• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.541-557
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• 2016

Prefabricated bridge substructures provide new possibility for designers in terms of efficiency of creativity, fast construction, geometry control and cost. Even though prefabricated bridge columns are widely adopted as a substructure system in the bridge construction project recently, lack of deeper understanding of the seismic behavior of prefabricated bridge substructures cause much concern on their performance in high seismic zones. In this paper, experimental research works are presented to verify enhanced design concepts of prefabricated bridge piers. Integration of precast segments was done with continuity of axial prestressing tendons and mild reinforcing bars throughout the construction joints. Cyclic tests were conducted to investigate the effects of the design parameters on seismic performance. An analytical method for moment-curvature analysis of prefabricated bridge columns is conducted in this study. The method is validated through comparison with experimental results and the fiber model analysis. A parametric study is conducted to observe the seismic behavior of prefabricated bridge columns using the analytical study based on strain compatibility method. The effects of continuity of axial steel and tendon, and initial prestressing level on the load-displacement response characteristics, i.e., the strain of axial mild steels and posttensioned tendon at fracture and concrete crushing strain at the extreme compression fiber are investigated. The analytical study shows the layout of axial mild steels and posttensioned tendons in this experiment is the optimized arrangement for seismic performance.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1768-1775
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• 2004

The compressive axial collapse tests were performed to investigate collapse modes and energy absorption characteristics of Al/CFRP compound tubes which are aluminum tubes wrapped with CFRP(Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) outside the aluminum circular and square tubes. Based on collapse characteristics of aluminum tubes and CFRP tubes respectively, the axial collapse tests were performed for Al/CFRP compound tubes which have different CFRP orientation angles. Test results showed that Al/CFRP compound tubes supplemented the unstable brittle failure of CFRP tubes due to ductile nature of inner aluminum tubes. In the light-weight aspect, specific energy absorption were the highest for Al/CFRP, CFRP in the middle, and aluminum the lowest. Also, specific energy absorption of circular tubes was higher than square tubes'. It turned out that CFRP orientation angle of Al/CFRP compound tubes influence specific energy absorption together with the collapse modes of the tubes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.623-639
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• 2015

Self-compacting Concrete (SCC) Filled Square steel Tubes (SCFST) was used to strengthen square RC columns. To establish the efficiency of this strengthening method, 17 columns were tested under axial compression loading including 3 RC columns without any strengthening (WRC), 1 RC column strengthened with concrete jacket (CRC), 13 RC columns strengthened with self-compacting concrete filled square steel tubes (SRC). The experimental results showed that the use of SCFST is interesting since the ductility and the bearing capacity of the RC columns are greatly improved. The improvement ratio is significantly affected by the nominal wall thickness of steel tubes (t), the strength grade of strengthening concrete (C), and the length-to-width ratio (L / B) of the specimens. In order to quantitatively analyze the effect of these test parameters on axial loading behavior of the SRC columns, three performance indices, enhancement ratio (ER), ductility index (DI), and confinement ratio (CR), were used. The strength of the SRC columns obtained from the experiments was then employed to verify the proposed mode referring to the relevant codes. It was found that codes DBJ13-51 could relatively predict the strength of the SRC columns accurately, and codes AIJ and BS5400 were relatively conservative.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.583-594
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• 2019

In the areas highly exposed to earthquakes, concrete-filled steel tube columns (CFSTCs) are known to provide superior structural aspects such as (i) high strength for good seismic performance (ii) high ductility (iii) enhanced energy absorption (iv) confining pressure to concrete, (v) high section modulus, etc. Numerous studies were reported on behavior of CFSTCs under axial compression loadings. This paper presents an analytical model to predict ultimate load capacity of CFSTCs with circular sections under axial load by using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). MARS is a nonlinear and non-parametric regression methodology. After careful study of literature, 150 comprehensive experimental data presented in the previous studies were examined to prepare a data set and the dependent variables such as geometrical and mechanical properties of circular CFST system have been identified. Basically, MARS model establishes a relation between predictors and dependent variables. Separate regression lines can be formed through the concept of divide and conquers strategy. About 70% of the consolidated data has been used for development of model and the rest of the data has been used for validation of the model. Proper care has been taken such that the input data consists of all ranges of variables. From the studies, it is noted that the predicted ultimate axial load capacity of CFSTCs is found to match with the corresponding experimental observations of literature.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.375-388
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• 2019

This paper aims to investigate the axial load behavior and stability strength of square tubed steel-reinforced concrete (TSRC) columns. Unlike concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) column, the outer steel tube of a TSRC column is mainly used to provide confinement to the core concrete. Ten specimens were tested under axial compression, and the main test variables included length-to-width ratio (L/B) of the specimens, width-to-thickness ratio (B/t) of the steel tubes, and with or without stud shear connectors on the steel sections. The failure mode, ultimate strength and load-tube stress response of each specimen were summarized and analyzed. The test results indicated that the axial load carried by square tube due to friction and bond of the interface increased with the increase of L/B ratio, while the confinement effect of tube was just the opposite. Parametric studies were performed through ABAQUS based on the test results, and the feasibility of current design codes has also been examined. Finally, a method for calculating the ultimate strength of this composite column was proposed, in which the slenderness effect on the tube confinement was considered.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.525-536
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• 2015

