• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.213-223
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• 1997

In the analysis of the behavior of a complex structure, it requires much time and cost to analyze its behavior by using shell elements at the early design concept. For the purpose of the decrease of time and cost, many researches have been performed with the intention to analyze its behavior through replacing a shell model by a simple beam model. In the present study, a method is proposed for determining a bending spring stiffness which means the flexibility for applying into the joints of the simple beam model. Geometrically nonlinear analysis is performed through the application of the determined flexibility into joints of the simple beam model. The nonlinear behavior of thin-walled tube shell structure can be described within a little error through the simple beam model with flexible joints.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.735-750
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• 2012

This paper presents a comparison between two different procedures to deal with the geometric nonlinear analysis of space trusses, considering its structural stability aspects. The first nonlinear formulation, called positional, uses nodal positions rather than nodal displacements to describe the finite elements kinematics. The strains are computed directly from the proposed position concept, using a Cartesian coordinate system fixed in space. The second formulation, called corotational, is based on the explicit separation between rigid body motion and deformed motion. The numerical examples demonstrate the performances and the convergence of the responses for both analyzed formulations. Two numerical examples were compared, including a lattice beam with postcritical behavior. Despite the two completely different approaches to deal with the geometrical nonlinear problem, the results present good agreement.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.25-34
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• 2014

PURPOSES : This paper numerically evaluates the contribution of transverse steel to the structural behavior of continuously reinforced concrete pavements to understand the role of transverse steel. METHODS : Two-lane continuously reinforced concrete pavements with and without transverse steel were analyzed through finite element analysis with the aid of commercial finite element analysis program DIANA; the difference in their structural behavior such as deflection, joint opening, and stress distribution was then evaluated. Twenty-node brick elements and three-node beam elements were used to model concrete and steel, respectively. Sub-layers were modeled with horizontal and vertical tensionless spring elements. The interactions between steel and surrounding concrete were considered by connecting their nodes with three orthogonal spring elements. Both wheel loading and environmental loading in addition to self-weight were considered. RESULTS : The use of transverse steel in continuously reinforced concrete pavements does not have significant effects on the structural behavior. The surface deflections change very little with the use of transverse steel. The joint opening decreases when transverse steel is used but the reduction is quite small. The transverse concrete stress, rather, increases when transverse steel is used due to the restraint exerted by the steel but the increase is quite small as well. CONCLUSIONS : The main role of transverse steel in continuously reinforced concrete pavements is supporting longitudinal steel and/or controlling unexpected longitudinal cracks rather than enhancing the structural capacity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1115-1144
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• 2015

Current climate conditions along with advances in technology make further design and verification methods for structural strength and reliability of wind turbine towers imperative. Along with the growing interest for "green" energy, the wind energy sector has been developed tremendously the past decades. To this end, the improvement of wind turbine towers in terms of structural detailing and performance result in more efficient, durable and robust structures that facilitate their wider application, thus leading to energy harvesting increase. The wind tower industry is set to expand to greater heights than before and tapered steel towers with a circular cross-section are widely used as more capable of carrying heavier loads. The present study focuses on the improvement of the structural response of steel wind turbine towers, by means of internal stiffening. A thorough investigation of the contribution of stiffening rings to the overall structural behavior of the tower is being carried out. These stiffening rings are placed along the tower height to reduce local buckling phenomena, thus increasing the buckling strength of steel wind energy towers and leading the structure to a behavior closer to the one provided by the beam theory. Additionally to ring stiffeners, vertical stiffening schemes are studied to eliminate the presence of short wavelength buckles due to bending. For the purposes of this research, finite element analysis is applied in order to describe and predict in an accurate way the structural response of a model tower stiffened by internal stiffeners. Moreover, a parametric study is being performed in order to investigate the effect of the stiffeners' number to the functionality of the aforementioned stiffening systems and the improved structural behavior of the overall wind converter.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.73-82
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• 1989

Various analytical procedures for the structural behavior of concrete pavement system are studied in order to identify a suitable method which will be incorperated in the pavement management system using nondestructive test and mechanistic evaluation. A typical four layered system is adopted and analyzed using 3 dimensional finite elements, plane strain elements, plates with Winkler foundation, and plates with Burmister foundation. Numerical analysis results of various structural analysis procedures are compared and analized based on displacements and stresses. It is concluded, after analysis of merits and demetits of the procedures, that Burmister foundation analysis procedure is the most sui-table procedure for implementation for the analysis of stresses and displacements because of its accuracy and simplicity.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.327-341
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• 2020

