Reliability-Based Design Method:
Reliability-based design is founded on the concept that one can estimate the probability of an undesirable event such as a fracture, occurring over the lifetime of a structure, despite the uncertainties involved. It is a design method that provides an assured level of safety by reducing the probability of such an occurence below a target value.
The quality of a design is judged by comparing the failure probablity with the target failure probablity, and this use of the failure probability makes it possible to evaluate the safety of a structure quantitatively. Above all, this design method enables one to gain a firm grasp of the safety level desired, and to design a structure so as to attain the prescribed reliablity independently of other design requirements.
Adapting this point of view, our study aims to propose a new concept of seismic design based on reliability theory.
Dynamic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Strcutures:
Seismic performance of the RC bridge pier has drawn a considerable engineering attention after the devastating damege of the Hanshin Highway viaduct due to the Hyogo-Ken Nanbu Earthquake (January 17, 1995). Now the following problems are thought to require further discussion.
(a)The effects of the soil-pile interaction modeling on the seismic response of RC pier structures are studied. Special attention is paid to the response of the superstructure due to the nonlinear behavior of soil and piles in the interaction.
(b)It is necessary to study the behavior of RC-2 story viaducts and to consider the effect of the damage of their members on the seismic performance of such structures during defferent strong earthquake waves.
(c)The response analysis of reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete structures subjected to strong earthquake motions requires a realistic conceptual model which recognizes the continually varying stiffness and energy-absorbing characteristics of the structure. This study aims to propose a new force-displacement relationship. And the dynamic responses, based on the proposed characteristics of the RC and PC structures, are calculated and discussed.
The Strength Evaluation in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Ultra-High Strength Materials:
The objective of this study is to investigate the strength of the reinfoced concrete beams using ultra-high strength materials. Such strength must be defined clearly and assessed properly before the RC members using ultra-high strength concrete and bar can be used with confidence in structural members.
Now adapting this point of view, concrete beams using ultra-high strength concrete and bar are tested under monotonically increasing loads to evaluate the shear strength. The beams are singly reinforced without shear reinforcements. The concrete strength is varied from 90 MPa to 150 MPa. The following picture is specimen on conclusion of test.
On the basis of experimental results, the equation of shear capacity without shear reinforcements for RC members using ultra-high strength materials will be proposed.
Graduation Theses (last 3 years)
- 2007
- Localization of Compressive Fracture in Concrete-Filled Steel Tube Columns with Circular Section under Uniaxial Compression (AOKI, Shunji)
- Effect of Prestress on Mechanical Property of High Strength PRC Members (ASANUMA, Taiju)
- Judging the Reinforcement Necessity of RC Piers Considering the Imminence of Earthquakes (INOMATA, Yuki)
- Effect of Welded Seam on Seismic Performance of Spiral Steel Tubes (YAMAGUCHI, Kyohei)
- 2008
- Experimental Study on Improving the Structural Performance of High Strength RC Pile by Prestressing (AOKI, Nao)
- Frost Resistance of Concrete with Initial Cracks (ITO, Tomoya)
- Performance Curve of Deteriorated Concrete Girders Exposed to Marine Environment and Its Application to Reliability-Based Structural Assessment (NAKAJIMA, Keita)
- Approximation Formula for the Failure Probability of RC Bridges Using the Public Seismic Hazard Curves (HAYASHI, Hiroshi)
- 2009
- Fundamental Study on Structural Forms of the Bridge for Reduction of Probability of Seismic Damage (ABE, Ryota)
- Probabilistic Consideration of Lifetime Assessment of Concrete Bridge Using Inspection Information (KOMORIYA, Takashi)
- Health Evaluation of the Concrete Member Using a Resonance Vibration Method (OHTAKE, Yusuke)
- Improvement of Frost Resistance of Concrete (SAIKI, Yusuke)
Master Theses (last 3 years)
- 2007
- Cyclic Loading Tests of Concrete-Fileed Circular Steel Piers Used in Elevated Bridges for Light-Weight Vehicles (SHIRAHAMA, Nobutaka)
- Development of High Strength PRC Pile That Enables a Great Improvement in the Horizontal Resistance to Earthquakes of the Foundation (ABE, Satoshi)
- Development of Reliability-Based Seismic Design Method of RC Brigde Systems to Achieve the Capacity Design (Dang Tuan Hai)
- Reliability-Based Structural Evaluation of Reinforced Concrete Structures Considering Lifetime (SATO, Hirokazu)
- Concentric Loading Test of Concrete Filled Steel Tube Columns with Circular Section (SASAKI, Kenta)
- 2008
- Reliability-Based Structural Evaluation of Concrete Girder Bridges Exposed to Marine Environment (OOKI, Fumihiro)
- Evaluation of Seismic Performance Concrete-Filled Spiral Tubes with Circular Section (MATSUMOTO, Daisuke)
- Effects of Concrete Strength and Spalling of Cover Concrete on Horizontal Resistance of High Strength PRC Pile (MIURA, Minoru)
- 2009
- Fundamental Study on Corrosion of Steel Members in Boundary with Concrete (AOKI, Shunji)
- Seismic Performance Evaluation for Pile Foundation Using High Strength RC Piles (ASANUMA, Taiju)
- Fundamental Study on Development of Seismic Structure Taking into Account the Randomness of the Scale of Earthquake (INOMATA, Yuki)
- Probabilistic Approach of Remaining Life Assessment Considering Site Information of Existing Concrete Structures (YAMAGUCHI, Kyohei)
