• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.243-264
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• 2008

This paper details a testing facility ("NATURAL FIRE FACILITY") that allows closely-controlled experimental testing on full-scale sub-frames while reproducing the spatially transient temperature conditions measured in real fires. Using this test facility, an experimental investigation of six steel sub-frames under a natural fire was carried out at the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Coimbra. The main objective of these tests was to provide insight into the influence of these connection types on the behaviour of steel sub-structures under fire. The experimental layout is defined by two thermally insulated HEA300 columns and an unprotected IPE300 beam with 5.7 m span, supporting a composite concrete slab. Beam-to-column connections are representative of the most common joint type used on buildings: welded joints and extended, flush and partial depth plate. Finally, the available results are presented and discussed: evolution of the steel temperature; development of displacements and local deformations and failure modes on the joints zone.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2018

This study presents a novel method of improving the strength and stiffness of cold-formed steel (CFS) beams. Flexural members are primary members in most of the structures. Hence, there is an urgent need in the CFS industry to look beyond the conventional CFS beam sections and develop novel techniques to address the severe local buckling problems that exist in CFS flexural members. The primary objective of this study was to develop new CFS composite beam sections with improved structural performance and economy. This paper presents an experimental study conducted on different CFS composite beams with simply supported end conditions under four point loading. Material properties and geometric imperfections of the models were measured. The test strengths of the models are compared with the design strengths predicted by using Australian/New Zealand Standard for cold-formed steel structures. Furthermore, to ensure high precision testing, a special testing rig was also developed for testing of long span beams. The description of test models, testing rig features and test results are presented here. For better interpretation of results, a comparison of the test results with a hot rolled section is also presented. The test results have shown that the proposed CFS composite beams are promising both in terms of better structural performance as well as economy.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.295-306
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• 2018

Reinforced concrete containment (RCC) building has long been considered as the last barrier for keeping the radiation from leaking into the environment. It is important to quantify the performance of these structures and facilities considering extreme conditions. However, the preceding research on evaluating nuclear power plant (NPP) structures, particularly considering mainshock-aftershock seismic sequences, is deficient. Therefore, this manuscript serves to investigate the seismic fragility of a typical RCC building subjected to mainshock-aftershock seismic sequences. The implementation of the fragility assessment has been performed based on the incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) method. A lumped mass RCC model considering the tri-linear skeleton curve and the maximum point-oriented hysteretic rule is employed for IDA analyses. The results indicate that the seismic capacity of the RCC building would be overestimated without taking into account the mainshock-aftershock effects. It is also found that the seismic capacity of the RCC building decreases with the increase of the relative intensity of aftershock ground motions to mainshock ground motions. In addition, the effects of artificial mainshock-aftershock ground motions generated from the repeated and randomized approaches and the polarity of the aftershock with respect to the mainshock on the evaluation of the RCC are also researched, respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.555-563
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• 2018

Architectural fabrics membranes have not only the structural performance but also act as an efficient cladding to cover large areas. Because of the direct relationship between form and force distribution in tension membrane structures, form-finding procedure is an important issue. Ideally, once the optimal form is found, a uniform pre-stressing is applied to the fabric which takes the form of a minimal surface. The force density method is one of the most efficient computational form-finding techniques to solve the initial equilibrium equations. In this method, the force density ratios of the borders to the membrane is the main parameter for shape-finding. In fact, the shape is evolved and improved with the help of the stress state that is combined with the desired boundary conditions. This paper is evaluated the optimum amount of this ratio considering the curvature of the flexible boarders for structural configurations, i.e., hypar and conic membranes. Results of this study can be used (in the absence of the guidelines) for the fast and optimal design of fabric structures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.552-561
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to propose a pavement analysis system which considers dynamic effects resulted from the various vehicle speeds. Vehicle loading effects were estimated by loading frequency and dynamic loads under various vehicle speeds. In addition, a proposed analysis model takes the non-linear temperature using a predictive model for dynamic modulus in asphalt layer and the non-linear stress in the unbound material. To examine adequacy of existing multi-layer elastic analysis of non-linear temperature in asphalt layer and non-linear stress conditions in unbound material, this study divided layers of asphalt pavement structures with 10 layers in asphalt, 2 layers in subbase and 1 layer in subgrade. In order to verify the pavement analysis system that considers various speeds, deflections of pavement calculated using ABAQUS, a three dimensional finite element program, were compared with the results of field tests under various speeds.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.501-515
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• 2016

