Development of basic technique to improve seismic response accuracy of tributary area-based lumped-mass stick models

Abstract

Although a detailed finite element (FE) model provides more precise results, a lumped-mass stick (LMS) model is preferred because of its simplicity and rapid computational time. However, the reliability of LMS models has been questioned especially for structures dominated by higher modes and seismic inputs. Normally, the natural frequencies and dynamic responses of a LMS model based on tributary area mass consideration are different from the results of the FE model. This study proposes a basic updating technique to overcome these discrepancies; the technique employs the identical modal response, D(t), to the detailed FE model. The parameter D(t) is a time variable function in the dynamic response composition and it depends on frequency and damping ratio for each mode, independent of the structure’s mode shapes. The identical response D(t) for each mode is obtained from the frequency adaptive LMS model; the adaptive LMS model which can provide identical modal frequencies as the detailed FE model. Theoretical backgrounds and formulations of the updating technique are proposed. To validate the updating technique, two types of structures (a symmetric straight column and an unsymmetric T-shaped structure) are considered. From the seismic response results including base shear and base moment, the updating technique considerably improves the seismic response accuracy of the tributary area-based LMS model.