• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2022

In this paper, a nonlinear numerical method to solve the large deflection problem is introduced. And the non-dimensional load-deflection behavior of functionally graded carbon nanotube-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plates is parametrically investigated. The large deflection problem is formulated according to the von Kármán nonlinear theory and the (1,1,0)^* hierarchical model, and it is approximated by 2-D natural element method (NEM). The shear locking phenomenon is suppressed by the selectively reduced integration method. The nonlinear matrix equations are solved by combining the incremental loading scheme and the Newton-Raphson iteration method. The proposed method is validated from the benchmark experiments, where the propose method shows an excellent agreement with the reference methods. The nonlinear behavior of FG-CNTRC plates is evaluated in terms of the non-dimensional load-deflection curve, and it is parametrically investigated with respect to the existence/non-existence and gradient pattern of CNTs, the width-to-thickness and aspect ratios of plates and the type of boundary conditions. The non-dimensional central deflection is significantly reduced when CNTs and added, and it decreases with the volume fraction of CNTs. But, it shows a uniform increase in proportion to the width-to-thickness and aspect ratios. Both the gradient pattern of CNTs and the type of boundary conditions do also show the remarkable effects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.255-267
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• 2021

The analysis of simply supported single-cell skew-curved reinforced concrete (RC) box-girder bridges is carried out using a finite element based CsiBridge software. The behaviour of skew-curved box-girder bridges can not be anticipated simply by superimposing the individual effects of skewness and curvature, so it becomes important to examine the behaviour of such bridges considering the combined effects of skewness and curvature. A comprehensive parametric study is performed wherein the combined influence of the skew and curve angles is considered to determine the maximum bending moment, maximum shear force, maximum torsional moment and maximum vertical deflection of the bridge girders. The skew angle is varied from 0° to 60° at an interval of 10°, and the curve angle is varied from 0° to 60° at an interval of 12°. The scantly available literature on such bridges focuses mainly on the analysis of skew-curved bridges under dead and point loads. But, the effects of actual loadings may be different, thus, it is considered in the present study. It is found that the performance of these bridges having more curvature can be improved by introducing the skewness. Finally, several equations are deduced in the non-dimensional form for estimating the forces and deflection in the girders of simply supported skew-curved RC box-girder bridges, based upon the results of the straight one. The developed equations may be helpful to the designers in proportioning, analysing, and designing such bridges, as the correlation coefficient is about 0.99.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2022

The study presents a three-dimensional approach to simulate the nonlinear behavior of a 72 m long Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) pre-stressed box girder for a pedestrian bridge in Busan, South Korea. The concrete damage plasticity (CDP) model is adopted to model the non-linear behavior of the UHPFRC material, in which the material properties are obtained from uniaxial compressive and tensile tests. The simulation model based on the proposed stress-strain curve is validated by the results of four-point bending model tests of a 50 m UHPFRC pre-stressed box girder. The results from the simulation models agree with the experimental observations and predict the flexural behavior of the 50 m UHPFRC pre-stressed box girder accurately. Afterward, the validated model is utilized to investigate the flexural behavior of the 72 m UHPFRC pre-stressed box girder. Here, the load-deflection curve, stress status of the girder at various load levels, and connection details is analyzed. The load-deflection curve is also compared with design load to demonstrate the great benefit of the slender UHPFRC box girder. The obtained results demonstrate the applicability of the nonlinear finite element method as an appropriate option to analyze the flexural behavior of pre-stressed long-span girders.