• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.317-331
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• 2004

The lateral sway of a multi-storey steel frame should be limited so as to ensure the comfort of the occupants and for the protection of mechanical and architectural systems. This paper investigates the applicability of Schueller's equation for predicting sway of rigid steel frames, and proposes a number of modifications to the equation so that it can produce results that are almost identical to those given by accurate Finite Element (FE) analysis. The behaviour of irregular steel frames has also been studied and proposals are made so that Schueller's Equation can also be used to predict sway of such frames.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.201-217
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• 2007

Two combinatorial optimization algorithms, tabu search and simulated annealing, are presented for the minimum-weight design of geometrically non-linear steel plane frames. The design algorithms obtain minimum weight frames by selecting suitable sections from a standard set of steel sections such as American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) wide-flange (W) shapes. Stress constraints of AISC Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specification, maximum and interstorey drift constraints and size constraints for columns were imposed on frames. The stress constraints of AISC Allowable Stress Design (ASD) were also mounted in the two algorithms. The comparisons between AISC-LRFD and AISC-ASD specifications were also made while tabu search and simulated annealing were used separately. The algorithms were applied to the optimum design of three frame structures. The designs obtained using tabu search were compared to those where simulated annealing was considered. The comparisons showed that the tabu search algorithm yielded better designs with AISC-LRFD code specification.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.111-130
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• 2001

This paper presents an effective, reliable and accurate method for prediction of structural behaviour of steel frames at elevated temperature. The refined plastic hinge method, which has been used successfully in the second-order elasto-plastic analysis of steel frames at ambient conditions, is adopted here to allow for time-independent fire effects. In contrast to the existing rigorous finite element programs, the present method uses the advanced analysis technique that provides a simple and reliable means for practical study of the behaviour of steel frames at elevated temperature by a limiting stress model. The present method is validated against other test and numerical results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.505-522
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• 2012

An artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is developed for the optimum design of geometrically non-linear steel frames. The ABC is a new swarm intelligence method which simulates the intelligent foraging behaviour of honeybee swarm for solving the optimization problems. Minimum weight design of steel frames is aimed under the strength, displacement and size constraints. The geometric non-linearity of the frame members is taken into account in the optimum design algorithm. The performance of the ABC algorithm is tested on three steel frames taken from literature. The results obtained from the design examples demonstrate that the ABC algorithm could find better designs than other meta-heuristic optimization algorithms in shorter time.

• International journal of steel structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1684-1698
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• 2018

Fragility functions are determined for braced steel moment frames (SMFs) with plans such as square-, T-, L-, U-, trapezoidal-, and semicircular-shaped, subjected to blast. The frames are designed for gravity and seismic loads, but not necessarily for the blast loads. The blast load is computed for a wide range of scenarios involving different parameters, viz. charge weight, standoff distance, and blast location relative to plan of the structure followed by nonlinear dynamic analysis of the frames. The members failing in rotation lead to partial collapse due to plastic mechanism formation. The probabilities of partial collapse of the SMFs, with and without bracing system, due to the blast loading are computed to plot fragility curves. The charge weight and standoff distance are taken as Gaussian random input variables. The extent of propagation of the uncertainties in the input parameters onto the response quantities and fragility of the SMFs is assessed by computing Sobol sensitivity indices. The probabilistic analysis is conducted using Monte Carlo simulations. The frames have least failure probability for blasts occurring in front of their corners or convex face. Further, the unbraced frames are observed to have higher fragility as compared to counterpart braced frames for far-off detonations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.99-112
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• 2019

