• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.753-768
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• 2022

In this study, a graphical automatic system is developed in order to investigate the stress redistribution of structural members in a steel cable-stayed bridge. The generalized Maxwell model is selected for stress relaxation estimation, and it is carefully verified and applied to all the cable members of a steel cable-stayed bridge to investigate its stress relaxation. A set of stress relaxation parameters in all cables is determined using the fmincon optimization function. The stress redistribution of the steel cable-stayed bridge is then analyzed using ABAQUS. To shorten the investigation time, all the aforementioned phases are built up to be an automatic system. The automatic system is then employed to investigate the effect of cable cross-section areas and girder spans on stress redistribution. The findings from these studies show that the initial tension in the cables of a steel cable-stayed bridge should be kept to less than 55% of the cable's ultimate strength to reduce the effect of cable stress relaxation. The cable space in a steel cable-stayed bridge should be limited to 15,000 mm to minimize the effect of cable stress relaxation. In comparison to other structural members of a steel cable-stayed bridge, the girders experience a significant stress redistribution.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.207-227
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• 2011

In flexural strength design of unconfined reinforced concrete (RC) members, the concrete compressive stress-strain curve is scaled down from the uni-axial stress-strain curve such that the maximum concrete stress adopted in design is less than the uni-axial strength to account for the strain gradient effect. It has been found that the use of this smaller maximum concrete stress will underestimate the flexural strength of unconfined RC members although the safety factors for materials are taken as unity. Herein, in order to investigate the effect of strain gradient on the maximum concrete stress that can be developed in unconfined flexural RC members, several pairs of plain concrete (PC) and RC inverted T-shaped specimens were fabricated and tested under concentric and eccentric loads. From the test results, the maximum concrete stress developed in the eccentric specimens under strain gradient is determined by the modified concrete stress-strain curve obtained from the counterpart concentric specimens based on axial load and moment equilibriums. Based on that, a pair of equivalent rectangular concrete stress block parameters for the purpose of flexural strength design of unconfined RC members is determined.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.553-564
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• 2020

In this study, a simple numerical approach for a circular tunnel opening in strain-softening surrounding rock is proposed considering out-of-plane stress and seepage force based on Biot's effective stress principle. The plastic region of strain-softening surrounding rock was divided into a finite number of concentric rings, of which the thickness was determined by the internal equilibrium equation. The increments of stress and strain for each ring, starting from the elastic-plastic interface, were obtained by successively incorporating the effect of out-of-plane stress and Biot's effective stress principle. The initial value of the outmost ring was determined using equilibrium and compatibility equations. Based on the Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) and generalized Hoek-Brown (H-B) failure criteria, the stress-increment approach for solving stress, displacement, and plastic radius was improved by considering the effects of Biot's effective stress principle and the nonlinear degradation of strength and deformation parameters in plastic zone incorporating out-of-plane stress. The correctness of the proposed approach is validated by numerical simulation.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.419-445
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• 2013

This paper presents an experimental study on the influence of principal stress direction and magnitude of intermediate principal stress on the undrained stress-strain-strength behaviors of Bangkok Clay. The results of torsional shear hollow cylinder and advanced triaxial tests with various principal stress directions and magnitudes of intermediate principal stress on undisturbed Bangkok Clay specimens are presented. The analysis of testing results include: (i) stress-strain and pore pressure behaviors, (ii) stiffness characteristics, and (iii) strength characteristics. The results assert clear evidences of anisotropic characteristics of Bangkok Clay at pre-failure and failure conditions. The magnitude of intermediate principal stress for plane-strain condition is also investigated. Both failure surface and plastic potential in deviatoric plane of Bangkok Clay are demonstrated to be isotropic and of circular shape which implies an associated flow rule. It is also observed that the shape of failure surface in deviatoric plane changes its size, while retaining its circular shape, with the change in direction of major principal stress. Concerning the behavior of Bangkok Clay found from this study, the discussions on the effects of employed constitutive modeling approach on the resulting numerical analysis are made.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.301-313
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• 2020

In the process of mining closely spaced coal seams, the problem of roadway arrangement in lower coal seams has long been a concern. By means of mechanical model calculation and numerical simulation postprocessing, the distribution of the stress deviator below the floor of a goaf and the evolution of the stress deviator in the vertical and horizontal directions are studied under the influence of horizontal stress. The results of this theoretical study and numerical simulation show that the stress deviator decreases exponentially with increasing depth from the floor below the coal side. With the increase in the horizontal stress coefficient λ, the stress deviator concentration area shifts. The stress deviator is concentrated within 10 m below the goaf and 15 m laterally from the coal side; thus, the magnitude of the surrounding rock stress deviator should be considered when planning the construction of a roadway in this area.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.481-492
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• 2019

