• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.121-129
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• 2007

The aim of this study is to investigate punching shear strength of exterior connections in the flat plate structure with rectangular column. To inspect the effect of column aspect ratios on the punching shear behavior, eight specimens for exterior connection were made and tested. In this experimental program the length of critical perimeter was kept constant, while column aspect ratio varied from 2.0 to 4.5. Two levels of concrete strength and slab reinforcement ratio were also considered. As the column aspect ratio increased, the punching shear strengths are decreased. The decrement of punching shear strength was small in specimens with high aspect ratio of column.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.463-471
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• 2018

The bolted end-plate beam-column connections have been widely used in steel structure and composite structure because of its excellent seismic performance. In this paper, the end-plate bolted connection is applied in the concrete structure, A new-type of fabricated beam-column connections with end-plates is presented, and steel plate hoop is used to replace stirrups in the node core area. To study the seismic behavior of the joint, seven specimens are tested by pseudo-static test. The experimental results show that the new type of assembly node has good ductility and energy dissipation capacity. Besides, under the restraint effect of the high-strength stirrup, the width of the web crack is effectively controlled. In addition, based on the analysis of the factors affecting the shear capacity of the node core area, the formula of shear capacity of the core area of the node is proposed, and the theoretical values of the formula are consistent with the experimental value.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.567-585
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• 2014

The piezoelectric transverse $d_{15}$ shear sensing mechanism is firstly assessed experimentally for a cantilever smart sandwich plate made of a piezoceramic axially poled patched core and glass fiber reinforced polymer composite faces. Different electrical connections are tested for the assessment of the sensor performance under a varying amplitude harmonic (at 24 Hz) force. Also, the dynamic response of the smart sandwich composite structure is monitored using different acquisition devices. The obtained experimentally sensed voltages are compared to those resulting from the benchmark three-dimensional piezoelectric coupled finite element simulations using a commercial code where realistic features, like equipotential conditions on the patches' electrodes and mechanical updating of the clamp, are considered. Numerically, it is found that the stiffness of the clamp, which is much softer than the ideal one, has an enormous influence on the sensed voltage of its adjacent patch; therefore, sensing with the patch on the free side would be more advantageous for a cantilever configuration. Apart from confirming the latter result, the plate benchmark experimental assessment showed that the parallel connection of its two oppositely poled patches has a moderate performance but better than the clamp side patch acting as an individual sensor.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.541-562
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• 2015

This paper aims at developing the knowledge on the seismic behavior of dowel beam-to-column connections, typically employed in precast buildings in Europe. Despite the large diffusion of the industrial buildings, a high seismic vulnerability was exhibited by these structures, mostly due to the connection systems deficiencies, during some recent earthquakes (Emilia 2012, Turkey 2011). An experimental campaign was conducted on a typical dowel connection between an external column and a roof beam. In this paper, the performed cyclic shear test is described. According to the experimental results, the seismic response of the system is evaluated in terms of strength, stiffness and failure mechanism. Moreover, the complete damage pattern of the test is described by means of the instrumentations records. The connection failure occurred due to the concrete cover failure in the column (splitting failure). Such a mechanism corresponds to a negligible energy dissipation capacity of the connection, compared to the overall seismic response of the structure. The experimental results are also compared with the results of a similar monotonic shear test, as well as with some literature relationships for predicting the strength of dowel connections under horizontal (seismic) loads.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.251-271
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• 2011

To make direct comparisons regarding the cyclic behavior of thin steel plate shear walls (TSPSWs) with different infill-to-boundary frame connections, two TSPSWs were tested under quasi-static conditions, one having the infill plate attached to the boundary frame members on all edges and the other having the infill plate connected only to the beams. Also, the bare frame that was used in the TSPSW specimens was tested to provide data for the calibration of numerical models. The connection of infill plates to surrounding frames was achieved through the use of self-drilling screws to fish plates that were welded to the frame members. The behavior of TSPSW specimens are compared and discussed with emphasis on the characteristics important in seismic response, including the initial stiffness, ultimate strength and deformation modes observed during the tests. It is shown that TSPSW specimens achieve significant ductility and energy dissipation while the ultimate failure mode resulted from infill plate fracture at the net section of the infill plate-to-boundary frame connection after substantial infill plate yielding. Experimental results are compared to monotonic pushover predictions from computer analysis using strip models and the models are found to be capable of approximating the monotonic behavior of the TSPSW specimens.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2021

