• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.297-313
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• 2022

Composite steel plate shear wall (CSPSW) is a relatively novel structural system proposed to improve the performance of steel plate shear walls by adding one or two layers of concrete walls to the infill plate. In addition, the buckling of the infill steel plate has a significant negative effect on the shear strength and energy dissipation capacity of the overall systems. Accordingly, in this study, using the finite element (FE) method, the performance and behavior of composite steel shear walls using T-shaped stiffeners to prevent buckling of the infill steel plate and increase the capacity of CSPSW systems have been investigated. In this paper, after modeling composite steel plate shear walls with and without steel plates with finite element methods and calibration the models with experimental results, effects of parameters such as several stiffeners, vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and a combination of T-shaped stiffeners located in the composite wall have been investigated on the ultimate capacity, web-plate buckling, von-Mises stress, and failure modes. The results showed that the arrangement of stiffeners has no significant effect on the capacity and performance of the CSPSW so that the use of vertical or horizontal stiffeners did not have a significant effect on the capacity and performance of the CSPSW. On the other hand, the use of diagonal hardeners has potentially affected the performance of CSPSWs, increasing the capacity of steel shear walls by up to 25%.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.223-232
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• 2018

Two novel types of construction detailings, including using the distributive beam and the inner ring diaphragm in the joint between large-section CFT columns and outrigger truss to enhance the transferring efficiency of huge vertical load, and using the T-shaped stiffeners in the steel tube of large-section CFT columns to promote the local buckling capacity of steel tubes, were tested to investigate their working mechanism and design methods. Experimental results show that the co-working performance between steel tube and inner concrete could be significantly improved by setting the distributive beam and the inner ring diaphragm which can transfer the vertical load directly in the large-section CFT columns. Meanwhile, the T-shaped stiffeners are very helpful to improve the local bulking performance of steel tubes in the column components by the composite action of T-shaped stiffeners together with the core concrete under the range of flange of T-shaped stiffeners. These two approaches can result in a lower steel cost in comparison to normal steel reinforced concrete columns. Finally, a practical engineering case was introduced to illustrate the economy benefits achieved by using the two typical detailings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.657-670
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• 2021

This paper presents a designing method for enhancing fire resistance of steel box bridge girders (closed steel box bridge girder supporting a thin concrete slab) through taking into account such parameters namely; fire severity, type of longitudinal stiffeners (I, L, and T shaped), and number of longitudinal stiffeners. A validated 3-D finite element model, developed through the computer program ANSYS, is utilized to go over the fire response of a typical steel box bridge girder using the transient thermo-structural analysis method. Results from the numerical analysis show that fire severity and type of longitudinal stiffeners welded on bottom flange have significant influence on fire resistance of steel box bridge girders. T shaped longitudinal stiffeners applied on bottom flange can highly prevent collapse of steel box bridge girders towards the end of fire exposure. Increase of longitudinal stiffeners on bottom flange and web can slightly enhance fire resistance of steel box bridge girders. Rate of deflection-based criterion can be reliable to evaluate fire resistance of steel box bridge girders in most fire exposure cases. Thus, T shaped longitudinal stiffeners on bottom flange incorporated into bridge fire-resistance design can significantly enhance fire resistance of steel box bridge girders.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.121-130
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• 2002

This paper presents the tensile behavior of a Concrete-Filled Square Steel Tubular (CFT) column to H-beam welded connections. These connections were externally reinforced with T-shaped stiffeners at the junction of CFT column and beam. The tensile loading tests of eighteen tee-joint connections and finite element analysis using ANSYS were carried out. The main parameters of tests are as follows: 1) the thickness of Square Steel Tubular Column : 6 mm, 9 mm, 2) the strength ratios of tensile strength of horizontal stiffeners to tensile strength of beam flange : 70 %, 100 %, 150 %, 3) the strength ratios of shear strength of vertical stiffeners to tensile strength of beam flange : 80 %, 115 %, 160 %. The results of the tests demonstrate that overall behavior and failure modes of all the specimens are governed mainly by the horizontal stiffeners rather than the vertical stiffeners, and the vertical stiffener played only a role in transferring load introduced from beam to column.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.191-207
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• 2024

Due to the many advantages of concrete-filled double steel tube (CFDT) columns, they are highly recommended for use in heavy-load structures such as bridges, subway stations, and high-rise buildings. This study was carried out with the aim of numerically investigating and comparing the performance of CFDT columns under cyclic and seismic loads and providing innovative strengthening methods for CFDT columns. Hollow circular steel sections have been used for internal and external tubes. To make the circular CFDT columns stronger against seismic loads, stiffeners with different shapes (rectangular and T-shaped sheets) have been welded to the outside and inside tubes. The validated finite element (FE) model of the ABAQUS program is used to look into the behavior of CFDT columns numerically. Two frames of 10 and 20 floors with strengthened CFDT columns were modeled. The results showed that the use of stiffeners in the CFDT column has a significant effect on seismic performance, so that the maximum lateral load of the column is increased up to 32.74% under the effect of cyclic load. Also, the results revealed that the use of stiffeners in the columns of moderate and high-rise building frames causes a significant increase in the shear of the base and consequently the stiffness. Among the other important results that followed, it reduced the drift of floors and increased energy absorption.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-30
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• 2021

