• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1417-1443
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• 2016

Cellular and castellated steel beams are used to obtain higher stiffness and bending capacity using the same weight of steel. In addition, the beam openings may be used as a pass for different mechanical fixtures such as ducts and pipes. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of different parameters on both elastic and inelastic critical buckling stresses of steel web plates with openings. These parameters are plate aspect ratio; opening shape (circular or rectangular); end distance to the first opening; opening spacing; opening size; plate slenderness ratio; steel grade; and initial web imperfection. The web/flange interaction has been simplified by web edge restraints representing simply supported boundary conditions. A numerical parametric study has been performed through linear and nonlinear finite element (FE) models, where the FE results have been verified against both experimental and numerical results in the literature. The web plates are subject to in-plane linearly varying compression with different loading patterns, ranging from uniform compression to pure bending. A buckling stress modification factor (${\beta}$-factor) has been introduced as a ratio of buckling stress of web plate with openings to buckling stress of the corresponding solid web plate. The variation of ${\beta}$-factor against the aforementioned parameters has been reported. Furthermore, the critical plate slenderness ratio separating elastic buckling and yielding has been identified and discussed for two steel grades of DIN-17100, namely: ST-37/2 and ST-52/3. The FE results revealed that the minimum ${\beta}$-factor is 0.9 for web plates under uniform compression and 0.7 for those under both compression and tension.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2016

In this study, previously reported surplus solar energy-related study result and current status of fan coil unit (FCU) for cooling and heating installed in the current sites were briefly examined and then a method to determine the number of FCUs required to recover surplus solar energy was schematically proposed to provide basic data for researchers and technical engineers in this field. The maximum, mean, and minimum outside temperatures during the experiment period were about $28.2^{\circ}C$, $4.4^{\circ}C$, and $-11.5^{\circ}C$, respectively. The horizontal surface solar radiation level outside the greenhouse was in a range of $0.8-20.5MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ and mean and total solar radiation were $10.8MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$ and $1,187.5MJ{\cdot}m^{-2}$. The mean temperature and relative humidity in the greenhouse during the daytime were in a range of 18.8-45.5 and 53.5-77.5%. The total surplus solar energy recovered from the greenhouse during the experiment period was approximately 6,613.4MJ, which could supplement about 6.7% of the total heating energy 98,600.2 MJ. In addition, the number of FCUs installed for heating varies case to case, although similar FCUs are used. Thus, it is necessary to study the installation height, orientation and installation distance as well as the appropriate number of FCUs from the efficient and economical viewpoints. The required numbers of FCUs for surplus solar energy recovery were 8.4-10.9units and 6.1-8.0units based on air mass and circular flow rate that passed through the FCUs. Considering calculation methods and the risks such as efficiency and use environments of FCUs, it was found that about nine units (one unit per $24m^3$ approximately) needed to be installed. The required number of FCUs for surplus solar energy recovery was around one unit per $24m^3$ approximately.