Seismic analysis for steel frame structure with brace configuration using topology optimization based on truss-like material model is studied. The initial design domain for topology optimization is determined according to original steel frame structure and filled with truss-like members. Hence the initial truss-like continuum is established. The densities and orientation of truss-like members at any point are taken as design variables in finite element analysis. The topology optimization problem of least-weight truss-like continuum with stress constraints is solved. The orientations and densities of members in truss-like continuum are optimized and updated by fully-stressed criterion in every iteration. The optimized truss-like continuum is founded after finite element analysis is finished. The optimal bracing system is established based on optimized truss-like continuum without numerical instability. Seismic performance for steel frame structures is derived using dynamic time-history analysis. A numerical example shows the advantage for frame structures with brace configuration using topology optimization in seismic performance.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2012

In bridge engineering, maintenance strategies and thus budgetary demands are highly influenced by construction type and quality of design. Nowadays bridge owners and planners tend to include life-cycle cost analyses in their decision processes regarding the overall design trying to optimize structural reliability and durability within financial constraints. Smart permanent and short term monitoring can reduce the associated risk of new design concepts by observing the performance of structural components during prescribed time periods. The objectives of this paper are the discussion and analysis of influence line or influence field approaches in terms of (a) an efficient incorporation of monitoring information in the structural performance assessment, (b) an efficient characterization of performance indicators for the assessment of structures, (c) the ability of optimizing the positions of sensors of a monitoring system, and (d) the ability of checking the robustness of the monitoring systems applied to a structure. The proposed influence line- model correction approach has been applied to an integrative monitoring system that has been installed for the performance assessment of an existing three-span jointless bridge.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.237-252
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• 2014

The use of composite structures is increasingly present in civil building works. Composite Box Girder Bridges (CBGB), particularly, are study of effect of shear connector's numbers and distribution on the behavior of CBGBs is submitted. A Predicti structures consisting of two materials, both connected by metal devices known as shear connectors. The main functions of these connectors are to allow for the joint behavior of the girder-deck, to restrict longitudinal slipping and uplifting at the element's interface and to take shear forces. This paper presents 3D numerical models of CBGBs to simulate their actual structural behavior, with emphasis on the girder-deck interface. Additionally, a Prediction of several FE models is assessed against the results acquired from a field test. A number of factors are considered, and confirmed through experiments, especially full shear connections, which are obviously essential in composite box girder. A good representation for shear connectors by suitable element type is considered. Numerical predictions of vertical displacements at critical sections fit fairly well with those evaluated experimentally. The agreement between the FE models and the experimental models show that the FE model can aid engineers in design practices of box girder bridges. Preliminary results indicate that number of shear studs can be significantly reduced to facilitate adoption of a new arrangement in modeling CBGBs with full composition. However, a further feasibility study to investigate the practical and economic aspects of such a remedy is recommended, and it may represent partial composition in such modeling.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

In this paper the strain energy density (SED) model is used to analyze the seismic behavior of suspen-domes and a new criterion is established for judging the seismic failure based on a characteristic point in the SED model. Firstly, a nonlinear time-history response analysis was carried out using the finite-element package ANSYS for typical suspen-domes subjected to different ground motions. The seismic responses including nodal displacements, ratios of yielding members, strain energy density and structural maximum deformation energy were extracted corresponding to the increasing peak ground acceleration (A). Secondly, the SED sum ($I_d$) was calculated which revealed that the $I_d-A$ curve exhibited a relatively large change (called a characteristic point) at a certain value of A with a very small load increment after the structures entered the elastic-plastic state. Thirdly, a SED criterion is proposed to judge the seismic failure load based on the characteristic point. Subsequently, the case study verifies the characteristic point and the proposed SED criterion. Finally, this paper describes the unity and application of the SED criterion. The SED method may open a new way for structural appraisal and the SED criterion might give a unified criterion for predicting the failure loads of various structures subjected to dynamic loads.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.257-272
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• 2018

The research of shear connectors composed from mechanical couplers with rebar anchors, embedded in concrete, and steel bolts, as a mean of shear transfer in composite connections is presented in the paper. Specific issues related to this type of connections are local concrete pressure in the connector vicinity as well as the shear flow along the connector axis. The experimental research included 18 specimens, arranged in 5 series. Nonlinear numerical analyses using Abaqus software was conducted on corresponding FE models. Different failure modes were analysed, with emphasis on concrete edge failure and bolt shear failure. The influence of key parameters on the behaviour of shear connector was examined: (1) concrete compression strength, (2) bolt tensile strength and diameter and (3) concrete edge distance. It is concluded that bolted shear connectors with mechanical couplers have sufficient capacity to be used as shear connectors in composite structures and that their behaviour is similar to the behaviour of post installed anchors as well as other types of connectors anchored without the head.