• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.243-260
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• 2018

Detection of damages in fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) composite structures is important from the safety and serviceability point of view. Usually, damage is realized as a local reduction of stiffness and if dynamic responses of the structure are sensitive enough to such changes in stiffness, then a well posed inverse problem can provide an efficient solution to the damage detection problem. Usually, such inverse problems are solved within the framework of pattern recognition. Support Vector Machine (SVM) Algorithm is one such methodology, which minimizes the weighted differences between the experimentally observed dynamic responses and those computed using the finite element model- by optimizing appropriately chosen parameters, such as stiffness. A damage detection strategy is hereby proposed using SVM which perform stepwise by first locating and then determining the severity of the damage. The SVM algorithm uses simulations of only a limited number of damage scenarios and trains the algorithm in such a way so as to detect damages at unknown locations by recognizing the pattern of changes in dynamic responses. A rectangular fiber reinforced plastic composite plate has been investigated both numerically and experimentally to observe the efficiency of the SVM algorithm for damage detection. Experimentally determined modal responses, such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are used as observable parameters. The results are encouraging since a high percentage of damage cases have been successfully determined using the proposed algorithm.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.3 no.6
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• pp.421-438
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• 2003

Aging and deterioration of existing steel structures necessitate the development of simple and efficient rehabilitation techniques. The current study investigates a methodology to enhance the flexural capacity of steel beams by bonding Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) sheets to their flanges. A heavy duty adhesive, tested in a previous study is used to bond the steel and the GFRP sheet. In addition to its ease of application, the GFRP sheet provides a protective layer that prevents future corrosion of the steel section. The study reports the results of bending tests conducted on a W-shaped steel beam before and after rehabilitation using GFRP sheets. Enhancement in the moment capacity of the beam due to bonding GFRP sheet is determined from the test results. A closed form analytical model that can predict the yield moment as well as the stresses induced in the adhesive and the GFRP sheets of rehabilitated steel beam is developed. A detailed finite element analysis for the tested specimens is also conducted in this paper. The steel web and flanges as well as the GFRP sheets are simulated using three-dimensional brick elements. The shear and peel stiffness of the adhesive are modeled as equivalent linear spring systems. The analytical and experimental results indicate that a significant enhancement in the ultimate capacity of the steel beam is achieved using the proposed technique. The finite element analysis is employed to describe in detail the profile of stresses and strains that develop in the rehabilitated steel beam.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.421-445
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• 2010

In this paper the formulation of an efficient frame element applicable for nonlinear analysis of 3D reinforced concrete (RC) frames is outlined. Interaction between axial force and bending moment is considered by using the fibre element approach. Further, section warping, effect of normal and tangential forces on the torsional stiffness of section and second order geometrical nonlinearities are included in the model. The developed computer code is employed for nonlinear static analysis of RC sub-assemblages and a simple approach for extending the formulation to dynamic cases is presented. Dynamic progressive collapse assessment of RC space frames based on the alternate path method is undertaken and dynamic load factor (DLF) is estimated. Further, it is concluded that the torsional behaviour of reinforced concrete elements satisfying minimum standard requirements is not significant for the framed structures studied.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.263-276
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• 2020

In this article, the acoustic responses of free vibrated natural fibre-reinforced polymer nanocomposite structure have been investigated first time with the help of commercial package (ANSYS) using the multiphysical modelling approach. The sound relevant data of the polymeric structure is obtained by varying weight fractions of the natural nanofibre within the composite. Firstly, the structural frequencies are obtained through a simulation model prepared in ANSYS and solved through the static structural analysis module. Further, the corresponding sound data within a certain range of frequencies are evaluated by modelling the medium through the boundary element steps with adequate coupling between structure and fluid via LMS Virtual Lab. The simulation model validity has been established by comparing the frequency and sound responses with published results. In addition, sets of experimentation are carried out for the eigenvalue and the sound pressure level for different weight fractions of natural fibre and compared with own simulation data. The experimental frequencies are obtained using own impact type vibration analyzer and recorded through LABVIEW support software. Similarly, the noise data due to the harmonically excited vibrating plate are recorded through the available Array microphone (40 PH and serial no: 190569). The numerical results and subsequent experimental comparison are indicating the comprehensiveness of the presently derived simulation model. Finally, the effects of structural design parameters (thickness ratio, aspect ratio and boundary conditions) on the acoustic behaviour of the natural-fibre reinforced nanocomposite are computed using the present multiphysical model and highlighted the inferences.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.567-576
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• 2018

