• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.335-347
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• 2013

In this paper, the nonlinear cylindrical bending behavior of functionally graded nanocomposite plates reinforced by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is studied using an efficient and simple refined theory. This theory is based on assumption that the in-plane and transverse displacements consist of bending and shear components in which the bending components do not contribute toward shear forces and, likewise, the shear components do not contribute toward bending moments. The material properties of SWCNTs are assumed to be temperature-dependent and are obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. The material properties of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composites (FG-CNTCRs) are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction, and are estimated through a micromechanical model. The fundamental equations for functionally graded nanocomposite plates are obtained using the Von-Karman theory for large deflections and the solution is obtained by minimization of the total potential energy. The numerical illustrations concern the nonlinear bending response of FG-CNTRC plates under different sets of thermal environmental conditions, from which results for uniformly distributed CNTRC plates are obtained as comparators.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.407-420
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• 2018

Experiments were performed to explore the hysteretic performance of steel reinforced concrete (SRC) cross-shaped columns. Nine specimens were designed and tested under the combined action of compression, flexure, shear and torsion. Torsion-bending ratio (i.e., 0, 0.14, 0.21) and steel forms (i.e., Solid - web steel, T - shaped steel, Channel steel) were considered in the test. Both failure processes and modes were obtained during the whole loading procedure. Based on experimental data, seismic indexes, such as bearing capacity, ductility and energy dissipation were investigated in detail. Experimental results suggest that depending on the torsion-bending ratio, failure modes of SRC cross-shaped columns are bending failure, flexure-torsion failure and torsion-shear failure. Shear - displacement hysteretic loops are fuller than torque - twist angle hysteretic curves. SRC cross-shaped columns exhibit good ductility and deformation capacity. In the range of test parameters, the existence of torque does not reduce the shear force but it reduces the displacement and bending energy dissipation capacity. What is more, the bending energy dissipation capacity increases with the rising of displacement level, while the torsion energy dissipation capacity decreases.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.343-365
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• 2012

Steel suspension members subjected to tension and bending offer an economical and efficient alternative for many structural problems. This paper is concerned with the elastic and elastic-plastic behaviour of suspension members with bending stiffness subjected to vertical point and uniformly distributed loads. An experimental study is described which focuses on the response of three suspension members with various T-shaped steel hot rolled sections and geometric configurations. The tests enable direct assessment of the influence of a key parameter such as the sag-to-span ratio on the response of suspension members. Detailed nonlinear finite-element models are generated to provide a tool for theoretical analyses and to facilitate further understanding of the behaviour. Results demonstrate that experimentally obtained responses can generally be closely predicted numerically because there are relatively good agreements between finite element and tests results. The results and observations of subsequent numerical parametric studies offer an insight into the key factors that govern the behaviour of suspension members with bending stiffness in the elastic-plastic range.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.467-479
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• 2013

In this paper, a new first-order shear deformation beam theory based on neutral surface position is developed for bending and free vibration analysis of functionally graded beams. The proposed theory is based on assumption that the in-plane and transverse displacements consist of bending and shear components, in which the bending components do not contribute toward shear forces and, likewise, the shear components do not contribute toward bending moments. The neutral surface position for a functionally graded beam which its material properties vary in the thickness direction is determined. Based on the present new first-order shear deformation beam theory and the neutral surface concept together with Hamilton's principle, the motion equations are derived. To examine accuracy of the present formulation, several comparison studies are investigated. Furthermore, the effects of different parameters of the beam on the bending and free vibration responses of functionally graded beam are discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.351-362
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• 2017

This paper presents an experimental study on the behavior of composite floor slab comprised by a new steel sheet and concrete slab. The strength of composite slabs depends mainly on the strength of the connection between the steel sheet and concrete, which is denoted by longitudinal shear strength. The composite slabs have three main failures modes, failure by bending, vertical shear failure and longitudinal shear failure. These modes are based on the load versus deflection curves that are obtained in bending tests. The longitudinal shear failure is brittle due to the mechanical connection was not capable of transferring the shear force until the failure by bending occurs. The vertical shear failure is observed in slabs with short span, large heights and high concentrated loads subjected near the supports. In order to analyze the behavior of the composite slab with a new steel sheet, six bending tests were undertaken aiming to provide information on their longitudinal shear strength, and to assess the failure mechanisms of the proposed connections. Two groups of slabs were tested, one with 3000 mm in length and other with 1500 mm in length. The tested composite slabs showed satisfactory composite behavior and longitudinal shear resistance, as good as well, the analysis confirmed that the developed sheet is suitable for use in composite structures without damage to the global behavior.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.417-425
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• 2018

