Challenge Journal of Structural Mechanics

7-16

Authors: Seong-woo Woo, Dennis L. O’Neal

A newly designed hinge kit system (HKS) of a commercial refrigerator was subjected to a robust reliability methodology during the design phase of the system. This methodology included setting the overall parametric accelerated life test (ALT) plan of product and identifying failure mechanisms and modes in field. The ALT included a sample size equation to improve several of the HKS design parameters. Reliability of the new HKS was targeted to be 10 years over B1. Failure sites in the HKS were identified through returned products from the field. The first ALT confirmed a failure that occurred at the housing of HKS. The missing design parameters of HKS housing for the refrigerator were that it had no support ribs in the original design. The supporting structure of HKS in the refrigerator was modified based on the action plan. Cracks were identified in a second ALT that was generated in the torsional shaft. Due to it having squared off corners, the HKS torsional shaft did not have not enough strength to withstand repetitive stresses. The shaft was modified as a consequence of the ALTs. The reliability of redesigned HKS is now guaranteed as B1 10 years. The design methods - load analysis and three ALTs were very effective in identifying the missing design parameters during the design phase. The robust design method presented in this paper might be applicable to the other mechanical systems.

25-32

Authors: Paata Rekvava, Ketevan Mdivani

The utilization of time histories of earthquake ground motion has grown considerably in the field of earthquake engineering. It is very unlikely, however, that recordings of earthquake ground motion will be available for all sites and conditions of interest. Hence, there is a need for efficient methods for the simulation of strong ground motion for a given region. Due to lack of the real strong ground motion records the objective of this research is to develop a methodology for rapid generation of horizontal and vertical components of earthquake ground motion at any site for Tbilisi city. The model developed in this study provides simulation of ground motion over a wide range of magnitudes and distances at 8 earthquake sources zones of Tbilisi region (within 50 km). The research includes three main topics: (i) the stochastic simulation of earthquake ground motion at a given site of the city of Tbilisi; (ii) the estimation of acceleration time histories at a given site using the direct method of engineering seismology considering soil conditions based on the theory of the reflected waves and (iii) calculation of horizontal and vertical acceleration elastic response spectra for main sites of Tbilisi territory. The simulation procedure typically consists of multiplying deterministic modulating function with a stationary process of known power spectral density. The obtained results in the terms of normalized elastic response spectra can be widely applied in the practice of earthquake engineering in Georgia.

41-53

Authors: Tuğba Türker, Yusuf Bayrak

North Anatolian Fault (NAF) is one from the most important strike-slip fault zones in the world and located among regions in the highest seismic activity. The NAFZ observed very large earthquakes from the past to present. The aim of this study; the important parameters of Gutenberg-Richter relationship (a and b values) estimated and this parameters taking into account, earthquakes were examined in the between years 1900-2015 for 10 different seismic source regions in the NAFZ. After that estimated occurrence probabilities and return periods of occurring earthquakes in fault zone in the next years, and is being assessed with Poisson method the earthquake hazard of the NAFZ. The 10 different seismic source regions are determined the relationships between the cumulative number-magnitude which estimated a and b parameters with the equation of LogN=a-bM in the Gutenberg-Richter. A homogenous earthquake catalog for MS magnitude which is equal or larger than 4.0 is used for the time period between 1900 and 2015. The database of catalog used in the study has been created from International Seismological Center (ISC) and Boğazici University Kandilli observation and earthquake research institute (KOERI). The earthquake data were obtained until from 1900 to 1974 from KOERI and ISC until from 1974 to 2015 from KOERI. The probabilities of the earthquake occurring are estimated for the next 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 years in the 10 different seismic source regions. The highest earthquake occur probabilities in 10 different seismic source regions in the next years estimated that the region Tokat-Erzincan (Region 9) 99% with an earthquake occur probability for magnitude 6.5 which the return period 24.7 year, 92% with an earthquake occur probability for magnitude 7 which the return period 39.1 year, 80% with an earthquake occur probability for magnitude 7.5 which the return period 62.1 year, 64% with an earthquake occur probability for magnitude 8 which the return period 98.5 year. For the Marmara Region (Region 2) in the next 100 year estimated that 89% with an earthquake occur probability for magnitude 6 which the return period 44.9 year, 45% with an earthquake occur probability for magnitude 6.5 which the return period 87 year, 45% with an earthquake occur probability for magnitude 7 which the return period 168.6 year.

61-70

Authors: Atila Kumbasaroğlu, Ahmet Budak

In this study, a series of experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of anchor bars on steel frame systems where the connections were provided by anchor bars between frame and infilled walls. Seven one over four scaled specimens having one story and one bay of frames were tested. Experimental study was carried out by damage-controlled and incrementally applied load up to loading cracks. The test results relieved that with the help of using anchor bars the capacity of energy absorption with initial stiffness were increased. It has been found that the frames without using anchor bars failure at the loading edge, the crushing behavior of infilled walls and separations at free edges were occurred. These observed failure behaviors replies with tensile cracking for the frames having anchor bars. There for it should be underlined that anchor bars have a significant effect on improving the behavior of the frames.