• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.3
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• pp.395-412
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• 2020

In this article, the values of internal force and deformation of a curved beam under any action with the firm or elastic supports are determined by using structural matrices. The article presents the general differential formulation of a curved beam in global coordinates, which is solved in an orderly manner using simple integrals, thus obtaining the transfer matrix expression. The matrix expression of rigidity is obtained through reordering operations on the transfer notation. The support conditions, firm or elastic, provide twelve equations. The objective of this article is the construction of the algebraic system of order twenty-four, twelve transfer equations and twelve support equations, which relates the values of internal force and deformation associated with the two ends of the directrix of the curved beam. This final algebraic system, expressed in matrix form, is divided into two subsystems: twelve algebraic equations of internal force and twelve algebraic equations of deformation. The internal force and deformation values for any point in the curved beam directrix are determined from these values in the initial position. The five examples presented show how to apply the matrix procedures developed in this article, whether they are curved beams with the firm or elastic support.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.281-303
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• 2015

The effects of infill panels on the response of r.c. frames subjected to seismic action are widely recognized. Numerous experimental investigations were effected and several analytical models were developed on this subject. This work, which is part of a larger project dealing with specific materials and structures commonly used in Italy, discusses experimental tests on masonry and samples of bare and infilled portals. The experimental activity includes tests on elemental materials, and 12 wall samples. Finally, three one-bay one-story reinforced concrete frames, designed according to the outdated Italian technical code D.M. 1996 without seismic details, were tested (bare and infilled) under constant vertical and cyclic lateral load. The first cracks observed on the framed walls occurred at a drift of about 0.3%, reaching its maximum capacity at a drift of 0.5% while retaining its capacity up to a drift of 0.6%. Infill contributed to both the stiffness and strength of the bare reinforced concrete frame at small drifts thus improving overall system behavior. In addition to the experimental activities, previously mentioned, the recalibration of a model proposed by Comberscue (1996) was evaluated. The accuracy of an OpenSees non linear fiber based model of the prototype tested, including a strut element was verified through a comparison with the final experimental results. This work has been partially supported by research grant DPC-ReLUIS 2014.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.405-416
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• 2015

We proposed the concept of nominal rigidity of a long-span V-shaped rigid frame composite arch bridge, analyzed the effects of structural parameters on nominal rigidity, and derived a theoretical nominal rigidity equation. In addition, we discussed the selection of the arch-to-beam rigidity ratio and its effect on the distribution of internal forces, and analyzed the influence of the ratio on the internal forces. We determined the delimitation value between rigid arch-flexible beam and flexible arch-rigid beam. We summarized the nominal rigidity and arch to beam rigidity ratios of existing bridges. The results show that (1) rigid arch-flexible beam and flexible arch-rigid beam can be defined by the arch-to-beam rigidity ratio; (2) nominal rigidities have no obvious differences among the continuous rigid frame composite arch bridge, V-shaped rigid frame bridge, and arch bridge, which shows that nominal rigidity can reflect the global stiffness of a structure.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.95-112
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• 2016

This paper presents the free vibration analysis of damaged beams by means of 1D (beam) advanced finite element models. The present 1D formulation stems from the Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF), and it leads to a Component-Wise (CW) modelling. By means of the CUF, any order 2D and 1D structural models can be developed in a unified and hierarchical manner, and they provide extremely accurate results with very low computational costs. The computational cost reduction in terms of total amount of DOFs ranges from 10 to 100 times less than shell and solid models, respectively. The CW provides a detailed physical description of the real structure since each component can be modelled with its material characteristics, that is, no homogenization techniques are required. Furthermore, although 1D models are exploited, the problem unknown variables can be placed on the physical surfaces of the real 3D model. No artificial surfaces or lines have to be defined to build the structural model. Global and local damages are introduced by decreasing the stiffness properties of the material in the damaged regions. The results show that the proposed 1D models can deal with damaged structures as accurately as a shell or a solid model, but with far lower computational costs. Furthermore, it is shown how the presence of damages can lead to shell-like modal shapes and torsional/bending coupling.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2009

This study introduces a novel approach for locating damage in a structure using wireless sensor system with local level computational capability to alleviate data traffic load on the centralized computation. Smart wireless sensor systems, capable of iterative damage-searching, mimic an optimization process in a decentralized way. The proposed algorithm tries to detect damage in a structure by monitoring abnormal increases in strain measurements from a group of wireless sensors. Initially, this clustering technique provides a reasonably effective sensor placement within a structure. Sensor clustering also assigns a certain number of master sensors in each cluster so that they can constantly monitor the structural health of a structure. By adopting a voting system, a group of wireless sensors iteratively forages for a damage location as they can be activated as needed. Since all of the damage searching process occurs within a small group of wireless sensors, no global control or data traffic to a central system is required. Numerical simulation demonstrates that the newly developed searching algorithm implemented on wireless sensors successfully localizes stiffness damage in a plate through the local level reconfigurable function of smart sensors.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.5
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• pp.591-601
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• 2018

