• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.251-259
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• 2024

In this paper, the thermal post-buckling behavior of graphene platelets reinforced metal foams (GPLRMFs) plate with initial geometric imperfections on nonlinear elastic foundations are studied. First, the governing equation is derived based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) of plate. To obtain a single equation that only contains deflection, the Galerkin principle is employed to solve the governing equation. Subsequently, a comparative analysis was conducted with existing literature, thereby verifying the correctness and reliability of this paper. Finally, considering three GPLs distribution types (GPL-A, GPL-B, and GPL-C) of plates, the effects of initial geometric imperfections, foam distribution types, foam coefficients, GPLs weight fraction, temperature changes, and elastic foundation stiffness on the thermal post-buckling characteristics of the plates were investigated. The results show that the GPL-A distribution pattern exhibits the best buckling resistance. And with the foam coefficient (GPLs weight fraction, elastic foundation stiffness) increases, the deflection change of the plate under thermal load becomes smaller. On the contrary, when the initial geometric imperfection (temperature change) increases, the thermal buckling deflection increases. According to the current research situation, the results of this article can play an important role in the thermal stability analysis of GPLRMFs plates.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.483-492
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• 2019

In the current study, the influence of the initial lateral (sweep) shape and the cross-sectional twist imperfection on the lateral torsional buckling (LTB) response of doubly-symmetric steel I-beams was investigated. The material imperfection (residual stress) was not considered. For this objective, standard European IPN 300 beam with different unbraced span was numerically analyzed for three imperfection cases: (i) no sweep and no twist (perfect); (ii) three different shapes of global sweep (half-sine, full-sine and full-parabola between the end supports); and (iii) the combination of three different sweeps with initial sinusoidal twist along the beam. The first comparison was done between the results of numerical analyses (FEM) and both a theoretical solution and the code lateral torsional buckling formulations (EC3 and AISC-LRFD). These results with no imperfection effects were then separately compared with three different shapes of global sweep and the presence of initial twist in these sweep shapes. Besides, the effects of the shapes of initial global sweep and the inclusion of sinusoidal twist on the critical buckling load of the beams were investigated to unveil which parameter was considerably effective on LTB response. The most compatible outcomes for the perfect beams was obtained from the AISC-LRFD formulation; however, the EC-3 formulation estimated the $P_{cr}$ load conservatively. The high difference from the EC-3 formulation was predicted to directly originate from the initial imperfection reduction factor and high safety factor in its formulation. Due to no consideration of geometric imperfection in the AISC-LFRD code solution and the theoretical formulation, the need to develop a practical imperfection reduction factor for AISC-LRFD and theoretical formulation was underlined. Initial imperfections were obtained to be more influential on the buckling load, as the unbraced length of a beam approached to the elastic limit unbraced length ($L_r$). Mode-compatible initial imperfection shapes should be taken into account in the design and analysis stages of the I-beam to properly estimate the geometric imperfection influence on the $P_{cr}$ load. Sweep and sweep-twist imperfections led to 10% and 15% decrease in the $P_{cr}$ load, respectively, thus; well-estimated sweep and twist imperfections should considered in the LTB of doubly-symmetric steel I-beams.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.471-487
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• 2004

Modular steel scaffolds are commonly used as supporting scaffolds in building construction, and traditionally, the load carrying capacities of these scaffolds are obtained from limited full-scale tests with little rational design. Structural failure of these scaffolds occurs from time to time due to inadequate design, poor installation and over-loads on sites. In general, multi-storey modular steel scaffolds are very slender structures which exhibit significant non-linear behaviour. Hence, secondary moments due to both $P-{\delta}$ and $P-{\Delta}$ effects should be properly accounted for in the non-linear analyses. Moreover, while the structural behaviour of these scaffolds is known to be very sensitive to the types and the magnitudes of restraints provided from attached members and supports, yet it is always difficult to quantify these restraints in either test or practical conditions. The problem is further complicated due to the presence of initial geometrical imperfections in the scaffolds, including both member out-of-straightness and storey out-of-plumbness, and hence, initial geometrical imperfections should be carefully incorporated. This paper presents an extensive numerical study on three different approaches in analyzing and designing multi-storey modular steel scaffolds, namely, a) Eigenmode Imperfection Approach, b) Notional Load Approach, and c) Critical Load Approach. It should be noted that the three approaches adopt different ways to allow for the non-linear behaviour of the scaffolds in the presence of initial geometrical imperfections. Moreover, their suitability and accuracy in predicting the structural behaviour of modular steel scaffolds are discussed and compared thoroughly. The study aims to develop a simplified and yet reliable design approach for safe prediction on the load carrying capacities of multi-storey modular steel scaffolds, so that engineers can ensure safe and effective use of these scaffolds in building construction.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.473-483
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• 2017