With improvement in innovative manufacturing technologies, it became possible to fabricate any complex shaped structural design for practical applications. This allows for the fabrication of curvilinearly stiffened pressure vessels and pipes. Compared to straight stiffeners, curvilinear stiffeners have shown to have better structural performance and weight savings under certain loading conditions. In this paper, an optimization framework for designing curvilinearly stiffened composite pressure vessels and pipes is presented. NURBS are utilized to define curvilinear stiffeners over the surface of the pipe. An integrated tool using Python, Rhinoceros 3D, MSC.PATRAN and MSC.NASTRAN is implemented for performing the optimization. Rhinoceros 3D is used for creating the geometry, which later is exported to MSC.PATRAN for finite element model generation. Finally, MSC.NASTRAN is used for structural analysis. A Bi-Level Programming (BLP) optimization technique, consisting of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Gradient-Based Optimization (GBO), is used to find optimal locations of stiffeners, geometric dimensions for stiffener cross-sections and layer thickness for the composite skin. A cylindrical pipe stiffened by orthogonal and curvilinear stiffeners under torsional and bending load cases is studied. It is seen that curvilinear stiffeners can lead to a potential 10.8% weight saving in the structure as compared to the case of using straight stiffeners.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.383-401
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• 2024

The research comprehensively studies the axial compression performance of T-shaped concrete-filled thin-walled steel tubular (CTST) long columns after fire exposure. Initially, a series of tests investigate the effects of heating time, load eccentricity, and stiffeners on the column's performance. Furthermore, Finite Element (FE) analysis is employed to establish temperature and mechanical field models for the T-shaped CTST long column with stiffeners after fire exposure, using carefully determined key parameters such as thermal parameters, constitutive relations, and contact models. In addition, a parametric analysis based on the numerical models is conducted to explore the effects of heating time, section diameter, material strength, and steel ratio on the axial compressive bearing capacity, bending bearing capacity under normal temperature, as well as residual bearing capacity after fire exposure. The results reveal that the maximum lateral deformation occurs near the middle of the span, with bending increasing as heating time and eccentricity rise. Despite a decrease in axial compressive load and bending capacity after fire exposure, the columns still exhibit desirable bearing capacity and deformability. Moreover, the obtained FE results align closely with experimental findings, validating the reliability of the developed numerical models. Additionally, this study proposes a simplified design method to calculate these mechanical property parameters, satisfying the ISO-834 standard. The relative errors between the proposed simplified formulas and FE models remain within 10%, indicating their capability to provide a theoretical reference for practical engineering applications.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.347-359
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• 2020

The objective of this study is to experimentally scrutinize the axial performance of built-up concrete filled steel tube (CFT) columns composed of steel plates. In this case, the main parameters cross section types, compressive strength of filled concrete, and the effect of welding lines. Welded built-up steel box columns are fabricated by connecting two pieces of cold-formed U-shaped or four pieces of L-shaped thin steel plates with continuous penetration groove welding line located at mid-depth of stub column section. Furthermore, traditional square steel box sections with no welding lines are investigated for the comparison of axial behavior between the generic and build-up cross sections. Accordingly, 20 stub columns with thickness and height of 2 and 300 mm have been manufactured. As a result, welding lines in built-up specimens act as stiffeners because have higher strength and thickness in comparison to the plates. Subsequently, by increasing the welding lines, the load bearing capacity of stub columns has been increased in comparison to the traditional series. Furthermore, for specimens with the same confinement steel tubes and concrete core, increment of B/t ratio has reduced the ductility and axial strength.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.251-269
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• 2016

In common structural systems, there are some limitations to provide adequate lateral stiffness, high ductility, and architectural openings simultaneously. Consequently, the concept of T-Resisting Frame (TRF) has been introduced to improve the performance of structures. In this study, Configuration of TRF is a Vertical I-shaped Plate Girder (V.P.G) which is placed in the middle of the span and connected to side columns by two Horizontal Plate Girders (H.P.Gs) at each story level. System performance is improved by utilizing rigid connections in link beams (H.P.Gs). Plastic deformation leads to tension field action in H.P.Gs and causes energy dissipation in TRF; therefore, V.P.G. High plastic deformation in web of TRF's members affects the ductility of system. Moreover, in order to prevent shear buckling in web of TRF's members and improve overall performance of the system, appropriate criteria for placement of web stiffeners are presented in this study. In addition, an experimental study is conducted by applying cyclic loading and using finite element models. As a result, hysteresis curves indicate adequate lateral stiffness, stable hysteretic behavior, and high ductility factor of 6.73.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.305-311
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• 2012

For the optimization of the fundamental natural frequency of stiffened cylindrical shells, simulations were performed for cylindrical shells that were stiffened with between one and five ring stiffeners. ANSYS 11.0 was used to simulate the optimization for the natural frequency. The Subproblem Approximation Method was applied as the optimization method. The design function of the optimization was the geometry of the T-shaped ring stiffener, and the constraint function was the maximum additional volume, constrained to a 10% increase. The objective function of the optimization was chosen to maximize the fundamental natural frequency. The performance index for optimal design was defined as the ratio of the natural frequency to the volume of the unstiffened and stiffened shells. The optimal performance index was obtained for the shell stiffened with three rings.