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A dedicated resource for engineers, students, scientists, and researchers about the advancements inherent in the Applied Element Method (AEM) fully nonlinear 3-D dynamic numerical analysis.
Modelling the in-plane/out-of-plane interaction of brick and stone masonry structures using Applied Element Method
Abstract: This research focuses on the numerical modelling of the seismic behaviour of unreinforced masonry (URM) structures with interconnected in-plane (IP) loaded and out-of-plane (OOP) loaded walls. The mechanical behaviour of such wall assemblies is complex and...
Reliability of collapse simulation – Comparing finite and applied element method at different levels
Numerical prediction of progressive collapse of buildings due to extreme loading is still a challenging task. However, increased computational power makes it nowadays possible to analyze not only small-scale connections and mid-size building elements, but also full buildings with considerable height and complexity. The present paper compares the results of Finite Element Method (FEM) and Applied Element Method (AEM) simulations to experimental results when performing blast or earthquake analysis on those three scales. The aim is to highlight which level of physical detail and complexity is required to predict progressive collapse numerically, and which level of accuracy can be expected. For the full scale level, the progressive collapse of the Pyne Gould Corporation Building in Christchurch, New Zealand, was simulated and compared to the final collapse shape. It is shown that the FEM is able to predict the structural response of small scale models well, but fails to achieve realistic collapsed shapes in case of the large structure, whereas the AEM shows convincing results in all cases.
Using the Applied Element Method to simulate the dynamic response of full-scale URM houses tested to collapse or near-collapse conditions
n this work, the Applied Element Method (AEM) is employed to reproduce the dynamic response of three full-scale unreinforced masonry (URM) house specimens tested on a shake-table. Two of the test...
The Applied Element Method and the modelling of both in-plane and out-of-plane response of URM walls
The Applied Element Method (AEM) is a relatively recent addition to the discrete elements methods family. Initially conceived to model blast events and concrete structures, its use in the...
Seismic Assessment of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in Canada
Unreinforced masonry (URM) structures have shown to be susceptible to significant damage during strong earthquakes. Vulnerability assessment of URM buildings is needed so that appropriate mitigation strategies can be implemented. The existing Canadian practice consists of rapid seismic screening of buildings to assign priorities for further and more refined assessments, followed by refined analysis of individual critical buildings.
Numerical Simulation of Polypropylene and Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Retrofitted Masonry Walls
In this study, an attempt is made to numerically simulate the behavior of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) and Polypropylene (PP) band composite using the Applied Element Method (AEM). Both of these materials have their own unique properties. FRP is used to increase the strength, whereas PP-band is used to increase the deformation capacity and energy dissipation capacity of masonry wall system.
3-D Applied Element Method for Static Non-Linear Simulation of PP-band Retrofitted Masonry
Masonry, through its long history, is widespread used around the world and still remains a main building material in many places especially developing countries. However a poorly designed masonry is known as brittle and susceptible to the earthquake. To improve their seismic capacity, polypropylene band retrofitting technique method was purposed base on economic point of view and local availability of material and skilled labor. In this study, we proposed 3-D Applied Element Method as analysis tools to help understanding the polypropylene band retrofitted masonry behavior which will be benefit in the future design process. Unlike the previous version, 3-D Applied Element Method elements can be any rectangular prism which helps reducing the number of elements.
Seismic Assessment of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in Canada
Unreinforced masonry (URM) structures have shown to be susceptible to significant damage during strong earthquakes. Vulnerability assessment of URM buildings is needed so that appropriate mitigation strategies can be implemented. The existing Canadian practice consists of rapid seismic screening of buildings to assign priorities for further and more refined assessments, followed by refined analysis of individual critical buildings.
Design and Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Columns in Uplift due to Internal Building Detonations
Current research with respect to the protection of civilian infrastructure against complex blast loading conditions is primarily focused towards the effect of external explosive sources. As a consequence, the general literature on internal building detonations and specifically in the context of protective design and assessment of structures against these loading conditions is incomplete. Existing guidelines developed for comparatively noncomplex external explosive blast remain unconservative when applied to internal building detonations due to blast wave confinement and complex interaction with structural components. In particular, reinforced concrete (RC) columns in internal blast environments are subjected to time-variant uplift forces coupled with lateral pressures leading to destabilisation and a critical loss of structural integrity. Research presented in this thesis provides an original understanding towards: (i) – the influence of transient uplift forces on the vulnerability of RC columns subject to lateral blast pressures and, (ii) – design and assessment of RC columns against the effect of time-variant coupled uplift and lateral blast pressures due to internal building detonations.