• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.245-255
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• 2017

The performance of an Industrialised Building System (IBS) consists of prefabricated reinforced concrete components, is greatly affected by the behaviour of the connection between beam and columns. The structural characteristics parameters of a beam-to-column connection like rotational stiffness, strength and ductility can be explained by load-rotation relationship of a full scale H-subframe under gravitational load. Furthermore, the connection's degree of rigidity directly influences the behaviour of the whole frame. In this research, rotational behaviour of a patented innovative beam-to-column connection with unique benefits like easy installation, no wet work, no welding work at assembly site, using a hybrid behaviour of steel and concrete, easy replacement ability, and compatibility with architecture was investigated. The proposed IBS beam-to-column connection includes precast concrete components with embedded steel end connectors. Two full-scale H-subframes constructed with a new IBS and conventional cast in-situ reinforced concrete system beam-to-column connections were tested under incremental static loading. In this paper, load-rotation relationship and ratio of the rigidity of IBS beam-to-column connection are studied and compared with conventional monolithic reinforced concrete connection. It is concluded that this new IBS beam-to-column connection benefits from more rotational ductility than the conventional reinforced concrete connection. Furthermore, the semi-rigid IBS connection rigidity ratio is about 44% of a full rigid connection.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.541-561
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• 2010

This paper presents finite element analyses, experimental measurements and finite element model updating of an arch type steel laboratory bridge model using semi-rigid connections. The laboratory bridge model is a single span and fixed base structure with a length of 6.1 m and width of 1.1m. The height of the bridge column is 0.85 m and the maximum arch height is 0.95 m. Firstly, a finite element model of the bridge is created in SAP2000 program and analytical dynamic characteristics such as natural frequencies and mode shapes are determined. Then, experimental measurements using ambient vibration tests are performed and dynamic characteristics (natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios) are obtained. Ambient vibration tests are performed under natural excitations such as wind and small impact effects. The Enhanced Frequency Domain Decomposition method in the frequency domain and the Stochastic Subspace Identification method in the time domain are used to extract the dynamic characteristics. Then the finite element model of the bridge is updated using linear elastic rotational springs in the supports and structural element connections to minimize the differences between analytically and experimentally estimated dynamic characteristics. At the end of the study, maximum differences in the natural frequencies are reduced on average from 47% to 2.6%. It is seen that there is a good agreement between analytical and experimental results after finite element model updating. Also, connection percentages of the all structural elements to joints are determined depending on the rotational spring stiffness.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.289-299
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of semi-igid behavior of the steel tubular column to H-beam connection reinforced with exterior square-plate diaphragms and to check the main parameters that affect this behavior. Steel tube connections without interior diaphragm and/or complicated exterior diaphragm show the considerable flexibility due to out of-plane deformation of tube flange. For the exact analysis well-reflected the effect of this flexibility on the overall frame performance. it need to find out the moment-rotation curve function that well trace the result of experiment in the whole region and the function should be simply transformed into an adequate form for the nonlinear analysis program. After collecting several test data same to the connection type considered. we carried out FEM analysis using ANSYS for the assumed beam-to-column connection developed from the simple tension test and the results are compared with experimental values. Based on the parametric study. we proposed the moment-relation curve function and performed the multiple-regression analysis procedure for three parameters consisting of this function with the main geometric parameter of this connection type.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.323-347
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• 2014

This paper proposes a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, which is improved by making use of the Harmony Search (HS) approach and called HS-PSO algorithm. A computer code is developed for optimal sizing design of non-linear steel frames with various semi-rigid and rigid beam-to-column connections based on the HS-PSO algorithm. The developed code selects suitable sections for beams and columns, from a standard set of steel sections such as American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) wide-flange W-shapes, such that the minimum total cost, which comprises total member plus connection costs, is obtained. Stress and displacement constraints of AISC-LRFD code together with the size constraints are imposed on the frame in the optimal design procedure. The nonlinear moment-rotation behavior of connections is modeled using the Frye-Morris polynomial model. Moreover, the P-${\Delta}$ effects of beam-column members are taken into account in the non-linear structural analysis. Three benchmark design examples with several types of connections are presented and the results are compared with those of standard PSO and of other researches as well. The comparison shows that the proposed HS-PSO algorithm performs better both than the PSO and the Big Bang-Big Crunch (BB-BC) methods.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.57-75
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• 2013

