• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.549-556
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• 2018

Progressive building collapse occurs when failure of a structural component leads to the failure and collapse of surrounding members, possibly promoting additional failure. Global system collapse will occur if the damaged system is unable to reach a new static equilibrium configuration. The most common type of primary failure which led to the progressive collapse phenomenon, is the sudden removal of a column by various factors. In this study, a method is proposed to prevent progressive collapse phenomena in structures subjected to removal of a single column. A vierendeel peripheral frame at roof level is used to redistribute the removed column's load on other columns of the structure. For analysis, quasi-static approach is used which considers various load combinations. This method, while economically affordable is easily applicable (also for new structures as well as for existing structures and without causing damage to their architectural requirements). Special emphasis is focused on the evolution of vertical displacements of column removal point. Even though additional stresses and displacements are experienced by removal of a structural load bearing column, the proposed method considerably reduces the displacement at the mentioned point and prevents the collapse of the structural frame.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.355-372
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• 2015

This paper identifies the effects of infill wall existence and arrangement in the seismic response of steel frame structures. The methodology followed was based on the utilisation of overall seismic response indicators that distil the complexity of structural response in a single value hence enabling their straightforward comparative and statistical post process. The overall structure damage index after Park/Ang ($OSDI_{PA}$) and the maximum inter-story drift ratio (MISDR) have been selected as widely utilized structural seismic response parameters in contemporary state of art. In this respect a set of 225 Greek antiseismic code (EAK) spectrum compatible artificial accelerograms have been created and a series of non-linear dynamic analyses have been executed. Data were obtained through nonlinear dynamic analyses carried on an indicative steel frame structure with 5 different infill wall topologies. Results indicated the significant overall contribution of infill walls with a reduction that ranged 35-47% of the maximum and 74-81% of the average recorded $OSDI_{PA}$ values followed by an overall reduction of 64-67% and 58-61% for the respective maximum and average recorded MISDR values demonstrating the relative benefits of infill walls presence overall as well as localised with similar reductions observed in 1st level damage indicators.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.159-165
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• 2010

The composite frame system suggested in this paper consists of steel reinforced concrete beam encased with structural tee and precast concrete column. This system has advantages such as reduction of materials, CO2 emissions and waste. To commercialize the new composite frame system, it is necessary to develop connections that can effectively connect each member. Therefore, a hybrid connection that has steel type connection and reinforced concrete together is utilized to connect easily at the composite frame system. To evaluate the structural performance of the composite frame system, an experimental investigation is presented. In this study, the flexural moment capacity of the composite frame was determined using the strain compatibility approach. The strain compatibility approach can be used to predict the flexural moment capacity at each limit state. As a result, all elements of the beam to column connection are represented to fully interact between each other. The specimens show errors of -1.9% in the yield limit state and 0.9% at the maximum load limit state. Also, testing shows that beam to column connections have characteristics of semi-rigid connection as per Eurocode 3.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.173-186
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• 2017

Conceptual configuration and seismic performance of high-rise steel frame-brace structure are studied. First, the topology optimization problem of minimum volume based on truss-like material model under earthquake action is presented, which is solved by full-stress method. Further, conceptual configurations of 20-storey and 40-storey steel frame-brace structure are formed. Next, the 40-storeystructure model is developed in Opensees. Two common configurations are utilized for comparison. Last, seismic performance of 40-storey structure is derived using nonlinear static analysis and nonlinear dynamic analysis. Results indicate that structural lateral stiffness and maximum roof displacement can be improved using brace. Meanwhile seismic damage can also be decreased. Moreover, frame-brace structure using topology optimization is most favorable to enhance lateral stiffness and mitigate seismic damage. Thus, topology optimization is an available way to form initial conceptual configuration in high-rise steel frame-brace structure.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.287-294
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• 2002

An automatic design method of steel frames using nonlinear analysis is developed. The geometric nonlinearity is considered by the use of stability functions. A direct search method is used as an automatic design technique. The unit value of each member is evaluated by using LRFD Interaction equation. The member with the largest unit value Is replaced one by one with an adjacent larger member selected in the database. The weight of the steel frame is taken as an objective function. Load-carrying capacities, deflections, interstory drifts, and ductility requirement are used as constraint functions. Case study of a three-dimensional two story frame are presented.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.271-294
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• 2014

