• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1381-1402
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• 2015

The application of composite steel-concrete slabs with profiled steel sheeting has increased, due to the various advantages in relation to reinforced concrete slabs such as, the reduced thickness, the reduced amount of lost formwork needed, as well as the speed of execution. The loss of longitudinal shear resistance is, generally, the governing design mode for simply supported spans of common lengths. For common distributed loadings, the composite behaviour is influenced by the partial shear connection between the concrete and the steel sheeting. The present research work is intended to contribute to improving the ultimate limit state behaviour of composite slabs using end anchorage. Eurocode 4, Part 1.1 (EN 1994-1-1) provides an analytical methodology for predicting the increase of longitudinal resistance, achieved by using shear studs welded through the steel sheeting as the end anchorage mechanism. The code does not supply an analytical methodology for other kinds of end anchorage so, additional tests or studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of these types of anchorage. The influence of end anchorage mechanisms provided by transverse rebars at the ends of simply supported composite slabs is analysed in this paper. Two experimental programmes were carried out, the first to determine the resistance provided by the new end anchorage mechanism and the second to analyse its influence on the behaviour of simply supported composite slabs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2020

This study presents applications of the multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) method for predicting the ultimate loading carrying capacity (N_u) of rectangular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns subjected to eccentric loading. A database containing 141 experimental data was collected from available literature to develop the MARS model with a total of seven variables that covered various geometrical and material properties including the width of rectangular steel tube (B), the depth of rectangular steel tube (H), the wall thickness of steel tube (t), the length of column (L), cylinder compressive strength of concrete (f'_c), yield strength of steel (f_y), and the load eccentricity (e). The proposed model is a combination of the MARS algorithm and the grid search cross-validation technique (abbreviated here as GS-MARS) in order to determine MARS' parameters. A new explicit formulation was derived from MARS for the mentioned input variables. The GS-MARS estimation accuracy was compared with four available mathematical methods presented in the current design codes, including AISC, ACI-318, AS, and Eurocode 4. The results in terms of criteria indices indicated that the MARS model was much better than the available formulae.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2021

The use of composite beams with partial interaction, with less shear connectors than those required for full interaction, may be advantageous in many situations. However, these beams tend to show higher deflections compared to beams with full interaction, and codified expressions for the calculation of such deflections are not fully developed and validated. Thus, this paper presents a comprehensive numerical study on the deflections of steel-concrete composite beams with partial interaction. Efficient numerical models of full-scale composite beams considering material nonlinearities and contact between their parts have been developed by means of the advanced software ABAQUS, including a damage model to simulate the concrete slab. The FE models were validated against experimental results, and subsequently parametric studies were developed to investigate the influence of the shear connection degree and the coefficient of friction in the deflection of composite beams. The comparison of predicted deflections using reference codes (AISC, Eurocode-4 and AS-2327.1) against numerical results showed that there are still inaccuracies in the estimation of deflections for the verification of the serviceability limit state, according to some of the analyzed codes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.61-75
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• 2024

Thin-walled concrete-filled U-shaped steel beams have been recently used in building structures for shortening the construction period and cost efficiency of structural members. In this study, the flexural and shear behavior of newly developed bolt-connected U-shaped steel beams filled with concrete was experimentally evaluated considering load conditions for positive and negative moments, and types of U-shaped steel sections. Because the cross sections are not symmetrical about a horizontal axis, compressive buckling of bottom plates was observed along with web shear buckling under negative moment loading, while the slab concrete under compression was crushed under a positive moment loading. Despite such different shear failure modes depending on load conditions, the shear strength of the composite beams can be conservatively predicted using AISC 360-16 and Eurocode 4. Although the shear contribution of filled concrete is neglected according to the current design codes, the shear capacity of the steel web considering the shear buckling coefficient corresponding to the web width-to-thickness ratio reasonably predicts the test results. In addition, for deep composite beams, the longitudinal lips of a U-shaped steel section anchored into filled concrete can improve the interfacial bond between steel and concrete, thereby enhancing the shear contribution of the steel web.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.355-370
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• 2018

In steel-concrete composite beams, longitudinal shear forces are transferred across steel flange-concrete slab interface by means of shear connectors. The connector behavior is highly non-linear and involves several complex mechanisms. The design resistance and stiffness of composite beams depends on the shear connection behavior and the accuracy in the connector resistance prediction is essential. However determining the stud shear resistance is not an easy process: analytical methods do not give an adequate response to this problem and it is therefore necessary to use experimental methods. This paper present a summary of the main procedures to predict the resistance of the stud shear connectors embedded in solid slab, and stud shear connectors in composite slab using profiled steel sheeting with rib perpendicular to steel beam. A large number of experimental studies on the behavior of stud shear connectors and reported in the literature are also summarized. A comparison of the stud shear resistance prediction using six reference codes (AISC, AASHTO, Eurocode-4, GB50017, JSCE and AS2327.1) and other procedures reported in the literature against experimental results is presented. From this exercise, it is concluded that there are still inaccuracies in the prediction of stud shear resistance in all analysed procedures and that improvements are needed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.477-488
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• 2009

