October 17, 2019

San Francisco Nonductile Concrete Buildings Part II: Analysis, Assessment and Comparison of Older San Francisco Concrete Buildings

By: Keith Palmer, Scott Darling, Sunny Nguyen, Megan Pouliot, Pearl Ranchal, Erick Gerardo Garcia Chavez, Duke Crestfield, Stephen Kadysiewski, Robert Kraus, Katie Wade

The building stock of large metropolitan areas comprise buildings of various materials constructed over the course of many years. A significant number of these buildings utilized concrete construction with details drastically different than...

Keywords:Concrete, Seismic Engineering and Retrofit
October 17, 2019

Using Computer Automation to Simplify Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings

By: Kevin Moore, Pearl Ranchal, Ayush Singhania

Several commercially available software packages automate the structural design process for new buildings, allowing engineers to deliver projects with unparalleled efficiency. These software packages contain structural engineering standards (e.g...

Keywords:Concrete-Reinforced, Frame Moment, Metal-Steel, Seismic Analyses
October 17, 2019

San Francisco Nonductile Concrete Buildings Part I: Building Inventory

By: Keith Palmer, Pearl Ranchal, Kari Klaboe, Duke Crestfield, Stephen Kadysiewski, Laurence Kornfield, Robert Kraus

Over the years, there has been much focus within California on seismically vulnerable building types, with the ultimate goal being to reduce life safety risks, improve community resiliency, or achieve a balance of both objectives. In San...

Keywords:Concrete, Seismic Analyses
October 17, 2019

Existing Buildings and the “10% Rule”: Survey Results, Opinions, and Recommendations

By: Kevin OConnell, Russell McLellan, Daniel Zepeda, Garrett Hagen, Jonathan Buckalew, Ali Sumer

Additions, alterations, and voluntary seismic improvements to existing buildings can be challenging to implement in California. Our 2018 paper presented this issue and surveyed engineers throughout the state to determine if there is uniformity in...

Keywords:Codes & Standards, Seismic Engineering and Retrofit
September 26, 2019

Combating Condensation at the National Air and Space Museum

By: Brian Rose, Richard Renaud

This article discusses the condensation analysis and CFD modeling that SGH performed for the ongoing revitalization project at the National Air and Space Museum.

It is ...

September 26, 2019

Energy, Hygrothermal, and Freeze-Thaw Considerations for Insulating Mass Masonry Walls

By: David Artigas, Sean OBrien

This paper discusses energy modeling and previous research regarding freeze-thaw masonry deterioration to challenge common assumptions about the benefits and risks of insulating masonry walls.

It is...

Keywords:Freeze-Thaw, Masonry
September 13, 2019

Nonlinear Response of a Structure with Significant Soil-Structure Interaction Effects for Application to Seismic Fragility Evaluation

By: Philip Hashimoto, Juan Jimenez-Chong, David Nakaki, Robert P. Kennedy

An important element of structure seismic fragility evaluation for seismic probabilistic risk assessment is determination of the inelastic energy absorption factor. This factor accounts for a structure’s ability to withstand earthquake...

Markets:Nuclear
Keywords:Nonlinear, Seismic Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), Soil-Structure Interaction
September 13, 2019

Seismic Soil-Structure Interaction Analysis of an Embedded Structure with Partially Bonded Side-Soil

By: Cameron Samuelson-Sanford, Juan Jimenez-Chong, Mohamed Talaat, Philip Hashimoto, David Nakaki, Oleg Maslenikov, James J. Johnson

Seismic soil-structure interaction (SSI) analysis is performed for an embedded structure with partially bonded side-soil in support of the seismic probabilistic risk assessment of a nuclear power plant. Adjacent buildings with shallower embedment...

Markets:Nuclear
Keywords:Seismic Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA)
September 13, 2019

Effects of Boundary Conditions on PWR SNF Rod Stiffness and Stresses Under Pinching Loads

By: Ricardo Medina, Elmar Eidelpes, Luis F. Ibarra

The effects of rod boundary conditions (BCs) on the stiffness and cladding stresses of pressurized water reactor (PWR) spent nuclear fuel (SNF) rods under pinching loading are investigated. Pinching may occur at the assembly spacer grids during...

Markets:Nuclear
September 13, 2019

Seismic Fragility af Anchored Flat-Bottom Storage Tanks on Ring Foundations

By: Abhinav Anup, Philip Hashimoto, Robert P. Kennedy

Seismic fragility evaluations of anchored flat-bottom storage tanks typically follow the approaches outlined in EPRI (1991) and EPRI (1994a), which are intended for tanks founded on rigid mat foundations. Direct application of these approaches is...

Markets:Nuclear
Keywords:Seismic Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA)

Pages