• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.429-448
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• 2016

This paper presents a finite element (FE) model for predicting the behaviour of steel column-column connections under axial compression and tension. A robustness approach is utilised for the design of steel column-column connections. The FE models take into account for the effects of initial geometric imperfections, material nonlinearities and geometric nonlinearities. The accuracy of the FE models is examined by comparing the predicted results with independent experimental results. It is demonstrated that the FE models accurately predict the ultimate axial strengths and load-deflection curves for steel column-column connections. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the effects of slenderness ratio, contact surface imperfection, thickness of cover-plates, end-plate thickness and bolt position. The buckling strengths of steel column-column connections with contact surface imperfections are compared with design strengths obtained from Australian Standards AS4100 (1998) and Eurocode 3 (2005). It is found that the column connections with maximum allowable imperfections satisfy the design requirements. Furthermore, the steel column-column connections analysed in this paper can be dismantled and reused safely under typical service loads which are usually less than 40% of ultimate axial strengths. The results indicate that steel column-column connections can be demounted at 50% of the ultimate axial load which is greater than typical service load.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2017

This paper focuses on the seismic performance of pallet-type steel storage rack structures in their down aisle direction. As evidenced by experimental research, the seismic response of storage racks in the down-aisle direction is strongly affected by the nonlinear moment-rotation response of the beam-to-column connections. In their down-aisle direction, rack structures are designed to resist lateral seismic loads with typical moment frames utilizing proprietary beam-to-column moment-resisting connections. These connections are mostly boltless hooked type connections and they exhibit significantly large rotations resulting in large lateral frame displacements when subjected to strong ground motions. In this paper, typical hooked boltless beam-to-column connections are studied experimentally to obtain their non-linear reversed cyclic moment-rotation response. Additionally, a compound type connection involving the standard hooks and additional bolts were also tested under similar conditions. The simple introduction of the additional bolts within the hooked connection is considered to be a practical way of structural upgrade in the connection. The experimentally evaluated characteristics of the connections are compared in terms of some important performance indicators such as maximum moment and rotation capacity, change in stiffness and accumulated energy levels within the cyclic loading protocol. Finally, the obtained characteristics were used to carry out seismic performance assessment of rack frames incorporating the tested beam-to-column connections. The assessment involves a displacement based approach that utilizes a simple analytical model that captures the seismic behavior of racks in their down-aisle direction. The results of the study indicate that the proposed method of upgrading appears to be a very practical and effective way of increasing the seismic performance of hooked connections and hence the rack frames in their down-aisle direction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2013

This paper presents the results from a systematic finite element study on the bending moment resisting capacity of double web-angle connection for a CFT(concrete filled tube) composite frame subjected to cyclic loading. The three-dimensional nonlinear finite element models are constructed to investigate the rotational stiffness, bending moment capacity, and failure modes of the partially restrained composite CFT connections. A wide scope of additional structural behaviors explain the different influences of the double web-angle connections parameters, such as the different thickness of connection angles and the gage distances of high strength steel connection bar. The moment-rotation angle relationships obtained statically from the finite element analysis are compared with those from Richard's theoretical equation.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1403-1419
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• 2015

When precast concrete infill panels are connected to steel frames at discrete locations, interaction at the structural interface is neither complete nor absent. The contribution of precast concrete infill panels to the lateral stiffness and strength of steel frames can be significant depending on the quality, quantity and location of the discrete interface connections. This paper presents preliminary experimental and finite element results of an investigation into the composite behaviour of a square steel frame with a precast concrete infill panel subject to lateral loading. The panel is connected at the corners to the ends of the top and bottom beams. The Frame-to-Panel-Connection, FPC4 between steel beam and concrete panel consists of two parts. A T-section with five achor bars welded to the top of the flange is cast in at the panel corner at a forty five degree angle. The triangularly shaped web of the T-section is reinforced against local buckling with a stiffener plate. The second part consists of a triangular gusset plate which is welded to the beam flange. Two bolts acting in shear connect the gusset plate to the web of the T-section. This way the connection can act in tension or compression. Experimental pull-out tests on individual connections allowed their load deflection characteristics to be established. A full scale experiment was performed on a one-storey one-bay 3 by 3 m infilled frame structure which was horizontally loaded at the top. With the characteristics of the frame-to-panel connections obtained from the experiments on individual connections, finite element analyses were performed on the infilled frame structures taking geometric and material non-linear behaviour of the structural components into account. The finite element model yields reasonably accurate results. This allows the model to be used for further parametric studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Advanced Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.1-10
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• 2011

