• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.153-167
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• 2022

The interaction between blast load and structures, as well as the interaction among structural members may well affect the structural response and damages. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse more realistic reinforced concrete structures in order to gain an extensive knowledge on the possible structural response under blast load effect. Among all the civilian structures, columns are considered to be the most vulnerable to terrorist threat and hence detailed investigation in the dynamic response of these structures is essential. Therefore, current research examines the effect of blast loads on the reinforced concrete columns via development of Pressure- Impulse (P-I) diagrams. In the finite element analysis, the level of damage on each of the aforementioned RC column will be assessed and the response of the RC columns when subjected to explosive loads will also be identified. Numerical models carried out using LS-DYNA were compared with experimental results. It was shown that the model yields a reliable prediction of damage on all RC columns. Validation study is conducted based on the experimental test to investigate the accuracy of finite element models to represent the behaviour of the models. The blast load application in the current research is determined based on the Lagrangian approach. To develop the designated P-I curves, damage assessment criteria are used based on the residual capacity of column. Intensive investigations are implemented to assess the effect of column dimension, concrete and steel properties and reinforcement ratio on the P-I diagram of RC columns. The produced P-I models can be applied by designers to predict the damage of new columns and to assess existing columns subjected to different blast load conditions.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.361-380
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• 2023

A size dependent bending behavior of piezoelectrical flexoelectric layered perforated functionally graded (FG) composite nanobeam rested on an elastic foundation is investigated analytically. The composite beam is composed of regularly cutout FG core and two piezoelectric face sheets. The material characteristics is graded through the core thickness by power law function. Regular squared cutout perforation pattern is considered and closed forms of the equivalent stiffness parameters are derived. The modified nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theory is employed to incorporate the microstructure as well as nonlocality effects into governing equations. The Winkler as well as the Pasternak elastic foundation models are employed to simulate the substrate medium. The Hamiltonian approach is adopted to derive the governing equilibrium equation including piezoelectric and flexoelectric effects. Analytical solution methodology is developed to derive closed forms for the size dependent electromechanical as well as mechanical bending profiles. The model is verified by comparing the obtained results with the available corresponding results in the literature. To demonstrate the applicability of the developed procedure, parametric studies are performed to explore influences of gradation index, elastic medium parameters, flexoelectric and piezoelectric parameters, geometrical and peroration parameters, and material parameters on the size dependent bending behavior of piezoelectrically layered PFG nanobeams. Results obtained revealed the significant effects both the flexoelectric and piezoelectric parameters on the bending behavior of the piezoelectric composite nanobeams. These parameters could be controlled to improve the size dependent electromechanical as well as mechanical behaviors. The obtained results and the developed procedure are helpful for design and manufacturing of MEMS and NEMS.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.595-603
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• 2024

In the construction industry, there has been a surge in the implementation of high-tech equipment in recent years. Various technologies are being considered as potential solutions for future construction projects. Building information modeling (BIM), which utilizes advanced equipment, is a promising solution among these technologies. The need for safety inspection has also increased with the aging structures. Nevertheless, traditional safety inspection technology falls short of meeting this demand as it heavily relies on the subjective opinions of workers. This inadequacy highlights the need for advancements in existing maintenance technology. Research on building safety inspection using 3D laser scanners has notably increased. Laser scanners that use light detection and ranging (LiDAR) can quickly and accurately acquire producing information, which can be realized through reverse engineering by modeling point cloud data. This study introduces an innovative evaluation system for building safety using a 3D laser scanner. The system was used to assess the safety of an existing three-story building by implementing a reverse engineering technique. The 3D digital data are obtained from the scanner to detect defects and deflections in and outside the building and to create an as-built BIM. Subsequently, the as-built structural model of the building was generated using the reverse engineering approach and used for structural analysis. The acquired information, including deformations and dimensions, is compared with the expected values to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.73-91
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• 2024

This paper has focused on presenting vibration analysis of trapezoidal sandwich plates with a damaged core and FG wavy CNT-reinforced face sheets. A damage model is introduced to provide an analytical description of an irreversible rheological process that causes the decay of the mechanical properties, in terms of engineering constants. An isotropic damage is considered for the core of the sandwich structure. The classical theory concerning the mechanical efficiency of a matrix embedding finite length fibers has been modified by introducing the tube-to-tube random contact, which explicitly accounts for the progressive reduction of the tubes' effective aspect ratio as the filler content increases. The First-order shear deformation theory of plate is utilized to establish governing partial differential equations and boundary conditions for the trapezoidal plate. The governing equations together with related boundary conditions are discretized using a mapping-generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method in spatial domain. Then natural frequencies of the trapezoidal sandwich plates are obtained using GDQ method. Validity of the current study is evaluated by comparing its numerical results with those available in the literature. After demonstrating the convergence and accuracy of the method, different parametric studies for laminated trapezoidal structure including carbon nanotubes waviness (0≤w≤1), CNT aspect ratio (0≤AR≤4000), face sheet to core thickness ratio (0.1 ≤ ${\frac{h_f}{h_c}}$ ≤ 0.5), trapezoidal side angles (30° ≤ α, β ≤ 90°) and damaged parameter (0 ≤ D < 1) are carried out. It is explicated that the damaged core and weight fraction, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) waviness and CNT aspect ratio can significantly affect the vibrational behavior of the sandwich structure. Results show that by increasing the values of waviness index (w), normalized natural frequency of the structure decreases, and the straight CNT (w=0) gives the highest frequency. For an overall comprehension on vibration of laminated trapezoidal plates, some selected vibration mode shapes were graphically represented in this study.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.299-318
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• 2024

The main objective of this paper is to compute the far-field acoustic radiation (sound radiation) of functionally graded plates (FGM) loaded by sinusoidally varying point load subjected to the arbitrary boundary condition is carried out. The governing differential equations for thin functionally graded plates (FGM) are derived using classical plate theory (CPT) and Rayleigh integral using the elemental radiator approach. Four cases, segregated on power-law index k=0,1,5,10, are studied. A novel approach is illustrated to compute sound fields of vibrating FGM plates using the physical neutral surface with an elemental radiator approach. The material properties of the FGM plate for all cases are calculated considering the power law indexes. An in-house MATLAB code is written to compute the natural frequencies, normal surface velocities, and sound radiation fields are analytically calculated using semi-analytical formulation. Ansys is used to validate the computed sound power level. The parametric effects of the power law index, modulus ratios, different constituent of FGM plates, boundary conditions, damping loss factor on the sound power level, and radiation efficiency is illustrated. This work is the benchmark approach that clearly explains how to calculate acoustic fields using a solid layered FGM model in ANSYS ACT. It shows that it is possible to asymptotically stabilize the structure by controlling the intermittent layers' stiffness. It is found that sound fields radiated by the elemental radiators approach in MATLAB, ANSYS and literatures are in good agreement. The main novelty of this research is that the FGM plate is analyzed in the low-frequency range, where the stiffness-controlled region governs the whole analysis. It is concluded that a clamped mono-ceramic FGM plate radiates a lesser sound power level and higher radiation efficiency than a mono-metallic or metal-rich FGM plate due to higher stiffness. It is found that change in damping loss factor does not affect the same constituents of FGM plates but has significant effects on the different constituents of FGM plates.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2024

With the increase in the exploitation depth of offshore oil and gas, it is possible to control the global buckling of deep-sea pipelines by the snake lay method. Previous studies mainly focused on the analysis of critical buckling force and critical temperature of pipelines under the snake-like laying method, and pipelines often suffer structural failure due to seismic disasters during operation. Therefore, seismic action is a necessary factor in the design and analysis of submarine pipelines. In this paper, the seismic action of steel pipes in the operation stage after global buckling has occurred under the active control method is analyzed. Firstly, we have established a simplified finite element model for the entire process cycle and found that this modeling method is accurate and efficient, solving the problem of difficult convergence of seismic wave and soil coupling in previous solid analysis, and improving the efficiency of calculations. Secondly, through parameter analysis, it was found that under seismic action, the pipe diameter mainly affects the stress amplitude of the pipeline. When the pipe wall thickness increases from 0.05 m to 0.09 m, the critical buckling force increases by 150%, and the maximum axial stress decreases by 56%. In the pipe soil interaction, the greater the soil viscosity, the greater the pipe soil interaction force, the greater the soil constraint on the pipeline, and the safer the pipeline. Finally, the pipeline failure determination formula was obtained through dimensionless analysis and verified, and it was found that the formula was accurate.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2008

