• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.513-529
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• 2006

This paper deals with the dynamic behaviour of cold-formed steel hollow frames with different connection stiffnesses. An analytical model of a semi-rigid frame was developed to study the influence of connection stiffnesses on the fundamental frequency and dynamic response of the frames. The flexibilities of the connections are modeled by rotational springs. Neglect of semi-rigidity leads to an artificial stiffening of frames resulting in shorter fundamental period, which in turn results in a significant error in the evaluation of dynamic loads. In the seismic design of structures, of all the principal modes, the fundamental mode of translational vibration is the most critical. Hence, experiments were conducted to study the influence of the connection stiffnesses on the fundamental mode of translational vibration of the steel hollow frames. From the experimental study it was found that the fundamental frequency of the frames lie in the semi-rigid region. From the theoretical investigation it was found that the flexibly connected frames subjected to lateral loads exhibit larger deflection as compared to rigidly connected frames.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.307-320
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• 2003

This paper presents an efficient approach to the determination of the buckling loads of down-aisle, spliced, unbraced, pallet rack structures subjected to vertical and horizontal loads. A pallet rack structures is analysed by considering the stability equations of an equivalent free-sway column. The effects of semi-rigid beam-to-upright, splice-to-upright and base-plate-to-upright connections are fully incorporated into the analysis. Each section of upright between successive beam levels in the pallet rack is considered to be a single column element with two rotational degrees of freedom. A computer algebra package was used to determine modified stability equations for column elements containing splices. The influence of the position of splices in a pallet rack is clearly demonstrated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.33-50
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• 2001

In this paper an experimental study is performed on end-plate type joints. The test arrangement represents a column-base joint of a steel frame. Altogether six specimens were tested, each of them subjected to cyclic loading. The specimens were carefully designed by performing detailed preliminary calculations so that they would present typical behaviour types of end-plate joints. On the basis of the experimentally established moment-rotation relationship, the cyclic characteristics of each specimen have been calculated and compared to one another. The results are evaluated, qualitative and quantitative conclusions are drawn.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1599-1610
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• 2015

Cold Formed Steel members are widely used in today's construction industry. However the structural behavior of light gauge high strength cold formed steel sections characterized by various buckling modes are not yet fully understood. Because of their simple forming and easy connections, the commonly used cold formed sections for beams are C and Z. However both these sections suffer from certain buckling modes. To achieve much improved structural performance of cold formed sections for beams both in terms of strength and stiffness, it is important to either delay or completely eliminate their various modes of buckling. This paper presents various innovative sectional profiles and stiffening arrangements for cold formed steel beams which would successfully contribute in delaying or eliminating various modes of premature buckling, thus considerably improving the load carrying capacity as well as stiffness characteristics of such innovative cold formed sections compared to conventional cold formed steel sections commonly used for beams.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.425-428
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• 2004

Nonlinear finite element analysis is conducted to predict the structural behavior of precast concrete column and steel beam connected by using bolted connections. The Nonlinear FEM program is based on the modified compression field theory which has good accuracy in the concrete structures. The link element is properly used to model the discontinuity between precast concrete column and steel beam. Predictions from the proposed model are compared with experimental results and it is concluded that structural behaviors of the composite structures, such as strength capacity, crack pattern and failure mode, can be predicted quite successfully.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.305-323
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• 2024

Previous experimental studies have effectively demonstrated the remarkable efficiency of the stiffened channel link in connecting circular columns and I-shaped beams. This research aims to present design criteria and assess the seismic properties of this specific connection type through numerical modeling. Various parameters, including stiffener type and geometric properties of the stiffened channel element, were duly taken into account. The findings from over 136 nonlinear finite element analyses (FEAs) reveal that the recommended detailing scheme reliably satisfies all the regulations specified for rigid beam-to-column connections in special moment frames.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 2024

