• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.29-41
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• 2020

Cross-beams of modern through truss bridges are connected to truss chord at its nodes and between them. It results in variable rotational end restraint for cross-beams, thus variable bending moment distribution. This feature is captured in three-dimensional modelling of through truss bridge structure. However, for preliminary design or rapid assessment of service load effects such technique of analysis may not be available. So an analytical method of assessment of rotational end restraint for cross-beam of through truss bridges was worked out. Two cases - nodal cross-beam and inter-nodal cross-beam - were analyzed. Flexural and torsional stiffness of truss members, flexural stiffness of deck members and axial stiffness of wind bracing members in the vicinity of the analyzed cross-beam were taken into account. The provision for reduced stiffness of the X-type wind bracing was made. Finally, general formula for assessment of rotational end restraint was given. Rotational end restraints for cross-beams of three railway through truss bridges were assessed basing on the analytical method and the finite element method (three-dimensional beam-element modelling). Results of both methods show good agreement. The analytical method is able to reflect effects of some structural irregularities. On the basis of the obtained results the general values of rotational end restraint for nodal and inter-nodal cross-beams of railway through truss bridges were suggested.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.325-344
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• 2015

Experimental tests on cellular beams with sinusoidal openings showed two main failure modes around the openings. They concern the formation of four plastic hinges and the local instability of the sinusoidal part of the opening. In parallel, numerical analysis of the sinusoidal part of the opening revealed the existence of an elastic rotational restraint between the intermediate web-post and the adjacent opening panel. The aim of the present study is to present an approach to quantify this rotational restraint. Through the response surface method, a mathematical model is proposed. It shows a great ability to predict the rotational restraint value as a function of the geometrical parameters of the opening. This model can be used to perform an extensive study with various geometrical configurations of beams with the aim to develop a reliable and realistic analytical model predicting the resistance of the sinusoidal openings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.331-338
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• 2017

Cold-formed lipped channel columns (CFLCCs) have been widely used in light gauge steel constructions. The distortional buckling is one of the important buckling modes for CFLCCs and the distortional buckling critical load depends significantly on the rotational restrain stiffness generated by the web to the lipped flange. First, a simplified explicit expression for the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange has been derived. Using the expression, the characteristics of the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange have been investigated. The results show that there is a linear coupling relationship between the applied forces and the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange. Based on the explicit expression of the rotational restraint stiffness of the lipped flange, a simplified analytical formula has been derived which can determine the elastic distortional buckling critical stress of the CFLCCs subjected to axial compression. The simplified analytical formula developed in this study has been shown to be accurate through the comparisons with results from the distortional buckling analyses using the ANSYS finite element software. The developed analytical formula is easy to apply, and can be used directly in practical design and incorporated into future design codes and guidelines.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.147-161
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• 2014

In this paper a nonlinear finite element analysis model is established for cold-formed steel zed-section purlins subjected to uplift loading. In the model, the lateral and rotational restraints provided by the sheeting to the purlin are simplified as a lateral rigid restraint imposed at the upper flange-web junction and a rotational spring restraint applied at the mid of the upper flange where the sheeting is fixed. The analyses are performed by considering both geometrical and material nonlinearities. The influences of the rotational spring stiffness and initial geometrical imperfections on the uplift loading capacity of the purlin are investigated numerically. It is found that the rotational spring stiffness has significant influence on the purlin performance. However, the influence of the initial geometric imperfections on the purlin performance is found only in purlins of medium or long length with no or low rotational spring stiffness.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.383-396
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• 1996

In this paper, the behavior of plates partially restrained against rotation under stress gradient is investigated. As a first stage, an energy formulation is presented to model this boundary condition and a general expression is derived for the prediction of the elastic buckling of the plate under this general loading condition. The accuracy of the derived expression is compared numerically using the Galerkin method with other available data for the two limiting conditions of rotationally free and clamped boundaries. Results show that the prediction is within a 5% difference. The influence of rotational restraint and stress gradient upon the buckling load and the associated buckling mode is investigated. Numerical results show sensitivity of the buckling mode to the degree of rotational restraint and the variation of the buckling load with the stress gradient.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.57-70
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• 2016

The predominant type of buckling that I-steel concrete composite beams experience in the negative moment area is distortional buckling. The key factors that affect distortional buckling are the torsional and lateral restraints by the bottom flange. This study thoroughly investigates the equivalent lateral and torsional restraint stiffnesses of the bottom flange of an I-steel concrete composite beam under negative moments. The results show a coupling effect between the applied forces and the lateral and torsional restraint stiffnesses of the bottom flange. A formula is proposed to calculate the critical buckling stress of the I-steel concrete composite beams under negative moments by considering the lateral and torsional restraint stiffnesses of the bottom flange. The proposed method is shown to better predict the critical bending moment of the I-steel composite beams. This article introduces an improved method to calculate the elastic foundation beams, which takes into account the lateral and torsional restraint stiffnesses of the bottom flange and considers the coupling effect between them. The results show a close match in results from the calculation method proposed in this paper and the ANSYS finite element method, which validates the proposed calculation method. The proposed calculation method provides a theoretical basis for further research on distortional buckling and the ultimate resistance of I-steel concrete composite beams under a variable axial force.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.313-325
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• 2018

Concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) members are commonly used as composite columns in modern construction. However, the current guidelines for members' fire design (EN1994-1-2) have been proved to be unsafe in case the relative slenderness is higher than 0.5. In addition, the simplified design methods of Eurocode 4 are limited to circular and square CFST columns, while in practice columns with rectangular and elliptical hollow sections are being increasingly used because of their architectural aesthetics. In the last years a large experimental research has been carried out at Coimbra University on the topic. They have been tested concrete filled circular, square, rectangular and elliptical hollow columns with restrained thermal elongation. Some parameters such as the slenderness, the type of cross-section geometry as well as the axial and rotational restraint of the surrounding structure to the column have been tested in order to evaluate their influence on the fire resistance of such columns. In this paper it is evaluated the influence of the boundary conditions (pin-ended and semi-rigid end-support conditions) on the behavior of the columns in case of fire. In these tests it could not be seen a marked effect of the tested boundary conditions but it is believed that the increasing of rotational stiffness increases the fire resistance of the columns.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.55-75
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• 2021

The lightweight superstructure is beneficial for bridges in remote areas and emergency erection. In such weight-sensitive applications, the combination of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) as a material and box-beams as a structural system have enormous scope. This combination offers various advantages, but as a thin-walled structure, their designs are often governed by buckling criteria. FRP box-beams lose their stability either by flange or web buckling mode. In this paper, the web buckling behavior of simply supported FRP box-beam subjected to transverse load has been studied by modeling full box-beam to consider the effect of real state of stress (stress variation in length direction) and boundary conditions (rotational restraint at web-flange junction). A parametric study by varying the sectional geometry and fiber orientation is carried out by using ANSYS software. The accuracy of the FE models was ensured by verifying them against the available results provided in the literature. With the help of developed database the influential parameters (i.e., αs, βw, δw and γ) affecting the web bucklings are identified. Design trends have been developed which will be helpful to the designers in the preliminary stage. Finally, the importance of governing parameters and design trends are demonstrated through pedestrian bridge design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.625-636
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• 2021

This paper examines the fire performance of uninsulated and uncoated restrained steel-concrete composite beams supplemented with externally prestressed strands through advanced numerical simulation. In this work, a sequentially coupled thermo-mechanical analysis is carried out using ABAQUS. This analysis utilizes a highly nonlinear three-dimensional finite element (FE) model that is specifically developed and validated using full-sized specimens tested in a companion fire testing program. The developed FE model accounts for nonlinearities arising from geometric features and material properties, as well as complexities resulting from prestressing systems, fire conditions, and mechanical loadings. Four factors are of interest to this work including effect of restraints (axial vs. rotational), degree of stiffness of restraints, the configuration of external prestressed tendons, and magnitude of applied loading. The outcome of this analysis demonstrates how the prestressing force in the external tendons is primarily governed by the magnitude of applied loading and experienced temperature level. Interestingly, these results also show that the stiffness of axial restraints has a minor influence on the failure of restrained and prestressed steel-concrete composite beams. When the axial restraint ratio does not exceed 0.5, the critical deflection of the composite beam is lower than that of the composite beam with a restraint ratio of 1.0.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1203-1219
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• 2015

'Distortional buckling' is one of the predominant buckling types that may occur in a steel-concrete composite box beam (SCCBB) under a negative moment. The key factors, which affect the buckling modes, are the torsional and lateral restraints of the bottom plate of a SCCBB. Therefore, this article investigates the equivalent lateral and torsional restraint rigidity of the bottom plate of a SCCBB under a negative moment; the results of which show a linear coupling relationship between the applied forces and the lateral and/or torsional restraint stiffness, which are not depended on the cross-sectional properties of a SCCBB completely. The mathematical formulas for calculating the lateral and torsional restraint rigidity of the bottom plate can be used to estimate: (1) the critical distortional buckling stress of SCCBBs under a negative moment; and (2) the critical distortional moment of SCCBBs. This article develops an improved calculation method for SCCBBs on an elastic foundation, which takes into account the coupling effect between the applied forces and the lateral and/or torsional restraint rigidity of the bottom plate. This article analyzes the accuracy of the following calculation methods by using 24 examples of SCCBBs: (1) the conventional energy method; (2) the improved calculation method, as it has been derived in this article; and (3) the ANSYS finite element method. The results verify that the improved calculation method, as it has been proved in this article, is more accurate and reliable than that of the current energy method, which has been noted in the references.