• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.307-321
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• 2020

The slim-floor solution provides an efficient alternative to the classic slab-over-beam configuration due to architectural and structural benefits. Two deficiencies can be identified in the current state-of-art: (i) the technique is limited to nonseismic applications and (ii) the lack of information on moment-resisting slim-floor beam-to-column joints. In the seismic design of framed structures, continuous beam-to-column joints are required for plastic hinges to form at the ends of the beams. The present paper proposes a slim-floor technical solution capable of expanding the current application of slim-floor joints to seismic-resistant composite construction. The proposed solution relies on a moment-resisting connection with a thick end-plate and large-diameter bolts, which are used to fulfill the required strength and stiffness characteristics of continuous connections, while maintaining a reduced height of the configuration. Considering the proposed novel solution and the variety of parameters that could affect the behavior of the joint, experimental and numerical validations are compulsory. Consequently, the current paper presents the experimental and numerical investigation of two slim-floor beam-to-column joint assemblies. The results are discussed in terms of moment-rotation curves, available rotational capacity and failure modes. The study focuses on developing reliable slim-floor beam joints that are applicable to steel building frame structures located in seismic regions.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.18-24
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• 2020

In this study, a lightweight wide impeller for large-area surface treatment was designed and structural stability was confirmed based on finite element(FE) analysis. A lightweight bracket FE model was established through topology optimization, and the optimal FE model was selected after structural analysis. The bending deformation FE analysis was performed, and bending deformation was included in the allowable deformation range. In addition, FE modal analysis was performed, and the range of safe speed(RPM) by rotation was suggested. Ultimately, it was confirmed that this analytical technique is effective for design the lightweight wide impeller.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.71-87
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• 2014

Interaction between closely-spaced buildings subject to earthquake induced strong ground motions, termed in the literature as "seismic pounding", occurs commonly during major seismic events in contemporary congested urban environments. Seismic pounding is not taken into account by current codes of practice and is rarely considered in practice at the design stage of new buildings constructed "in contact" with existing ones. Thus far, limited research work has been devoted to quantify the influence of slab-to-slab pounding on the inelastic seismic demands at critical locations of structural members in adjacent structures that are not aligned in series. In this respect, this paper considers a typical case study of a "new" reinforced concrete (R/C) EC8-compliant, torsionally sensitive, 7-story corner building constructed within a block, in bi-lateral contact with two existing R/C 5-story structures with same height floors. A non-linear local plasticity numerical model is developed and a series of non-linear time-history analyses is undertaken considering the corner building "in isolation" from the existing ones (no-pounding case), and in combination with the existing ones (pounding case). Numerical results are reported in terms of averages of ratios of peak inelastic rotation demands at all structural elements (beams, columns, shear walls) at each storey. It is shown that seismic pounding reduces on average the inelastic demands of the structural members at the lower floors of the 7-story building. However, the discrepancy in structural response of the entire block due to torsion-induced, bi-directionally seismic pounding is substantial as a result of the complex nonlinear dynamics of the coupled building block system.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.513-520
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• 2011

In this paper, the advanced explicit algorithm is proposed to simulate the stress-erection process analysis of Strarch system. The Strarch(Stressed-Arch) system is a unique and innovative structural system and member prestress comprising prefabricated plane truss frames which are erected by a post-tensioning stress-erection procedure. The flexible bottom chord which have sleeve and gap detail are closed by the reaction force of prestressing tendon. The prestress imposing to the tendon will make the Strarch system to be erected. This post tensioning process is called as "stress-erection process". During the stress-erection process, the plastic rigid body rotation is occurred to the flexible top chord by the excessive amount of plastic strain, and the structural characteristic becomes to be unstable. In this study, the large deformational beam-column element with plastic hinge is used to model the flexible top chord, and the advanced Dynamic Relaxation method(DRM) are applied to the unstable problem of stress-erection process of Strarch system. Finally, the verification of proposed explicit algorithm is evaluated by analysing the stress-erection of real project of Strarch system.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.217-227
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• 2018

In the last decades, valuable results have been reported regarding conventional passive, active, semi-active, and hybrid structural control systems on two-dimensional and a few three-dimensional shear buildings. In this research, using a three-dimensional finite element model of high-rise concrete structures, designed by performance based plastic design method, it was attempted to construct a relatively close to reality model of concrete structures equipped with Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) by considering the effect of soil-structure interaction (SSI), torsion effect, hysteresis behavior and cracking effect of concrete. In contrast to previous studies which have focused mainly on linearly designed structures, in this study, using performance-based plastic design (PBPD) design approach, nonlinear behavior of the structures was considered from the beginning of the design stage. Inelastic time history analysis on a detailed model of twenty-story concrete structure was performed under a far-field ground motion record set. The seismic responses of the structure by considering SSI effect are studied by eight main objective functions that are related to the performance of the structure, containing: lateral displacement, acceleration, inter-story drift, plastic energy dissipation, shear force, number of plastic hinges, local plastic energy and rotation of plastic hinges. The tuning problem of TMD based on tuned mass spectra is set by considering five of the eight previously described functions. Results reveal that the structural damage distribution range is retracted and inter-story drift distribution in height of the structure is more uniform. It is strongly suggested to consider the effect of SSI in structural design and analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.381-395
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• 2009

This paper presents the details of an advanced Finite Element (FE) analysis of a plane steel portal frame with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections subjected cyclic loading. In spite of several component models on cyclic behaviour of connections presented in the literature, works on numerical investigations on cyclic behaviour of full scale frames are rather scarce. This paper presents the evolution of an FE model which deals comprehensively with the issues related to cyclic behaviour of full scale steel frames using ABAQUS software. In the material modeling, combined kinematic/isotropic hardening model and isotropic hardening model along with Von Mises criteria are used. Connection non-linearity is also considered in the analysis. The bolt slip which happens in friction grip connection is modeled. The bolt load variation during loading, which is a pivotal issue in reality, has been taken care in the present model. This aspect, according to the knowledge of the authors, has been first time reported in the literature. The numerically predicted results using the methodology evolved in the present study, for the cyclic behaviour of a cantilever beam and a rigid frame, are validated with experimental results available in the literature. The moment-rotation and deflection responses of the evolved model, match well with experimental results. This proves that the methodology for evolving the steel frame and connection model presented in this paper is closer to real frame behaviour as evident from the good comparison and hence paves the way for further parametric studies on cyclic behaviour of flexibly connected frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.323-347
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• 2014

This paper proposes a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, which is improved by making use of the Harmony Search (HS) approach and called HS-PSO algorithm. A computer code is developed for optimal sizing design of non-linear steel frames with various semi-rigid and rigid beam-to-column connections based on the HS-PSO algorithm. The developed code selects suitable sections for beams and columns, from a standard set of steel sections such as American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) wide-flange W-shapes, such that the minimum total cost, which comprises total member plus connection costs, is obtained. Stress and displacement constraints of AISC-LRFD code together with the size constraints are imposed on the frame in the optimal design procedure. The nonlinear moment-rotation behavior of connections is modeled using the Frye-Morris polynomial model. Moreover, the P-${\Delta}$ effects of beam-column members are taken into account in the non-linear structural analysis. Three benchmark design examples with several types of connections are presented and the results are compared with those of standard PSO and of other researches as well. The comparison shows that the proposed HS-PSO algorithm performs better both than the PSO and the Big Bang-Big Crunch (BB-BC) methods.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.423-434
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• 2001

In this paper, a three-span continuous box girder is analysed by using elastic equation based on energy method, concerning the behaviour with the effects of bending and pure torsional moment. The statically indeterminate forces of a three-span continuous curved box girder are calculated by applying the principle of least work to this elastic equation. The influence line of shear force, bending moment, pure torsion, displacement and angle of rotation due to unit vortical load and unit torque for curved box girder are obtained. The internal forces of the curved box girder which the actual load is applied can be calculated using the influence line obtained from this study.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 1988

In this study, the earthquake response of building structures with foundation uplift was investigated. The Winkler foundation model and two-spring model are widely used to represent the interaction between foundation mat and soil. While the analysis using the Winkler foundation model results in more accurate prediction, it requires a complex procedure and longer computation time. In this study, an equivalent two-spring model(S model) is proposed. The S model can represent the Winkler foundation model more accurately and the analysis using the S model is simpler and more effective. The S model is derived by simplifying the nonlinear moment-rotation relationship of foundation mat. The dynamic responses predicted by the S model gave a good agreement to those of the Winkler foundation model.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.391-404
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• 2018

Researchers have been long studying new building implementation methods to improve the quality of construction, reduce the time of assembly, and increase productivity. One of these methods is the use of modular pre-fabricated structural forms that are composed of a beam, column, short column, pyramidal end block, and connection plates. In this study, a new geometry for the pyramidal end block was proposed that helps facilitate the assembly procedure. Since the proposed configuration affects the performance of this form of connection, its behavior was evaluated using finite element method. For this purpose, the connection was modeled in ABAQUS and then validated by comparing the outputs with experimental results. The research proceeded through analyzing 16 specimens under monotonic and cyclic loading. The results indicated that using the pyramidal end block not only makes the assembly process easier but also reduces the out-of-plane displacement of the short column webs and the vertical displacement of beam end. By choosing appropriate section properties for column and beam, the connection can bear a rotation up to 0.01 radians within its inelastic region and a total of 0.04 radians without any significant reduction in its bearing capacity.