International Symposium on Strong Vrancea Earthquakes and Risk Mitigation

Oct. 4-6, 2007, Bucharest, Romania

STRUCTURES WITH HIGH SEISMIC RISK
PASSENGER BUILDING - FOCANI


Anca I. Rus
1
, Aurel Ardelea
2
, Cristian S. Blan
3
, Helmut H. Kber
4
, Carmen I. Bucur
5


ABSTRACT

Due to its geographical position, Romania is crossed by three of the ten trans-European
transport corridors: Corridor IV Helsinki branch IVC, Corridor VII the Danube and Corridor IX
Helsinki. As a consequence, a vast rehabilitation and modernizing program for the entire
transport infrastructure has been recently commenced.
The present paper presents one of the newly designed structures for the passenger Railway
Station building in Focsani, located along the Corridor IX Helsinki, very close to the well
known Vrancea seismic focus.
The general layout of the structure is the result of solving the functional problems of the
station so that the building had to be designed as four subassemblies of different dimensions
separated by construction joints. As the building is made up of the four volumes, special
problems related to the seismic characteristics and conformation of those, as well as
technical solutions for the joints have to be conveniently solved.
Main aspects presented in the paper: selection of favourable lay-outs of the structures, both
in plan and vertically, providing appropriate stiffness in order to keep the lateral
displacements due to the seismic actions within the code prescribed limits, controlling the
structural elements susceptible to be strained in the post-elastic domain etc.
This work is a continuation of the paper Structures with high seismic risk Case Study
Passenger Building, Romania presented at International Symposium - Durability and
maintenance of concrete structures, 2004 Croatia. In 2004 the building was under
construction. Now the passenger building is in service and new aspects are included in the
paper.


INTRODUCTION


Due to its geographic position, Romania is crossed by three of the ten European transport
corridors: Corridor IV Helsinki - branch IVC, Corridor VII Dunrea and Corridor IX Helsinki,
Fig. 1 a, b [11, 12, Dragomir G., 2000]. Consequently, our country has initiated a large
rehabilitation and modernization program for the entire transport infrastructure.

One of the main targets is the rehabilitation and modernization of the railway stations to
make them comply with the European standards and be able to operate for high-speed
railway lines, according to UIC 413 norms and 140-0 Euro-stations. This is also the case of
Focani station, Vrancea s county town, placed along Corridor IX Helsink.



1
Drd. Structural Eng - Resistance Architecture Division, Railway Study and Design Institute - Bucharest
2
Dr. Structural Eng Technical Consultant Resistance Architecture Division, Railway Study and Design
Institute - Bucharest
3
Eng. - Technical Director Building Design, Research and Software Institute Bucharest
4
Dr. Eng. - Technical Consultant Design Institute for Rolling Mill Bucharest
5
Prof. PhD. Structural Eng. - Department of Mechanics of Structures - Technical University of Civil Engineering
Bucharest
A. I. Rus et al. 352















a. b
Figure 1.

The design of the seismic proof constructions is a complex one, as it implies a complex
intersection of domains. Studies and information in domains as geology and seismology,
geo-dynamics, construction materials and dynamics of structures are required.


PRESENTATION OF THE STRUCTURE

Architecture

The new constructions are performed on the location of the old station. So, the allowed area
had imposed dimensions and shape.
The design and building activities focused on the passenger building as well as other utilities
necessary for the station operation: canopy between the buildings, platforms, pedestrian
tunnel. In addition it has performed also a systematization of the afferent areas such as The
railway station square and boulevard starting from here, Fig. 2.
















Figure 2. Model of the Assembly view from the lines

The building owes its shape to the joining and interference of four subassemblies having
different dimensions in plan and vertically, Figs 3 and 4, [Rus A., 2004]. As:
- Building block A is parallel with the railway lines and composed of three sections (A1, A2,
A3) having different volumes with railway operation rooms as well as with commercial
facilities. The central section A2 is B+GF+4F (basement + ground floor + 4 floors) is
bordered by the lateral sections A1 and A3 having B+GF+1F (basement + ground floor + 1
floor), respectively GF+1F (ground floor + 1 floor).
International Symposium on Strong Vrancea Earthquakes and Risk Mitigation

