• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.478-482
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• 2010

A series of molecular dynamic (MD), finite element (FE) and ab initio simulations are carried out to establish suitable modeling schemes for the continuum-based analysis of aluminum matrix nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). From a comparison of the MD with FE models and inferences based on bond structures and electron distributions, we propose that the effective thickness of a CNT wall for its continuum representation should be related to the graphitic inter-planar spacing of 3.4${\AA}$. We also show that shell element representation of a CNT structure in the FE models properly simulated the carbon-carbon covalent bonding and long-range interactions in terms of the load-displacement behaviors. Estimation of the effective interfacial elastic properties by ab initio simulations showed that the in-plane interfacial bond strength is negligibly weaker than the normal counterpart due to the nature of the weak secondary bonding at the CNT-Al interface. Therefore, we suggest that a third-phase solid element representation of the CNT-Al interface in nanocomposites is not physically meaningful and that spring or bar element representation of the weak interfacial bonding would be more appropriate as in the cases of polymer matrix counterparts. The possibility of treating the interface as a simply contacted phase boundary is also discussed.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 1988

An "equivalent homogeneous, orthotropic" model that includes edge effects and an accompanying finite element analysis is presented for elastomeric bearings. The model is developed for two-dimensional configurations with horizontal layers, and for linear, elastic, small deformation conditions. The equivalent homogeneous theory, in addition to capturing the overall response characteristics of the layered elastomeric bearing system, approximately models the important edge effects, which occur at and near boundaries that cut the layers, and the stress concentrations at layer interfaces. The primary dependent variables for the theory have been selected such that the highest derivatives appearing in the strain energy function are first-order, thus requiring only $C_0$ continuity of the finite element approximations. As a result, the finite element analysis is simple and computationally efficient. Numerical examples are presented to verify the theory and to illustrate potential applications of the analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1055-1075
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• 2015

In order to investigate the accuracy and applicability of steel equivalent constitutive model, the calculated results were compared with typical tests of steel frames under static and dynamic loading patterns firstly. Secondly, four widely used models for time history analysis of steel frames were compared to discuss the applicability and efficiency of different methods, including shell element model, multi-scale model, equivalent constitutive model (ECM) and traditional beam element model (especially bilinear model). Four-story steel frame models of above-mentioned finite element methods were established. The structural deformation, failure modes and the computational efficiency of different models were compared. Finally, the equivalent constitutive model was applied in seismic incremental dynamic analysis of a ten-floor steel frame and compared with the cyclic hardening model without considering damage and degradation. Meanwhile, the effects of damage and degradation on the seismic performance of steel frame were discussed in depth. The analysis results showed that: damages would lead to larger deformations. Therefore, when the calculated results of steel structures subjected to rare earthquake without considering damage were close to the collapse limit, the actual story drift of structure might already exceed the limit, leading to a certain security risk. ECM could simulate the damage and degradation behaviors of steel structures more accurately, and improve the calculation accuracy of traditional beam element model with acceptable computational efficiency.

• Composites Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.9-14
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• 2004

In this study, analytical investigations on the flexural behavior of FRP reinforced concrete slab were discussed. In the derivation of analytic solution, the FRP reinforced concrete slab was modeled as a structural orthotropic plate. To determine the flexural rigidities of an orthotropic plate model, the elastic equivalence method was employed. In the finite element analysis, the approximate method to determine the rigidity matrix of orthotropic plate element was also suggested using the elastic equivalence method. The results obtained by the analytical solution and the finite element analysis were compared with that of experiment.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1197-1214
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• 2015

There is a great difference in mechanical behavior between design model one-time loading and step-by-step construction process. This paper presents practical computational methods for simulating the structural behavior of long-span rigid steel structures during construction processes. It introduces the positioning principle of node rectification for installation which is especially suitable for rigid long-span steel structures. Novel improved nonlinear analytical methods, known as element birth and death of node rectification, are introduced based on several calculating methods, as well as a forward iteration of node rectification method. These methods proposed in this paper can solve the problem of element's 'floating' and can be easily incorporated in commercial finite element software. These proposed methods were eventually implemented in the computer simulation and analysis of the main stadium for the Universiade Sports Center during the construction process. The optimum construction scheme of the structure is determined by the improved algorithm and the computational results matched well with the measured values in the project, thus indicating that the novel nonlinear time-varying analysis approach is effective construction simulation of complex rigid long-span steel structures and provides useful reference for future design and construction.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.205-225
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• 2016