Due to the underground openings, the tangentially concentrated stress of the tunnel remains larger at excavation boundary and decreases toward the interior of the surrounding rock with a certain gradient. In order to study the effect of different gradient stress on rockburst, the true-triaxial gradient and hydraulic-pneumatic combined test apparatus were carried out to simulate the rockburst processes. Under the different gradient stress conditions, the rock-like specimen (gypsum) was tested independently through three principal stress directions loading--fast unloading of single surface--top gradient and hydraulic-pneumatic combined loading, which systematically analyzed the macro-mesoscopic damage phenomena, force characteristics and acoustic emission (AE) signals of the specimen during rockburst. The experimental results indicated that the rockburst test under the gradient and hydraulic-pneumatic combined loading conditions could perfectly reflect the rockburst processes and their stress characteristics; Relatively high stress loading could cause specimen failure, but could not determine its mode. The rockburst under the action of gradient stress suggested that the failure mode of specimen mainly depended on the stress gradient. When the stress gradient was lower, progressive and static spalling failure occured and the rockburst grades were relatively slight. On the other hand, shear fractures occurred in rockbursts accounted for increasingly large proportion as the stress gradient increased and the rockburst occurred more intensely and suddenly, the progressive failure process became unconspicuous, and the rockburst grades were moderate or even stronger.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2020

This study provides a simplified method for the evaluation of shear lag stress in rectangular box T-joints. The occurrence of shear lag phenomenon in the box T-joint generates stress concentration localized at both web-flange junctions of the beam, which leads to cracking or failure in the weld region of the joint. To prevent such critical circumstance, peak stress at the weld region is required to be checked during a preliminary design stage. In this paper, the shear lag stresses in the T-joints were evaluated using least-work solution in which the longitudinal displacements of the beam flange and web were presumed. The evaluation process considered particularly the effect of column flange flexibility, which was represented by an axial spring model, on the shear lag stress distribution. A simplified method for stress evaluation was provided to avoid solving complex mathematical problems using a stress modification factor β_s from a parametric study. The results showed that the proposed method was valid for predicting the shear lag stress in the box T-joints manually, as well compared with finite element results. The results are further summarized, discussed, and clarified that more flexible column flange caused higher stress concentration.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.97-122
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• 2013

For the optimization design and strength evaluation of the umbilical cable, the calculation of cross section stress is of great importance and very time consuming. To calculate the cross section stress under combined tension and bending loads, a new integrated analytical model of umbilical cable is presented in this paper. Based on the Hook's law, the axial strain of helical components serves as the tensile stress. Considering the effects of friction between helical components, the bending stress is divided into elastic bending stress and friction stress. For the former, the elastic bending stress, the curvature of helical components is deduced; and for the latter, the shear stress before and after the slipping of helical components is determined. This new analytical model is validated by the experimental results of an umbilical cable. Further, this model is applied to estimate the extreme strength and fatigue life of the umbilical cable used in South China Sea.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2018

The deterioration of existing bridges has become a major problem around the world. In the paper, a new model and an associated stress checking method are proposed for concrete box girders strengthened by external prestressing. The new model called the spatial grid model can analyze all the spatial behaviors clearly by transforming the box girder into discrete orthogonal grids which are equivalent to plate elements. Then the three-layer stresses are employed as the stress checking indices to evaluate the stress state of the plate elements. The initial stress check before strengthening reveals the cracked and potential cracking areas for existing bridges, making the strengthening design more targeted and scientific; the subsequent stress check after strengthening evaluates the strengthening effect and ensures safety. A deficient bridge is selected as the practical example, verifying the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model and stress checking method. The results show that principal stresses in the middle layer of plate elements reflect the main effects of external prestressing and thus are the key stress checking indices for strengthening. Moreover, principal stresses check should be conducted in all parts of the strengthened structure not only in the webs. As for the local effects of external prestressing especially in the areas near anchorage and deviator, normal stresses check in the outer and inner layers dominates and local strengthening measures should be taken if necessary.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2023

The three-dimensional Hashin criterion and user subroutine VUMAT were used to simulate the damage in the composite layer, and the secondary stress criterion was used to simulate the interlayer failure of the cohesive element of the bonding layer and the propagation characteristics under the layer. The results showed that when the shear stress wave (shear wave) propagates on the surface of the laminate, the stress wave attenuation along the fiber strength direction is small, and thus producing a large stress profile. When the compressive stress wave (longitudinal wave) is transmitted between the layers, it is reflected immediately instead of being transmitted immediately. This phenomenon occurs only when the energy has accumulated to a certain degree between the layers. The transmission of longitudinal waves is related to the thickness and the layer orientation. Along the symmetry across the thickness direction, the greater is the stress amplitude along the layer direction. Based on the detailed investigation on the impact on various laminated composites carried out in this paper, the propagation characteristics of stress waves, the damage and the destruction of laminates can be explained from the perspective of stress waves and a reasonable layering sequence of the composite can be designed against damage and failure from low velocity impact.