It is still inadequate for investigating the highly nonlinear and complex mechanical behaviors of single-layer latticed domes by only performing a force-based demand-capacity analysis. The energy-based balance method has been largely accepted for assessing the seismic performance of a structure in recent years. The various factors, such as span-to-rise ratio, joint rigidity and damping model, have a remarkable effect on the load-carrying capacity of a single-layer latticed dome. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the maximum load-carrying capacity of a dome under extreme loading conditions. In this paper, a mechanical model for members of the semi-rigidly jointed single-layer latticed domes, which combines fiber section model with semi-rigid connections, is proposed. The static load-carrying capacity and seismic performance on the single-layer latticed domes are evaluated by means of the mechanical model. In these analyses, different geometric parameters, joint rigidities and roof loads are discussed. The buckling behaviors of members and damage distribution of the structure are presented in detail. The sensitivity of dynamic demand parameters of the structures subjected to strong earthquakes to the damping is analyzed. The results are helpful to have a better understanding of the seismic performance of the single-layer latticed domes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.9 no.4 s.33
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• pp.479-487
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• 1997

The use of semi-rigid joints can be considered in the beam-to-column connections of buildings. The advantages of semi-rigid joints can be found in the convenience of construction and the ability of effective moment distribution of members. This study is a basic step to acertain the application of middle high rise buildings by using reformed T-stub, of which rotation capacity is thought to be excellent compared with that of existing T-stubs. The tests of tensile and compressive elements of reformed T-stubs were performed to investigate the behavior of reformed T-stubs. The beam-to-column connections using reformed T-stubs are tested under monotonic loading. The structural behaviors of reformed T-stubs were understood qualitatively and the possibility of application of semi-rigid connections with reformed T-stub was acertained.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2018

The application of rib stiffeners is common on steel connections, with regard to the stiffened angle connection, experimental results about the influence of stiffeners under monotonic and cyclic loading are very limited. Consequently, this paper presents the experimental investigation on four types angle connections with or without stiffener under static loading and another four type stiffened angle connections subjected to cyclic loading. The static experimental result showed that the rib stiffener weld in tension zone of the connection greatly enhanced its initial rotational stiffness and flexural strength. While a stiffener was applied to the compression zone of the connection, it had not obvious influences on the initial rotational stiffness, but increased its flexural strength. The moment-rotation curves, skeleton curves, ductility, energy dissipation and rigidity were evaluated under cyclic loading. Stiffened top-and-seat angle connections behaved as semi-rigid and partial strength, and rotation of all stiffened angle connections exceeded 0.04rad. The failure modes between monotonic and cyclic loading test were completely different and indicated certain robustness.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2013

In this paper, the effects of uncertain material constant on the nonlinear behavior of steel frames with semi-rigid joints are examined. As to the probabilistic model, a normal distribution is assumed to simulate the uncertain elastic modulus of steel material. A nonlinear structural analysis program, which can consider both semi-rigidity in joints of the steel frames and uncertainty in the material constant, is developed. Including the geometric, material and connection nonlinearites which are the parameters of nonlinear behavior of steel frames, probabilistic analysis is conducted based on the Monte-Carlo simulation. In the probabilistic analyses, we consider the three different cases for random variables. The deterministic analysis results are shown to be in good agreement with those of the previous research results in the literature. As to the probabilistic analyses, it is observed that the coefficient of variation(COV) of displacements increases as the loading increases, and that the values of COV are dependent on the structural features of the frames.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.343-362
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• 2018

A simplified spring connection modelling approach for steel flush endplate beam-to-column connections in fire has been developed to enable realistic behaviour of connections to be incorporated into full-scale frame analyses at elevated temperature. Due to its simplicity and reliability, the proposed approach permits full-scale high-temperature frame analysis to be conducted without high computational cost. The proposed simplified spring connection modelling approach has been used to investigate the influence of connection ductility (both axial and rotational) on frame behaviour in fire. 2D steel and 3D composite frames with a range of beam spans were modelled to aid the understanding of the differences in frame response in fire where the beam-to-column connections have different axial and rotational ductility assumptions. The modelling results highlight that adopting the conventional rigid or pinned connection assumptions does not permit the axial forces acting on the connections to be accurately predicted, since the axial ductility of the connection is completely neglected when the rotational ductility is either fully restrained or free. By accounting for realistic axial and rotational ductilities of beam-to-column connections, the frame response in fire can be predicted more accurately, which is advantageous in performance-based structural fire engineering design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.469-486
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• 2016

Codes EN 1993 and EN 1994 require to take into account actual joint characteristics in the global analysis. In order to implement the semi-rigid connection effects in frame design, knowledge of joint rotation characteristics ($M-{\phi}$ relationship), or at least three basic joint properties, namely the moment resistance $M_R$, the rotational stiffness $S_j$ and rotation capacity, is required. To avoid expensive experimental tests many methods for predicting joint parameters were developed. The paper presents a comprehensive analytical model that has been developed for predicting the moment resistance $M_R$, initial stiffness $S_{j.ini}$ and rotation capacity of the minor axis, composite, semi-rigid joint. This model is based on so-called component method included in EN 1993 and EN 1994. Comparison with experimental test results shows that a quite good agreement was achieved. A computer program POWZ containing proposed procedure were created. Based on the numerical simulation made with the use of this program and applying regression analysis, simplified equations for main joint properties were also developed.