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SEISMIC DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF BASE ISOLATED STEEL STORAGE RACKS

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2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Civil Engineering.
Increasing use of steel storage racks across many industries and observed performance of the racks and pallet merchandise during past earthquake events has motivated the development of seismic protective technologies for the racks. This research investigates the design of a seismic base isolation system for cross-aisle rack response that can satisfy prescribed performance objectives for all potential rack load configurations. The large variation in potential load configurations and the rack aspect ratio play a key role in seismic response which may result in sliding, rocking, or combined slide-rock behavior. The combined behavior is developed from fundamental mechanics to understand the cyclic force-deformation behavior and equivalent damping provided which is used in the isolator seismic design methodology. The isolators consist of low-friction bearing surfaces, elastomeric mounts, and secondary stiffening elastomers which must be tailored in design to achieve performance objectives related to sliding and rocking displacements and probability of merchandise shedding (falling off a shelf). Design choices of isolator components are made through a weighted multi-objective optimization approach. The probability of merchandise shedding was considered in design through parametric seismic analyses which included sliding merchandise for varying seismic hazard levels. The mechanical behavior and design methodology are confirmed through nonlinear transient seismic analyses and full-scale dynamic experimental testing. The isolator design development and research on combined sliding–rocking behavior for the design of isolation systems advances the current state of knowledge and seismic design practice of steel storage racks.
Michael Pollino, Assistant professor (Committee Chair)
Yue Li, Associate Professor (Committee Member)
Brian Metrovich , Associate Professor (Committee Member)
Wojbor Woycznski, Professor (Committee Member)
213 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Sabzehzar, S. (2016). SEISMIC DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF BASE ISOLATED STEEL STORAGE RACKS [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case14847725697335

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Sabzehzar, Saman. SEISMIC DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF BASE ISOLATED STEEL STORAGE RACKS. 2016. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case14847725697335.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Sabzehzar, Saman. "SEISMIC DESIGN AND EVALUATION OF BASE ISOLATED STEEL STORAGE RACKS." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case14847725697335

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)