353
















Figure 3. The subassemblies

Figure 4. Passenger building in Focani station - view from the tracks
a. during the construction work b. at the completion




















Figure 5. Canopy placed between blocks A1-A2-A3


A. I. Rus et al. 354

- The central hall developed on two levels and placed among the blocks A1-A2-A3, has

he ilt surface of 1325 m
2
and a developed surface of 4800 m
2
.
ic focus, [Blan ., 1982].
stem
ures have been taken to ensure right a-seismic conditions, aiming to get
l shape of the construction, regular compact and as far as
of the building part has lead to special


A2 and A3
the roof made out of light metallic structures lattice beams with parallel flange;
- Building block B is placed on perpendicular line on block A, and linked together by a
canopy at the ground floor level, Fig. 5. The height of this building block is GF+3F
(ground floor + 3 floors).
whole assembly has a bu T

articular issues when choosing the structural system P

ocani town is placed in the close vicinity of Vrancea seism F

or the buildings subject to high intensity seismic actions, the choice of the structural sy F
is very important.

o, specific meas S
proper individual and general behaviour, [Marusciac D., 2000; Paulay Th., 1995; Bucur C.,
1998; Fierbineanu V., 1999].

hen establishing the genera W
symmetrical shapes in places were chosen. Within the same section, evident dissymmetries
were avoided in the volumes geometry, in the mass and rigidity distribution, in order to
define the unfavourable effect of the general torsion.

he different dynamic response of the three sections T
study of the afferent joints among the parts. Their real dimensioning and execution has been
carried the way to avoid any collision due to phase differences of the oscillations of the
sections, Fig. 6.


















Figure 6. View of the joints between sections

International Symposium on Strong Vrancea Earthquakes and Risk Mitigation

355
The sections A1, A2 and the block B are frames structures.
The section A2 raised some problems due to the space which has been allotted in the
assembly of the block A. Thus, the high ratio between the length (42.0 m) and the width (7.2
m) could led to unfavorable effects, such as: asynchronous seismic excitations of the
foundation, significant general torsion, etc. Consequently, the mixed structure solution was
chosen meaning frames and diaphragms. So, a construction which gathered the advantages
of both systems has been created, such as: maintaining the functional flexibility provided by
the frame structures and ensuring the required strength and the rigidity to take the horizontal
actions provided by the structures in the diaphragms, Fig. 7.


Horizontal
forces

Frames
(shearing
deformations)
Wall
(bending
deformations)
Frames and walls
in ensemble













Figure 7. Shifting of the frames, structural works and dual systems at horizontal forces


REMARKS CONCERNING THE DUAL STRUCTURES SYSTEM

The dual system [Rus A., 2007], is usually used in composing the reinforced concrete
structures. It is obtained either by continuing the structural works with frames not provided
with wind bracing, or by connecting several structural with coupling girders. In Fig. 8 different
dual structural systems are presented.


a) b) c) d)
Wall
Wall
Wall Wall










Figure 8. Structure of the dual system

Although this type of structure is relatively used, there are few numbers of studies in the
domain literature referring to their response to the seismic actions.
The main issue in studying a structure of dual system type consists in correctly estimating
the contribution of each component. In Fig. 9, the results of a study, [Pauly Th., 1995]
concerning the mode of taking over the overturning moment and the shearing force for a
dual structure where the width of the wall l
w
varies. The considered loading is the horizontal
equivalent seismic force.


A. I. Rus et al. 356




















1.0
Total shearing
force
0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 -0.2
E
2
4
6
8
10
12
1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0
Total moment
l
w
=4m
l
w
=6m
l
w
=8m
L
e
v
e
l

M/M
t
Overthrow moments
V/V
t
Shearing force of level

Taking over of the walls
Taking over of
the frames

Taking over of the walls
T
a
k
i
n
g

o
v
e
r

o
f

t
h
e

f
r
a
m
e
s


Figure 9. Distribution of the overturning moments statistically estimated and also of the
shearing forces at the first floor, on the structural walls and the frames of some dual
systems (Pauly Th., 1995)


CALCULATION MODEL

Regarding the buildings assembly forming the railway station, the following presentations
refer to the section A2, Figs 3 and 4.

