• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.415-448
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• 2014

A method is presented in this paper to analyze the dynamic response behavior of suspended building structures. The effect of semi-rigid connections that link suspended floors with their supporting structure on structural performance is investigated. The connections, like the restrains in non-structural suspended components, are designed as semi-rigid to avoid pounding and as energy dissipation components to reduce structural response. Parametric study is conducted to assess the dynamic characteristics of suspended building structures with varying connection stiffness and suspended mass ratios. Modal analysis is applied to identify the two distinct sets of vibration modes, pendulum and bearing, of a suspended building structure. The cumulative modal mass is discussed to ensure the accuracy in applying the method of response spectrum analysis by SRSS or CQC modal combination. Case studies indicate that a suspended building having semi-rigid connections and proper suspended mass ratios can avoid local pounding failure and reduce seismic response.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.3 no.1 s.7
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• pp.87-97
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• 2003

The structural system that discreterized from continuous shells is frequently used to make a large space structures. As well these structures show the unstable phenomena when a load level over the limit load, and snap-through and bifurcation are most well known of it. For the collapse mechanism, rise-span ratio, element stiffness and load mode are main factor, which it give an effect to unstable behavior. In our real situation, most structures have semi-rigid joint that has middle characteristic between pin and rigid joint. So the knowledge of semi-rigid joint is very important problem of stable large space structure. And the instability phenemena of framed space structures show a strong non-linearity and very sensitive behavior according to the joint rigidity For this reason In this study, we are investigating to unstable problem of framed structure with semi-rigidity and to grasp the nonlinear instability behavior that make the fundamental collapse mechanism of the large space frame structures with semi-rigid joint, by proposed the numerical analysis method. Using the incremental stiffness matrix in chapter 2, we study instability of space structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.2
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• pp.221-231
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• 2019

This paper performs for the first time a simultaneous optimization for members sections along with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections for space steel frames with fixed, semi-rigid, and hinged bases using a biogeography-based optimization algorithm (BBO) and a genetic algorithm (GA). Furthermore, a member's sections optimization for a fully fixed space frame is carried out. A real and accurate simulation of semi-rigid connection behavior is considered in this study, where the semi-rigid base connections are simulated using Kanvinde and Grilli (2012) nonlinear model, which considers deformations in different base connection components under the applied loads, while beam-to-column connections are modeled using the familiar Frye and Morris (1975) nonlinear polynomial model. Moreover, the $P-{\Delta}$ effect and geometric nonlinearity are considered. AISC-LRFD (2016) specification constraints of the stress and displacement are considered as well as section size fitting constraints. The optimization is applied to two benchmark space frame examples to inspect the effect of semi-rigidity on frame weight and drift using BBO and GA algorithms.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.11 no.2 s.39
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• pp.241-241
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• 1999

The analysis and design of steel frames are usually carried out under the assumption that the connections of beam-to-column are either fully rigid or ideally pinned. However the connections actually show semi-rigid behavior in many cases. The authors investigated the structural behavior of simi-rigid connection with reformed T-stub by using of SM490 steel. The objective of the study is to investigate the structural behavior of the beam-to-column semi-rigid connection with reformed T-stub, which is made of SS400 steel. The beam-to-column connections by using reformed T-stubs were tested under monotonic loading and cyclic loading condition. The possibility of application of semi-rigid connections with reformed T-stubs was ascertained from test results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.11 no.4 s.41
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• pp.425-433
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• 1999

Structural analysis and design of steel frames is usually conducted under the assumption that beam-to-column connections are either fixed or pinned. In reality, each connection possesses a certain rotational stiffness. In this study, structural analysis program is developed, which takes into account the nonlinear behavior of framed structures including flexibility of semi-rigid connections and member geometric nonlinearity. Effective semi-rigid connections for a 6-story unbraced steel frame are suggested and the effect of flexible connections on the behavior of the structure are studied.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.12 no.4 s.47
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• pp.339-350
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• 2000

The objective of this study is to investigate the structural behavior of the beam to column connection with reformed T-stubs and to ascertain the application of semi-rigid connection with reformed T-stubs to middle high rise buildings. The tests of steel frame using semi-rigid connections with reformed T-stub and existing T-stub were performed under cyclic loading condition. Finite element analysis was also carried out and the results of FEM were compared with results of tests. The thickness of reformed T-stub and the distance of bolt were used for parameters in the analysis. The structural behaviors of reformed T-stub were understood qualitatively and the possibility of application of semi-rigid connections with reformed T-stubs was ascertained.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1035-1053
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• 2015