The objective of this work is to analyze large deflections of a fiber reinforced composite cantilever beam under point loads. In the solution of the problem, finite element method is used in conjunction with two dimensional (2-D) continuum model. It is known that large deflection problems are geometrically nonlinear problems. The considered non-linear problem is solved considering the total Lagrangian approach with Newton-Raphson iteration method. In the numerical results, the effects of the volume fraction and orientation angles of the fibre on the large deflections of the composite beam are examined and discussed. Also, the difference between the geometrically linear and nonlinear analysis of fiber reinforced composite beam is investigated in detail.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.135-156
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• 2007

Three 3D nonlinear finite-element models are developed to study the behavior of concrete beams and plates with and without external reinforcement by fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP). All three models are formulated based upon the 3D theory of elasticity. The stress model is modified from the element developed by Ramtekkar, et al. (2002) to incorporate material nonlinearity in the formulation. Both transverse stress and displacement components are used as nodal degrees-of-freedom to ensure the continuity of both stress and displacement components between the elements. The displacement model uses only displacement components as nodal degrees-of-freedom. The transition model has both stress and displacement components as nodal degrees-of-freedom on one surface, and only displacement components as nodal degrees-of-freedom on the opposite surface. The transition model serves as a connector between the stress and the displacement models. The developed models are validated by comparing the results of the analyses with an existing experimental result. Parametric studies of the effects of the externally reinforced FRP on the load capacity of reinforced concrete (RC) beams and concrete plates are performed to demonstrate the practicality and the efficiency of the proposed models.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.533-547
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• 2013

"Reciprocal Frame" refers to a self-supporting grid structure used both for floor and roof. Using Finite Element Methods for non-linear solid mechanics and frictional-contact, this paper intends to analytically and numerically investigate the collapse behaviour of a reciprocal frame structure made of fibre-reinforced concrete. Considering a simple 3-beam structure, it has been investigated using a solid finite element model. Once defined the collapse behaviour of the simple structure, the analysis has been generalized using a concentrated plasticity finite element method. Results provided will be useful for studying generic reciprocal frame structures with several beams.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.853-872
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• 2015

Numerical analysis of large amplitude free vibration behaviour of laminated composite spherical shell panel embedded with the piezoelectric layer is presented in this article. For the investigation purpose, a general nonlinear mathematical model has been developed using higher order shear deformation mid-plane kinematics and Green-Lagrange nonlinearity. In addition, all the nonlinear higher order terms are included in the present mathematical model to achieve any general case. The nonlinear governing equation of freely vibrated shell panel is obtained using Hamilton's principle and discretised using isoparametric finite element steps. The desired nonlinear solutions are computed numerically through a direct iterative method. The validity of present nonlinear model has been checked by comparing the responses to those available published literature. In order to examine the efficacy and applicability of the present developed model, few numerical examples are solved for different geometrical parameters (fibre orientation, thickness ratio, aspect ratio, curvature ratio, support conditions and amplitude ratio) with and/or without piezo embedded layers and discussed in details.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.643-658
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• 2024

To date, shell-solid and fibre element model analysis are the most commonly used methods to investigate the seismic performance of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) bridge piers. However, most existing research does not consider the loss of bearing capacity caused by the fracture of the outer steel tube. To fill this knowledge gap, a refined finite element (FE) model considering the ductile damage of steel tubes and the behaviour of infilled concrete with cracks is established and verified against experimental results of unidirectional, bidirectional cyclic loading tests and pseudo-dynamic loading tests. In addition, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the seismic performance of CFST bridge piers with different concrete strength, steel strength, axial compression ratio, slenderness ratio and infilled concrete height using the proposed model. The validation shows that the proposed refined FE model can effectively simulate the residual displacement of CFST bridge piers subjected to highintensity earthquakes. The parametric analysis indicates that CFST piers hold sufficient strength reserves and sound deformation capacity and, thus, possess excellent application prospects for bridge construction in high-intensity areas.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.283-293
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• 2013

This paper deals with the applicability of a new extended layerwise optimization method for thermal buckling load optimization of laminated composite plates. The design objective is the maximization of the critical thermal buckling of the laminated plates. The fibre orientations in the layers are considered as design variables. The first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) is used for the finite element solution of the laminates. Finally, the numerical analysis is carried out to show the applicability of extended layerwise optimization algorithm of laminated plates for different parameters such as plate aspect ratios and boundary conditions.