In recent years, along with the advances made in performance-based design optimization, the need for fast calculation of response parameters in dynamic analysis procedures has become an important issue. The main problem in this field is the extremely high computational demand of time-history analyses which may convert the solution algorithm to illogical ones. Two simplifying strategies have shown to be very effective in tackling this problem; first, simplified nonlinear modeling investigating minimum level of structural modeling sophistication, second, wavelet analysis of earthquake records decreasing the number of acceleration points involved in time-history loading. In this paper, we try to develop an efficient framework, using both strategies, to solve the performance-based multi-objective optimal design problem considering the initial cost and the seismic damage cost of steel moment-frame structures. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is employed as the optimization algorithm to search the Pareto optimal solutions. The constraints of the optimization problem are considered in accordance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommended design specifications. The results from numerical application of the proposed framework demonstrate the capabilities of the framework in solving the present multi-objective optimization problem.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.519-538
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• 2013

The design optimization of a cold-formed steel portal frame building is considered in this paper. The proposed genetic algorithm (GA) optimizer considers both topology (i.e., frame spacing and pitch) and cross-sectional sizes of the main structural members as the decision variables. Previous GAs in the literature were characterized by poor convergence, including slow progress, that usually results in excessive computation times and/or frequent failure to achieve an optimal or near-optimal solution. This is the main issue addressed in this paper. In an effort to improve the performance of the conventional GA, a niching strategy is presented that is shown to be an effective means of enhancing the dissimilarity of the solutions in each generation of the GA. Thus, population diversity is maintained and premature convergence is reduced significantly. Through benchmark examples, it is shown that the efficient GA proposed generates optimal solutions more consistently. A parametric study was carried out, and the results included. They show significant variation in the optimal topology in terms of pitch and frame spacing for a range of typical column heights. They also show that the optimized design achieved large savings based on the cost of the main structural elements; the inclusion of knee braces at the eaves yield further savings in cost, that are significant.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.315-327
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• 2002

The main objective of this study is to develop an discrete optimization algorithm of plane steel frames with rigid using second-order-elastic-plastic hinge analysis which is considering panel zone. Conventional analyses of steel frame are usually tarried out without considering the effect of panel zone deformation on frame behavior The validity of this model is established by comparison without panel zone on joint models is analyzed numerically to demonstrate the importance of using realistic models in steel frame analysis. The objective function is taken as Weight of steel frames and the constraints we formulated based on AISC-LRFD(1994). The validity of the developed algorithm we demonstrate by comparing the result with those of SAP2000. The result of the study indicates that the optimal design algorithm considering of panel zone behavior more economic design than simple steel frame design methods.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.825-847
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• 2011

This paper investigates the design using wind-moment method for semi-rigid un-braced steel frames bending on weak axis. A limiting sway method has been proposed to reduce the frame sway. Allowance for steel section optimization between moment of inertia on minor axis column and major axis beam was used in conjunction with slope-deflection analysis to derive equations for optimum design in the proposed method. A series of un-braced steel frames comprised of two, four, and six bays ranging in height of two and four storey were studied on minor axis framing. The frames were designed for minimum gravity load in conjunction with maximum wind load and vice-versa. The accuracy of the design equation was found to be in good agreement with linear elastic computer analysis up to second order analysis. The study concluded that the adoption of wind-moment method and the proposed limiting sway method for semi-rigid steel frame bending on weak axis should be restricted to low-rise frames not more than four storey.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.1111-1133
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• 2015

Rebar corrosion in concrete is one of the main causes of reduction of service life of reinforced concrete buildings. This paper presents the influence of rebar corrosion on the structural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings subjected to strong earthquake ground motion. Different levels of rebar corrosion scenarios were applied on a typical four story RC frame. The deteriorated conditions as a result of these scenarios include loss in cross-sectional area and loss of mechanical properties of the reinforcement bars, loss in bond strength, and loss in concrete strength and its modulus of elasticity. Dynamic analyses of the frame with different corrosion scenarios are performed with selected strong earthquake ground motion records. The influences of degradation in both concrete and reinforcement on structural behavior are investigated by comparing the various parameters of the frame under different corrosion scenarios with respect to each other. The results show that the progressive deterioration of the frame due to rebar corrosion causes serious structural behavior changes such as change in failure mode. The intensity, propagation time, and extensity of rebar corrosion have very important effects on the level of degradation of steel and concrete, as well as on the earthquake behavior of the structure.