Seismic failure probability of adjacent frame structures retrofitted by flexible control measure

Abstract

Due to the randomness of earthquake and the difference of dynamic characteristics of adjacent structures, the mechanical behavior of the adjacent structures under earthquake is very complex. A flexible control method using steel strands is proposed, which has little impact on the dynamic characteristics of the adjacent structures. A three-dimensional numerical calculation model of the adjacent frame structures is established by using LS-DYNA. The interstory drift ratios of the single structure, the adjacent uncontrolled structure and the adjacent controlled structure are analyzed by using incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) method. The failure probabilities of different limit states (LS) are studied based on the vulnerability, and the annual average and the design life failure probabilities are further discussed by the probabilistic seismic failure risk analysis. The results show that the maximum interstory drift ratio of the structure is reduced by the flexible control, and the failure probability of the adjacent controlled structure is less than that of the single structure and the adjacent uncontrolled structures. It should be noted that the influence of the flexible control on the failure probability is reduced when the PGA is close to 1.0 g. The four limit states LS1, LS2, LS3 and LS4 represent the slight damage, the moderate damage, the severe damage and the complete damage, respectively. The annual average failure probability from LS1 to LS4 decreases in turn, and the difference is about 10 times. Compared with the adjacent uncontrolled structures, the flexible control reduces the design life failure probabilities of the 10-storey structure and the 8-storey structure by 13.82% and 11.79%, respectively. The proposed control measure is helpful to reduce the failure probability of the adjacent frame structures under earthquake action.