Since a long time interactions between buildings and earthquakes have been studied. Several methods have been developed to represent the behavior of buildings under seismic actions, with different levels of accuracy. Although the development of calculation tools, nevertheless simplified approaches are always welcome. In the case of collapses due to earthquakes in which there is evidence of a rocking-block behavior of the structures, the so-called “rocking-block” model can be successfully employed to understand the building behaviour. Following the seminal work by Housner in 1963, the problem of the motion of an oscillating parallelepiped-shaped rigid body has been widely investigated. The main issue addressed in this and other earlier studies is the performance of a structure in the framework of the rigid block dynamics, during an earthquake, assuming the building to be a block. The same situation can be recognized in very slender structures, like wind tower turbines, subjected to wind actions and in masonry walls loaded by seismic or in general out of plane actions. The problem can be treated analytically solving the equations of motion under the assumption of slender block geometry and rocking without sliding. Peak rocking response and overturning criteria for different waveforms can be evaluated. This paper presents a discussion on the reliability of this model, showing that in some cases a simplified approach involving the knowledge of a limited number of mechanical parameters can give information about the collapse of the building. Results of a numerical analysis are provided in order to assess the trustworthiness of the approach.

Rigid body collapse of structures

MONACO, Michelina
2017

Abstract

Since a long time interactions between buildings and earthquakes have been studied. Several methods have been developed to represent the behavior of buildings under seismic actions, with different levels of accuracy. Although the development of calculation tools, nevertheless simplified approaches are always welcome. In the case of collapses due to earthquakes in which there is evidence of a rocking-block behavior of the structures, the so-called “rocking-block” model can be successfully employed to understand the building behaviour. Following the seminal work by Housner in 1963, the problem of the motion of an oscillating parallelepiped-shaped rigid body has been widely investigated. The main issue addressed in this and other earlier studies is the performance of a structure in the framework of the rigid block dynamics, during an earthquake, assuming the building to be a block. The same situation can be recognized in very slender structures, like wind tower turbines, subjected to wind actions and in masonry walls loaded by seismic or in general out of plane actions. The problem can be treated analytically solving the equations of motion under the assumption of slender block geometry and rocking without sliding. Peak rocking response and overturning criteria for different waveforms can be evaluated. This paper presents a discussion on the reliability of this model, showing that in some cases a simplified approach involving the knowledge of a limited number of mechanical parameters can give information about the collapse of the building. Results of a numerical analysis are provided in order to assess the trustworthiness of the approach.
2017
De Angelis, F.; Gesualdo, A.; Iannuzzo, A.; Monaco, Michelina
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11591/375277
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