• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.287-311
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• 2015

The ultimate bearing capacity and failure mechanism of square footings resting on a sand layer over clay soil have been investigated numerically by performing a series of three-dimensional non-linear finite element analyses. The parameters investigated are the thickness of upper sand layer, strength of sand, undrained shear strength of lower clay and surcharge effect. The results obtained from finite element analyses were compared with those from previous design methods based on limit equilibrium approach. The results proved that the parameters investigated had considerable effect on the ultimate bearing capacity and failure mechanism occurring. It was also shown that the thickness of upper sand layer, the undrained shear strength of lower clay and the strength of sand are the most important parameters affecting the type of failure will occur. The value of the ultimate bearing capacity could be significantly different depending on the limit equilibrium method used.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.481-497
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• 2017

In this paper, full-scale loading tests were performed on a rectangular segmental tunnel lining, which was assembled by steel composite segments, to investigate its load-bearing structural behavior and failure mechanism. The tests were also used to confirm the composite effect by adding concrete inside to satisfy the required performance under severe loading conditions. The design of the tested rectangular segmental lining and the loading scheme are also described to better understand the bearing capacity of this composite lining structure. It is found that the structural ultimate bearing capacity is governed by the bond capacity between steel plates and the tunnel segment. The failure of the strengthened lining is the consequence of local failure of the bond at waist joints. This led to a fast decrease of the overall stiffness and eventually a loss of the structural integrity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.569-590
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• 2022

This paper presents a combined experimental and numerical study on stainless steel end-plate connections, with an emphasis placed on their ultimate behaviour and rotation capacity. In the experimental phase, six connection specimens made of austenitic and lean duplex stainless steels are tested under monotonic loads. The tests are specifically designed to examine the close-to-failure behaviour of the connections at large deformations. It is observed that the rotation capacity is closely related to fractures of the stainless steel bolts and end-plates. In the numerical phase, an advanced finite element model suitable for fracture simulation is developed. The incorporated constitutive and fracture models are calibrated based on the material tests of stainless steel bolts and plates. The developed finite element model exhibits a satisfactory accuracy in predicting the close-to-failure behaviour of the tested connections. Finally, the moment resistance and rotation capacity of stainless steel end-plate connections are assessed based on the experimental tests and numerical analyses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.1095-1120
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• 2016

This paper investigates the change of structural characteristics of steel cable-stayed bridges after cable failure. Cables, considered as the intermediate supports of cable-stayed bridges, can break or fail for several reasons, such as fire, direct vehicle clash accident, extreme weather conditions, and fatigue of cable or anchorage. Also, the replacement of cables can cause temporary disconnection. Because of the structural characteristics with various geometric nonlinearities of cable-stayed bridges, cable failure may cause significant change to the structural state and ultimate behavior. Until now, the characteristics of structural behavior after cable failure have rarely been studied. In this study, rational cable failure analysis is suggested to trace the new equilibrium with structural configuration after the cable failure. Also, the sequence of ultimate analysis for the structure that suffers cable failure is suggested, to study the change of ultimate behavior and load carrying capacity under specific live load conditions. Using these analysis methods, the statical behavior after individual cable failure is studied based on the change of structural configuration, and distribution of internal forces. Also, the change of the ultimate behavior and load carrying capacity under specific live load conditions is investigated, using the proposed analysis method. According to the study, significant change of the statical behavior and ultimate capacity occurs although just one cable fails.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.147-154
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• 2001

The prestressed concrete containment is one of the most important structures in nuclear power plants, which is required to prevent release of radioactive or hazardous effluents to the environment even in the case of a severe accident. Numerical analyses are carried out by using the ABAQUS finite element program to assess the ultimate pressure capacity of the Y prestressed concrete containment with light water reactor at design criteria condition and aging condition considering varied properties of time-dependant materials respectively. From the results, it is verified that the structural capacity of the Y prestressed concrete containment building under the present, aging condition is still robust. In addition, the parameter studies for the reduction of the ultimate pressure capacity of containment building according to the degradation levels of the main structural materials are carried out. The results show that when the degradations of each materials are considered as individual and combined forms, the influence is large in the order of tendon, rebar and concrete degradation, and tendon-rebar, tendon-concrete and rebar-concrete degradation respectively.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 1995

