@inproceedings{AnicPenavaGuljasetal.2018, author = {Anic, Filip and Penava, Davorin and Guljas, Ivica and Sarhosis, Vasilis and Abrahamczyk, Lars and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {The Effect of Openings on Out-of-Plane Capacity of Masonry Infilled Reinforced Concrete Frames}, series = {16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Thessaloniki, 18-21 June, 2018}, booktitle = {16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Thessaloniki, 18-21 June, 2018}, pages = {1 -- 11}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MilkovaRosinButenwegetal.2018, author = {Milkova, Kristina and Rosin, Julia and Butenweg, Christoph and Dumova-Jovanoska, Elena}, title = {Development of Seismic Vulnerability Curves for Region Specific Masonry Buildings}, series = {16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Thessaloniki, 18-21 June, 2018}, booktitle = {16th European Conference on Earthquake Engineering, Thessaloniki, 18-21 June, 2018}, pages = {1 -- 10}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RajanKubalskiAltayetal.2017, author = {Rajan, Sreelakshmy and Kubalski, Thomas and Altay, Okyay and Dalguer, Luis A and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Multi-dimensional fragility analysis of a RC building with components using response surface method}, series = {24th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology, Busan, Korea, 20-25 August, 2017}, booktitle = {24th International Conference on Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology, Busan, Korea, 20-25 August, 2017}, publisher = {International Assn for Structural Mechanics in Reactor Technology (IASMiRT)}, address = {Raleigh, USA}, isbn = {9781510856776}, pages = {3126 -- 3135}, year = {2017}, abstract = {Conventional fragility curves describe the vulnerability of the main structure under external hazards. However, in complex structures such as nuclear power plants, the safety or the risk depends also on the components associated with a system. The classical fault tree analysis gives an overall view of the failure and contains several subsystems to the main event, however, the interactions in the subsystems are not well represented. In order to represent the interaction of the components, a method suggested by Cimellaro et al. (2006) using multidimensional performance limit state functions to obtain the system fragility curves is adopted. This approach gives the possibility of deriving the cumulative fragility taking into account the interaction of the response of different components. In this paper, this approach is used to evaluate seismic risk of a representative electrical building infrastructure, including the component, of a nuclear power plant. A simplified model of the structure, with nonlinear material behavior is employed for the analysis in Abaqus©. The input variables considered are the material parameters, boundary conditions and the seismic input. The variability of the seismic input is obtained from selected ground motion time histories of spectrum compatible synthetic ccelerograms. Unlike the usual Monte Carlo methods used for the probabilistic analysis of the structure, a computationally effective response surface method is used. This method reduces the computational effort of the calculations by reducing the required number of samples.}, language = {en} } @article{ButenwegBursiPaolaccietal.2021, author = {Butenweg, Christoph and Bursi, Oreste S. and Paolacci, Fabrizio and Marinković, Marko and Lanese, Igor and Nardin, Chiara and Quinci, Gianluca}, title = {Seismic performance of an industrial multi-storey frame structure with process equipment subjected to shake table testing}, series = {Engineering Structures}, volume = {243}, journal = {Engineering Structures}, number = {15}, editor = {Yang, J.}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0141-0296}, doi = {10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112681}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Past earthquakes demonstrated the high vulnerability of industrial facilities equipped with complex process technologies leading to serious damage of process equipment and multiple and simultaneous release of hazardous substances. Nonetheless, current standards for seismic design of industrial facilities are considered inadequate to guarantee proper safety conditions against exceptional events entailing loss of containment and related consequences. On these premises, the SPIF project -Seismic Performance of Multi-Component Systems in Special Risk Industrial Facilities- was proposed within the framework of the European H2020 SERA funding scheme. In detail, the objective of the SPIF project is the investigation of the seismic behaviour of a representative industrial multi-storey frame structure equipped with complex process components by means of shaking table tests. Along this main vein and in a performance-based design perspective, the issues investigated in depth are the interaction between a primary moment resisting frame (MRF) steel structure and secondary process components that influence the performance of the whole system; and a proper check of floor spectra predictions. The evaluation of experimental data clearly shows a favourable performance of the MRF structure, some weaknesses of local details due to the interaction between floor crossbeams and process components and, finally, the overconservatism of current design standards w.r.t. floor spectra predictions.}, language = {en} } @article{RossiWinandsButenweg2022, author = {Rossi, Leonardo and Winands, Mark H. M. and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Monte Carlo Tree Search as an intelligent search tool in structural design problems}, series = {Engineering with Computers : An International Journal for Simulation-Based Engineering}, volume = {38}, journal = {Engineering with Computers : An International Journal for Simulation-Based Engineering}, number = {4}, editor = {Zhang, Jessica}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, address = {Cham}, issn = {1435-5663}, doi = {10.1007/s00366-021-01338-2}, pages = {3219 -- 3236}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) is a search technique that in the last decade emerged as a major breakthrough for Artificial Intelligence applications regarding board- and video-games. In 2016, AlphaGo, an MCTS-based software agent, outperformed the human world champion of the board game Go. This game was for long considered almost infeasible for machines, due to its immense search space and the need for a long-term strategy. Since this historical success, MCTS is considered as an effective new approach for many other scientific and technical problems. Interestingly, civil structural engineering, as a discipline, offers many tasks whose solution may benefit from intelligent search and in particular from adopting MCTS as a search tool. In this work, we show how MCTS can be adapted to search for suitable solutions of a structural engineering design problem. The problem consists of choosing the load-bearing elements in a reference reinforced concrete structure, so to achieve a set of specific dynamic characteristics. In the paper, we report the results obtained by applying both a plain and a hybrid version of single-agent MCTS. The hybrid approach consists of an integration of both MCTS and classic Genetic Algorithm (GA), the latter also serving as a term of comparison for the results. The study's outcomes may open new perspectives for the adoption of MCTS as a design tool for civil engineers.