Applicability of Optimal Seismic Design Methodology for Piping Systems Subjected to Seismic Waves With Various Frequency Characteristics

In this study, the optimal seismic design methodology which can consider the structural integrity of both piping systems and elasto-plastic support devices are developed. This methodology employs genetic algorithm and can search the optimal conditions such as supporting locations, capacity and stiffness of supporting devices. A lead extrusion damper is treated here as a typical elasto-plastic damper. Numerical simulations are performed using a simple piping system model for the various kinds of seismic waves with different frequency characteristics. As a result, it is shown that the optimal seismic design methodology proposed here is applicable to the seismic design of piping systems supported by elasto-plastic dampers subjected to the seismic waves with various kinds of frequency characteristics.