• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.473-486
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• 2023

A through-railway bridge with an inclined girder has recently been applied to optimize the cross-section of a slender bridge structure in railway bridges. To achieve the additional cross-section optimization effect by the bolted end-plate connection, it is necessary to investigate the application of the bolted end-plate tension connection between the inclined girder and the crossbeam. This basic study was conducted on the application of the bolted end-plate moment connection of crossbeams to half-through girders with inclined webs. The combined behavior of vertical deflection and rotational behavior was observed due to the effect of the web inclination in the inclined girder where the steel crossbeam was connected to the girder by the bolted end-plate moment connection. Therefore, in the experiment, the deflection of the inclined girder was 1.77-2.93 times greater than that of the vertical girder but the lateral deflection of the inclined girder was 0.4 times less than that of the vertical girder. Moreover, the tensile stress of the upper bolts in the inclined girder with low crossbeams was clearly 0.81 times lower than that of the vertical girder. According to the results, the design formula for vertical girders does not reflect the influence of the web inclination. Therefore, this study proposed the design procedures for the inclined girder to apply the bolted end-plate moment connection of the crossbeam to the inclined girder by reflecting the design change factors according to the effect of the web inclination.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.283-291
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• 2023

Unlike other facilities, maintaining processes is essential in industrial facilities. Pipe racks, which support pipes of various diameters, are important structures used in industrial facilities. Since the transport process of pipes directly affects the operation of industrial facilities, a fragility curve should be derived based on considering not only the pipe racks' structural safety but also the pipes' transport process. There are several studies where the fragility curves have been determined based on the structural behavior of pipe racks. However, few studies consider the damage criteria of pipes to ensure the transportation process, such as local buckling and tensile failure with surface defects. In this study, an analysis model of a typical straight pipe rack used in domestic industrial facilities is constructed, and incremental dynamic analysis using nonlinear response history analysis is performed to estimate the parameters of the fragility curve by the maximum likelihood estimation. In addition, the pipe rack's structural behavior and the pipe's damage criteria are considered the limit state for the fragility curve. The limit states considered in this paper to evaluate fragility curves are more reasonable to ensure the transportation process of the pipe systems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.1
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• pp.95-107
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• 2023

In this study, circular thin-walled reinforced high strength concrete-filled steel tube (RHSCFST) stub columns with various tube thicknesses (i.e., 1.8, 2.5 and 3.0mm) and reinforcement ratios (i.e., 0, 1.6%, 2.4% and 3.2%) were fabricated to explore the influence of these factors on the axial compressive behavior of RHSCFST. The obtained test results show that the failure mode of RHSCFST transforms from outward buckling and tearing failure to drum failure with the increasing tube thickness. With the tube thickness and reinforcement ratio increased, the ultimate load-carrying capacity, compressive stiffness and ductility of columns increased, while the lateral strain in the stirrup decreased. Comparisons were also made between test results and the existing codes such as AIJ (2008), BS5400 (2005), ACI (2019) and EC4 (2010). It has been found that the existing codes provide conservative predictions for the ultimate load-carrying capacity of RHSCFST. Therefore, an accurate model for the prediction of the ultimate load-carrying capacity of circular thin-walled RHSCFST considering the steel reinforcement is developed, based on the obtained experimental results. It has been found that the model proposed in this study provides more accurate predictions of the ultimate load-carrying capacity than that from existing design codes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.90 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2024

The present study conducts a thorough analysis of thermal vibrations in functionally graded porous nanocomposite beams within a thermal setting. Investigating the temperature-dependent material properties of these beams, which continuously vary across their thickness in accordance with a power-law function, a finite element approach is developed. This approach utilizes a nonlocal strain gradient theory and accounts for a linear temperature rise. The analysis employs four different patterns of porosity distribution to characterize the functionally graded porous materials. A novel two-variable shear deformation beam nonlocal strain gradient theory, based on trigonometric functions, is introduced to examine the combined effects of nonlocal stress and strain gradient on these beams. The derived governing equations are solved through a 3-nodes beam element. A comprehensive parametric study delves into the influence of structural parameters, such as thicknessratio, beam length, nonlocal scale parameter, and strain gradient parameter. Furthermore, the study explores the impact of thermal effects, porosity distribution forms, and material distribution profiles on the free vibration of temperature-dependent FG nanobeams. The results reveal the substantial influence of these effects on the vibration behavior of functionally graded nanobeams under thermal conditions. This research presents a finite element approach to examine the thermo-mechanical behavior of nonlocal temperature-dependent FG nanobeams, filling the gap where analytical results are unavailable.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.11
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• pp.4295-4306
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• 2023

The vibration of fuel rods in axial flow is a universally recognized issue within both engineering and academic communities due to its significant importance in ensuring structural safety. This paper aims to thoroughly investigate the stability and nonlinear vibration of a fuel rod subjected to axial flow in a newly designed high temperature gas cooled reactor. Considering the possible presence of thermal expansion and large deformation in practical scenarios, the thermal effect and geometric nonlinearity are modeled using the von Karman equation. By applying Hamilton's principle, we derive the comprehensive governing equation for this fluid-structure interaction system, which incorporates the quadratic nonlinear stiffness. To establish a connection between the fluid and structure aspects, we utilize the Galerkin method to solve the perturbation potential function, while employing mode expansion techniques associated with the structural analysis. Following convergence and validation analyses, we examine the stability of the structure under various conditions in detail, and also investigate the bifurcation behavior concerning the buckling amplitude and flow velocity. The findings from this research enhance the understanding of the underlying physics governing fuel rod behavior in axial flow under severe yet practical conditions, while providing valuable guidance for reactor design.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.91 no.5
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• pp.517-526
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• 2024

