• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.467-484
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• 2015

Seismic performances of dual steel moment-resisting frames with mixed use of rigid and semi-rigid connections were investigated to control of the base shear, story drifts and the ductility demand of the elements. To this end, nonlinear seismic responses of three groups of frames with three, eight and fifteen story were evaluated. These frames with rigid, semi-rigid and combined configuration of rigid and semi-rigid connections were analyzed under five earthquake records and their responses were compared in ultimate limit state of rigid frame. This study showed that in all frames, it could be found a state of semi-rigidity and connections configuration which behaved better than rigid frame, with consideration of the base shear and story drifts criterion. Finally, some criteria were suggested to locate the best place of the semi-rigid connections for improvement of the seismic performance of steel moment-resisting frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.3
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• pp.309-321
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• 2024

In this paper, the effect of semi-rigid connections on the stability bearing capacity of cross-bracings in steel tubular transmission towers is investigated. Herein, a prediction method based on the hybrid model which is a combination of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and backpropagation neural network (BPNN) is proposed to accurately predict the stability bearing capacity of cross-bracings with semi-rigid connections and to efficiently conduct its probabilistic assessment. Firstly, the establishment of the finite element (FE) model of cross-bracings with semi-rigid connections is developed on the basis of the development of the mechanical model. Then, a dataset of 7425 samples generated by the FE model is used to train and test the PSO-BPNN model, and the accuracy of the proposed method is evaluated. Finally, the probabilistic assessment for the stability bearing capacity of cross-bracings with semi-rigid connections is conducted based on the proposed method and the Monte Carlo simulation, in which the geometric and material properties including the outer diameter and thickness of cross-sections and the yield strength of steel are considered as random variables. The results indicate that the proposed method based on the PSO-BPNN model has high accuracy in predicting the stability bearing capacity of cross-bracings with semi-rigid connections. Meanwhile, the semi-rigid connections could enhance the stability bearing capacity of cross-bracings and the reliability of cross-bracings would significantly increase after considering semi-rigid connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1405-1421
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• 2015

Semi-rigid connections are the actual behavior of beam-to-column connections in steel frames. However, the behavior of semi-rigid connections is not taken into account for the simplicity in the conventional analysis and design of steel frames. A computer-based analysis and design has been studied for the three-dimensional steel frames with semi-rigid connections. The nonlinear analysis which includes the effects of the flexibility of connections is used for this study. It is designed according to the buckling and combined stress constraints under the present loading after the joint deformations and the member end forces of the space frame are determined by the stiffness matrix method. The semi-rigid connection type is limited to the top and bottom angles with a double web angle connection. The Frye-Morris polynomial model is used to describe the non-linear behavior of semi-rigid connections. Various design examples are presented to demonstrate the efficiency of the method. The results of design and analysis of unbraced semi-rigid frames are compared to the results of unbraced rigid frames under the same design requirements.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2017

Seismic performance of hybrid steel frames defined as mixture of rigid and semi-rigid connections is investigated in this paper. Three frames with 10, 15 and 20 stories are designed with fully rigid connections and then with 4 patterns for semi-rigid connection placement, some of beam to column rigid connections would turn to semi-rigid. Each semi-rigid connection is considered with 4 different moment capacities and all rigid and semi-rigid frames consisting of 51 models are subjected to 5 selected earthquake records for nonlinear analysis. Maximum story drifts, roof acceleration and base shear are extracted for those 5 earthquake records and average values are obtained for each case. Based on numerical results for the proposed hybrid frames, story drifts remain in allowable range and the reductions in the maximum roof acceleration of 22, 29 and 25% and maximum base shear of 33, 31 and 54% occur in those 10, 15 and 20-story frames, respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.327-334
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• 2018

In the steel structures design, beam-to-column connections are usually considered either rigid or pinned, while their actual behavior lies between these two ideal cases. This consideration has a major influence on the results of the local and the global behavior of steel structures. This influence is noticed in the case of a static analysis, and has an important effect in the case of a dynamic analysis. In fact, pinned and rigid nodes can be considered as two specific cases of a semi-rigid behavior. To study the efficiency of the classification adopted in Eurocode 3, a numerical simulation of semi-rigid nodes has been carried out using the software ANSYS. In the aim to validate this simulation, the numerical results are compared to those of an analytical approach. After that, the validated numerical simulation has been used, to evaluate the efficiency of the classification adopted by the Eurocode 3, regarding semi-rigid connections. Finally, a new method is proposed to define a more accurate evaluation about semi-rigid connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.453-469
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• 2004

