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Articles 1 - 15 of 15
Full-Text Articles in Civil Engineering
Numerical Evaluation Of The Extended Endplate Moment Connection Subjected To Cyclic Loading, Mehdi Ghassemieh, Mehdi Jalalpour, Ali Akbar Gholampour
Numerical Evaluation Of The Extended Endplate Moment Connection Subjected To Cyclic Loading, Mehdi Ghassemieh, Mehdi Jalalpour, Ali Akbar Gholampour
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
In this paper, the seismic behaviour of extended endplate moment connection is analysed using finite element method (FEM). First, an existing test setup is modelled and analysed using ANSYS computer program. The model is validated by comparing the results from the finite element with the experimental ones. Afterwards, by changing the dimensions of members of the connection, their effect on the overall seismic performance of connection is investigated. The results show that by enlarging the column depth and stiffening the connection, the seismic performance is improved and the thickness of endplate should be chosen in a way that its moment …
Another Look At The Collapse Of Skyline Plaza At Bailey’S Crossroads, Virginia, Jeffrey Schellhammer, Norbert Delatte, Paul A. Bosela
Another Look At The Collapse Of Skyline Plaza At Bailey’S Crossroads, Virginia, Jeffrey Schellhammer, Norbert Delatte, Paul A. Bosela
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
On March 2, 1973, the Skyline Plaza apartment building in Bailey’s Crossroads, Virginia collapsed while under construction. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) requested an investigation from the National Bureau of Standards [(NBS); now the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)]. The NBS team concluded that the most likely cause of the collapse was a punching shear failure of the 23rd floor slab. The two factors that contributed to this were premature removal of shores below the 23rd floor slab, and the low strength of the 23rd floor concrete in the area supporting the weight of the 24th …
Interfacing Building Response With Human Behavior Under Seismic Events, Z. Liu, Mehdi Jalalpour, C. Jacques, S. Szyniszewski, J. Mitrani-Reiser, James K. Guest, T. Igusa, B. W. Schafer
Interfacing Building Response With Human Behavior Under Seismic Events, Z. Liu, Mehdi Jalalpour, C. Jacques, S. Szyniszewski, J. Mitrani-Reiser, James K. Guest, T. Igusa, B. W. Schafer
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
The goal of this paper is to model the interaction of humans with their built environment during and immediately following a natural disaster. The study uses finite element simulations to evaluate the response of buildings under input ground motions and agent-based dynamic modeling to model the subsequent evacuation of building occupants in the study area immediately following the seismic event. The structural model directly captures building damage and collapse, as well as floor accelerations and displacements to determine nonstructural damage, injuries and fatalities. The goal of this research is to make connections between building damage and occupant injuries, with geographic …
Structural Topology Optimization: Moving Beyond Linear Elastic Design Objectives, James K. Guest, Reza Lotfi, Andrew T. Gaynor, Mehdi Jalalpour
Structural Topology Optimization: Moving Beyond Linear Elastic Design Objectives, James K. Guest, Reza Lotfi, Andrew T. Gaynor, Mehdi Jalalpour
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
Topology optimization is a systematic, free-form approach to the design of structures. It simultaneously optimizes material quantities and system connectivity, enabling the discovery of new, high-performance structural concepts. While powerful, this design freedom has a tendency to produce solutions that are unrealizable or impractical from a structural engineering perspective. Examples include overly complex topologies that are expensive to construct and ultra-slender subsystems that may be overly susceptible to imperfections. This paper summarizes recent tools developed by the authors capable of mitigating these shortcomings through consideration of (1) constructability, (2) nonlinear mechanics, and (3) uncertainties.
Optimal Design Of Trusses With Geometric Imperfections: Accounting For Global Instability, Mehdi Jalalpour, Takeru Igusa, James K. Guest
Optimal Design Of Trusses With Geometric Imperfections: Accounting For Global Instability, Mehdi Jalalpour, Takeru Igusa, James K. Guest
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
A topology optimization method is proposed for the design of trusses with random geometric imperfections due to fabrication errors. This method is a generalization of a previously developed perturbation approach to topology optimization under geometric uncertainties. The main novelty in the present paper is that the objective function includes the nonlinear effects of potential buckling due to misaligned structural members. Solutions are therefore dependent on the magnitude of applied loads and the direction of resulting internal member forces (whether they are compression or tension). Direct differentiation is used in the sensitivity analysis, and analytical expressions for the associated derivatives are …
Optimal Design Of Trusses With Geometric Imperfections, Mehdi Jalalpour, Takeru Igusa, James K. Guest
Optimal Design Of Trusses With Geometric Imperfections, Mehdi Jalalpour, Takeru Igusa, James K. Guest
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
The present paper focuses on optimization of trusses that have randomness in geometry that may arise from fabrication errors. The analysis herein is a generalization of a perturbation approach to topology optimization under geometric uncertainties. The main novelty in the present paper is in the consideration of potential buckling due to misaligned structural members. The paper begins with a brief review of the aforementioned perturbation approach, then proceeds with the analysis of the nonlinear effects of geometric imperfection. The paper concludes with some numerical examples.