}, language = {en} } @article{MarinkovićButenweg2022, author = {Marinković, Marko and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Experimental testing of decoupled masonry infills with steel anchors for out-of-plane support under combined in-plane and out-of-plane seismic loading}, series = {Construction and Building Materials}, volume = {318}, journal = {Construction and Building Materials}, number = {1}, editor = {Ford, Michael C.}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1879-0526}, doi = {10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.126041}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Because of simple construction process, high energy efficiency, significant fire resistance and excellent sound isolation, masonry infilled reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures are very popular in most of the countries in the world, as well as in seismic active areas. However, many RC frame structures with masonry infills were seriously damaged during earthquake events, as the traditional infills are generally constructed with direct contact to the RC frame which brings undesirable infill/frame interaction. This interaction leads to the activation of the equivalent diagonal strut in the infill panel, due to the RC frame deformation, and combined with seismically induced loads perpendicular to the infill panel often causes total collapses of the masonry infills and heavy damages to the RC frames. This fact was the motivation for developing different approaches for improving the behaviour of masonry infills, where infill isolation (decoupling) from the frame has been more intensively studied in the last decade. In-plane isolation of the infill wall reduces infill activation, but causes the need for additional measures to restrain out-of-plane movements. This can be provided by installing steel anchors, as proposed by some researchers. Within the framework of European research project INSYSME (Innovative Systems for Earthquake Resistant Masonry Enclosures in Reinforced Concrete Buildings) the system based on a use of elastomers for in-plane decoupling and steel anchors for out-of-plane restrain was tested. This constructive solution was tested and deeply investigated during the experimental campaign where traditional and decoupled masonry infilled RC frames with anchors were subjected to separate and combined in-plane ‬and out-of-plane loading. Based on a detailed evaluation and comparison of the test results, the performance and effectiveness of the developed system are illustrated.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{RosinKubalskiButenweg2013, author = {Rosin, Julia and Kubalski, Thomas and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Seismic isolation of cylindrical liquid storage tanks}, series = {Seismic design of industrial facilities}, booktitle = {Seismic design of industrial facilities}, editor = {Klinkel, Sven and Butenweg, Christoph and Lin, Gao and Holtschoppen, Britta}, publisher = {Springer Vieweg}, address = {Wiesbaden}, isbn = {978-3-658-02810-7}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-658-02810-7_36}, pages = {429 -- 440}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Seismic excited liquid filled tanks are subjected to extreme loading due to hydrodynamic pressures, which can lead to nonlinear stability failure of the thinwalled cylindrical tanks, as it is known from past earthquakes. A significant reduction of the seismically induced loads can be obtained by the application of base isolation systems, which have to be designed carefully with respect to the modified hydrodynamic behaviour of the tank in interaction with the liquid. For this reason a highly sophisticated fluid-structure interaction model has to be applied for a realistic simulation of the overall dynamic system. In the following, such a model is presented and compared with the results of simplified mathematical models for rigidly supported tanks. Finally, it is examined to what extent a simple mechanical model can represent the behaviour of a base isolated tank in case of seismic excitation}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ButenwegRajan2014, author = {Butenweg, Christoph and Rajan, Sreelakshmy}, title = {Design and construction techniques of AAC masonry buildings in earthquakes regions}, series = {10 years Xella research in Building Materials : Symposium on the 4th and 5th of September, Potsdam 2014}, booktitle = {10 years Xella research in Building Materials : Symposium on the 4th and 5th of September, Potsdam 2014}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{ButenwegMeyerFehling2014, author = {Butenweg, Christoph and Meyer, Udo and Fehling, Ekkehard}, title = {INSYSME: first activities of the German partners}, series = {9th International Masonry Conference 2014 in Guimaraes, Portugal, 2014}, booktitle = {9th International Masonry Conference 2014 in Guimaraes, Portugal, 2014}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{MilijašŠakićMarinkovićetal.2021, author = {Milijaš, Aleksa and Šakić, Bogdan and Marinković, Marko and Butenweg, Christoph}, title = {Experimental investigation of behaviour of masonry infilled RC frames under out-of-plane loading}, series = {Proceedings of COMPDYN 2021}, booktitle = {Proceedings of COMPDYN 2021}, editor = {Papadrakakis, Manolis and Fragiadakis, Michalis}, publisher = {National Technical University of Athens}, address = {Athen}, isbn = {978-618-85072-5-8}, issn = {2623-3347}, doi = {10.7712/120121.8528.18914}, pages = {829 -- 846}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Masonry infills are commonly used as exterior or interior walls in reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures and they can be encountered all over the world, including earthquake prone regions. Since the middle of the 20th century the behaviour of these non-structural elements under seismic loading has been studied in numerous experimental campaigns. However, most of the studies were carried out by means of in-plane tests, while there is a lack of out-of-plane experimental investigations. In this paper, the out-of-plane tests carried out on full scale masonry infilled frames are described. The results of the out-of-plane tests are presented in terms of force-displacement curves and measured out-of-plane displacements. Finally, the reliability of existing analytical approaches developed to estimate the out-of-plane strength of masonry infills is examined on presented experimental results.}, language = {en} }