A genetic algorithm-based minimum weight design method is presented for steel frames containing composite beams, semi-rigid connections and column bases. Genetic Algorithms carry out optimum steel frames by selecting suitable profile sections from a specified list including 128 W sections taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The displacement and stress constraints obeying AISC Allowable Stress Design (ASD) specification and geometric (size) constraints are incorporated in the optimization process. Optimum designs of three different plane frames with semi-rigid beam-to-column and column-to-base plate connections are carried out first without considering concrete slab effects on floor beams in finite element analyses. The same optimization procedures are then repeated for the case of frames with composite beams. A program is coded in MATLAB for all optimization procedures. Results obtained from the examples show the applicability and robustness of the method. Moreover, it is proved that consideration of the contribution of concrete on the behavior of the floor beams enables a lighter and more economical design for steel frames with semi-rigid connections and column bases.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.299-313
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• 2015

In this paper, an optimization process using Genetic Algorithm (GA) that mimics biological processes is presented for optimum design of planar frames with semi-rigid connections by selecting suitable standard sections from a specified list taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The stress constraints as indicated in AISC-LRFD (American Institute of Steel Construction - Load and Resistance Factor Design), maximum lateral displacement constraints and geometric constraints are considered for optimum design. Two different planar frames with semi-rigid connections taken from the literature are carried out first without considering concrete slab effects in finite element analyses and the results are compared with the ones available in literature. The same optimization procedures are then repeated for full and semi rigid planar frames with composite (steel and concrete) beams. A program is developed in MATLAB for all optimization procedures. Results obtained from this study proved that consideration of the contribution of the concrete on the behavior of the floor beams provides lighter planar frames.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.315-331
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• 2009

Mechanical connections are recognized as extremely important elements in the aspect of strength and structural safety. However, classical structural model does not consider the connection stiffness properties, and are based on models with pinned or rigid joints only. In fact, mechanical connections are deformable and behave not linearly, affecting the whole structure and inducing nonlinear behavior as well. The quantification of this effect, however, depends on the description of the working of the connectors and the wood response under embedment. The theoretical modeling of wood structures with semi-rigid connections involves not only the structural analysis, but also the modeling of both single and grouped moment resisting connectors and the study of the wood properties under embedment. The proposal of this paper is to approach these aspects, and to quantitatively study the influence of the moment resistant connection in wooden framed structures. Comparisons between rigid and semi-rigid connections and between linear and nonlinear analysis lead to quantitative results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.383-398
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• 2009

Applying nonlinear statistical analysis methods in estimating the performance of structures in earthquakes is strongly considered these days. This is due to the methods' simplicity, timely lower cost and reliable estimation in seismic responses in comparison with time-history nonlinear dynamic analysis. Among nonlinear methods, simplified to be incorporated in the future guidelines, Modal Pushover Analysis, known by the abbreviated name of MPA, simply models nonlinear behavior of structures; and presents a very proper estimation of nonlinear dynamic analysis using lateral load pattern appropriate to the mass. Mostly, two kinds of connecting joints, 'hinge' and 'rigid', are carried out in different type of steel structures. However, it should be highly considered that nominal hinge joints usually experience some percentages of fixity and nominal rigid connections do not employ totally rigid. Therefore, concerning the importance of these structures and the significant flexibility effect of connections on force distribution and elements deformation, these connections can be considered as semi-rigid with various percentages of fixity. Since it seems, the application and implementation of MPA method has not been studied on moment-resistant steel frames with semi rigid connections, this research focuses on this topic and issue. In this regard several rigid and semi-rigid steel bending frames with different percentages of fixity are selected. The structural design is performed based on weak beam and strong column. Followed by that, the MPA method is used as an approximated method and Nonlinear Response History Analysis (NL-RHA) as the exact one. Studying the performance of semi-rigid frames in height shows that MPA technique offers reasonably reliable results in these frames. The methods accuracy seems to decrease, when the number of stories increases and does decrease in correlation with the semi-rigidity percentages. This generally implies that the method can be used as a proper device in seismic estimation of different types of low and mid-rise buildings with semi-rigid connections.