Collapse Of The Quebec Bridge, 1907, Cynthia Pearson, Norbert Delatte
Collapse Of The Quebec Bridge, 1907, Cynthia Pearson, Norbert Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
In the late 19th century, the transportation needs of Quebec led to proposals for bridging the St. Lawrence River. The Quebec Bridge was the longest cantilever structure attempted until that time. In its final design, the clear span was 548.6 m (1,800 ft) long. The bridge project was financially troubled from the beginning. This caused many setbacks in the design and construction. Construction finally began in October 1900. In August 1907, the bridge collapsed suddenly. Seventy five workers were killed in the accident, and there were only 11 survivors from the workers on the span. A distinguished panel was assembled …
Ronan Point Apartment Tower Collapse And Its Effect On Building Codes, Cynthia Pearson, Norbert Delatte
Ronan Point Apartment Tower Collapse And Its Effect On Building Codes, Cynthia Pearson, Norbert Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
In the early morning hours of May 16, 1968, the occupant of apartment 90 on the 18th floor of the 22-story Ronan Point apartment tower, in London, lit a match to brew her morning cup of tea. The resulting gas explosion initiated a partial collapse of the structure that killed four people and injured 17 (one of whom subsequently died). On investigation, the apartment tower was found to be deeply flawed in both design and construction. The existing building codes were found to be inadequate for ensuring the safety and integrity of high-rise precast concrete apartment buildings. The Larsen–Nielson building …
Failure Of Cold-Formed Steel Beams During Concrete Placement, Norbert Delatte
Failure Of Cold-Formed Steel Beams During Concrete Placement, Norbert Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
During a concrete placement on the second story of a building under construction, the supporting cold-formed steel beams collapsed. Four workers were injured. The collapse occurred while concrete was being placed onto steel decking on the second floor of the structure. Cold-formed steel beams, without shoring, supported the steel decking. Analysis of the steel beams under the weight of concrete and workers using the applicable American Concrete Institute and American Iron and Steel Institute documents indicated that the beams were overstressed for construction loads. After the collapse, part of the structure was rebuilt using thicker beams. For the reconstruction, the …
Collapse Of 2000 Commonwealth Avenue: Punching Shear Case Study, Suzanne King, Norbert Delatte
Collapse Of 2000 Commonwealth Avenue: Punching Shear Case Study, Suzanne King, Norbert Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
On January 25, 1971, two thirds of a 16-story apartment building collapsed while under construction at 2000 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts. Four workers died after a failure on the roof instigated a progressive collapse all the way to the basement, where the men were found. Fortunately, the collapse occurred slowly enough for most of the other workers to run to safety. An investigation, conducted by a commission assembled by the Mayor of Boston, painted a picture of a troubled project, with considerable confusion about responsibility for structural safety. The surviving workers’ descriptions of the failure provide a textbook definition of …
Undergraduate Summer Research In Structural Engineering, Norbert J. Delatte
Undergraduate Summer Research In Structural Engineering, Norbert J. Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
For the last seven years, a summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates site in structural engineering, funded by the National Science Foundation, has operated at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During this time, 33 students from 22 colleges and universities have participated in the site. Participants are recruited nationally and have come from as far away as California and Puerto Rico. The program is intended to provide students interested in graduate studies with an introduction to research methods, and to provide students who will not continue their studies past a bachelor of science in civil engineering with a better understanding …
Closure To “Another Look At The L’Ambiance Plaza Collapse,” By Rachel Martin And Norbert J. Delatte, Norbert J. Delatte
Closure To “Another Look At The L’Ambiance Plaza Collapse,” By Rachel Martin And Norbert J. Delatte, Norbert J. Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
No abstract provided.
Another Look At Hartford Civic Center Coliseum Collapse, Rachel Martin, Norbert J. Delatte
Another Look At Hartford Civic Center Coliseum Collapse, Rachel Martin, Norbert J. Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
Only a few hours after five thousand basketball fans had left, the roof of the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum collapsed under a heavy snowfall. Fortunately, the arena was empty. The design of the space frame roof had been based on an innovative and extensive computer analysis. However, when deflections twice as great as those predicted by the computer analysis were observed during construction, the warning was ignored. Overconfidence in computer analysis results played a large part in this failure. A useful lesson from this case is that the computer is only an analytical tool and computed results must be checked …
Another Look At The L'Ambiance Plaza Collapse, Rachel Martin, Norbert J. Delatte
Another Look At The L'Ambiance Plaza Collapse, Rachel Martin, Norbert J. Delatte
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
The collapse of the L'Ambiance Plaza building, under construction in Bridgeport, Conn., in 1987, killed 28 construction workers. A number of concurrent investigations were undertaken to attempt to determine the cause. At least six separate theories were developed. However, a prompt legal settlement kept these investigations from being completed. This paper reviews the collapse and discusses the competing theories. The failure focused controversy on the safety of the lift-slab construction method. Because there is a need in civil engineering education for case studies to illustrate ethical and professional issues as well as technical principles, this paper also addresses these aspects. …
Investigating Performance Of Bonded Concrete Overlays, Norbert J. Delatte, David W. Fowler, B. Frank Mccullough, Stefan F. Gräter
Investigating Performance Of Bonded Concrete Overlays, Norbert J. Delatte, David W. Fowler, B. Frank Mccullough, Stefan F. Gräter
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications
A bonded concrete overlay (BCO) is a concrete pavement rehabilitation method used to extend the life of an existing concrete pavement. The BCO should bond fully with the existing concrete, leading to a thicker composite pavement section, a much stiffer pavement, and a considerable decrease in pavement stresses. For one project, cost estimates for a BCO were half as much as for full-depth replacement of a pavement. In some cases BCOs have delaminated shortly after construction. This paper proposes a framework for identifying the causes of early age delamination in BCOs. The early age behavior of newly constructed BCOs is …