Due to the asymmetric cross-section of unequal-angle steel, the application of loads can induce axial rotation, leading to a series of buckling failure behaviors. Special attention must be paid during the design process. The present study aims to analyze the structural behavior of asymmetric steel angle members under various eccentric loading conditions, considering the complex biaxial bending interaction that arises when the angle steel is connected to the panel. Several key factors are investigated in this paper, including the effects of uniaxial and biaxial eccentricity on the structural behavior and the eccentric axial compression strength of long and short legs at different load application points. Potential risks associated with the specified load points, based on the AISC specifications, are also discussed. The study observed that the strength values of the members exhibited significant changes when the eccentric load deviates from the specified point. The relative position of the eccentric load point and the slenderness ratio of the member are critical influencing factors. Overall, this research intends to enhance the accuracy and reliability of strength analysis methods for asymmetric single angle steel members, providing valuable insights and guidance for a safer and more efficient design.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.241-254
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• 2020

Using confined shape memory alloy (SMA) bar or plate, this study proposes an innovative self-centering damper. The damper is essentially properly machined SMA core, i.e., bar or plate, that encased in buckling-restrained device. To prove the design concept, cyclic loading tests were carried out. According to the test results, the damper exhibited desired flag-shape hysteretic behaviors upon both tension and compression actions, although asymmetric behavior is noted. Based on the experimental data, the hysteretic parameters that interested by seismic applications, such as the strength, stiffness, equivalent damping ratio and recentering capacity, are quantified. Processed in the Matlab/Simulink environment, a preliminary evaluation of the seismic control effect for this damper was conducted. The proposed damper was placed at the first story of a multi-story frame and then the original and controlled structures were subjected to earthquake excitations. The numerical outcome indicated the damper is effective in controlling seismic deformation demands. Besides, a companion SMA damper which represents a popular type in previous studies is also introduced in the analysis to further reveal the seismic control characteristics of the newly proposed damper. In current case, it was found that although the current SMA damper shows asymmetric tension-compression behavior, it successfully contributes comparable seismic control effect as those having symmetrical cyclic behavior. Additionally, the proposed damper even shows better global performance in controlling acceleration demands. Thus, this paper reduces the concern of using SMA dampers with asymmetric cyclic behavior to a certain degree.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1247-1267
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• 2014

Real-Time Hybrid Simulation (RTHS) is a novel approach conceived to evaluate dynamic responses of structures with parts of a structure physically tested and the remainder parts numerically modelled. In RTHS, delay estimation is often a precondition of compensation; nonetheless, system delay may vary during testing. Consequently, it is sometimes necessary to measure delay online. Along these lines, this paper proposes an online delay estimation method using least-squares algorithm based on a simplified physical system model, i.e., a pure delay multiplied by a gain reflecting amplitude errors of physical system control. Advantages and disadvantages of different delay estimation methods based on this simplified model are firstly discussed. Subsequently, it introduces the least-squares algorithm in order to render the estimator based on Taylor series more practical yet effective. As a result, relevant parameter choice results to be quite easy. Finally in order to verify performance of the proposed method, numerical simulations and RTHS with a buckling-restrained brace specimen are carried out. Relevant results show that the proposed technique is endowed with good convergence speed and accuracy, even when measurement noises and amplitude errors of actuator control are present.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.60-65
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• 2017

This study examined the effect of rotational stiffness of joints between vertical and horizontal members in system supports. In order to prevent repeated disasters of system supports, it is important to examine the accurate behavior of system supports. Among various factors affecting the complex behavior of system supports, this study focused on the stiffness of joints between vertical and horizontal members. The considered joint was modelled by a rotational spring, but the translational displacements were fixed. The stiffness of rotational spring was calculated by utilizing the usable experimental data. In addition, the hinge connection condition, which is generally considered in design and only restrict the translational displacements, was modelled to compare the results. The case with the rotational stiffness in joints showed 3.5 times buckling loads compared to the case without the rotational stiffness. Thus, the structural behavior of the vertical member in system supports was similar to the vertical member with the fixed condition. For the combined stresses of vertical members, the combined stress ratios were reduced 5~6% by considering the rotational stiffness of connecting parts. However, for the horizontal member where showed relatively small stress range, the stresses were increased 2.3~7.6 times by considering the rotational stiffness in connecting parts.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2020

Double skin composite wall system owns several structural merits in terms of high load-carrying capacity, large axial stiffness, and favorable ductility. A recently proposed form of truss connector was used to bond the steel plates to the concrete core to achieve good composite action. The structural behavior of rectangular high walls under compression and T-shaped high walls under eccentric compression has been investigated by the authors. Furthermore, the influences of the truss spacings, the wall width, and the faceplate thickness have been previously studied by the authors on short walls under uniform compression. This paper experimentally investigated the effect of width-to-thickness ratio on the compressive behavior of short walls. Compressive tests were conducted on three short specimens with different width-to-thickness ratios. Based on the test results, it is found that the composite wall shows high compressive resistance and good ductility. The walls fail by local buckling of steel plates and crushing of concrete core. It is also observed that width-to-thickness ratio has great influence on the compressive resistance, initial stiffness, and strain distribution across the section. Finally, the test results are compared with the predictions by modern codes.