• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.663-672
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• 2018

This paper contains a consistent couple-stress theory to capture size effects in Euler-Bernoulli nano-beams made of three-directional functionally graded materials (TDFGMs). These models can degenerate into the classical models if the material length scale parameter is taken to be zero. In this theory, the couple-stress tensor is skew-symmetric and energy conjugate to the skew-symmetric part of the rotation gradients as the curvature tensor. The material properties except Poisson's ratio are assumed to be graded in all three axial, thickness and width directions, which it can vary according to an arbitrary function. The governing equations are obtained using the concept of minimum potential energy. Generalized differential quadrature method (GDQM) is used to solve the governing equations for various boundary conditions to obtain the natural frequencies of TDFG nano-beam. At the end, some numerical results are performed to investigate some effective parameter on buckling load. In this theory the couple-stress tensor is skew-symmetric and energy conjugate to the skew-symmetric part of the rotation gradients as the curvature tensor.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society For Composite Materials Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.18-21
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• 2004

A GFRP based composite blade was developed for a 750kW wind energy conversion system of type class I. The blade sectional geometry was designed to have a general shell-spar structure. The load cases specified in the IEC61400-1 international specification were considered. For withstanding all relevant extreme loads, the structural analysis for the complete blade was performed using a commercial FEM code. The static load carrying capacity, buckling stability, blade tip deflection and natural frequencies at various rotational speeds were evaluated to satisfy the strength requirements in accordance with the IEC61400-1 and GL Regulations. For designing a lightweight blade, the thickness and the lay-up pattern of the skin-foam sandwich structures were optimized iteratively using the DOT program T-bolts were used for joining the blade root and the hub, which were modeled using a 3D FE volume model. In order to confirm the safety of the root connection, the static stresses of the thick root laminate and the steel. bolts were predicted by taking account of the bolt pretension and the root bending moments. The calculated stresses were compared with the material strengths.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.53-72
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• 2012

In this study, the physically-based failure models for matrix and fibers in compression and tension loading are introduced. For the 3D stress based fiber kinking model a modification is proposed for calculation of the fiber misalignment angle. All of these models are implemented into the finite element code by using the advantage of damage variable and the numerical results are discussed. To investigate the matrix failure model, purely in-plane transverse compression experiments are carried out on the specimens made by Glass/Epoxy to obtain the fracture surface angle and then a comparison is made with the calculated numerical results. Furthermore, shear failure of $({\pm}45)_s$ model is investigated and the obtained numerical results are discussed and compared with available experimental results. Some experiments are also carried out on the woven laminated composites to investigate the fracture pattern in the matrix failure mode and shown that the presented matrix failure model can be used for the woven composites. Finally, the obtained numerical results for stress based fiber kinking model and improved ones (strain based model) are discussed and compared with each other and with the available results. The results show that these models can predict the kink band angle approximately.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.649-661
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• 2017

This paper is motivated by the lack of studies in the technical literature concerning to the influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) waviness and aspect ratio on the vibrational behavior of functionally graded nanocomposite annular sector plates resting on two-parameter elastic foundations. The carbon nanotube-reinforced (CNTR) plate has smooth variation of CNT fraction based on the power-law distribution in the thickness direction, and the material properties are also estimated by the extended rule of mixture. In this study, 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. Parametric studies are carried out to highlight the influence of CNTs volume fraction, waviness and aspect ratio, boundary conditions and elastic foundation on vibrational behavior of FG-CNT thick sectorial plates. The study is carried out based on three-dimensional theory of elasticity and in contrary to two-dimensional theories, such as classical, the first- and the higher-order shear deformation plate theories, this approach does not neglect transverse normal deformations. The annular sector plate is assumed to be simply supported in the radial edges while any arbitrary boundary conditions are applied to the other two circular edges including simply supported, clamped and free. For an overall comprehension on 3-D vibration of annular sector plates, some mode shape contour plots are reported in this research work.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.149-158
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• 2021

In this research paper, the free vibrational response of laminated composite plates is investigated using a non-polynomial refined shear deformation theory (NP-RSDT). The most interesting feature of this theory is the parabolic distribution of transverse shear deformations while ensuring the conditions of nullity of shear stresses at the free surfaces of the plate without requiring the Shear correction factor "Ks". A fourth-nodded isoparametric element with four degrees of freedom per node is employed for laminated composite plates. The numerical analysis of simply supported square anti-symmetric cross-ply and angle-ply laminated plate is carried out using a special discretization based on four-node finite element method which four degrees of freedom per node. Several numerical results are presented to show the effect of the coupling parameters of the plate such as the modulus ratios, the thickness ratio and the plate layers number on adimensional eigen frequencies. All numerical results presented using the current finite element method (FEM) is presented in 3D curve form.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.455-466
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• 2019

