• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.421-441
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• 2005

The present work reports on a numerical simulation of a compartment fire. The fire was modeled using a simplified approach, where combustion is simulated as a volumetric heat release. Computations were performed with the commercial code CFX 5.6. Radiation was modeled with a differential approximation (P1 model), while turbulence effects upon the mean gas flow were dealt with a SST turbulence model. Simulations were carried out using a transient approach, starting at the onset of ignition. Results are provided for the temperature field time evolution, thus allowing a direct comparison with the analytical and experimental data. The high spatial resolution available for the results proved to be of great utility for a more detailed analysis of the thermal impact on the steel structure.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.45-58
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• 2017

Recent investigations have pointed out that current code provisions specifying that the stiffness of reinforced concrete elements is strength independent, and therefore can be estimated prior to any strength assignment, is incorrect. A strength allocation strategy, suitable for preliminary structural design of medium height wall-frame dual systems, is presented for allocating strength in such buildings and estimating the dependable rigidities. The design process may be implemented by either the approximate continuous approach or the stiffness matrix method. It is based on the concept of the inelastic equivalent single-degree-of-freedom system which, the last few years, has been used to implement the performance based seismic design. The aforesaid strategy may also be used to determine structural configurations of minimum rotation distortion. It is shown that when the location of the modal centre of rigidity, as described in author's recent papers, is within a close distance from the mass axis the torsional response is mitigated. The methodology is illustrated in ten story building configurations, whose torsional response is examined under the ground motion of Kobe 1995, component KJM000.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.335-355
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• 2006

The application of radial basis function neural networks (RBFN) to predict the ultimate torsional strength of reinforced concrete (RC) beams is explored in this study. A database on torsional failure of RC beams with rectangular section subjected to pure torsion was retrieved from past experiments in the literature; several RBFN models are sequentially built, trained and tested. Then the ultimate torsional strength of each beam is determined from the developed RBFN models. In addition, the predictions of the RBFN models are also compared with those obtained using the ACI 318 Code equations. The study shows that the RBFN models give reasonable predictions of the ultimate torsional strength of RC beams. Moreover, the results also show that the RBFN models provide better accuracy than the existing ACI 318 equations for torsion, both in terms of root-mean-square error and coefficients of determination.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2015

Due to design codes and regulations and the variety of building plans in Turkey, it is very often seen that band-type windows are left for ventilation and lightening of the basements of buildings which are used for various purposes such as workplaces and storage. Therefore when the necessary support measures cannot be given, short columns are subjected to very high shear forces and so damage occurs. One of the precautions to avoid the damage of short column mechanisms in buildings where band-type windows are in the basement is to strengthen the short columns with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). In this study, the effect of the FRP retrofitting process of the short columns around band-windowed structures, which are found especially in basement areas, is analyzed in accordance with Turkish Seismic Code 2007 (TSC 2007). Three different models which are bare frame, frame with short columns and retrofitted short columns with FRP, are created and analyzed according to TSC 2007 performance analysis methods to understand the effects of band windows in basements and the effect of FRP retrofitting.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.449-466
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• 2015

This paper aims to study the local bond stress-slip behavior of reinforcing bars embedded in lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). The experimental variables of the local bond stress-slip tests include concrete strength (20, 40 and 60 MPa), deformed steel bar size (#4, #6 and #8) and coarse aggregate (normal weight aggregate, reservoir sludge lightweight aggregate and waterworks sludge lightweight aggregate). The test results show that the ultimate bond strength increased with the increase of concrete compressive strength. Moreover, the larger the rib height to the diameter ratio ($h/d_b$) of the deformed steel bars is, the greater the ultimate bond stress is. In addition, the suggestion value of the CEB-FIP Model Code to the LWAC specimen's ultimate bond stress is more conservative than that of the normal weight concrete.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.283-297
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• 2013

The aim of this paper is to investigate how the soil-structure interaction affects sloshing response of the elevated tanks. For this purpose, the elevated tanks with two different types of supporting systems which are built on six different soil profiles are analyzed for both embedded and surface foundation cases. Thus, considering these six different profiles described in well-known earthquake codes as supporting medium, a series of transient analysis have been performed to assess the effect of both fluid sloshing and soil-structure interaction (SSI). Fluid-Elevated Tank-Soil/Foundation systems are modeled with the finite element (FE) technique. In these models fluid-structure interaction is taken into account by implementing Lagrangian fluid FE approximation into the general purpose structural analysis computer code ANSYS. A 3-D FE model with viscous boundary is used in the analyses of elevated tanks-soil/foundation interaction. Formed models are analyzed for embedment and no embedment cases. Finally results from analyses showed that the soil-structure interaction and the structural properties of supporting system for the elevated tanks affected the sloshing response of the fluid inside the vessel.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.231-250
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• 2007

The influence of masonry infills with eccentric openings on the seismic performance of reinforced concrete (r/c) frames that were designed in accordance with current code provisions are investigated. Eight 1/3-scale, single-story, single-bay frame specimens were tested under cyclic horizontal loading up to a drift level of 4%. In all examined cases the shear strength of columns was higher than the cracking shear strength of solid infill. The parameters investigated include the shape and the location of the opening. Assessment of the behavior of the frames is also attempted, based on the observed failure modes, strength, stiffness, ductility, energy dissipation capacity and degradation from cycling loading. Based on these results there can be deduced that masonry infills with eccentrically located openings has been proven to be beneficial to the seismic capacity of the bare r/c frames in terms of strength, stiffness, ductility and energy dissipation. The location of the opening must be as near to the edge of the infill as possible in order to provide an improvement in the performance of the infilled frame.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2000

The cruciform shaped mast over 47 storey, Telecom Corporate Building in Melbourne, Australia rises to a height of approximately 25 m above the roof level. As the members are subjected to very high fluctuating loads under wind, the design was mainly governed by wind-induced fatigue. A detailed fatigue analysis was carried out according to the requirements of the Australian Steel Structures Code, AS4100. The wind-induced fatigue analysis procedure is described in the paper. The fatigue design of this mast is used as an example to illustrate some potential problems of relevant specifications in AS4100 and to outline some of the more important parameters in the fatigue analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.399-412
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• 2016

This paper evaluates the seismic response of three dimensional steel space buildings using the spread plastic hinge approach. A numerical study was carried out in which a sample steel space building was selected for pushover analysis and incremental nonlinear dynamic time history analysis. For the nonlinear analysis, three earthquake acceleration records were selected to ensure compatibility with the design spectrum defined in the Turkish Earthquake Code. The interstorey drift, capacity curve, maximum responses and dynamic pushover curves of the building were obtained. The analysis results were compared and good correlation was obtained between the idealized dynamic analyses envelopes with and static pushover curves for the selected building. As a result to more accurately account response of steel buildings, dynamic pushover envelopes can be obtained and compared with static pushover curve of the building.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.261-284
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• 2009

The seismic behavior of a framed structure with chevron-type buckling restrained braces was investigated and their behavior factors, such as overstrength, ductility, and response modification factors, were evaluated. Two types of structures, building frame systems and dual systems, with 4, 8, 12, and 16 stories were designed per the IBC 2003, the AISC LRFD and the AISC Seismic Provisions. Nonlinear static pushover analyses using two different loading patterns and incremental dynamic analysis using 20 earthquake records were carried out to compute behavior factors. Time history analyses were also conducted with another 20 earthquakes to obtain dynamic responses. According to the analysis results, the response modification factors turned out to be larger than what is proposed in the provision in low-rise structures, and a little smaller than the code-values in the medium-rise structures. The dual systems, even though designed with smaller seismic load, showed superior static and dynamic performances.