The main aim of this paper is to investigate the bending of Euler-Bernouilli nano-beams made of bi-directional functionally graded materials (BDFGMs) using Eringen's non-local elasticity theory in the integral form with compare the differential form. To the best of the researchers' knowledge, in the literature, there is no study carried out into integral form of Eringen's non-local elasticity theory for bending analysis of BDFGM Euler-Bernoulli nano-beams with arbitrary functions. Material properties of nano-beam are assumed to change along the thickness and length directions according to arbitrary function. The approximate analytical solutions to the bending analysis of the BDFG nano-beam are derived by using the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The differential form of Eringen's non-local elasticity theory reveals with increasing size effect parameter, the flexibility of the nano-beam decreases, that this is unreasonable. This problem has been resolved in the integral form of the Eringen's model. For all boundary conditions, it is clearly seen that the integral form of Eringen's model predicts the softening effect of the non-local parameter as expected. Finally, the effects of changes of some important parameters such as material length scale, BDFG index on the values of deflection of nano-beam are studied.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.363-380
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• 2010

Materials which exhibit different elastic moduli in tension and compression are known as bimodular materials. The bimodular materials model, which is founded on the criterion of positive-negative signs of principal stress, is important for the structural analysis and design. However, due to the inherent complexity of the constitutive relation, it is difficult to obtain an analytical solution of a bimodular bending components except in particular simple problems. Based on the existent simplified model, this paper solves analytically bending thin plates with different moduli in tension and compression. By using the continuity conditions of stress components in unknown neutral layer, we determine the location of the neutral layer, and derive the governing differential equation for deflection, the flexural rigidity, and the internal forces in the thin plate. We also use a circular thin plate with bimodulus to illustrate the application of this solution derived in this paper. The results show that the introduction of different moduli has influences on the flexural stiffness of the bending thin plate.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.843-855
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• 2014

Concrete infill and reinforcement are one of the most well-known strengthening methods of structural elements. This study investigated flexural performance of concrete infill composite PHC pile (ICP pile) reinforced by infill concrete and longitudinal rebars in hollow PHC pile. A total four series of pile specimens were tested by four points bending method under simply supported conditions and investigated bending moment experimentally and analytically. From the test results, it was found that although reinforcement of infilled concrete on the pure bending moment of PHC pile was negligible, reinforcement of PHC pile using infilled concrete and longitudinal rebars increase the maximum bending moment with range from 1.95 to 2.31 times than that of conventional PHC pile. The error of bending moment between experimental results and predicted results by nonlinear sectional analysis on the basis of the conventional layered sectional approach was in the range of -2.54 % to 2.80 %. The axial compression and moment interaction analysis for ICP piles shows more significant strengthening effects of infilled concrete and longitudinal rebars.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-122
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• 2013

For the optimization design and strength evaluation of the umbilical cable, the calculation of cross section stress is of great importance and very time consuming. To calculate the cross section stress under combined tension and bending loads, a new integrated analytical model of umbilical cable is presented in this paper. Based on the Hook's law, the axial strain of helical components serves as the tensile stress. Considering the effects of friction between helical components, the bending stress is divided into elastic bending stress and friction stress. For the former, the elastic bending stress, the curvature of helical components is deduced; and for the latter, the shear stress before and after the slipping of helical components is determined. This new analytical model is validated by the experimental results of an umbilical cable. Further, this model is applied to estimate the extreme strength and fatigue life of the umbilical cable used in South China Sea.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.741-771
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• 2007

Tests were conducted on two partially pre-stressed concrete solid beams subjected to combined loading of bending, shear and torsion. The beams were designed using the Direct Design Method which is based on the Lower Bound Theorem of the Theory of Plasticity. Both beams were of $300{\times}300mm$ cross-section and 3.8 m length. The two main variables studied were the ratio of the maximum shear stress due to the twisting moment, to the shear stress arising from the shear force, which was varied between 0.69 and 3.04, and the ratio of the maximum twisting moment to the maximum bending moment which was varied between 0.26 and 1.19. The required reinforcement from the Direct Design Method was compared with requirements from the ACI and the BSI codes. It was found that, in the case of bending dominance, the required longitudinal reinforcements from all methods were close to each other while the BSI required much larger transverse reinforcement. In the case of torsion dominance, the BSI method required much larger longitudinal and transverse reinforcement than the both the ACI and the DDM methods. The difference in the transverse reinforcement is more pronounce. Experimental investigation showed good agreement between design and experimental failure loads of the beams designed using the Direct Design Method. Both beams failed within an acceptable range of the design loads and underwent ductile behaviour up to failure. The results indicate that the Direct Design Method can be successfully used to design partially prestressed concrete solid beams which cater for the combined effect of bending, shear and torsion loads.