A slip critical joint has various values to adopt the proper slip coefficient in various conditions of faying surfaces in the following codes: AISC, AIJ and Eurocode 3. However, the Korean Building Code still regulates the unique slip coefficient, 0.45, regardless of the diverse faying conditions. In this study, the slip resistance test, including five kinds of surface treatments were conducted to obtain the proper slip coefficients available to steel plate KS SM490A. The faying surfaces were comprised of a clean mill, rust, red lead paint, zinc primer, and shot blast treatment. The candidates for high strength bolts were torque-shear bolts, torque-shear bolts with zinc coating, and ASTM A490 bolts. Based on the test results, the specimens with a shot blasted surface and rusted surface exhibited $k_s$, 0.61, and 0.5, respectively. It is recommended that the specimens with zinc primer exhibit $k_s{\geq}0.40$. The clean mill treated surface had prominently lower values, 0.27. For red lead painted treatment, the thickness of the coating affects the determinant of slip coefficient, so it is necessary to establish a minimum $k_s$ of 0.2, with a coating thickness of 65 ${\mu}m$. During 1,000 hours of relaxation, the uncoated surfaces exhibited the loss of clamping force behind 3%, while the coated surfaces within a certain limited thickness exhibited the loss of clamping within a range of 4.71% and 8.37%.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.127-145
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• 2016

Composite column design is strongly influenced by the computation of the critical buckling load, which is very sensitive to the effective flexural stiffness (EI) of the column. Because of this, the behaviour of a composite column under lateral loading and its response to deflection is largely determined by the EI of the member. Thus, prediction models used for composite member design should accurately mirror this behaviour. However, EI varies due to several design parameters, and the implementation of high-strength materials, which are not considered by the current composite design codes of practice. The reliability of the design methods from six codes of practice (i.e., AS 5100, AS/NZS 2327, Eurocode 4, AISC 2010, ACI 318, and AIJ) for composite columns is studied in this paper. Also, the reliability of these codes of practice against a serviceability limit state criterion are estimated based on the combined use of the test-based statistical procedure proposed by Johnson and Huang (1997) and Monte Carlo simulations. The composite columns database includes 100 tests of circular concrete-filled tubes, rectangular concrete-filled tubes, and concrete-encased steel composite columns. A summary of the reliability analysis procedure and the evaluated reliability indices are provided. The reasons for the reliability analysis results are discussed to provide useful insight and supporting information for a possible revision of available codes of practice.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.79-92
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• 2017

Initial damage to a stud due to corrosion, fatigue, unexpected overloading, a weld defect or other factors could degrade the shear capacity of the stud. Based on typical push-out tests, a FEM model and theoretical formulations were proposed in this study. Six specimens with the same geometric dimensions were tested to investigate the effect of the damage degree and location on the static behavior and shear capacity of stud shear connectors. The test results indicated that a reduction of up to 36.6% and 62.9% of the section area of the shank could result in a dropping rate of 7.9% and 57.2%, respectively, compared to the standard specimen shear capacity. Numerical analysis was performed to simulate the push-out test and validated against test results. A parametrical study was performed to further investigate the damage degree and location on the shear capacity of studs based on the proposed numerical model. It was demonstrated that the shear capacity was not sensitive to the damage degree when the damage section was located at 0.5d, where d is the shank diameter, from the stud root, even if the stud had a significant reduction in area. Finally, a theoretical formula with a reduction factor K was proposed to consider the reduction of the shear capacity due to the presence of initial damage. Calculating K was accomplished in two ways: a linear relationship and a square relationship with the damage degree corresponding to the shear capacity dominated by the section area and the nominal diameter of the damaged stud. This coefficient was applied using Eurocode 4, AASHTO LRFD (2014) and GB50017-2003 (2003) and compared with the test results found in the literature. It was found that the proposed method produced good predictions of the shear capacity of stud shear connectors with initial damage.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.69-83
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• 2019

This paper investigates the structural behavior of very high strength concrete encased steel composite columns via combined experimental and analytical study. The experimental programme examines stub composite columns under pure compression and eccentric compression. The experimental results show that the high strength encased concrete composite column exhibits brittle post peak behavior and low ductility but has acceptable compressive resistance. The high strength concrete encased composite column subjected to early spalling and initial flexural cracking due to its brittle nature that may degrade the stiffness and ultimate resistance. The analytical study compares the current code methods (ACI 318, Eurocode 4, AISC 360 and Chinese JGJ 138) in predicting the compressive resistance of the high strength concrete encased composite columns to verify the accuracy. The plastic design resistance may not be fully achieved. A database including the concrete encased composite column under concentered and eccentric compression is established to verify the predictions using the proposed elastic, elastoplastic and plastic methods. Image-oriented intelligent recognition tool-based fiber element method is programmed to predict the load resistances. It is found that the plastic method can give an accurate prediction of the load resistance for the encased composite column using normal strength concrete (20-60 MPa) while the elastoplastic method provides reasonably conservative predictions for the encased composite column using high strength concrete (60-120 MPa).

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.91-106
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• 2022

Concrete-filled square stainless steel tubes (CFSSST), which possess relatively large flexural stiffness, high corrosion resistance and require simple joint configurations and low maintenance cost, have a great potential in constructional applications. Despite that the use of stainless steel may result in high initial cost compared to their conventional carbon steel counterparts, the whole-life cost of CFSSST is however considered to be lower, which offers a competitive choice in engineering practice. In this paper, a comprehensive experimental and numerical program on 24 CFSSST stub column specimens, including 3 austenitic and 3 duplex stainless steel square hollow section (SHS) stub columns and 9 austenitic and 9 duplex CFSSST stub columns, has been carried out. Finite element (FE) models were developed to be used in parametric analysis to investigate the influence of the tube thickness and concrete strength on the ultimate capacities more accurately. Comparisons of the experimental and numerical results with the predictions made by design guides ACI 318, ANSI/AISC 360, Eurocode 4 and GB 50936 have been performed. It was found that these design methods generally give conservative predictions to the ultimate capacities of CFSSST stub columns. Improved calculation methods, developed based on the Continuous Strength Method, have been proposed to provide more accurate estimations of the ultimate resistances of CFSSST stub columns. The suitability of these proposals has been validated by comparison with the test results, where a good agreement between the predictions and the test results have been achieved.