• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.453-469
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• 2004

In this article, a genetic algorithm based optimum design method is presented for non-linear steel frames with semi-rigid connections. The design algorithm obtains the minimum weight frame by selecting suitable sections from a standard set of steel sections such as European wide flange beams (i.e., HE sections). A genetic algorithm is employed as optimization method which utilizes reproduction, crossover and mutation operators. Displacement and stress constraints of Turkish Building Code for Steel Structures (TS 648, 1980) are imposed on the frame. The algorithm requires a large number of non-linear analyses of frames. The analyses cover both the non-linear behaviour of beam-to-column connection and $P-{\Delta}$ effects of beam-column members. The Frye and Morris polynomial model is used for modelling of semi-rigid connections. Two design examples with various type of connections are presented to demonstrate the application of the algorithm. The semi-rigid connection modelling results in more economical solutions than rigid connection modelling, but it increases frame drift.

• 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.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.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.289-301
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• 2018

The rigid steel connections were suffered severe damage because of low rotational capacity during earthquakes. Hence, many investigations have been conducted on the connections of steel structures. As a solution, steel slit dampers were employed at the connections to prevent brittle failure of connections and damage of main structural members. Slit damper is a plate or a standard section with a number of slits in the web. The objective of this paper is to improve the seismic performance of steel slit dampers in the beam-to-column connection using finite element modeling. With reviewing the previous investigations, it is observed that slit dampers were commonly fractured in the end parts of the struts. This may be due to the low participation of struts middle parts in the energy dissipation. Thus, in the present study slit damper with elliptic slits is proposed in such a way that end parts of struts have more energy absorption area than struts middle parts. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of geometric parameters of elliptic slit damper such as strut width, strut height and plate thickness on the seismic performance of the beam-to-column connection. The stress distribution is improved along the struts in the proposed slit damper with elliptic slits and the stress concentration is decreased in the end parts of struts. The average contributions of elliptic slit dampers, beam and other sections to the energy dissipation are about 97.19%, 2.12% and 0.69%, respectively.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.253-263
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• 2019

The efficacy of a galvanized steel wire mesh (GSWM) as an alternative material for the rehabilitation of RC beam-column connections damaged due to reversed cyclic loading was investigated. The repair mainly uses epoxy resin infused under pressure into the damaged zone and then confined using three types of locally available GSWM mesh. The mesh types used herein are (a) Weave type square mesh with 2mm grid opening (GWSM-1) (b) Twisted wire mesh with hexagonal opening of 15 mm (GSWM-2) and (c) welded wire mesh with square opening of 25 mm (GSWM-3). A reduced scale RC beam-column connection detailed as per ductile detailing codes of Indian Standard was considered for the experimental investigation. The rehabilitated specimens were also subjected to similar cyclic displacement. Important parameters related to seismic capacity such as strength, stiffness degradation, energy dissipation, and ductility were evaluated. The rehabilitated connections exhibited equal or better performance and hence the adopted rehabilitation strategies could be considered as satisfactory. Confinement of damaged region using GSWM-1 significantly enhanced the seismic capacity of the connections.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.637-646
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• 2011

This study is related to the development of a design automation system for the construction design phase of steel structures. The system intended for beam splice friction connections using high-strength bolts. The standard design method and standardization principles that are suggested in the design manual for standard connections using high-strength bolts published by the Korean Society of Steel Construction(KSSC) were reviewed. A structural analysis algorithm was formulated from the review. A design automation system that can automatically calculate the structural design of connections and automatically generate the connection model without separate inputs was developed. To verify the validity of the developed system, its results were compared with the date in the table for the connection design in the Design Manual. The development system was also applied to the sample model. Then the structural design results were compared with the properties of the connection models and drawings created from the results.

