• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.407-420
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• 2005

This study presents the strength of braced and unbraced cold-formed steel wall frames consisting of several wall studs acting as columns, top and bottom tracks, and bracing members. The strength and the buckling mode of steel wall frames were found to be different due to the change of bracing type. In addition, the spacing of wall studs is a crucial factor to the strength of steel wall frames. The comparisons were made between the test results and the predictions computed based on AISI Code. The related specifications do not clearly provides the effective length factors for the member of cold-formed steel frame under compression. This paper proposes effective length factors for the steel wall frames based on the test results. A theoretical model is also derived to obtain the modulus of elastic support provided by the bracing at mid-height of steel wall frames in this research.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.287-299
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• 2001

Columns in multi-storey frames are presently categorised as either braced or unbraced, usually by means of the stability index criterion, for estimating their effective length ratios by design aids such as 'alignment charts'. This procedure, however, ignores the transition in buckling behaviour between the braced condition and the unbraced one. Hence, this results in either an overestimation or an underestimation of effective length estimates of columns in frames that are in fact 'partially braced'. It is shown in this paper that the transitional behaviour is gradual, and can be approximately modelled by means of a 'fuzzy logic' based technique. The proposed technique is simple and intuitively agreeable. It fills the existing gap between the braced and unbraced conditions in present codal provisions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-36
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• 2000

The Oktalok nodal connection system is an aesthetic and efficient system. It has been widely used throughout Australia. The paper will briefly introduce the concept and application of the Oktalok nodal system. The existing design method is based on the assumption that the joints are pin-ended, i.e., the rotational stiffness of the joints is zero. However the ultimate capacity of the frame may increase significantly depending on the rotational stiffness of the joints. Stiffness tests and finite element simulations were carried out to determine the rotational stiffness of the Oktalok joints. Column buckling tests and non-linear finite element analyses were performed to determine the member capacity of columns with semi-rigid end conditions. A simple formulae for the effective length factor of column buckling is derived based on the above experimental and theoretical investigations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2001

A tubular member holding an axially through-gusset connection is often used to transmit axial compression in a steel truss structures. The elastic buckling loads of the member is affected by the stiffness ratio($\beta$) and the length ratio(G) because of two elements with different properties. In current code, however, the strength is evaluated with an effective length factor k=0.9 without considering the above effect. Therefore this study analyzed a theoretical mechanism based on the elasticity theory and performed a finite element analysis to investigate the influence parameters on the elastic buckling strength of axially loaded member.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.451-471
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• 2022

In the present paper, the static bending and buckling responses of functionally graded carbon nanotubes-reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beam under various boundary conditions are investigated within the framework of higher shear deformation theory. The significant feature of the proposed theory is that it provides an accurate parabolic distribution of transverse shear stress through the thickness satisfying the traction-free boundary conditions needless of any shear correction factor. Uniform (UD) and four graded distributions of CNTs which are FG-O, FG-X, FG- and FG-V are selected here for the analysis. The effective material properties of FG-CNTRC beams are estimated according to the rule of mixture. To model the FG-CNTRC beam realistically, an efficient Hermite-Lagrangian finite element formulation is successfully developed. The accuracy and efficiency of the present model are demonstrated by comparison with published benchmark results. Moreover, comprehensive numerical results are presented and discussed in detail to investigate the effects of CNTs volume fraction, distribution patterns of CNTs, boundary conditions, and length-to-thickness ratio on the bending and buckling responses of FG-CNTRC beam. Several new referential results are also reported for the first time which will serve as a benchmark for future studies in a similar direction. It is concluded that the FG-X-CNTRC beam is the strongest beam that carries the lowest central deflection and is followed by the UD, V, Λ, and FG-O-CNTRC beam. Besides, the critical buckling load belonging to the FG-X-CNTRC beam is the highest, followed by UD and FG-O.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.425-442
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• 2015

This paper addresses theoretically the bending and buckling behaviors of size-dependent nanobeams made of functionally graded materials (FGMs) including the thickness stretching effect. The size-dependent FGM nanobeam is investigated on the basis of the nonlocal continuum model. The nonlocal elastic behavior is described by the differential constitutive model of Eringen, which enables the present model to become effective in the analysis and design of nanostructures. The present model incorporates the length scale parameter (nonlocal parameter) which can capture the small scale effect, and furthermore accounts for both shear deformation and thickness stretching effects by virtue of a sinusoidal variation of all displacements through the thickness without using shear correction factor. The material properties of FGM nanobeams are assumed to vary through the thickness according to a power law. The governing equations and the related boundary conditions are derived using the principal of minimum total potential energy. A Navier-type solution is developed for simply-supported boundary conditions, and exact expressions are proposed for the deflections and the buckling load. The effects of nonlocal parameter, aspect ratio and various material compositions on the static and stability responses of the FGM nanobeam are discussed in detail. The study is relevant to nanotechnology deployment in for example aircraft structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.499-511
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• 2019

In this study, the axial compressive behavior of novel quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns with different slenderness ratio was investigated, using the experimental and numerical analysis. The axial compressive capacity and failure modes of the columns were obtained and analyzed. The finite element models considering the geometry, material and contact nonlinearity were developed to simulate and analyze the structural behavior of the columns further. There was a great correlation between the numerical analyses and test results, which indicated that the finite element model was reasonable and accurate. Then influence of, slenderness ratio, flange width-to-thickness ratio and screw spacing on the mechanical behavior of the columns were studied, respectively. The tests and numerical results show that due to small slenderness ratio, the failure modes of the specimens are generally local buckling and distortional buckling. The axial compressive strength and stiffness of the quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns decrease with the increase of maximum slenderness ratio. When the screw spacing is ranging from 150mm to 450mm, the axial compressive strength and stiffness of the quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns change little. The axial compressive capacity of quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns increases with the decrease of flange width-thickness ratio. A modified effective length factor is proposed to quantify the axial compressive capacity of the quadruple C-channel built-up cold-formed steel columns with U-shaped track in the ends.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.659-665
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• 2016

The limit equilibrium method (LEM) is commonly used for slope design and stability analysis because it is easy to simulate slope and requires short calculating time. However, LEM cannot adequately simulate ploughing failure in a footwall slope with a joint set dipping parallel with slope, e.g. bedding joint set. This study performed parametric study to analyze the influence factors on ploughing failure using UDEC which is a commercial two-dimensional DEM (Distinct Element Method)-based numerical program. The influence of joint structure and properties on stability of a footwall slope against ploughing failure was investigated, and the factor of safety was estimated using the shear strength reduction method. It was found that the stability of footwall slope against ploughing failure strongly relies on dip angle of conjugate joint, and the critical bedding joint spacing and the critical length of slab triggering ploughing failure are also affected by dip angle of conjugate joint. The results obtained from this study can be used for effective slope design and construction including reinforcement.