In this article, a genetic algorithm based optimum design method is presented for non-linear steel frames with semi-rigid connections. The design algorithm obtains the minimum weight frame by selecting suitable sections from a standard set of steel sections such as European wide flange beams (i.e., HE sections). A genetic algorithm is employed as optimization method which utilizes reproduction, crossover and mutation operators. Displacement and stress constraints of Turkish Building Code for Steel Structures (TS 648, 1980) are imposed on the frame. The algorithm requires a large number of non-linear analyses of frames. The analyses cover both the non-linear behaviour of beam-to-column connection and $P-{\Delta}$ effects of beam-column members. The Frye and Morris polynomial model is used for modelling of semi-rigid connections. Two design examples with various type of connections are presented to demonstrate the application of the algorithm. The semi-rigid connection modelling results in more economical solutions than rigid connection modelling, but it increases frame drift.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.431-451
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• 2013

The Big Bang-Big Crunch (BB-BC) optimization algorithm is developed for optimal design of non-linear steel frames with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections. The design algorithm obtains the minimum total cost which comprises total member plus connection costs by selecting suitable sections. Displacement and stress constraints together with the geometry constraints are imposed on the frame in the optimum design procedure. In addition, non-linear analyses considering the P-${\Delta}$ effects of beam-column members are performed during the optimization process. Three design examples with various types of connections are presented and the results show the efficiency of using semi-rigid connection models in comparing to rigid connections. The obtained optimum semi-rigid frames are more economical solutions and lead to more realistic predictions of response and strength of the structure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.315-331
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• 2009

Mechanical connections are recognized as extremely important elements in the aspect of strength and structural safety. However, classical structural model does not consider the connection stiffness properties, and are based on models with pinned or rigid joints only. In fact, mechanical connections are deformable and behave not linearly, affecting the whole structure and inducing nonlinear behavior as well. The quantification of this effect, however, depends on the description of the working of the connectors and the wood response under embedment. The theoretical modeling of wood structures with semi-rigid connections involves not only the structural analysis, but also the modeling of both single and grouped moment resisting connectors and the study of the wood properties under embedment. The proposal of this paper is to approach these aspects, and to quantitatively study the influence of the moment resistant connection in wooden framed structures. Comparisons between rigid and semi-rigid connections and between linear and nonlinear analysis lead to quantitative results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.161-184
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• 2007

The use of composite semi-rigid connections is not fully exploited, in spite of its great number of advantages. Composite semi-rigid connections may lead to an optimal moment distribution that will render lighter structures. Furthermore, using the appropriate semi-rigid connection design, the stability of the frames against lateral loads may entirely rely on the joint stiffness, thus avoiding bracing systems and permitting more diaphanous designs. Although modern codes, such as the Eurocode 4 (EC4), propose thorough methods of analysis they do not provide enough insight and simplicity from the design point of view. The purpose of this paper is to introduce practical and efficient methods of analysis that will facilitate the work of a structural analyst starting from the global analysis of the composite frame and ending on the final connection design. A key aspect is the definition of the stiffness and strength of the connections that will lead to an optimal moment distribution in the composite beams. Two examples are presented in order to clarify the application of the proposed methods and to demonstrate the advantages of the semi-rigid composite design with respect to the alternative pinned and rigid ones. The final aim of the paper is to stimulate and encourage the designer on the use of composite semi-rigid structures.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.8 no.4 s.29
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• pp.121-131
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• 1996

Semi-rigid frames are frames for whcih the connections joining the beam and column are neither fully rigid nor perfectly pinned. In reality, all steel frames are semi-rigid in nature as all connections exhibit a certain degree of flexibility under loads. For semi-rigid frmaed structures, it is tended to reduce more rigidity of the member for the nonlinear behavior of connections and the P-delta effects of framed structure. To predict the actual behavior of semi-rigid steel frames, a more realistic analysis methods which explicitly takes into account the effect of connection flexibility should be used. In this research, the effect of connection flexibility in the semi-rigid structure has been investigated. To predict the response of flexibility connected frames, the algorithm of semi-rigid steel frame is developed using connection model having nonlinear spring on end of beam.