In this study, the fatigue property of U rib-to-crossbeam connections in orthotropic steel bridge (OSB) crossbeams under heavy traffic vehicle load was investigated considering the effects of in-plane shear stress. The applicability of an improved structural stress (ISS) method was validated for the fatigue behavior analysis of nonwelded arc-shaped cutout regions in multiaxial stress states. Various types of fatigue testing specimens were compared for investigating the equivalent structural stress, fatigue crack initiation positions, and failure modes with the unified standards. Furthermore, the implications of OSB crossbeams and specified loading cases are discussed with respect to the improved method. The ISS method is proven to be applicable for analyzing the fatigue property of nonwelded arc-shaped cutout regions in OSB crossbeams. The used method is essential for gaining a reliable prediction of the most likely failure modes under a specific heavy traffic vehicle load. The evaluated results using the used method are proven to be accurate with a slighter standard deviation. We obtained the trend of equivalent structural stress in arc-shaped cutout regions and validated the crack initiation positions and propagation directions by comparing them with the fatigue testing results. The implications of crossbeam spans on fatigue property are less significant than the effects of crossbeams.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.339-351
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• 2022

A mortar-filled rectangular hollow structural section (RHS) can increase a structural section property as well as a compressive buckling capacity of a RHS member. In this study, the tensile performance of newly developed mortar-filled RHS members was experimentally evaluated with various connection details. The major test parameters were the type of end connections, the thickness of cap plates and shear plates, the use of stud bolts, and penetrating bars. The test results showed that the welded T-end connection experienced a brittle weld fracture at the welded connection, whereas the tensile performance of the T-end connection was improved by additional stud bolts inserted into the mortar within the RHS tube. For the end connection using shear plates and penetrating stud bolts, ductile behavior of the RHS tube was achieved after yielding. The penetrating bars increased load carrying capacity of the RHS. Based on the analysis of the load transfer mechanism, the current design code and test results were compared to evaluate the tensile capacity of the RHS tube according to the connection details. Design considerations for the connections of the mortar-filled RHS tubes were also recommended.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.499-511
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• 2023

Anchor channels are commonly used for façade, tunnel, and structural connections. These connections encounter various types of loadings during their service life, including high rate or impact loading. For anchor channels that are placed close and parallel to an edge and loaded in shear perpendicular to and towards the edge, the failure is often governed by concrete edge breakout. This study investigates the transverse shear behavior of the anchor channels under quasi-static and high rate loadings using a numerical approach (3D finite element analysis) utilizing a rate-sensitive microplane model for concrete as constitutive law. Following the validation of the numerical model against a test performed under quasi-static loading, the rate-sensitive static, and rate-sensitive dynamic analyses are performed for various displacement loading rates varying from moderately high to impact. The increment in resistance due to the high loading rate is evaluated using the dynamic increase factor (DIF). Furthermore, it is shown that the failure mode of the anchor channel changes from global concrete edge failure to local concrete crushing due to the activation of structural inertia at high displacement loading rates. The research outcomes could be valuable for application in various types of connection systems where a high rate of loading is expected.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.443-456
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• 2019

Although numerous researchers demonstrated the significant difference in performance between the various beam-to-column connection types, most of the previous studies in the area of infilled steel frames focused on the behaviour of frames with welded connections. Therefore, there is a need for conducting studies on infilled steel frames with other common connection types (extended endplate with and without rib stiffeners, flush endplate and shear connections). In this paper, firstly, a two-dimensional finite-element model simulating the cyclic response of infilled steel frames was presented. The infill-frame interaction, as well as the interactions between connections' components, were properly modelled. Using the previously-validated model, a parametric study on infilled steel frames with five different beam-to-column connection types, under cyclic loading, was carried out. Several parameters, including infill material, fracture energy of masonry and infill thickness, were investigated. The results showed that the infilled frames with welded connections had the highest initial stiffness and load-carrying capacity. However, the infilled frames with extended endplate connections (without rib stiffeners) showed the greatest energy dissipation capacity and about 96% of the load-carrying capacity of frames with welded connections which indicates that this type of connection could have the best performance among the studied connection types. Finally, a simplified analytical model for estimating the stiffness and strength of infilled steel frames (with different beam-to-column connection types) subjected to lateral cyclic loading, was suggested.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2023

The maximum drifts are important to the seismic evaluation of steel buildings and connections, but the information can hardly be obtained from the post-earthquake field investigation. This research studies the feasibility of using the loss rate of bolt pretension as an earthquake damage predictor. Full-scale tests were made on four steel connections using bolted-web-welded-flange details. One connection was unreinforced (UN), another was reinforced with double shear plates (DS), and the other two used reduced beam sections (RBS). The preinstalled strain gauges were used to control the pretensions and monitor the losses of the high-strength bolts. The results showed that the loss rate of bolt pretension was highly related to the damage of the connections. The pretensions lost up to 10% in all the connections at the yield drifts of 0.5% to 1%. After yielding of the connections, the pretensions lost significantly until fracture occurred. The UN and DS connections failed with a maximum drift of 4 %, and the two RBS connections showed better ductility and failed with a maximum drift of 6%. Under the far-field-type loading protocol, the loss rate grew to 60%. On the contrary, the rate for the specimen under near-fault-type loading protocol was about 40%. The loss rate of bolt pretension is therefore recommended to use as an earthquake damage predictor. Additionally, the 10% and 40% loss rates are recommended to predict the limit states of connection yielding and maximum strength, respectively, and to define the performance levels of serviceability and life-safety for the buildings.