Non-Structural Component |

Modelling of non-structural components of an industrial multi-storey frame for seismic risk assessment

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

Seismic risk assessment of industrial facilities is complex due to the presence of different types of equipment. It represents a research issue that requires further investigation. To this end, some analytical approaches have been developed in the framework of performance-based earthquake engineering. Nonetheless, their accuracy in the case of complex critical facilities, such as nuclear and non-nuclear industrial plants, is still under investigation. Thus, the proposed study intends to research in depth, in a risk assessment framework, some critical aspects related to: (1) modelling of industrial facilities and their secondary equipment with different degrees of accuracy, also taking into account their dynamic interaction; (2) selection of seismic records for fragility analysis, due to the narrow distribution of frequency values for non-structural components; (3) effectiveness of performance-based earthquake engineering applied to this particular class of coupled structure-equipment for risk assessment. In this context, the proper selection of seismic records becomes relevant, and SCoRes, an innovative algorithm for accelerograms selection is worthy of investigation. On these premises, two different configurations of a primary industrial structure, i.e. a moment resisting frame and a braced frame, equipped with non-structural components and subjected to shake table test campaigns are selected as case studies. For the two configurations, a vulnerability assessment of two vertical tanks installed on the first floor was carried out. Along these lines, to establish the effectiveness of the proposed method for both the moment resisting frame and braced frame configurations, the mean annual frequency of exceedance of the bottom-wall strain of the above-mentioned tanks, both at the design basis and safe shutdown earthquake has been evaluated.

Tip

Click the Cite button above to copy .bib publication metadata into your notes. or directly download here either the bibtex version: Download BibTeX or the plain text one: Download Plain.txt

Experimental performance of a multi-storey braced frame structure with non-structural industrial components subjected to synthetic ground motions

Thu, 05 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

The seismic risk assessment of industrial facilities mainly relies on historical data and the analysis and design of uncoupled secondary components. Accordingly, the dynamic interaction between primary structures and process equipment is overlooked. The SPIF project - Seismic Performance of Multi-Component Systems in Special Risk Industrial Facilities - was carried out to respond to this gap, within the European H2020 SERA framework. Its objective regarded the investigation of the seismic behaviour of an archetype industrial multi-storey steel moment resisting frame (MRF) structure equipped with non-structural components (NSCs) by means of shaking table tests. The goal of the proposed study was to extend the interaction analysis between a primary multi-storey braced frame (BF) steel structure and NSCs in a performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) perspective. Along this vein, to excite the vibration periods of the NSCs and thus enhance possible coupling with the primary structure, a synthetic site-based ground motion model (GMM) was employed. More precisely, the proposed research intended: (i) to severely excite the process equipment and supplement the scarcity of real records with a specific frequency content by means of a stochastic GMM; (ii) to quantify seismic-induced force and displacement demands of secondary components and their effects on the primary BF structure. The evaluation of the experimental data clearly shows buckling in the bracing system of the BF configuration and a strong interaction between vertical tanks and floor crossbeams of the BF. At the very least, the favourable performance of the archetype BF under strong seismic records is demonstrated.

Tip

Click the Cite button above to copy .bib publication metadata into your notes. or directly download here either the bibtex version: Download BibTeX or the plain text one: Download Plain.txt

SPIF Processed Dataset

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

Processed experimental dataset of the SPIF project (Seismic Performance of Multi-Component Systems in Special Risk Industrial Facilities), carried out within the European H2020 SERA Transnational Access programme at the EUCENTRE laboratories in Pavia, Italy. The dataset collects the processed measurements of the shake table test campaign on a full-scale, three-storey industrial steel frame structure, tested in moment resisting frame and braced frame configurations, equipped with vertical and horizontal tanks, a cabinet and piping networks with bolted flange joints. It includes input ground motions and the acceleration, displacement and strain responses of both the primary structure and the non-structural process components.

Tip

Click the Cite button above to copy .bib publication metadata into your notes. or directly download here either the bibtex version: Download BibTeX or the plain text one: Download Plain.txt