Earthquake Risk Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Bridges in Washington State Using Pushover Analysis

Earthquake Risk Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Bridges in Washington State Using Pushover Analysis
Author: Abigail B. Christman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 111
Release: 2017
Genre:
ISBN:

The average age of reinforced concrete bridges in the state of Washington is 48 years, encompassing more than 100 years of design and construction techniques, which reflect evolving views on seismic risk and mitigation. As such, there is great uncertainty as to the actual seismic resistance of existing bridges. Having a simple and accurate process for assessing the seismic vulnerability of a bridge can help identify vulnerable design details and address them, either through retrofit or replacement. Using pushover analysis to determine the seismic capacity of structures can give an idea of the overall vulnerability of the structure while decreasing the computational power needed to perform analyses as compared to nonlinear time history (NLTH) analysis. Using the finite element program RUAUMOKO-2D, models of existing WSDOT bridges were created and pushover analyses were run. By defining damage states of interest and determining the associated displacement profiles, peak ground accelerations (PGAs) of seismic events were then correlated to the damage states. By combining fragility curves encompassing the probabilistic distribution of the PGA at which a damage state might occur with site hazard risks, Risk Indices were calculated for all bridges considered. The bridges were ranked in order to contextualize the Risk Index values. The results of the assessment process were then verified by comparing them to the results of NLTH analysis.

Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century

Artificial Intelligence in the 21st Century
Author: Stephen Lucci
Publisher: Mercury Learning and Information
Total Pages: 1168
Release: 2015-12-10
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1944534539

This new edition provides a comprehensive, colorful, up-to-date, and accessible presentation of AI without sacrificing theoretical foundations. It includes numerous examples, applications, full color images, and human interest boxes to enhance student interest. New chapters on robotics and machine learning are now included. Advanced topics cover neural nets, genetic algorithms, natural language processing, planning, and complex board games. A companion DVD is provided with resources, applications, and figures from the book. Numerous instructors’ resources are available upon adoption. eBook Customers: Companion files are available for downloading with order number/proof of purchase by writing to the publisher at [email protected]. FEATURES: • Includes new chapters on robotics and machine learning and new sections on speech understanding and metaphor in NLP • Provides a comprehensive, colorful, up to date, and accessible presentation of AI without sacrificing theoretical foundations • Uses numerous examples, applications, full color images, and human interest boxes to enhance student interest • Introduces important AI concepts e.g., robotics, use in video games, neural nets, machine learning, and more thorough practical applications • Features over 300 figures and color images with worked problems detailing AI methods and solutions to selected exercises • Includes DVD with resources, simulations, and figures from the book • Provides numerous instructors’ resources, including: solutions to exercises, Microsoft PP slides, etc.

New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates

New Perspectives in the Study of Mesoamerican Primates
Author: Alejandro Estrada
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 598
Release: 2006-07-31
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0387258728

The purpose of this volume is to present a comprehensive overview of recent advances in primate field research, ecology, and conservation biology in Mesoamerica. The overall goal of each contribution is to integrate newly collected field data with theoretical perspectives drawn from evolutionary biology, socioecology, biological anthropology, and conservation to identify how our current knowledge of primate behavior and ecology has moved beyond more traditional approaches. A corollary to this, and an important goal of the volume is to identify geographical regions and species for which we continue to lack sufficient information, to develop action plans for future research, and to identify areas for immediate conservation action. Despite many decades of primate research in Mesoamerica, much is still unknown concerning the basic ecology and behavior of these species, demography, current distribution, and conservation status of local populations, and the effectiveness of conservation policies on primate survivorship. Four major areas of research are the focus of the volume: Evolutionary Biology and Biogeography; Population Demography and Ecology; Behavior; and Conservation and Management Policies.