Natalia Lasowicz

The methods for preventing earthquake-induced structural pounding between two adjacent buildings include ensuring a sufficient separation distance between them or decreasing their relative displacement during seismic excitation. Some equations or even specific values of such gap sizes between two buildings have been introduced so as to avoid collisions. Increasing the stiffness of buildings, using tuned mass dampers, applying liquid dampers, or decreasing the mass of the structures may reduce lateral displacements, and therefore pounding can be prevented. On the other hand, the application of base isolation systems may result in the elongation of the natural period of the building, thus increasing the probability of structural pounding. The aim of the present paper is to verify the effectiveness of using rubber bumpers to reduce the negative effects of earthquake-induced pounding between base-isolated buildings. The analysis was conducted for different gap sizes between buildings, as well as for various values of the thickness, number and stiffness of rubber bumpers. The results of the study show that the peak impact force decreases with increasing thickness, stiffness, and number of bumpers. Moreover, the peak impact forces are reduced with increasing gap size. The results of the investigation clearly indicate that the use of additional rubber bumpers can be considered an effective method for reducing the negative effects of earthquake-induced pounding between base-isolated buildings.

Seismic excitations may lead to collisions between adjacent civil engineering structures, causing major damage. In this paper, an effective equation for calculating the gap size index is proposed so as to provide the optimum separation distance preventing structural pounding during different earthquakes. Evaluation of the best prediction of the required separation distance between two adjacent buildings was carried out by using the lumped mass multi-degrees of freedom models of structures. A special computer program was used to perform dynamic analyses in order to confirm the accuracy of the proposed formula. For this purpose, several different models of buildings with various properties under different earthquake excitations were analyzed. The results of the study clearly show that the proposed formula for the gap size index (based on vibration periods and damping ratios of buildings) is effective and it allows us to calculate the optimum separation between adjacent structures preventing their pounding during different earthquakes.

The aim of the present study is to consider the idea of using polyurethane flexible adhesive in to reduce the vibrations in structures exposed to dynamic loads and evaluate their damping properties in relation to large deformations. Firstly, two aluminium cantilever beams, simulating structural elements (without and with polyurethane layer in the form of tape), were analysed, in order to check the damping of the unconstrained polymer layer. In the second stage of the study, a composite beam consisting of two aluminium flat beams bonded with polymer adhesive was considered, so as to check the damping of the constrained polymer layer. Dynamic parameters, such as modes of free vibrations, corresponding natural frequencies and damping ratios, were determined and compared. The third stage of the investigation was aimed at solving the problem of the additional mass of the applied polymer layer, which influences the frequencies and damping of the tested structure. A special separating procedure is proposed that makes it possible to calculate the corrected real values of the polymer layer’s damping. The results of the study clearly show that the response of the composite aluminium beam with and without polymer adhesive layer is mainly influenced by the layers’ thickness and the large strain deformation, in terms of its damping characteristics. The use of polymer adhesive layers in constrained and unconstrained conditions leads to a significant reduction in the vibrations of tested beams, while preserving their stiffness at nearly the same level. The applied analysis procedure made it possible for us to separate the damping properties of the analysed polymer layers and evaluate them independently with respect to the influence of integrated structural elements on damping.

Pounding between adjacent buildings during ground motion may result in structural damage or lead to total destruction of structures. The research on the phenomenon has recently been much advanced; however, the analyses have been carried out only for concrete, steel, and masonry structures, while pounding between wooden buildings has not been studied so far. The aim of this paper is to show the results of detailed non-linear seismic analysis of inter-story pounding between the wood-framed buildings modelled by using the finite element method. Firstly, the modal analysis of the structures was conducted. Then, the detailed non-linear analysis of earthquake-induced collisions between two wood-framed buildings of different heights was carried out. The results of the analysis indicate that the behavior of both structures in the longitudinal as well as in the transverse direction is significantly influenced by interactions. The response of the taller building is increased in both directions. On the other hand, the response of the lower building is decreased in the longitudinal direction, while it is increased in the transverse one. The results of the study presented in the paper indicate that, due to deformability of buildings made of wood, structural interactions may change their responses much more, as compared to steel, reinforced concrete, or masonry structures.

Grandstands are structures which are regularly subjected to dynamic loads generated by crowd motions. It is a dangerous situation when spectators induce rhythmic jumping, dancing, stamping, etc. If the synchronized movement of spectators excites a natural frequency of the structure, resonant response might occur. To avoid such situations, temporary steel grandstands are commonly strengthened using additional elements that create bracing system which is selected depending on the size of the structure, type of the event, acting load, etc. It was proved that not only the use but also the arrangement of such structural members is crucial for the dynamic structural resistance. The aim of the present study is to determine the most effective arrangement of bracing system for a typical example of the temporary steel grandstand which is exposed to dynamic load induced by spectators. Three different arrangements of bracing systems have been analysed using five criteria recommended in the literature. The results of the study clearly show that the dynamic parameters of the grandstand are substantially different for various types of bracing systems. The largest improvement in the structural behaviour has been obtained for the grandstand equipped with the bracing system satisfying all proposed criteria. The peak accelerations for this case have been found to be nearly twice as low as for structures with other bracing arrangements. The application of such a system for the grandstand which is exposed to human-induced vibrations allows for safe use of the structure as well as improves comfort of spectators.

The paper summarizes the results of a numerical investigation designed to study the soil-structure interaction effects on modal parameters of three office buildings. The reinforced-concrete 4-storey, 8-storey, and 12-storey office buildings, each with additional two levels of embedded basements, represent low, medium, and high-rise structures, respectively. In order to conduct this research, detailed finite-element structure models were prepared. Soil-foundation flexibility was represented with the use of spring-based solutions, incorporating foundation springs and dashpots. The influence of diverse soil conditions (represented by their average effective profile velocities and shear moduli) on the dynamic characteristics of the analyzed three office buildings (e.g. fundamental vibration periods) was investigated and discussed.

A large number of accidents involving damage of temporary grandstands during different types of events were observed in the past. The aim of the paper is to analyse numerically the effectiveness of a polymer damper in damage reduction of a temporary steel scaffolding grandstand exposed to dynamic load due to jumping. The element has been installed as a diagonal one at the back part of the structure. The method has been compared with the typical solution of strengthening the grandstand with the diagonal stiffener of tubular cross section. The results of the study clearly show that the response of a temporary steel grandstand equipped with a diagonal damper as well as with the diagonal stiffener is substantially different. The application of the polymer damper leads to considerable reduction in the level of measured accelerations due to the increased structural damping preventing from damage.

Lighter and slender structural members of a typical grandstand leads to a significant reduction in the frequencies, that is why such structures are more easily induced to vibrations. The aim of the present paper is to show the results of the experimental tests and the numerical analyses focused on the behaviour of a part of a typical temporary steel grandstand under dynamic loads. The peak values of accelerations of a steel scaffolding grandstand under human-induced excitation have been determined and compared with the limit values concerning the perception of vibrations by people. The results of the study indicate that the human-induced excitation may induce structural vibrations which substantially exceed the allowable limits.