Ricles is the Bruce Johnson Professor of Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Director of the NEES Equipment Site at Lehigh University, and Deputy Director of the ATLSS Engineering Research Center at Lehigh University. He received his BS and MS degrees from the University of Texas, Austin and PhD degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He teaches courses in earthquake engineering, structural analysis, structural design, structural dynamics, structural reliability, and nonlinear advanced structural analysis. His current major research areas include the development of advanced structural testing methods, innovative structural steel systems for the enhancement of seismic performance, structural connections under large inelastic cyclic loading, and steel structures subject to elevated temperatures under fire loading. He has published over 380 technical papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings with his students related to his research, and has received numerous awards, including a National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigators Award for his research in the development of seismic resistant steel connections, and the 2009 ASCE Raymond C. Reese Research Prize for research leading to advances in design criteria for buckling restrained steel braced frame systems subject to earthquakes.