• 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.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.551-565
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• 2019

A total of 36 carbon steel and stainless steel bolted connections subjected to shear loading at different strain rates was experimentally investigated. The connection specimens were fabricated from carbon steel grades 1.20 mm G500 and 1.90 mm G450, as well as cold-formed stainless steel types EN 1.4301 and EN 1.4162 with nominal thickness 1.50 mm. The connection tests were conducted by displacement control test method. The strain rates of 10 mm/min and 20 mm/min were used. Structural behaviour of the connection specimens tested at different strain rates was investigated in terms of ultimate load, elongation corresponding to ultimate load and failure mode. Generally, it is shown that the higher strain rate on the bolted connection specimens, the higher ultimate load was obtained. The ultimate loads were averagely 2-6% higher, while the corresponding elongations were averagely 8-9% higher for the test results obtained from the strain rate of 20 mm/min compared with those obtained from the lower strain rates (1.0 mm/min for carbon steel and 1.5 mm/min for stainless steel). The connection specimens were generally failed in plate bearing of the carbon steel and stainless steel. It is shown that increasing the strain rate up to 20 mm/min generally has no effect on the bearing failure mode of the carbon steel and stainless steel bolted connections. The test strengths and failure modes were compared with the results predicted by the bolted connection design rules in international design specifications, including the Australian/New Zealand Standard (AS/NZS4600 2018), Eurocode 3 - Part 1.3 (EC3-1.3 2006) and North American Specification (AISI S100 2016) for cold-formed carbon steel structures as well as the American Specification (ASCE 2002), AS/NZS4673 (2001) and Eurocode 3 - Part 1.4 (EC3-1.4 2015) for stainless steel structures. It is shown that the AS/NZS4600 (2018), EC3-1.3 (2006) and AISI S100 (2016) generally provide conservative predictions for the carbon steel bolted connections. Both the ASCE (2002) and the EC3-1.4 (2015) provide conservative predictions for the stainless steel bolted connections. The EC3-1.3 (2006) generally provided more accurate predictions of failure mode for carbon steel bolted connections than the AS/NZS4600 (2018) and the AISI S100 (2016). The failure modes of stainless steel bolted connections predicted by the EC3-1.4 (2015) are more consistent with the test results compared with those predicted by the ASCE (2002).

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2017

This paper focuses on the seismic performance of pallet-type steel storage rack structures in their down aisle direction. As evidenced by experimental research, the seismic response of storage racks in the down-aisle direction is strongly affected by the nonlinear moment-rotation response of the beam-to-column connections. In their down-aisle direction, rack structures are designed to resist lateral seismic loads with typical moment frames utilizing proprietary beam-to-column moment-resisting connections. These connections are mostly boltless hooked type connections and they exhibit significantly large rotations resulting in large lateral frame displacements when subjected to strong ground motions. In this paper, typical hooked boltless beam-to-column connections are studied experimentally to obtain their non-linear reversed cyclic moment-rotation response. Additionally, a compound type connection involving the standard hooks and additional bolts were also tested under similar conditions. The simple introduction of the additional bolts within the hooked connection is considered to be a practical way of structural upgrade in the connection. The experimentally evaluated characteristics of the connections are compared in terms of some important performance indicators such as maximum moment and rotation capacity, change in stiffness and accumulated energy levels within the cyclic loading protocol. Finally, the obtained characteristics were used to carry out seismic performance assessment of rack frames incorporating the tested beam-to-column connections. The assessment involves a displacement based approach that utilizes a simple analytical model that captures the seismic behavior of racks in their down-aisle direction. The results of the study indicate that the proposed method of upgrading appears to be a very practical and effective way of increasing the seismic performance of hooked connections and hence the rack frames in their down-aisle direction.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.361-373
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• 2014

As the height and beam span of buildings built in the construction market increase, increasingly higher quality is being required of the construction materials. In response to this trend, 800MPa tensile strength class steel was developed in domestic company. Currently, experiments applying flexural member, compression member, and connections are continuously conducted, but a design guideline for high strength steel has yet to be established. Among those construction materials, for the high strength steel beam-to-column connections, the evaluation of implementing ductile connections for the high strength steel beam-to-column connections is producing pessimistic results and the number of related researches is inadequate because of the high yield ratio, which is the characteristic of high strength steel. This study on implementation of ductile connections made of high strength steel was conducted using the connection detail as the variable, for the purpose of enhancing the deformation capacity of high strength steel beam-to-column connections. Cyclic loading test and nonlinear finite element analysis were conducted with full-scale mock-up connection models with the applied connection details. As a result, the structural performance of high-strength steel beam-to-column connection with presented detail was contented with demand of Special Moment Frames of KBC standard.