This study presents a replaceable reduced beam section (R-RBS) located at the column end in moment resisting frames (MRFs). An end of the R-RBS is connected to column by using end-plate moment connection and the other end of that is connected to main beam with beam splice connection. Therefore, the RBS that is expected to yield under an earthquake can be easily replaceable. Geometry of the RBS and the thickness of the beam splice connection are the prime variables of this study. A total of eight experimental test was carried out to examine the seismic performance of the proposed R-RBS with the connection details. The results obtained from experimental studies demonstrated that plate sizes of the beam splice connection significantly affect the seismic performance of RBSs used in MRFs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.541-561
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• 2010

This paper presents finite element analyses, experimental measurements and finite element model updating of an arch type steel laboratory bridge model using semi-rigid connections. The laboratory bridge model is a single span and fixed base structure with a length of 6.1 m and width of 1.1m. The height of the bridge column is 0.85 m and the maximum arch height is 0.95 m. Firstly, a finite element model of the bridge is created in SAP2000 program and analytical dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are determined. Then, experimental measurements using ambient vibration tests are performed and dynamic characteristics (natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios) are obtained. Ambient vibration tests are performed under natural excitations such as wind and small impact effects. The Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition method in the frequency domain and the Stochastic Subspace Identification method in the time domain are used to extract the dynamic characteristics. Then the finite element model of the bridge is updated using linear elastic rotational springs in the supports and structural element connections to minimize the differences between analytically and experimentally estimated dynamic characteristics. At the end of the study, maximum differences in the natural frequencies are reduced on average from 47% to 2.6%. It is seen that there is a good agreement between analytical and experimental results after finite element model updating. Also, connection percentages of the all structural elements to joints are determined depending on the rotational spring stiffness.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.625-641
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• 2020

The realistic modeling of the beam-column semi-rigid connection in steel frames attracted the attention of many researchers in the past for the seismic analysis of semi-rigid frames. Comparatively less studies have been made to investigate the behavior of steel frames with semi-rigid connections under different types of earthquake. Herein, the seismic behavior of semi-rigid steel frames is investigated under both far and near-field earthquakes. The semi-rigid connection is modeled by the multilinear plastic link element consisting of rotational springs. The kinematic hysteresis model is used to define the dynamic behavior of the rotational spring, describing the nonlinearity of the semi-rigid connection as defined in SAP2000. The nonlinear time history analysis (NTHA) is performed to obtain response time histories of the frame under scaled earthquakes at three PGA levels denoting the low, medium and high-level earthquakes. The other important parameters varied are the stiffness and strength parameters of the connections, defining the degree of semi-rigidity. For studying the behavior of the semi-rigid frame, a large number of seismic demand parameters are considered. The benchmark for comparison is taken as those of the corresponding rigid frame. Two different frames, namely, a five-story frame and a ten-story frame are considered as the numerical examples. It is shown that semi-rigid frames prove to be effective and beneficial in resisting the seismic forces for near-field earthquakes (PGA ≈ 0.2g), especially in reducing the base shear to a considerable extent for the moderate level of earthquake. Further, the semi-rigid frame with a relatively weaker beam and less connection stiffness may withstand a moderately strong earthquake without having much damage in the beams.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.307-319
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• 2020

The upper chords in half-through truss bridges are prone to buckling due to a lack of the upper transverse connections. Taking into account geometric and material nonlinearity, nonlinear finite-element analysis of a simple supported truss bridge was carried out to exhibit effects of different types of initial imperfections. A half-wave of initial imperfection was proved to be effective in the nonlinear buckling analysis. And a parameter analysis of initial imperfections was also conducted to reveal that the upper chords have the greatest impact on the buckling, followed by the bottom chords, vertical and diagonal web members. Yet initial imperfections of transverse beams have almost no effect on the buckling. Moreover, using influence surface method, the combinatorial effects of initial imperfections were compared to demonstrate that initial imperfections of the upper chords play a leading role. Furthermore, the equivalent effective length coefficients of the upper chord were derived to be 0.2~0.28 by different methods, which implies vertical and diagonal web members still provide effective constraints for the upper chord despite a lack of the upper transverse connections between the two upper chords. Therefore, the geometrical and material nonlinear finite-element method is effective in the buckling analysis due to its higher precision. Based on nonlinear analysis and installation deviations of members, initial imperfection of l/500 is recommended in the nonlinear analysis of half-through truss bridges without initial imperfection investigation.