• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1121-1144
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• 2016

This paper presents a displacement-based finite element procedure for second-order distributed plasticity analysis of planar steel frames with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections under static loadings. A partially strain-hardening elastic-plastic beam-column element, which directly takes into account geometric nonlinearity, gradual yielding of material, and flexibility of semi-rigid connections, is proposed. The second-order effects and distributed plasticity are considered by dividing the member into several sub-elements and meshing the cross-section into several fibers. A new nonlinear solution procedure based on the combination of the Newton-Raphson equilibrium iterative algorithm and the constant work method for adjusting the incremental load factor is proposed for solving nonlinear equilibrium equations. The nonlinear inelastic behavior predicted by the proposed program compares well with previous studies. Coupling effects of three primary sources of nonlinearity, geometric imperfections, and residual stress are investigated and discussed in this paper.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.535-555
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• 2009

The harmony search method based optimum design algorithm is presented for geometrically non-linear semi-rigid steel frames. Harmony search method is recently developed metaheuristic algorithm which simulates the process of producing a musical performance. The optimum design algorithm aims at obtaining minimum weight steel frames by selecting from standard set of steel sections such as European wide flange beams (HE sections). Strength constraints of Turkish Building Code for Steel Structures (TS648) specification and displacement constraints were used in the optimum design formulation. The optimum design algorithm takes into account both the geometric non-linearity of the frame members and the semi-rigid behaviour of the beam-to-column connections. The Frye-Morris polynomial model is used to calculate the moment-rotation relation of beam-to-column connections. The robustness of harmony search algorithm, in comparison with genetic algorithms, is verified with two benchmark examples. The comparisons revealed that the harmony search algorithm yielded not only minimum weight steel frames but also required less computational effort for the presented examples.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.397-408
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• 2001

Bolted connections are used commonly in the precast reinforced concrete structures. In such structures, to perform structural analysis, behaviour of connections must be determined. In this study, elastic rotation stiffness of semi-rigid bolted beam connections, applied in industrial precast structures, are determined by finite element methods. The results obtained from numerical solutions are compared with an experimental study carried out for the same connections. Furthermore, stress distributions of the connection zone are determined and a reinforcement scheme is proposed. Thus, a more appropriate reinforcement arrangement for the connection zone is enabled. The connection joint of the prefabricated frame is described as rigid, hinged or elastic, and a static analysis of the frame system is performed for each case. Values of bending moments and displacements obtained from the three solutions are compared and the effects of elastic connection are discussed.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2003

If semi-rigid connections are used for superstructures of very large floating structures (VLFS), the number of rigid connections can be reduced and more economical construction will be possible. In this study, considering service load and wave load in VLFS, the applicability of mixed use of rigid and semi-rigid connections have been studied using three types of connections for a four-bay eight-story frame. Three types of connections are used; top and seat-angle connections with double web-angle(TSD), extended end plate connections, steel tubular column with square external-diaphragm connections. ABAQUS(Finite element analysis program) is used for conducting second order elastic analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.265-280
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• 2008

An investigation on the combined effect of foundation type, foundation flexibility, axial load and PR (semi-rigid) connections on the natural frequencies of steel frames is presented. These effects were investigated using a suitable modified FE program for cases where the foundation flexibility, foundation connectivity, and semi-rigid connections could be treated as equivalent linear springs. The effect of axial load on the natural frequency of a structure was found to be significant for slender structures subjected to high axial loads. In general, if columns of medium slenderness are designed without consideration of axial load effects, the frequency of the structure will be overestimated. Studies on the 3-story Los Angeles PR SAC frame indicate that the assumption of rigid connections at beam-column and column-base interfaces, as well as the assumption of a rigid foundation, can lead to significant errors if simplified design procedures are used. These errors in an equivalent static analysis are expected to lead to even more serious problems when considering the effect of higher modes under a non-linear dynamic analysis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.81-92
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• 2008

Generally the connection of members is defined as hinge or rigid. But, real joints on structure have to be considered semi-rigid connections because this permits relative rotation for members on joints. The purpose of this study is to derive a generalized tangential stiffness matrix of frames with semi-rigid connections and to develop a buckling analysis program. For the exact stiffness matrix, an accurate displacement field is introduced using an equilibrium equation for beam-columns under the bending and axial forces. Also, stability functions that consider sway deformation and force-displacement relations with rotational spring on ends were defined. In order to illustrate the accuracy of this study and the characteristics of semi-rigid for system buckling load, samples of angle-, portal- and 3-story frames with semi-rigid connections are presented, where the proposed approach is found to be in excellent agreement with other research results. Meanwhile, the application of codes such as Eurocode 3 and LRFD led to significant inaccuracies.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.119-133
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• 2007

Based on stability theory of current rigid steel frames and using the three-column subassemblage model, the governing equations for determining the effective length factor (${\mu}$-factor) of the columns in semirigid composite frames are derived. The effects of the nonlinear moment-rotation characteristics of beam-to-column connections and composite action of slab are considered. Furthermore, using a two-bay three-storey composite frame with semi-rigid connections as an example, the effects of the non-linear moment-rotation characteristics of connections and load value on the ${\mu}$-factor are numerically studied and the ${\mu}$-factors obtained by the proposed method and Baraket-Chen's method are compared with those obtained by the exact finite element method. It was found that the proposed method has good accuracy and can be used in stability analysis of semi-rigid composite frames.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1557-1568
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• 2015

The nonlinear static analysis of structure, which is under the effect of lateral loads and provides the capacity curve of the structure, is defined as a push-over analysis. Ordinarily, by using base shear and the lateral displacement of target point, the capacity curve is obtained. The speed and ease of results interpretation in this method is more than that of the NRHA responses. In this study, the nonlinear static analysis is applied on the semi-rigid steel gabled frames. It should be noted that the members of this structure are analyzed as a prismatic beam-column element in two states of semi-rigid connections and supports. The gabled frame is modeled in the OpenSees software and analyzed based on the displacement control at the target point. The lateral displacement results, calculated in the top level of columns, are reported. Furthermore, responses of the structure are obtained for various support conditions and the rigidity of nodal connections. Ultimately, the effect of semi-rigid connections and supports on the capacity and the performance point of the structure are presented in separated graphs.

• 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.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.757-771
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• 2013

We present a semi-rigid connection estimation method by using cross modal strain energy method. While rigid or pinned assumptions are adopted for steel frames in traditional modeling via finite element method, the actual behavior of the connections is usually neither. Semi-rigid joints enable connections to be modeled as partially restrained, which improves the quality of the model. To identify the connection stiffness and update the FE model, a newly-developed cross modal strain energy (CMSE) method is extended to incorporate the connection stiffness estimation. Meanwhile, the relations between the correction coefficients for the CMSE method are derived, which enables less modal information to be used in the estimation procedure. To illustrate the capability of the proposed parameter estimation algorithm, a four-story frame structure is demonstrated in the numerical studies. Several cases, including Semi-rigid joint(s) on single connection and on multi-connections, without and with measurement noise, are investigated. Numerical results indicate that an excellent updating is achievable and the connection stiffness can be estimated by CMSE method.