Engineering and Technology Journal

This paper represents experimental and numerical study the behavior of the rubberized steel frame connections. One single-bay, one-story without elastic buckling are cyclically tested. The experimental specimens are simulated and analyzed by the ABAQUS program. Four specimens of steel plane portal frame are investigated under horizontal reversed cyclic loads. The specimen connections are developed by using different diameters of composite steel bolts/rubber instead of conventional steel bolts to connect the beams with columns. The yield and ultimate strength, ductility, envelope curves, and damping ratio of these specimens are analyzed and compared. The finite element method is used to establish and verify the results of the laboratory test. The results of the experimental and numerical tests gave a large load-carrying capacity, reduction in the stresses, excellent ductility and energy dissipation capacity, and remarkably improved damping ratio.

The seismic response of the nuclear tower is analyzed by investigating the frequency response during the main recorded events. The dynamic characteristics of the nuclear tower under seismic response with higher intensity are pointed out the dominant seismic time history components determines the response characteristics of the tower. The nuclear tower coupled with the seismic loadings will amplify the damages to
the structure. These results are consistent with field observations after major seismic response, this explains the symmetry of the nuclear tower damage during seismic response. Seismic resistance measures, such as viscous damping or energy dissipation, dynamic properties and nuclear tower vibration elements will help to increase the
accuracy of the life model. In this paper, improvement in using computing program and mathematical algorithms will increase both the accuracy and confidence of the results. The contact problem of the nuclear tower structure is another direction for a detailed understanding the mechanism of the nuclear tower structure interaction, such as mode shapes, eigenvalues/vectors, deformation, propagation and non-propagation of cracks, and the stresses slip of the foundation caused by random seismic loading that can lead to damage. This study is helpful for designing new seismic resistant nuclear towers structures to reduce damage.