• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.363-373
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• 2022

This paper presents an experimental and a numerical investigation of a H-beam - composite box column joint fabricated with two new inner diaphragms and a continuous inner diaphragm. The main objective of the current research project is to investigate the structural performance of the newly developed inner diaphragms under a cyclic loading protocol. Hysteretic behaviour of the composite joints is analysed to investigate the structural performance of the new and continuous inner diaphragms. This paper compares the result of the finite element (FE) models with the new and continuous inner diaphragms against their counterpart experimental results. To produce a design criterion for the newly developed inner diaphragms, yielding or failure area of the inner diaphragms under tensile stress is analysed from the FE results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.475-481
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• 2017

An overhead travelling crane structure of two doubly symmetric welded box beams is designed for minimum cost. The rails are placed over the inner webs of box beams. The following design constraints are considered: local buckling of web and flange plates, fatigue of the butt K weld under rail and fatigue of fillet welds joining the transverse diaphragms to the box beams, fatigue of CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced plastic) laminate, deflection constraint. For the formulation of constraints the relatively new standard for cranes EN 13001-3-1 (2010) is used. To fulfill the deflection constraint CFRP strengthening should be used. The application of CFRP materials in strengthening of steel and concrete structures are widely used in civil engineering applications due to their unique advantages. In our study, we wanted to show how the mechanical properties of traditional materials can be improved by the application of composite materials and how advanced materials and new production technologies can be applied. In the optimization the following cost parts are considered: material, assembly and welding of the steel structure, material and fabrication cost of CFRP strengthening. The optimization is performed by systematic search using a MathCAD program.