• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.391-404
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• 2018

Researchers have been long studying new building implementation methods to improve the quality of construction, reduce the time of assembly, and increase productivity. One of these methods is the use of modular pre-fabricated structural forms that are composed of a beam, column, short column, pyramidal end block, and connection plates. In this study, a new geometry for the pyramidal end block was proposed that helps facilitate the assembly procedure. Since the proposed configuration affects the performance of this form of connection, its behavior was evaluated using finite element method. For this purpose, the connection was modeled in ABAQUS and then validated by comparing the outputs with experimental results. The research proceeded through analyzing 16 specimens under monotonic and cyclic loading. The results indicated that using the pyramidal end block not only makes the assembly process easier but also reduces the out-of-plane displacement of the short column webs and the vertical displacement of beam end. By choosing appropriate section properties for column and beam, the connection can bear a rotation up to 0.01 radians within its inelastic region and a total of 0.04 radians without any significant reduction in its bearing capacity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.769-778
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• 2019

The specially prefabricated steel moment connections with pyramid head is one of the significant innovations in the steel structures forms to improve the installation time and simplify the construction procedure. The beams in this structure form are supported by two top and bottom angles and web double angles. Such a configuration despite its advantages increases the welding operation and filed installation time and costs. In this paper, the effect of using beams with channel and I section in three classes of seismically compact, seismically non-compact, and slender section according to width-to-thickness ratio on the behavior of the connection was investigated under monotonic and cyclic loading. Modeling was performed by ABAQUS and verified by the results of an experimental specimen. The findings indicated that using I and channel section instead of angle section reduces the amount of welding materials as well as easing the installation procedure. However, it has no significant effect on the ultimate strength and ductility of the connection. Furthermore, if the beam section is seismically compact, this form is considered as a special moment frame that has a rotation capacity up to 0.04 radians without any reduction in connection moment resistance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.369-389
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• 2014

Two-layer coupled or composite beams with discrete shear connectors of finite dimensions are commonly encountered in pre-fabricated construction. This paper presents the development of simplified closed-form solutions for such type of coupled beams for practical applications. A new coupled beam element is proposed to represent the unconnected segments in the beam. General solutions are then developed by an inductive method based on the results from the finite element analysis. A modification is subsequently considered to account for the effect of local deformations. For typical cases where the local deformation is primarily concerned about its distribution over the depth of the coupled beam, empirical modification factors are developed based on parametric calculations using finite element models. The developed analytical method for the coupled beams in question is simple, sufficiently accurate, and suitable for quick calculation in engineering practice.