The work carried out during this research project has been concerned
with the performance of large structures and in the introduction to
this thesis a justification for full-scale testing is presented.
Full-scale testing techniques relating to both dynamic and quasi-static
movements occurring in large civil engineering structures
such as multi-storey buildings and bridges have been studied.
Dynamic characteristics of buildings were obtained during full-scale
testing with the use of seismometers and servo-drive accelerometers.
Oscillations produced from both by wind and by forced vibration have
been studied and the methods and results obtained are compared.
The slow movement of structures, occurring at a frequency less than
approximately 1 Hz, has been studied with the use of a specially
developed laser based system. The system consists of a laser located
at a stationary reference position while an X-Y plotter is positioned
on the moving structure. Linked with four photo-cells and associated
electronics, the system proved capable of monitoring the most significant
movements occurring in civil engineering structures. A
Theoretical control system analysis and frequency response of the
device was performed. Extensive trials with the equipment and
monitoring of the atmospheric temperature effects on the laser beam
were undertaken and are described.
Deflection data obtained on a multi-storey building and the Tamar
suspension bridge and discussions on the problems encountered are
presented. A small scale dynamic survey on the Tamar suspension
bridge and results from an analytical model are described in
Chapter Seven.
Simple structural analysis models of multi-storey buildings have been
used to yield values of natural frequencies. A finite element package
has also been used to develop an accurate analytical model of a building
to which different wind loading profiles were applied and deflections
obtained.
Date of Award | 1979 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | |
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THE REAL PERFORMANCE OF SOME CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES
WILLIAMS, C. (Author). 1979
Student thesis: PhD