Advanced forms of structural design (e.g., displacement-based methods) require knowledge of the non-linear force-displacement behavior of both the overall building and individual lateral load resisting elements, i.e., walls or building cores. Similarly, understanding the non-linear behaviour of the elements in a structure can also allow for a less conservative structural response to be calculated by better understanding the cracked (i.e., effective) properties of the various RC elements. Calculating the non-linear response of an RC section typically involves using 'black box' analysis packages, wherein the user may not be in complete control nor be aware of all the intricate settings and/or decisions behind the scenes. This paper introduces a user-friendly and transparent analysis program for predicting the back-bone force displacement behavior of slender (i.e., flexure controlled) RC walls, building cores or columns. The program has been validated and benchmarked theoretically against both commonly available and widely used analysis packages and experimentally against a database of 16 large-scale RC wall test specimens. The program, which is called WHAM, is written using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to promote transparency and allow users to further develop or modify to suit individual requirements. The program is available free-of-charge and is intended to be used as an educational tool for structural designers, researchers or students.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.263-270
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• 2020

This study evaluates the structural behavior of connected long-span beams applied for excavation in urban areas with a narrow street. Generally, the reliability of the connection is reduced owing to the defect of the upper flange in the connection. An improved connection part was developed to complement the defects in the connected long-span beam. A finite element analysis based on a commercial program, ABAQUS, was employed to evaluate the behavior of the improved connection part. A numerical analysis model was proposed to analyze the high-strength bolt connection and the composite behavior of steel and concrete applied to the improved connection. The suitability of the proposed numerical analysis was verified by comparing the experimental and numerical analysis results of the references. Using the proposed numerical analysis method, the improved and general connections were analyzed and compared with each other. The stress distribution and elastic-plastic behavior of the long-span beam were analyzed numerically. The analysis confirmed that 25% of the compressive stress was improved, resulting in the improvement of structural safety and performance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.709-725
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• 2006

In this paper the buckling and post-buckling behavior of slender bars under self-weight are studied. In order to study the post-buckling behavior of the bar, a geometrically exact formulation for the non-linear analysis of uni-directional structural elements is presented, considering arbitrary load distribution and boundary conditions. From this formulation one obtains a set of first-order coupled nonlinear equations which, together with the boundary conditions at the bar ends, form a two-point boundary value problem. This problem is solved by the simultaneous use of the Runge-Kutta integration scheme and the Newton-Raphson method. By virtue of a continuation algorithm, accurate solutions can be obtained for a variety of stability problems exhibiting either limit point or bifurcational-type buckling. Using this formulation, a detailed parametric analysis is conducted in order to study the buckling and post-buckling behavior of slender bars under self-weight, including the influence of boundary conditions on the stability and large deflection behavior of the bar. In order to evaluate the quality and accuracy of the results, an experimental analysis was conducted considering a clamped-free thin-walled metal bar. As this kind of structure presents a high index of slenderness, its answers could be affected by the introduction of conventional sensors. In this paper, an experimental methodology was developed, allowing the measurement of static or dynamic displacements without making contact with the structure, using digital image processing techniques. The proposed experimental procedure can be used to a wide class of problems involving large deflections and deformations. The experimental buckling and post-buckling behavior compared favorably with the theoretical and numerical results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.455-479
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• 2015

This paper presents a numerical analysis of reinforced concrete slabs under missile impact loading. The specimen used for the numerical simulation was tested by the Technical Research Center of Finland. LS-DYNA, commercial available software, is used to analyze the model. The structural components of the reinforced concrete slab, missile, and their contacts are fully modeled. Included in the analysis is material nonlinearity considering damage and failure. The results of analysis are then verified with other research results. Parametric studies with different longitudinal rebar ratios, shear bar ratios, and concrete strengths are conducted to investigate their influences on the punching behavior of slabs under the impact of a missile. Finally, efficient designs are recommended.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to propose an analytical model for the simulation of the hysteretic behavior of RC (reinforced concrete) beam-column subassemblages under various loading histories. The discrete line element with inelastic rotational springs is adopted to model the different locations of the plastic hinging zone. The hysteresis model can be adopted for a dynamic two-dimensional inelastic analysis of RC frame structures. From the analysis of test results it is found that the stiffness deterioration caused by inelastic loading can be simulated with a function of basic pinching coefficients, ductility ratio and yield strength ratio of members. A new strength degradation coefficient is proposed to simulate the inelastic behavior of members as a function of the transverse steel spacing and section aspect ratio. The energy dissipation capacities calculated using the proposed model show a good agreement with test results within errors of 27%.