Comprehensive consideration regarding influence mechanisms of initial imperfections on ultimate strength of spherical shells is taken to satisfy requirement of deep-sea structural design. The feasibility of innovative numerical procedure that combines welding simulation and non-linear buckling analysis is verified by a good agreement to experimental and theoretical results. Spherical shells with a series of wall thicknesses to radius ratios are studied. Residual stress and deformations from welding process are investigated separately. Variant influence mechanisms are discovered. Residual stress is demonstrated to be influential to stress field and buckling behavior but not to the ultimate strength. Deformations are proved to have a significant impact on ultimate strength. When central angles are less than critical value, concave magnitudes reduce ultimate strengths linearly. However, deformations with central angles above critical value are of much greater harm. Less imperfection susceptibility is found in spherical shells with larger wall thicknesses to radius ratios.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.161-173
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• 2018

Point bending is often used for cambering and curving structural steel girders. An analytical solution, applicable in the elasto-plastic range only, that relates applied loads to the desired curve was recently developed for inducing horizontal curves using four-point bending. This solution does not account for initial residual stresses and geometric imperfections built-in hot-rolled sections. This paper presents results from a full-scale test on a hot-rolled steel section curved using four-point bending. In parallel, a numerical analysis, accounting for both initial geometric imperfections and initial residual stresses, was carried out. The models were validated against the experimental results and a good agreement for lateral offset and for strain in the elasto-plastic and post-plastic ranges was achieved. The results show that the effect of initial residual stresses on deformation and strain is minimal. Finally, residual stresses due to cold bending calculated from the numerical analysis were assessed and a revised stress value for the service load design of the curved girder is proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1355-1367
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• 2015

Steel conical shells have long been used in various parts of different structures. Sensitivity to the initial geometrical imperfection has been one of the most significant issues on the stability of these structures, which has made them highly vulnerable to the buckling. Most attention has been devoted to structures under normal fabrication related imperfections. Notwithstanding, the challenges of large local imperfections - presented herein as dent-shaped imperfections - have not been a focus yet for these structures. This study aims to provide experimental data on the effect of such imperfections on the buckling capacity of these shells under axial compression. The results show changes in the buckling mode and the capacity for such damaged thin specimens as is outlined in this paper, with an average overall capacity reduction of 11%.

• Journal of Korean Port Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.331-340
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• 2000

For the rational and economic design of the structural elements of ships which is built using welding, the ultimate strength analyses of the plates having initial imperfections, such as welding residual stresses and strains, are needful. The welding deformation usually relied on approximative equations or based on expert's experience. But in this paper, for the thermal elasto-plastic analysis of plates, the finite element analysis was performed, based on initial strain method. In formulating the incremental analysis, unbalanced force terns were included. In the plastic domain during the incremental process, the 2nd order terns stress increment and yield stress increment were considered, so that time increment could be controlled for a more stable solution. The ultimate strength analysis program of the plates having initial imperfections was made. The ultimate strength analysis was carried out based on the results of the welding deformations of this paper. In the ultimate strength analysis the Rayleigh-Ritz method based on the minimum potential theory was used.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 1996.04a
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• pp.1-8
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• 1996

Many studies showed that small imperfections can also have a considerable influence on the behaviour of structures. Especially, in Single-Layer Latticed Domes, initial imperfection occurred by human error and construction error is very important to the buckling load. The definition of imperfection is that a node of structure shifts from perfect condition. For example, in the case of truss structures, imperfections are represented by shifting the location of nodal points relative to the position in which they would be for a perfect structure. This paper uses Arc-length Method in nonlinear iteration analysis, choosing star dome, in which many studies have been accomplished, as a model. The results of analysis show that initial imperfection can reduce the buckling load of structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.141-156
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• 2019

This paper presents the flexural behaviour of stainless steel beam-to-tubular column joints with extended endplates subjected to static loading. Moment-rotation relationships were investigated numerically by using Abaqus software with geometric and material nonlinearity considered. The prediction of damages among components was achieved through ductile damage models, and the influence of initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses was evaluated in large fabricated stainless steel joints involving hollow columns and concrete-filled columns. Parametric analysis was subsequently conducted to assess critical factors that could affect the flexural performance significantly in terms of the initial stiffness and moment resistance. A comparison between codes of practice and numerical results was thereafter made, and design recommendations were proposed for further applications. Results suggest that the finite element model can predict the structural behaviour reasonably well with the component damage consistent with test outcomes. Initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses are shown to have little effect on the moment-rotation responses. A series of parameters that can influence the joint behaviour remarkably include the strain-hardening exponents, stainless steel strength, diameter of bolts, thickness of endplates, position of bolts, section of beams and columns. AS/NZS 2327 is more reliable to predict the joint performance regarding the initial stiffness and moment capacity compared to EN 1993-1-8.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.147-161
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• 2014

In this paper a nonlinear finite element analysis model is established for cold-formed steel zed-section purlins subjected to uplift loading. In the model, the lateral and rotational restraints provided by the sheeting to the purlin are simplified as a lateral rigid restraint imposed at the upper flange-web junction and a rotational spring restraint applied at the mid of the upper flange where the sheeting is fixed. The analyses are performed by considering both geometrical and material nonlinearities. The influences of the rotational spring stiffness and initial geometrical imperfections on the uplift loading capacity of the purlin are investigated numerically. It is found that the rotational spring stiffness has significant influence on the purlin performance. However, the influence of the initial geometric imperfections on the purlin performance is found only in purlins of medium or long length with no or low rotational spring stiffness.