• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.601-615
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• 2019

In cold-formed steel (CFS) structures, such as trusses, wall frames and columns, the use of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections are becoming increasingly popular. In such an arrangement, intermediate fasteners are required at discrete points along the length, preventing the angle-sections from buckling independently. Limited research is available in the literature on the axial strength of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections. The issue is addressed herein. This paper presents the results of 16 experimental tests, conducted on back-to-back built-up CFS screw fastened angle sections under axial compression. A nonlinear finite element model is then described, which includes material non-linearity, geometric imperfections and explicit modelling of the intermediate fasteners. The finite element model was validated against the experimental test results. The validated finite element model was then used for the purpose of a parametric study comprising 66 models. The effect of fastener spacing on axial strength was investigated. Four different cross-sections and two different thicknesses were analyzed in the parametric study, varying the slenderness ratio of the built-up columns from 20 to 120. Axial strengths obtained from the experimental tests and finite element analysis were used to assess the performance of the current design guidelines as per the Direct Strength Method (DSM); obtained comparison showed that the DSM is over-conservative by 13% on average. This paper has therefore proposed improved design rules for the DSM and verified their accuracy against the finite element and test results of back-to-back built-up CFS angle sections under axial compression.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.466-473
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• 2018

This paper presents an estimation method for the static configuration of a steel lazy wave riser (SLWR) using the dynamic relaxation method applied to estimate the configuration of structures with strong geometric non-linearity. The lumped mass model is introduced to reflect the flexible structural characteristics of the riser. In the lumped mass model, the tensions, shear forces, buoyancy, self-weights, and seabed reaction forces at nodal points are considered in order to find the static configuration of the SLWR. The dynamic relaxation method using a viscous damping formulation is applied to the static configuration analysis. Fictitious masses are defined at nodal points using the sum of the largest direct stiffness values of nodal points to ensure the numerical stability. Various case studies were performed according to the bending stiffness and size of the buoyancy module using the dynamic relaxation method. OrcaFlex was employed to validate the accuracy of the developed numerical method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2022

In cold-formed steel (CFS) structures, such as trusses, transmission towers and portal frames, the use of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections are becoming increasingly popular. In such an arrangement, intermediate welds or screw fasteners are required at discrete points along the length, preventing the angle sections from buckling independently. Limited research is available in the literature on axial strength of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections. The issue is addressed herein. This paper presents an experimental investigation reported by the authors on back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections with intermediate stiffeners under axial compression. The load-axial shortening behaviour along with the deformed shapes at failure are reported. A nonlinear finite element (FE) model was then developed, which includes material non-linearity, geometric imperfections and modelling of intermediate fasteners. The FE model was validated against the experimental test results, which showed good agreement, both in terms of failure loads and deformed shapes at failure. The validated finite element model was then used for the purpose of a parametric study comprising 96 models to investigate the effect of longer to shorter leg ratios, stiffener provided in the longer leg, thicknesses and lengths on axial strength of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections. Four different thicknesses and seven different lengths (stub to slender columns) with three overall widths to the overall depth (B/D) ratios were investigated in the parametric study. Axial strengths obtained from the experimental tests and FE analyses were used to assess the performance of the current design guidelines as per the Direct Strength Method (DSM); obtained comparisons show that the current DSM is conservative by only 7% and 5% on average, while predicting the axial strengths of back-to-back built-up CFS unequal angle sections with and without the stiffener, respectively.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.5B
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• pp.539-549
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• 2006

The performance of a pontoon-type floating breakwater (FB) is investigated numerically with the use of a second-order time domain model. The model has been developed based on potential theory, perturbation theory and boundary element method. This study is focused on the effects of weakly nonlinear wave on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the FB. Hydrodynamic forces, motion responses, surface elevation, and wave transmission coefficient around the floating breakwater are evaluated for various wave and geometric parameters. It is shown that the second-order wave component is of significant importance in calculating magnitudes of the hydrodynamic forces, mooring forces and the maximum response of a structure. The weak non-linearity of incident waves, however, can have little influence on the efficiency of the FB. From numerical simulations, the ratio of draft and depth, the relationship of wave number and width are presented for providing an effective means of reducing wave energy.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2002

In this study nonlinear dynamic behaviors of towed tow-tension cables are numerically analysed. In the case of a taut cable analysis, a bending stiffness term is usually neglected due to its minor effect but it plays an important role in a low-tension cable analysis. A low-tension cable may experience large displacements due to relatively small restoring forces and thus the effects of fluid and geometric non-linearities become predominant. The bending stiffness and non-linearity effects are considered in this work. In order to obtain dynamic behaviors of a towed low-tension cable, three-dimensional nonlinear dynamic equation is described and discretized by employing a finite difference method. An implicit method and Newton-Raphson iteration are adopted for the time integration and nonlinear solutions. For the calculation of huge size of matrices. block tri-diagonal matrix method is applied, which is much faster than the well-known Gauss-Jordan method in two point boundary value problems. Some case studies are carried out and the results of numerical simulations are compared with those of a in-house program of WHOI Cable with good agreements.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.531-536
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• 2004

In fracture treatment with external fixators, the inter-fragmentary movements at the fracture site affect the fracture healing process, and these movements are highly related to the stiffness of external fixation systems. Therefore, in order to provide the optimal fracture healing at the fracture site, it is essential to understand the relationship between the stiffness and the system configurations in external fixation system. In this study we investigated the influences of system configuration parameters on the stiffness in the finite element analysis of an external fixation system of a long bone. The system alignment, the geometric and the material non-linearity of the pin, the joint stiffness and the callus formation were considered in the finite element model. In the first, the system stiffness of the developed finite element model was compared with the experiment data for model validation. The consideration of the joint stiffness and nonlinearity of the model improved the system stiffness results. The joint stiffness, the non-alignment of the system decreased the system stiffness while the callus formation increased the system stiffness. The present results provided the biomechanical basis of rational guidelines for design improvements of external fixators and pre-op. planning to maximize the system stiffness in fracture surgery.