Members

IMMC

Joao Saraiva Esteves Pacheco De Almeida
Professor
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Recent publications

- Shape-memory alloy rebars in flexural-controlled large-scale reinforced concrete walls: experimental investigation on self-centring and damage limitation.
- Numerical simulation of large displacements of structures subjected to extreme loading events.
- Scaling and similitude for laboratory testing of reinforced concrete units under extreme loading: numerical simulation and experimental tests.
- Improvement of the tension chord model to understand qualitatively and quantitatively the progression of damage in the boundary elements of RC and RC+SMA walls.
- Vertical impact resistance of structural members to progressive collapse during extreme loading events: experimental tests and assessment framework.
- Seismic Risk Assessment in Belgium

IMMC main research direction(s):
Computational science
Civil and environmental engineering
Solid mechanics

Keywords:
earthquake engineering
finite elements

Research group(s): GCE

PhD and Post-doc researchers under my supervision:

Hybrid DEM-FEM-macro-model simulations for nonlinear structural response analysis. Application to unreinforced masonry (and reinforced concrete) buildings
Igor Bouckaert

Evaluation of alternative damping approaches for nonlinear time history analysis, and their influence on the development of fragility curves used in seismic risk, for low-to-moderate seismicity regions.
Jose Baena Urrea

One of the major sources of uncertainty in dynamic non-linear time history analysis (THA) of structures is modelling of damping as this parameter is not easy to measure and continues largely misunderstood. Damping simulates energy dissipation on structural and nonstructural elements that is not explicitly modelled. Although it is known to be frequency-independent and amplitude-dependent, these features are not typically considered by practicing engineers. The classical and most used model is Rayleigh damping, developed in the XIX century as a mathematic convenient representation of friction effects in acoustic waves transmission.
During the last decades, engineers have accepted this model in linear THA because the damping forces are relatively small compared with the other resisting forces in the structures and due to efficiency, simplicity and low computational cost. Contrary to this, when nonlinear THA are performed, several numerical pathologies appear such as spurious damping forces in the massless degrees of freedom and other issues resulting from stiffness decay during the analysis. Over the years researchers have developed damping models to overcome these challenges, but the scientific community still did not reach a generalised agreement. The most suitable model will depend, to a certain degree, on the specific structural problem. Unfortunately, one major concern with damping modelling is that the structural response can change drastically depending on the model used.
Nonlinear THA are commonly used to define fragility functions, which are statistical curves of performance relating demands (accelerations and displacements, typically) versus probability of exceedance of reaching a specific level of damage. They are used in the context of seismic risk analyses and will depend on the damping model employed.
This research focus on evaluating current models and proposing an alternative approach better matching experimental evidence of the response at the element level. Subsequently, the influence of these damping models on the development of fragility curves will be assessed. Finally, their impact on the final outcome of seismic risk assessment for low-to-moderate seismicity regions, such as Belgium, will be computed and interpreted.

Seismic performance and residual displacements of reinforced concrete walls detailed with iron-based shape memory alloys
Ryan Hoult

Most structures built to withstand earthquakes currently rely on reinforced concrete walls that concentrate damage in a region, typically at the base of those walls. While this can prevent collapses and save lives, it often damages the building to such an extent that it must be torn down after a quake. The EU-funded SMA-RC-Walls aims to test walls with shape-memory alloy (SMA) rebars, which offer the potential to return to their original form after seismic demands, and hence prevent damage and avoid permanent tilting of structures. The researchers will conduct experiments using iron-based SMA reinforcement in the boundary regions of concrete walls as a substitute material for the typical steel rebars. The goal is to contribute to a more robust and resilient building stock internationally, and to provide guidance for seismic design and assessment with this novel technology.