The functional requirements of the construction impose several resistance elements of
irregular structure such as walls in which the hollows are not orderly placed. It is difficult to
specify the behaviour of these elements and their modelling for calculation is not accurate
enough to compared with the reality.

For the calculation, the method of the equivalent frame, Fig. 10, was used which is one of
the simplified method.

The following approximations have been adopted:
(i) the solid structural walls are considered in the computations as vertical cantilevers
embedded at the base;
(ii) the structural walls with rows of door or window openings are considered in the
computations as storied frames. For these frames, the following sections are considered:
- (a) the vertical beams of the storied frames are the solid vertical areas of the walls
transformed into bars of constant section,
- (b) the collar beams of the frames are transformed into bars with the theoretical span
equal to the distance between the axis of the vertical beams, having variable rigidity
all along, namely: on the clear span of the opening, the sections are real; in the
vertical beam area, the rigidity is infinite.




International Symposium on Strong Vrancea Earthquakes and Risk Mitigation



357
Figure 10. Equivalent frames


The loads were grouped in four design hypotheses as follows:
(i) fundamental combination:
- normal values = hypothesis 1;
- design values = hypothesis 2;
(ii) special combination:
- spectral load on the transversal direction = hypothesis 3;
- spectral load on the longitudinal direction = hypothesis 4.

RESULTS AND COMMENTS

For the dynamic study, 9 eigenvalues of the vibration modes have been taken into account.
In the table 1 are presented the vibrations periods values.

The dynamic characteristics of the structures are the following: Mode 1 (T1 = 0.19s),
transversal vibration; Mode 2 (T2 = 0.15s), longitudinal vibration; Mode 3 (T3 = 0.13s),
torsion vibration. From dynamic point of view, the structure belongs to the type of rigid
structures.

To find out the spectral response displacements and stresses the structure was loaded
with the design spectrum [9], Fig. 11, selected according to the location and taking into
consideration all the other characteristics regarding the building importance, structure,
materials, etc.
A. I. Rus et al. 358
Table 1.



0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
0
Mode Period (s)
1 0.19
2 0.15
3 0.13
4 0.05
5 0.045
6 0.036
7 0.026
8 0.024
9 0.019
=2.75
0

Figure 11. Normal elastic response spectrum for the
horizontal components of the acceleration for
ground conditions explained by the corner
periods: Tc = 1.0 and 1.6s [9].

Table 2 shows the spectral displacements in horizontal plan for some frames of the structure
of the last two levels.

Table 2. Displacements (m)
LEVEL 5 (altitude +17.75m) LEVEL 4 (altitude +14.15)
Frames hypothesis 3 hypothesis 4 hypothesis 3 hypothesis 4
x 0.000277 -0.001644 0.000218 -0.001304
CT
1
y 0.000964 0.000917 0.000729 0.000703
x 0.000240 -0.001626 0.000189 -0.001290
CT
3
y 0.001512 0.000658 0.001152 0.000504
x 0.000413 -0.001707 0.000322 -0.001353
CT
5
y 0.001982 0.000437 0.001515 0.000333
x 0.000413 -0.001707 0.000322 -0.001353
CT
8
y 0.002687 0.000104 0.002060 0.000077
x 0.000413 -0.001707 0.000322 -0.001353
CT
9
y 0.002922 -0.000007 0.002241 0.000009
x 0.000240 -0.001626 0.000189 -0.001290
CT
10
y 0.003157 -0.000117 0.002423 -0.000094
x 0.000309 -0.001659 0.000242 -0.001315
CT
12
y 0.003706 -0.000376 0.002846 -0.000294
x 0.000155 -0.001586 0.000123 0.001259
CL
1
y 0.000964 0.000917 0.000729 0.000703

The importance class of the building is II [9]. This class includes constructions of special
importance that require a reduction of the damages, considering their consequences.

