• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.773-791
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• 2023

Connections with damage concentrated to pre-selected components can enhance seismic resilience for moment resisting frames. These pre-selected components always yield early to dissipate energy, and their energy dissipation mechanisms vary from one to another, depending on their position in the connection, geometry configuration details, and mechanical characteristics. This paper presents behaviour insights on two types of beam-to-beam connections that the angles were designed as energy dissipation components, through the results of experimental study and finite element analysis. Firstly, an experimental programme was reviewed, and key responses concerning the working mechanism of the connections were presented, including strain distribution at the critical section, section force responses of essential components, and initial stiffness of test specimens. Subsequently, finite element models of three specimens were established to further interpret their behaviour and response that were not observable in the tests. The moment and shear force transfer paths of the composite connections were clarified through the test results and finite element analysis. It was observed that the bending moment is mainly resisted by axial forces from the components, and the dominant axial force is from the bottom angles; the shear force at the critical section is primarily taken by the slab and the components near the top flange. Lastly, based on the insights on the load transfer path of the composite connections, preliminary design recommendations are proposed. In particular, a resistance requirement, quantified by a moment capacity ratio, was placed on the connections. Design models and equations were also developed for predicting the yield moment resistance and the shear resistance of the connections. A flexible beam model was proposed to quantify the shear resistance of essential components.

• 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.34 no.5
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• pp.715-732
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• 2020

High-strength steel composite Y-eccentrically braced frame (Y-HSS-EBF) is a novel structural system. In this study, the spatial substructure hybrid simulation test (SHST) method is used to further study the seismic performance of Y-HSS-EBF. Firstly, based on the cyclic loading tests of two single-story single-span Y-HSS-EBF planar specimens, a finite element model in OpenSees was verified to provide a reference for the numerical substructure analysis model for the later SHST. Then, the SHST was carried out on the OpenFresco test platform. A three-story spatial Y-HSS-EBF model was taken as the prototype, the top story was taken as the experimental substructure, and the remaining two stories were taken as the numerical substructure to be simulated in OpenSees. According to the test results, the validity of the SHST was verified, and the main seismic performance indexes of the SHST model were analyzed. The results show that, the SHST based on the OpenFresco platform has good stability and accuracy, and the results of the SHST agree well with the global numerical model of the structure. Under strong seismic action, the plastic deformation of Y-HSS-EBF mainly occurs in the shear link, and the beam, beam-columns and braces can basically remain in the elastic state, which is conducive to post-earthquake repair.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.499-509
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• 2020

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the degradation law of stiffness of steel-concrete composite beams after certain fatigue loads. First, six test beams with stud connectors were designed and fabricated for static and fatigue tests. The resultant failure modes under different fatigue loading cycles were compared. And an analysis was performed for the variations in the load-deflection curves, residual deflections and relative slips of the composite beams during fatigue loading. Then, the correlations among the stiffness degradation of each test beam, the residual deflection and relative slip growth during the fatigue test were investigated, in order to clarify the primary reasons for the stiffness degradation of the composite beams. Finally, based on the stiffness degradation function under fatigue loading, a calculation model for the residual stiffness of composite beams in response to fatigue loading cycles was established by parameter fitting. The results show that the stiffness of composite beams undergoes irreversible degradation under fatigue loading. And stiffness degradation is associated with the macrobehavior of material fatigue damage and shear connection degradation. In addition, the stiffness degradation of the composite beams exhibit S-shaped monotonic decreasing trends with fatigue cycles. The general agreement between the calculation model and experiment shows good applicability of the proposed model for specific beam size and fatigue load parameters. Moreover, the research results provide a method for establishing a stiffness degradation model for composite beams after fatigue loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.269-282
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• 2001

In this paper the results of an experimental program devoted to the assessment of the cyclic behaviour of full scale, European type, beam-column subassemblages with welded connections are presented. Six tests (five cyclic and one monotonic) have been carried out on three different series of specimens, encompassing a total of eighteen tests. The three specimen series have been designed with the aim of defining the effect of the column size on the connection behaviour, under different applied loading histories. The tests have evidenced the effect of the column size and panel zone design and of the applied loading history on the cyclic behaviour and failure modes of the connections.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2018