Non-moment beam-to-column connections, which are usually referred to as simple or shear connections, are typically designed to carry only gravity loads in the form of vertical shears. Although in the analysis of structures these connections are usually assumed to be pinned, they may provide a small amount of rotational stiffness due to the typical connection details. This paper investigates the effects of this small rotational restraint of simple beam-to-column connections on the behavior and seismic response of steel braced non-moment resisting frames. Two types of commonly used simple connections with bolted angles, i.e., the Double Web angle Connection (DWC) and Unstiffened Seat angle Connection (USC) are considered for this purpose. In addition to the pinned condition - as a simplified representation of these connections - more accurate semi-rigid models are established and then applied to some frame models subjected to nonlinear pushover and nonlinear time history analyses. Although the use of bracing elements generally reduces the sensitivity of the global structural response to the behavior of connections, the obtained results indicate considerable effects on the local responses. Namely, our results show that consideration of the real behavior of connections is essential in designing the column elements where the pin-connection assumption significantly underestimates design of outer columns of upper stories.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.42-47
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• 2018

Recently, in the surge of global environmental issues, there has been a great attention to lightweight materials in purpose of saving energy. Magnesium alloys not only have low specific gravity, and superb specific stiffness, but are also excellent in blocking vibrations and electromagnetic waves. So demand for this material is getting bigger rapidly throughout the industry. In this study, we examined the improvement of formability of magnesium alloy AZ31 material in warm working. Drawing, bending and shearing process were carried out by varying the forming temperature and the forming speed, and the influence of the variables on each process was studied. In the experiments, the high forming temperature and low forming speed results in high formability in the drawing process and the bending process. In the shearing process, as the forming temperature increases, the length of the fracture decreases.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.353-361
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• 2022

Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) has been developed by applying stress analysis to determine the stress intensity factor (SIF, K). The finite element method (FEM) is widely used as a standard tool for evaluating the SIF for various crack configurations. The prediction accuracy can be achieved by applying an adaptive Delaunay triangulation combined with a FEM. The solution can be solved using either direct or iterative solvers. This work adopts the element-by-element preconditioned conjugate gradient (EBE-PCG) iterative solver into an adaptive FEM to solve the solution to heal problem size constraints that exist when direct solution techniques are applied. It can avoid the formation of a global stiffness matrix of a finite element model. Several numerical experiments reveal that the present method is simple, fast, and efficient compared to conventional sparse direct solvers. The optimum convergence criterion for two-dimensional LEFM analysis is studied. In this paper, four sample problems of a two-edge cracked plate, a center cracked plate, a single-edge cracked plate, and a compact tension specimen is used to evaluate the accuracy of the prediction of the SIF values. Finally, the efficiency of the present iterative solver is summarized by comparing the computational time for all cases.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.4
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• pp.395-409
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• 2022

The presence of infill generally neglected in design despite the fact that infill contribution significantly increase the lateral stiffness and strength of the reinforced concrete frame structure. Several experimental studies and computational models have been proposed to capture the rational response of infill-frame interaction at global level. However, limited studies are available on explicit finite element modelling to study the local behavior due to high computation and convergence issues in numerical modelling. In the current study, the computational modelling of RC frames is done with various configurations of infill masonry in terms of types of blocks, lateral loading and reinforcement detailing employed with material nonlinearities, interface contact issues and bond-slip phenomenon particularly near the beam-column joints. To this end, extensive computational modelling of five variant characteristics test specimens extracted from the detailed experimental program available in literature and process through nonlinear static analysis in FEM code, ATENA generally used to capture the nonlinear response of reinforced concrete structures. Results are presented in terms of damage patterns and capacity curves by employing the finest possible detail provided in the experimental program. Comparative analysis shows that good correlation amongst the experimental and numerical simulated results both in terms of capacity and crack patterns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.565-582
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• 2023

The present research reports the application of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) as an alternative to conventional concrete to improve the seismic behavior of short columns. Experimental and finite element investigation was conducted by testing five reinforced engineered cementitious composite (RECC) concrete columns (half-scale specimens) and one control reinforced concrete (RC) specimen for different shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios under cyclic lateral loads. RECC specimens with higher shear-span and transverse reinforcement ratios demonstrated a significant effect on the column lateral load behavior by improving ductility (>5), energy dissipation capacity (1.2 to 4.1 times RC specimen), gradual strength degradation (ultimate drift >3.4%), and altering the failure mode. The self-confinement effect of ECC fibers maintained the integrity in the post-peak region and reserved the transmission of stress through fibers without noticeable degradation in strength. Finite element modeling of RECC specimens under monotonic incremental loads was carried out by adopting simplified constitutive material models. It was apprehended that the model simulated the global response (strength and stiffness) and damage crack patterns reasonably well.