This study investigates the performance of composite (steel-concrete) frame structures through numerical experiments on individual connections. The innovative aspects of this research are in the use of connections between steel beams and concrete-filled tube (CFT)columns that utilize a combination of low-carbon steel and shape memory alloy (SMA) components. In these new connections, the intent is to utilize the recentering provided by super-elastic shape memory alloy tension bars to reduce building damage and residual drift after a major earthquake. The low-carbon steel components provide excellent energy dissipation. The analysis and design of these structures is complicated because the connections cannot be modeled as being simply pins or full fixity ones they are partial restraint (PR). A refined finite element (FE) model with sophisticated three dimensional (3D) solid elements was developed to conduct numerical experiments on PR-CFT joints to obtain the global behavior of the connection. Based on behavioral information obtained from these FE tests, simplified connection models were formulated by using joint elements with spring components. The behavior of entire frames under cyclic loads was conducted and compared with the monotonic behavior obtained from the 3D FE simulations. Good agreement was found between the simple and sophisticated models, verifying the robustness of the approach.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.539-544
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• 2007

Glass fiber reinforced composite decks have high-strength, light-weight and high durability. The composite decks having vertical snap-fit connections are designed for pedestrian bridges and their structural behaviour are studied. The existing connection method of the composite decks in horizontal direction is replaced by the developed snap-fit connection method in vertical direction. The section shape of the composite decks having the vertical snap-fit connection is designed. The safety of the vertical snap-fit connection is verified by finite element analysis.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.307-321
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• 2006

This paper is concerned with the behaviour of steel and concrete composite joints subjected to reversal of loading. Three cruciform composite joint specimens and one bare steel joint specimen were tested so that one side of the beam-to-column connection was under negative moment and another side under positive moment. The steelwork beam-to-column connections were made of bolted end plate with an extended haunch section. Composite slabs employing metal decking were used for all the composite joint specimens. The moment-rotation relationships for the joints were obtained experimentally. Details of the experimental observations and results were reported.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.493-509
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• 2013

Bending behavior of reinforced concrete slabs encased over shallow I-sections at different levels of compression heads were investigated in present study. 1500 mm long I-sections were used to create composite slabs. Compression heads of monolithic experimental members were encased at different levels into the concrete slabs. Shear connections were welded over some of the I-sections. The testing was carried out in accordance with the principles of four-point loading. Results revealed decreasing load bearing and deflection capacities of composite beams with increasing encasement depths into concrete. Mechanical properties of concrete and reinforcing steel were also examined. Resultant stresses calculated for composite beams at failure were found to be less than the yield strength of steel beams. Test results were discussed with regard to shear and slip effect.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2013

This paper presents the formulation for a novel force-based 1-D compound-element that captures both material and second order P-${\Delta}$ nonlinearities in steel frames. At the nodal points, the element is attached to nonlinear rotational and a translational springs which represent the flexural and axial stiffness of the connections respectively. By decomposing the total strain in the material as well as the generalised displacements of the flexible connections to their elastic and inelastic components, a secant solution strategy based on a direct iterative scheme is introduced and the corresponding solution strategy is outlined. The strain and slope of the deformed element are assumed to be small; however the equilibrium equations are satisfied for the deformed element taking account of P-${\Delta}$ effects. The formulation accuracy and efficiency is verified by some numerical examples on the nonlinear static, cyclic and dynamic analysis of steel frames.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2020

Precast deck joints have larger crack width than cast-in-place concrete decks. The initial crack typically occurs at the maximum moment but cracks on precast joints are significant and lead to failure of the deck. The present crack equation is applied to cast-in-place decks, and requires correction to calculate the crack width of precast deck joints. This research aims to study the crack width correction equation of precast decks by performing static tests using high strength and normal strength concrete. Based on experimental results, the bending strength of the structural connections of the current precast deck is satisfied. However it is not suitable to calculate and control the crack width of precast loop connections using the current design equation. A crack width calculation equation is proposed for crack control of precast deck loop joints. Also included in this paper are recommendations to improve the crack control of loop connections.