Low cyclic loading tests are conducted on the steel reinforced recycled concrete (SRRC) column-steel (S) beam composite frame joints. This research aims to evaluate the earthquake damage performance of composite frame joints by performing cyclic loading tests on eight specimens. The experimental failure process and failure modes, load-displacement hysteresis curves, characteristic loads and displacements, and ductility of the composite frame joints are presented and analyzed, which shows that the composite frame joints demonstrate good seismic performance. On the basis of this finding, seismic damage performance is examined by using the maximum displacement, energy absorbed in the hysteresis loops and Park-Ang model. However, the result of this analysis is inconsistent with the test failure process. Therefore, this paper proposes a modified Park-Ang seismic damage model that is based on maximum deformation and cumulative energy dissipation, and corrected by combination coefficient ${\alpha}$. Meanwhile, the effects of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement percentage and axial compression ratio on the seismic damage performance are analyzed comprehensively. Moreover, lateral displacement angle is used as the quantification index of the seismic performance level of joints. Considering the experimental study, the seismic performance level of composite frame joints is divided into five classes of normal use, temporary use, repair after use, life safety and collapse prevention. On this basis, the corresponding relationships among seismic damage degrees, seismic performance level and quantitative index are also established in this paper. The conclusions can provide a reference for the seismic performance design of composite frame joints.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.63-68
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to develop a new connection method between steel beams and PC columns known as SL connectors. Composite moment frames consisting of PC columns (or composite columns) and steel beams make the best use of advantages of both concrete and steel materials. However, the connection between two members of different materials can be complex and/or increase the fabrication costs significantly. The concept of SL connectors is based on using wedges and the emphasis is on a self-locking (SL) feature. SL connectors are easy to install and provide better seismic performance compared to conventional connections. To evaluate the seismic performance of the steel beam-to-PC column joints with SL connectors, cyclic load tests were conducted. Test result showed that steel beam-to-concrete column joint with SL connectors was able to provide sufficient performance for use in seismic resistant moment frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.311-321
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• 2022

In the buildings with long spans and high floors, such as logistics warehouses and semiconductor factories, it is difficult to install supporting posts under beams during construction. Therefore, the size of structural members becomes larger inevitably, resulting in a significant increase in construction costs. Accordingly, a prestressed hybrid wide flange (PHWF) beam with hollowed steel webs was developed, which can reduce construction costs by making multiple openings in the web of the steel member embedded in concrete. However, since multiple openings exist and prestress is introduced only into the bottom flange concrete, it is necessary to identify the shear resistance mechanism of the PHWF beam. This study presents experimental shear tests of PHWF beams with hollowed steel webs. Four PHWF beams with cast-in-place (CIP) concrete were fabricated, with key variables being the width and spacing of the steel webs embedded in the concrete and the presence of shear reinforcing bars, and web-shear tests were conducted. The shear behavior of the PHWF beam, including crack patterns, strain behavior of steel webs, and composite action between the prestressed bottom flange and CIP concrete, were measured and analyzed comprehensively. The test results showed that the steel web resists external shear forces through shear deformation when its width is sufficiently large, but as its width decreased, it exerted its shear contribution through normal deformation in a manner similar to that of shear reinforcing bars. In addition, it was found that stirrups placed on the cross section where the steel web does not exist contribute to improving the shear strength and deformation capacity of the member. Based on the shear behavior of the specimens, a straightforward calculation method was proposed to estimate the web-shear strength of PHWF beams with CIP concrete, and it provided a good estimation of the shear strength of PHWF beams, more accurate than the existing code equations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.605-620
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• 2020

An innovative Partially Precast Steel Reinforced Concrete (PPSRC) beam is presented in this paper. To study the shear behavior of PPSRC beams, static loading experiments were conducted on 10 specimens, including 4 T-beam specimens and 4 PPSRC inverted T-beam specimens together with 2 PPSRC rectangular section beams. In the tests, the shear behaviors of the PPSRC beams were emphasized. On the basis of the experiments, the failure mode and ultimate bearing capacity were thoroughly examined. The calculation methods for shear capacity are also presented in this paper. The analysis of mechanical behavior and the calculation methods presented can be used as a reference to design these innovative composite PPSRC beams and provide a significant foundation for further research.

• Advanced Composite Materials
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.301-317
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• 2008

The energy release rate associated with crack growth in adhesive double cantilever beam (DCB) specimens, including the effect of residual stresses, was formulated using beam theory. Because of the rotation of the asymmetric arms in the adhesive DCB specimens due to temperature change, it is necessary to correct the evaluated fracture toughness of the DCB specimens, specifically in the case of a large temperature change. This study shows that the difference between the true toughness and an apparent toughness due to the consequence of ignoring residual stresses can be calculated for a given specimen geometry and thermo-mechanical properties (e.g. coefficient of thermal expansion). The calculated difference in the energy release rates based on the present correction method is compared with that from FEM in order to verify the present correction method. The residual stress effects on the evaluation of the adhesive fracture toughness are discussed.