In this study the finite element method is utilized to predict the deflection and vibration characteristics of rectangular plates made of saturated porous functionally graded materials (PFGM) within the framework of the third order shear deformation plate theory. Material properties of PFGM plate are supposed to vary continuously along the thickness direction according to the power-law form and the porous plate is assumed of the form where pores are saturated with fluid. Various edge conditions of the plate are analyzed. The governing equations of motion are derived through energy method, using calculus of variations while the finite element model is derived based on the constitutive equation of the porous material. According to the numerical results, it is revealed that the proposed modeling and finite element approach can provide accurate deflection and frequency results of the PFGM plates as compared to the previously published results in literature. The detailed mathematical derivations are presented and numerical investigations are performed while the emphasis is placed on investigating the effect of the several parameters such as porosity volume fraction, material distribution profile, mode number and boundary conditions on the natural frequencies and deflection of the PFGM plates in detail. It is explicitly shown that the deflection and vibration behaviour of porous FGM plates are significantly influenced by these effects. Numerical results are presented to serve as benchmarks for future analyses of FGM plates with porosity phases.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.321-337
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• 2007

The investigation on the behaviour of cold-formed stainless steel non-slender circular hollow section columns is presented in this paper. The normal strength austenitic stainless steel type 304 and the high strength duplex materials (austenitic-ferritic approximately equivalent to EN 1.4462 and UNS S31803) were considered in this study. The finite element method has been used to carry out the investigation. The columns were compressed between fixed ends at different column lengths. The geometric and material nonlinearities have been included in the finite element analysis. The column strengths and failure modes were predicted. An extensive parametric study was carried out to study the effects of normal and high strength materials on cold-formed stainless steel non-slender circular hollow section columns. The column strengths predicted from the finite element analysis were compared with the design strengths calculated using the American Specification, Australian/New Zealand Standard and European Code for cold-formed stainless steel structures. The numerical results showed that the design rules specified in the American, Australian/New Zealand and European specifications are generally unconservative for the cold-formed stainless steel non-slender circular hollow section columns of normal and high strength materials, except for the short columns and some of the high strength stainless steel columns. Therefore, different values of the imperfection factor and limiting slenderness in the European Code design rules were proposed for cold-formed stainless steel non-slender circular hollow section columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.53-67
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• 2019

This study presents finite element analysis (FEA) on a Y-type perfobond rib shear connection using Abaqus software. The performance of a shear connection is evaluated by conducting a push-out test. However, in practice, it is inefficient to verify the performance by conducting a push-out test with regard to all design variables pertaining to a shear connector. To overcome this problem, FEA is conducted on various shear connectors to accurately estimate the shear strength of the Y-type perfobond rib shear connection. Previous push-out test results for 14 typical push-out test specimens and those obtained through FEA are compared to analyze the shear behavior including consideration of the design variables. The results show that the developed finite element model successfully reflects the effects of changes in the design variables. In addition, using the developed FEA model, the shear resistance of a stubby Y-type perfobond rib shear connector is evaluated based on the concrete strength and transverse rebar size variables. Then, the existing shear resistance formula is upgraded based on the FEA results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.353-366
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• 2023

This paper presents a finite-element analysis (FEA) of aluminum alloy rectangular hollow sections (RHSs) and square hollow sections (SHSs) with circular through-openings under three-point and four-point bending. First, a finite-element model (FEM) was developed and validated against the corresponding test results available in the literature. Next, using the validated FE models, a parametric study comprising 180 FE models was conducted. The cross-section width-to-thickness ratio (b/t) ranged from 2 to 5, the hole size ratio (d/h) ranged from 0.2 to 0.8 and the quantity of holes (n) ranged from 2 to 6, respectively. Third, results obtained from laboratory test and FEA were compared with current design strengths calculated in accordance with the North American Specifications (NAS), the modified direct strength method (DSM) and the modified Continuous strength method (CSM). The comparison shows that the modified CSM are conservative by 15% on average for aluminum alloy RHSs and SHSs with circular through-openings subject to bending. Finally, a new design equation is proposed based on the modified CSM after being validated with results obtained from laboratory test and FEA. The proposed design equation can provide accurate predictions of flexural capacities for aluminum alloy RHSs and SHSs with circular through-openings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.331-348
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• 2022

The main goal of this article is to develop the finite element formulation based on the nonlocal strain gradient and the refined higher-order deformation theory employing a new function f(z) to investigate the static bending and free vibration of functionally graded porous (FGP) nanobeams. The proposed model considers the simultaneous effects of two parameters: nonlocal and strain gradient coefficients. The nanobeam is made by FGP material that exists in un-even and logarithmic-uneven distribution. The governing equation of the nanobeam is established based on Hamilton's principle. The authors use a 2-node beam element, each node with 8 degrees of freedom (DOFs) approximated by the C¹ and C² continuous Hermit functions to obtain the elemental stiffness matrix and mass matrix. The accuracy of the proposed model is tested by comparison with the results of reputable published works. From here, the influences of the parameters: nonlocal elasticity, strain gradient, porosity, and boundary conditions are studied.