Underestimation of the capacity can have serious economic consequences, as deficient bridges must be posted, repaired or replaced. Accurate prediction of bridge behavior may allow for more bridges to remain in service with or without minor repairs. The presented research is focused on the reliability evaluation of the actual load carrying capacity of existing bridges based on the field testing. Reliability analysis is performed on 17 previously tested bridges. Bridges are first evaluated based on the code specified values and design resistance. However, after the field testing program, it is possible to apply the experimental results into the bridge reliability evaluation procedures. The girder distribution factors obtained from the tests are also applied in the reliability calculation. The results indicate that the reliability indices of selected bridges can be significantly increased due to the reduction of uncertainties without sacrificing the safety of structures, by including the result of field measurement data into calculation.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.563-581
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• 2024

This paper presents a novel finite element model for the free vibration analysis of variable-thickness functionally graded porous (FGP) microplates resting on Pasternak's medium in the hygro-thermal environment. The governing equations are established according to refined higher-order shear deformation plate theory (RPT) in construction with the modified couple stress theory. For the first time, three-node triangular elements with twelve degrees of freedom for each node are developed based on Hermitian interpolation functions to describe the in-plane displacements and transverse displacements of microplates. Two laws of variable thickness of FGP microplates, including the linear law and the nonlinear law in the x-direction are investigated. Effects of thermal and moisture changes on microplates are assumed to vary continuously from the bottom surface to the top surface and only cause tension loads in the plane, which does not change the material's mechanical properties. The numerical results of this work are compared with those of published data to verify the accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. In addition, the parameter study is conducted to explore the effects of geometrical and material properties such as the changing law of the thickness, length-scale parameter, and the parameters of the porosity, temperature, and humidity on the free vibration response of variable thickness FGP microplates. These results can be applied to design of microelectromechanical structures in practice.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.293-312
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• 2024

Researchers are actively investigating the potential for utilizing alternative materials in construction to tackle the environmental and economic challenges linked to traditional concrete-based materials. Nevertheless, conventional laboratory methods for testing the mechanical properties of concrete are both costly and time-consuming. The limitations of traditional models in predicting the tensile strength of concrete composited with geopolymer have created a demand for more advanced models. Fortunately, the increasing availability of data has facilitated the use of machine learning methods, which offer powerful and cost-effective models. This paper aims to explore the potential of several machine learning methods in predicting the tensile strength of geopolymer concrete under different curing conditions. The study utilizes a dataset of 221 tensile strength test results for geopolymer concrete with varying mix ratios and curing conditions. The effectiveness of the machine learning models is evaluated using additional unseen datasets. Based on the values of loss functions and evaluation metrics, the results indicate that most models have the potential to estimate the tensile strength of geopolymer concrete satisfactorily. However, the Takagi Sugeno fuzzy model (TSF) and gene expression programming (GEP) models demonstrate the highest robustness. Both the laboratory tests and machine learning outcomes indicate that geopolymer concrete composed of 50% fly ash and 40% ground granulated blast slag, mixed with 10 mol of NaOH, and cured in an oven at 190°F for 28 days has superior tensile strength.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.169-194
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• 2024

Although the excellent characteristics of functionally graded materials (FGMs) cracks could be found due to manufacturing defects or extreme working conditions. The existence of these cracks may threaten the material or structural strength, reliability, and lifetime. Due to high cost and restrictions offered by practical operational features these cracked components couldn't be replaced immediately. Such circumstances lead to the requirement of assessing the dynamic performance of cracked functionally graded structural components especially under moving objects. The present study aims to comprehensively investigate the dynamic behavior of functionally graded cracked Timoshenko beams (FGCTBs) resting on Winkler foundation and subjected to moving load through shear locking free finite elements methodology. The through thickness material distribution is simulated by the exponential gradation law. The geometric discontinuity due to cracks is represented using the massless rotational spring approach. The shear locking phenomena is avoided by using the different interpolation functions orders for both deflections and rotations. Based on Timoshenko beam element, a shear locking free finite elements methodology is developed. The unconditionally stable Newmark procedure is employed to solve the forced vibration problem. Accuracy of the developed procedure is verified by comparing the obtained results with the available results and an excellent agreement is found. Parametric studies are conducted to explore effects of the geometrical, material characteristics, crack geometrical characteristics, the elastic foundation parameter, and the moving load speed on the dynamic behavior for different boundary conditions. Obtained results revealed the significant effect these parameters on the dynamic performance of FGCTBs.