A NEW EXCITATION STEP SIZE ENLARGEMENT TECHNIQUE FOR SEISMIC ANALYSES

Abstract eng:
Time integration is a versatile tool in analysis of the semidiscretized equations of motion defining the behaviors of structural systems subjected to earthquakes. The most important analysis parameter, effective in accuracy and computational cost, is the integration step size. In seismic dynamic analyses, the integration step sizes depend, not only, on the structural systems, the integration methods implemented, and the actual responses, but also, on the sizes of steps, by which, the earthquake records are available. This can cause additional computational costs, not essential for accuracy. A technique to eliminate these additional costs is proposed in 2008 (based on the significance of convergence and the second order of accuracy recommended for the analyses), and successfully implemented in many seismic time history analyses, e.g. frame, silos, bridges, etc. In this paper, after reviewing the previous attempts for eliminating the additional computational costs, an obstacle to the generalization of the above mentioned technique is addressed and overcome, and a more versatile technique for replacing the earthquake records with records digitized at larger steps is attained. The proposed technique is compared with its predecessors, and the influences on practical seismic analyses are discussed. As the conclusion, the new technique is practically identical to its predecessors from the points of view of accuracy and computational cost; however, superior from the standpoint of versatility, indirectly guaranteeing the better performance of the new technique.

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