An experimental study was performed to investigate the axial-flexural load-carrying capacity of concrete-encased and-filled steel tube (CEFT) columns. To restrain local buckling of longitudinal bars and to prevent premature failure of the thin concrete encasement, the use of U-cross ties was proposed. Five eccentrically loaded columns were tested by monotonic compression. The test parameters were axial-load eccentricity, spacing of ties, and the use of concrete encasement. Although early cracking occurred in the thin concrete encasement, the maximum axial loads of the CEFT specimens generally agreed with the strengths predicted considering the full contribution of the concrete encasement. Further, due to the effect of the circular steel tube, the CEFT columns exhibited significant ductility. The applicability of current design codes to the CEFT columns was evaluated in terms of axial-flexural strength and flexural stiffness.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 2014

In the design of tunnel segment structure, axial and moment forces are considered as significant forces. Since axial force is much greater than moment force, the whole section of segment remains in compression. Therefore crack width can be reduced. But the axial force is not considered in criteria for serviceability check. This fact leads service condition more severe compared to ultimate condition and makes the required steel reinforcement increase to meet the serviceability criteria. In this study, the effect of axial force on serviceability of tunnel segment is evaluated, experimentally and analytically. Mock-up tests on segments with actual size were performed and investigated in terms of initial crack resistance. The evaluation proves that more comprehensive design could be achieved when the axial force is considered in the procedure for the serviceability check in design of tunnel segment.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.415-437
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• 2020

Circular concrete filled steel tube (CFST) columns have an advantage over all other sections when they are used in compression members. This paper proposes a new approach for deriving a new empirical equation to predict the axial compressive capacity of circular CFST columns using the Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The developed ANN model uses 5 input parameters that include the diameter of circular steel tube, the length of the column, the thickness of steel tube, the steel yield strength and the compressive strength of concrete. The only output parameter is the axial compressive capacity. Training and testing the developed ANN model was carried out using 219 available sets of data collected from the experimental results in the literature. An empirical equation is then proposed as an important result of this study, which is practically used to predict the axial compressive capacity of a circular CFST column. To evaluate the performance of the developed ANN model and the proposed equation, the predicted results are compared with those of the empirical equations stated in the current design codes and other models. It is shown that the proposed equation can predict the axial compressive capacity of circular CFST columns more accurately than other methods. This is confirmed by the high accuracy of a large number of existing test results. Finally, the parametric study result is analyzed for the proposed ANN equation to consider the effect of the input parameters on axial compressive strength.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.361-369
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• 2012

In this study, prefabricated composite columns using high-strength angles (PSRC composite column) was studied. Concentric axial loading tests were performed for 2/3 scale PSRC specimens and an conventional SRC specimen with H-steel at the center of the cross-section. The test parameters were the steel ratio of angles and the spacing of lateral re-bars. The test results showed that by placing the angles at the corners of the cross-section for confinement with provided for the core concrete, the PSRC column specimens exhibited greater load-carrying capacity and deformation capacity than those of the conventional SRC column. The axial load-carrying capacity of the PSRC columns was greater than the prediction by KBC 2009. Using existing stress-strain relationship of confined concrete, the axial load-deformation relationship of the specimens were predicted. The numerical predictions correlated well with the test results in terms of initial stiffness, load-carrying capacity, and post-peak strength- and stiffness-degradations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.427-440
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• 2001

The growing use of unprotected or partially protected steelwork in buildings has caused a lively debate regarding the safety of this form of construction. A good deal of recent research has indicated that steel members have a substantial inherent ability to resist fire so that additional fire protection can be either reduced or eliminated completely. A performance based philosophy also extends the study into the effect of structural continuity and the performance of the whole structural totality. As part of the structural system, thermal expansion during the heating phase or contraction during the cooling phase in most beams is likely to be restrained by adjacent parts of the whole system or sub-frame assembly due to compartmentation. This has not been properly addressed before. This paper describes an experimental programme in which unprotected steel beams were tested under load while it is restrained between two columns and additional horizontal restraints with particular concern on the effect of catenary action in the beams when subjected to large deflection at very high temperature. This paper also presents a three-dimensional mathematical modelling, based on the finite element method, of the series of fire tests on the part-frame. The complete analysis starts with an evaluation of temperature distribution in the structure at various time levels. It is followed by a detail 3-D finite element analysis on its structural response as a result of the changing temperature distribution. The principal part of the analysis makes use of an existing finite element package FEAST. The effect of columns being fire-protected and the beam being axially restrained has been modelled adequately in terms of their thermal and structural responses. The consequence of the beam being restrained is that the axial force in the restrained beam starts as a compression, which increases gradually up to a point when the material has deteriorated to such a level that the beam deflects excessively. The axial compression force drops rapidly and changes into a tension force leading to a catenary action, which slows down the beam deflection from running away. Design engineers will be benefited with the consideration of the catenary action.