Despite the rapid advancement in computing resources, many real-life design and optimization problems in structural engineering involve huge computation costs. To counter such challenges, approximate models are often used as surrogates for the highly accurate but time intensive finite element models. In this paper, surrogates for first-order shear deformation based finite element models are built using a polynomial regression approach. Using statistical techniques like Box-Cox transformation and ANOVA, the effectiveness of the surrogates is enhanced. The accuracy of the surrogate models is evaluated using statistical metrics like $R^2$, $R^2{_{adj}}$, $R^2{_{pred}}$ and $Q^2{_{F3}}$. By combining these surrogates with nature-inspired multi-criteria decision-making algorithms, namely multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) and multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO), the optimal combination of various design variables to simultaneously maximize fundamental frequency and frequency separation is predicted. It is seen that the proposed approach is simple, effective and good at inexpensively producing a host of optimal solutions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.677-689
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• 2022

Generally, the goal of seismic retrofit design of an existing structure using energy dissipation devices is to determine the optimum design parameters of a retrofit device to satisfy a specified limit state with minimum cost. However, the presence of multiple parameters to be optimized and the computational complexity of performing non-linear analysis make it difficult to find the optimal design parameters in the realistic 3D structure. In this study, genetic algorithm-based optimal seismic retrofit methods for determining the required number, yield strength, and location of steel slit dampers are proposed to retrofit an asymmetric soft first-story structure. These methods use a multi-objective and single-objective evolutionary algorithms, each of which varies in computational complexity and incorporates nonlinear time-history analysis to determine seismic performance. Pareto-optimal solutions of the multi-objective optimization are found using a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II). It is demonstrated that the developed multi-objective optimization methods can determine the optimum number, yield strength, and location of dampers that satisfy the given limit state of a three-dimensional asymmetric soft first-story structure. It is also shown that the single-objective distribution method based on minimizing plan-wise stiffness eccentricity turns out to produce similar number of dampers in optimum locations without time consuming nonlinear dynamic analysis.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.517-529
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• 2023

Using a device composed of two lateral pressure plates (LPPs) and a steel reinforcement bar to apply horizontal pressure on slope surfaces, a newly developed prestress-reinforced embankment (PRE) is proposed, to which can be adopted in strengthening railway subgrades. In this study, an analytical model, which is available of calculating additional confining stress (σ_H) at any point in a PRE, was established based on the theory of elasticity. In addition, to verify the proposed analytical model, three dimensional (3D) finite element analyses were conducted and the feasibility in application was also identified and discussed. In order to study the performance of the PRE, the propagation of σ_H in a PRE was analyzed and discussed based on the analytical model. For the aim of convenience in application, calculation charts were developed in terms of three dimensionless parameters, and they can be used to accurately and efficiently predict the σ_H in a PRE regardless of the embankment slope ratio and LPP side length ratio. Finally, the potential applications of the proposed analytical model were discussed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.393-405
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• 2023

In this paper, the energy absorption capability of a novel cruciform composite lattice structure was evaluated through the simulation of compression tests. For this purpose, several test samples of Polylactic acid cellular reinforced with continuous glass fibers were prepared for compression testing using the additive manufacturing method of material extrusion. Using a conventional path design for material extrusion, multiple debonding is probable to be occurred at the joint regions of adjacent cells. Therefore, an innovative printing path design was proposed for the cruciform lattice structure. Afterwards, quasistatic compression tests were performed to evaluate the energy absorption behaviour of this structure. A finite element model based on local material property degradation was then developed to verify the experimental test and extend the virtual test method. Accordingly, different combinations of unit cells' dimensions using the design of the experiment were numerically proposed to obtain the optimal configuration in terms of the total absorbed energy. Having brilliant energy absorption properties, the studied cruciform lattice with its optimized unit cell dimensions can be used as an energy absorber in crashworthiness applications. Finally, a cellular structure will be suitable with optimal behavior in crush load efficiency and high energy absorption.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2024

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have a proven strength enhancement capability when installed into Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. The brittle failure of traditional FRP strengthening systems has attracted researchers to develop novel materials with improved strength and ductility properties. One such material is that known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study presents a numerical investigation of the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP systems. This material is distinguished by its large rupture strain, leading to an improvement in the ductility of the strengthened structural members compared to conventional FRPs. A three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model is developed in this study to predict the load-deflection response of a series of experimentally tested beams published in the literature. The numerical model incorporates constitutive material laws and bond-slip behavior between concrete and the strengthening system. Moreover, the validated model was applied in a parametric study to inspect the effect of concrete compressive strength, PET-FRP sheet length, and reinforcing steel bar diameter on the overall performance of concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP.