• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.303-315
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• 2017

This paper describes the finite element model for predicting the fundamental performance of embedded steel column base connections under monotonic and cyclic loading. Geometric and material nonlinearities were included in the proposed finite element model. Bauschinger and pinching effects were considered in the simulation of embedded column base connections under cyclic loading. The degradation of steel yield strength and accumulation of plastic damage can be well simulated. The accuracy of the finite element model is examined by comparing the predicted results with independent experimental dataset. It is demonstrated that the finite element model accurately predicts the behaviour and failure models of the embedded steel column base connections. The finite element model is extended to carry out evaluations and parametric studies. The investigated parameters include column embedded length, concrete strength, axial load and base plate thickness. Moreover, analytical models for predicting the initial stiffness and bending moment strength of the embedded column base connection were developed. The comparison between results from analytical models and those from experiments and finite element analysis proved the developed analytical model was accurate and conservative for design purposes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.641-656
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• 2016

Reinforced concrete frame buildings with masonry infill walls are one of the most popular structural systems in the world. In most cases, the effects of masonry infill walls are not considered in structural models. The results of earthquakes show that infill walls have a significant effect on the seismic response of buildings. In some cases, the buildings collapsed as a result of the formation of a soft story. This study developed a simple method, called corner opening, by replacing the corner of infill walls with a very flexible material to enhance the structural behavior of walls. To evaluate the proposed method a series of experiments were conducted on masonry infill wall and reinforced concrete frames with and without corner openings. Two 1:4 scale masonry infill walls with and without corner openings were tested under diagonal tension or shear strength and two RC frames with full infill walls and with corner opening infill walls were tested under monotonic horizontal loading up to a drift level of 2.5%. The experimental results revealed that the proposed method reduced the strength of infill wall specimens but considerably enhanced the ductility of infill wall specimens in the diagonal tension test. Moreover, the corner opening in infill walls prevented the slid shear failure of the infill wall in RC frames with infill walls.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.461-468
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• 2018

In this paper, to access the suitability of recycled aggregate for structural applications, concrete strength i.e., compressive, tensile and flexural strength were evaluated and compared with those specimens made of natural aggregates. Test results indicated that 30 to 42% of the mentioned strength decreases. To study the performance of frame structures made of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) two reinforced RAC frames were prepared and tested under monotonic loading. The joint regions of one of the RAC frame were casted with micro-concrete. A reference specimen was also prepared using natural aggregate concrete (NAC) and subjected to a similar loading condition. The RAC frame resulted in a brittle mode of failure as compared to NAC frame. However, the presence of a micro-concrete at the joint region of an RAC frame improved the damage tolerance and load resisting capacity. Seismic parameter such as energy dissipation, ductility and stiffness also improves. Conclusively, strengthening of joint region using micro-concrete is found to have a significant contribution in improving the seismic performance of an RAC frame.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.43-65
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• 2012

The primary objective of this study was to identify concrete contribution to the initial shear strength of reinforced concrete (RC) hollow columns under lateral loading. Seven large-scale RC rectangular hollow column specimens were tested under monotonic or cyclic lateral loads. The most important design parameter was column length-to-depth aspect ratio ranging between 1.5 and 3.0, and the other test variables included web area ratio, hollow section ratio, and loading history. The tests showed that the initial shear strength reduced in a linear pattern as the column aspect ratio increased, and one specimen tested under cyclic loading achieved approximately 83% of the shear strength of the companion specimen under monotonic loading. Also, several pioneering shear models proposed around the world, all of which were mainly based on tests for columns with solid sections, were reviewed and compared with the test results of this study, for their possible applications to columns with hollow sections. After all, an empirical equation was proposed for concrete contribution to the initial shear strength of RC hollow columns based on fundamental mechanics and the test results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.409-423
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• 2017

This paper presents an experimental study on damage evolution laws of solid-web steel reinforced concrete (SRC) T-shaped columns along the direction of the web under various loadings. Ten specimens with a scale ratio of 1/2 and a shear span ratio of 2.5 were designed and fabricated. The influences of various parameters, including the axial compression ratio, steel ratio, and loading mode, were examined. The mechanical performances including load-displacement curve and energy dissipation capacity under the monotonic and low cyclic loadings were analyzed. Compared with the monotonic loading, bearing capacity, ultimate deformation capacity, and energy dissipation capacity of the specimens decrease to some extent with the increase of the displacement amplitude and the number of loading cycle. The results show that the damage process of the SRC T-shaped column can be divided into five stages, namely non-damage, slight-damage, steadily-developing-damage, severe-damage and complete-damage. Finally, based on the Park-Ang model, a modified nonlinear damage model which combines the maximum deformation with hysteretic energy dissipation is proposed by taking into account the dynamic influence of the aforementioned parameters. The results show that the modified model in this paper is more accurate than Park-Ang model and can better describe the damage evolution of SRC T-shaped columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-34
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• 2002

A model of the process of local buckling in tubular steel structural elements is presented. It is assumed that this degrading phenomenon can be lumped at plastic hinges. The model is therefore based on the concept of plastic hinge combined with the methods of continuum damage mechanics. The state of this new kind of inelastic hinge is characterized by two internal variables: the plastic rotation and the damage. The model is valid if only one local buckling appears in the plastic hinge region; for instance, in the case of framed structures subjected to monotonic loadings. Based on this damage model, a new finite element that can describe the development of local buckling is proposed. The element is the assemblage of an elastic beamcolumn and two inelastic hinges at its ends. The stiffness matrix, that depends on the level of damage, the yielding function and the damage evolution law of the two hinges define the new finite element. In order to verify model and finite element, several small-scale frames were tested in laboratory under monotonic loading. A lateral load at the top of the frame was applied in a stroke-controlled mode until local buckling appears and develops in several locations of the frame and its ultimate capacity was reached. These tests were simulated with the new finite element and comparison between model and test is presented and discussed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.74 no.3
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• pp.325-339
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• 2020

This study presents a practical application of topology optimization (TO) technique to seek the best form of perforated steel plate shear walls (PSPSW) in simple frames. For the numerical investigation, a finite element model is proposed based on the recent particular form of PSPSW that is called the ring-shaped steel plate shear wall. The TO is applied based on the sensitivity analysis to maximize the reaction forces as the objective function considering the fracture tendency. For this purpose, TO is conducted under a monotonic and cyclic loading considering the nonlinear behavior (material and geometry) and buckling. Also, the effect of plate thickness is studied on the TO results. The final material volume of the optimized plate is limited to the material volume of the ring-shaped plate. Finally, an optimized plate is introduced and its nonlinear behavior is investigated under a cyclic and monotonic loading. For a more comprehensive view, the results are compared to the ring-shaped and four usual forms of SPSWs. The material volume of the plate for all the models is the same. The results indicate the strength, load-carrying, and energy dissipation in the optimized plate are increased while the fracture tendency is reduced without changing the material volume.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.223-238
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• 2019

This study investigated the ultimate lateral load capacity of shear walls constructed with several types of structural foam sheathing. Sixteen tests were conducted and the results were compared to the published design values commutated by the manufactures for each test series. The sheathing products included 12.7 mm (1/2 in) SI-Strong, 25.4 mm (1 in) SI-Strong, 12.7 mm (1/2 in) R-Max Thermasheath, and 2 mm (0.078 in) ThermoPly Green. The structural foam sheathing was attached per the manufacturers' specification to one side of the wood frame for each wall tested. Standard 12.7 mm (1/2 in) gypsum wallboard was screwed to the opposite side of the frame. Simpson HDQ8 tie-down anchors were screwed to the terminal studs at each end of the wall and anchored to the base of the testing apparatus. Both monotonic and cyclic testing following ASTM E564 and ASTM E2126, respectively, were considered. Results from the monotonic tests showed an 11 to 27 percent smaller capacity when compared to the published design values. Likewise, the test results from the cyclic tests showed a 24 to 45 percent smaller capacity than the published design values and did not meet the seismic performance design criteria computation.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.49-56
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• 2021

The damage to non-structural elements in buildings has been increasing due to earthquakes. In Korea, post-installed anchors produced overseas have been mainly used for seismic anchorage of non-structural components to structures. Recently, a new cast-in-place concrete insert anchor installed in concrete without drilling has been developed in Korea. In this paper, an experimental study was conducted to evaluate the tensile and shear strengths of the newly developed anchor under monotonic load. The failure modes of the tension specimens were divided into concrete breakout failure and steel failure, and all shear specimens showed steel failure. In both tension and shear, the maximum loads of specimens were greater than the nominal strengths predicted by the concrete design code (KDS 14 20 54). As a result, it is expected that the current code can also be used to calculate the strength of the developed cast-in anchor.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2023

Recently, a novel cast-in specialty insert was developed in Korea as an anchor for lightweight pipe supports, including fire-protection pipes. As these pipe supports and anchors play a critical role in transferring loads of fire-protection pipes to structural members, it is crucial to evaluate their seismic performance before applying the newly developed insert. In this study, the seismic shear performance of the insert anchors was evaluated through cyclic loading tests based on the loading protocols of ACI 355.2 and FEMA 461. Initially, five monotonic loading tests were conducted on the insert anchors in cracked concrete, followed by cyclic loading tests based on the monotonic test results. The findings revealed that the insert anchors exhibited negligible decrease in shear strength even after cyclic loading. Furthermore, a comparison of the maximum load and displacement of the insert anchors obtained under the loading protocols of ACI 355.2 and FEMA 461 was performed to investigate the applicability of the FEMA 461 loading protocol for anchor performance evaluation.