For hypothesis 3 the maximum displacements are 3.706x10
-3
m for level 5 and 2.846x10
-3
m
for level 4, both at the cross frame 12, on the transversal direction of the building (Oy axis).
For the hypothesis 4, the maximum displacements are 1.707x10
-3
m for level 5 and
1.353x10
-3
m for level 4 for more cross frames on the longitudinal direction of the building
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Perioada T , s
T
D
=2
8.8/T
2
4.4/T
T
B
=0.16
1.0s<Tc 1.6s
=0.05
T
C
=1.6s
International Symposium on Strong Vrancea Earthquakes and Risk Mitigation

359
(Ox). The condition required by the Romanian standards is that the maximum relative level
displacement should be under 0.004 h
level
. As h
level
= 3.60 m, the allowed relative level
displacement is 14.4x10
-3
m. On the transversal direction of the building, the value of the
maximum relative displacement is 3.096x10
-3
m, respectively 1.274x10
-3
m on the
longitudinal direction.

The technological joints, Fig. 6, are carried out in order to comply with all the conditions
imposed by the regulations: seismic displacement, thermal extension and settlement. As a
result, at the superstructure level, the joints between the sections are 0.10 m. The joints also
continue at the infrastructure level, having smaller dimensions (about 0.02 m), Fig. 12. The
joints are treated to comply with the architectonic design, so they are not visible.





a. during the construction work bb. at the completion
Figure 12. Joint continuated also at the level of the infrastructures

One of the conditions to be fulfilled by the values of the dimensioning sectional stresses is
that the size of the ration () between the value of the ultimate bending moment and the
value of the overturning moment from the seismic load should be at most equal to 4, [10].
Table 3 illustrates this condition.

Tabel 3





Cadru
CT1 2.76
CT8 3.60
CL1 2.24

Additional reinforcement measures were required because there are two aspects, namely:
(i) reducing the negative effects of a possible general torsion due to the special
shape in plan of the section A2, and
(ii) propping up the roof of the hall at level 3 (quota +10,55 m).

So: (i) for the beams along the perimeter, additional reinforcements were introduced along
their height, (ii) for the floorings, reinforcements were introduced both at the lower part and
at the upper part, in the central part of the plate and at the supports, Fig. 13 a, b.


A. I. Rus et al. 360

a. b.
Figure 13. Additional reinforcing

CONCLUSIONS

The location and the conditions imposed to the new railway station in Focani town
(Romania) make the design of the building assembly raise many problems as concerns the
compliance, computation and performance, Fig. 14 a - f.


c. d.

a. b

.

International Symposium on Strong Vrancea Earthquakes and Risk Mitigation

361




e.
Figure 14. a, b, c, d, e, f Focsani Station building

The adopted technical solutions regarding the structure, compliance and
resistance elements are entirely according to the technical regu
norms, Fig. 15, a. b, c.



The most on the section A2. The conclusions for this
section are the following:
(i) from dynamic point of view, the structure has a rigid behaviour, so the
diaphragms contribution in the mixed assembly of the building is important;
(ii) the maximum relative level displacements are under the value required by the
technical regulations;
(iii) the maximum absolute displacement is 3.706x10
-3
m at the maximum quota;
(iv) the technological joints are both at the superstructure level as well as at the
infrastructure level
(v) are necessary additional reinforcements for the beams along the perimeter and
for the floorings, at all the levels.
f.
presently in use
dimensioning of the
lations correlated with Eurocode

a. b. c.
Figure 15 a, b, c. Passenger building in Focani - European achievement
difficult design problems occurred


A. I. Rus et al. 362
REFERENCES

Blan ., V. Cristescu, I. Cornea 1982 Cutremurul de pmnt din Romnia de la 4 martie
1977 Ed. Academiei Romne
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Germania
Dragomir G., 2000 European transport corridors. Romanian railway substructure
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seismice, Editura Tehnica Bucureti 1997
Rus A., 2007 Studiul aplicrii sistemului dual la construcii noi i existente Referat 1
doctorat
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Passenger Building, Romania - Durability and maintenance of concrete structures,
International Symposium - Proceedings pp. 139-246, Ed. Secon HDGH - oct. 2004
Croatia
P100/2003 Cod de proiectare seismic a construciilor proiect revizuire P100/92 UTCB
(P100.2006)
P85-2001 Cod de proiectare a construciilor cu perei structurali din beton armat UTCB
2001
Proiect de execuie Staie Focani ISPCF 2004
Site www. mt.ro/traceca/inde