Semi-rigid joints have been widely studied in literature in recent decades because they affect greatly the structural response of frames. In literature, the behavior of semi-rigid joints is commonly assumed to be identical under positive and negative moments which are obviously incorrect in many cases where joint details such as bolt arrangement or placement of haunch are vertically asymmetrical. This paper evaluates two common types of steel frames with asymmetrical beam-to-column joints by Direct Analysis allowing for plasticity. A refined design method of steel frames using a proposed simple forth order curved-quartic element with an integrated joint model allowing for asymmetrical geometric joint properties is presented. Furthermore, the ultimate behavior of six types of asymmetrical end-plate connections under positive and negative moment is examined by the Finite Element Method (FEM). The FEM results are further applied to the proposed design method with the curved-quartic element for Direct Analysis of two types of steel frames under dominant gravity or wind load. The ultimate frame behavior under the two different scenarios are examined with respect to their failure modes and considerably different structural performances of the frames were observed when compared with the identical frames designed with the traditional method where symmetrical joints characteristics were assumed. The finding of this research contributes to the design of steel frames as their asymmetrical beam-to-column joints lead to different frame behavior when under positive and negative moment and this aspect should be incorporated in the design and analysis of steel frames. This consideration of asymmetrical joint behavior is recommended to be highlighted in future design codes.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.143-160
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• 2013

This paper presents the results of an experimental program concerning the efficiency of a specific strengthening technique which utilizes a small steel link element connected to the R/C frame through bracing elements. Brittle types of failure, especially at the connections between steel and concrete elements, can be avoided by appropriate design of the local details. Five single storey one bay R/C frames scaled 1:3 were constructed according to older codes with substandard details. The first one was a typical bare reference frame. The other four were identical to the first one, strengthened by steel bracing elements. The behavior of the strengthened frames is described with respect to the reference bare frame. The concrete frames were constructed according to older code provisions by the use of smooth steel bars, low strength concrete, sparsely spaced stirrups and substandard details. The strengthening scheme aimed to the increase of both strength and deformation capacity of the original R/C frame. The inelastic deformations are purposely concentrated to a short steel link element connecting the steel bracing to the R/C frame. The results show that the steel link element can increase considerably the strength and the energy dissipation capacity of the frame.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.403-418
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• 2004

Lateral sway is most likely to control the design of semi-rigid steel frames where the frame arrangements do not include any form of bracing. This paper investigates the sway behaviour of semi-rigid regular steel frames i.e., frames having the same arrangement of beam and column sections at all levels, and hence proposes some design charts for the prediction of sway that eliminate the need for doing any numerical modelling. Schueller's equation has also been modified to incorporate connection flexibility in addition to its original rigid frame considerations. All the proposed methods have been validated using results obtained from numerical analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2017

Seismic performance of hybrid steel frames defined as mixture of rigid and semi-rigid connections is investigated in this paper. Three frames with 10, 15 and 20 stories are designed with fully rigid connections and then with 4 patterns for semi-rigid connection placement, some of beam to column rigid connections would turn to semi-rigid. Each semi-rigid connection is considered with 4 different moment capacities and all rigid and semi-rigid frames consisting of 51 models are subjected to 5 selected earthquake records for nonlinear analysis. Maximum story drifts, roof acceleration and base shear are extracted for those 5 earthquake records and average values are obtained for each case. Based on numerical results for the proposed hybrid frames, story drifts remain in allowable range and the reductions in the maximum roof acceleration of 22, 29 and 25% and maximum base shear of 33, 31 and 54% occur in those 10, 15 and 20-story frames, respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.597-612
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• 2016

This paper presents an optimization process using Harmony Search Algorithm for minimum weight of steel space frames under earthquake effects according to Turkish Earthquake Code (2007) specifications. The optimum designs are carried out by selecting suitable sections from a specified list including W profiles taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The stress constraints obeying AISC-Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) specifications, lateral displacement constraints and geometric constraints are considered in the optimum designs. A computer program is coded in MATLAB for the purpose to incorporate with SAP2000 OAPI (Open Application Programming Interface) to perform structural analysis of the frames under earthquake loads. Three different steel space frames are carried out for four different seismic earthquake zones defined in Turkish Earthquake Code (2007). Results obtained from the examples show the applicability and robustness of the method.