Based on the various test data acquired in the field, the large pressure chamber and the small pressure chamber, uplift behaviors and method of determining the ultimate uplift capacity of pile driven in small pressure chamber were studied. After uplift pile experienced 2 or 3 sudden slip due to increase of uplift load, complete pullout failure was occurred. Thus, it appears that the ultimate uplift capacity could be identified as the load at displacement where first slip occurs. The ultimate uplift capacity might be determined in every test and the disturbance after first uplift test could be recovered by adding one blow of the drop hammer, which had to depend on the model pile capacity.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.295-308
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• 2012

This paper experimentally investigated the buckling capacity of built-up steel columns mainly, Cruciform Columns (CC) and Side-to-Side (SS) columns fabricated from two Universal Beam (UB) sections. A series of nine experimental tests comprised of three UB sections, three CC sections and three SS sections with different lengths were tested to failure to measure the ultimate axial capacity of each column section. The lengths used for each category of columns were 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2 m with slenderness ratios ranging from 39-105. The measured buckling loads of the tested specimens were compared with the predicted ultimate axial capacity using Eurocode 3, AISC LRFD, and BS 5959-1. It was observed that the failure modes of the specimens included flexural buckling, local buckling and flexural-torsional buckling. The results showed that the ultimate axial capacity of the tested cruciform and side-by-side columns were higher than the code predicted design values by up to 20%, with AISC LRFD design values being the least conservative and the Eurocode 3 design values being the most conservative. This study has concluded that cruciform column and side-to-side welded flange columns using universal beam sections are efficient built-up sections that have larger ultimate axial load capacity, larger stiffness with saving in the weight of steel used compared to its equivalent universal beam counterpart.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.161-167
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• 2007

In this study, ultimate lateral load capacity of piles is analyzed with consideration of lateral stress effect. Based on results obtained in this study, a method for the estimation of ultimate lateral load capacity is proposed. This makes it possible to more realistically estimate the ultimate lateral load capacity under various stress states caused by in-situ soil condition and pile installation process. Calibration chamber test results with various soil conditions were used in the analysis. From the test results, it was found that effect of the lateral stress was greater than that of the vertical stress on the ultimate lateral load capacity of piles. It was also found that, as the relative density increases, displacements required to reach the ultimate state increases, showing relative displacements of around 14% and 18-25% for $D_R$ : 55% and 86%, respectively. Based on results obtained in this study, a methodology for the estimation of ultimate lateral load capacity of piles using correction factors was proposed. Results from proposed method matched well measured results.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2009.03a
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• pp.533-538
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• 2009

Ultimate lateral loaded pile capacity is influenced by soil conditions. Methods of calculating ultimate lateral loaded pile capacity in homogeneous soil were suggested by a lot of previous researchers.(Broms 1964, Petrasovits & Award 1972, Prasad & Chari 1999) There is only few homogeneous soil in actual condition, however, it could be not conviction that the methods from previous researchers are correct in multi-layered soil. In this study, ultimate lateral capacities were estimated from artificial multi-layered soils and were measured from lateral load test that were composed by various soil conditions. The influence of layered soil conditions were confirmed by comparing with two results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.331-343
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• 2002

Because of the increasing span of arch bridges, ultimate capacity analysis recently becomes more focused both on design and construction. This paper investigates the static and ultimate behavior of a long-span steel arch bridge up to failure and evaluates the overall safety of the bridge. The example bridge is a long-span steel arch bridge with a 550 m-long central span under construction in Shanghai, China. This will be the longest central span of any arch bridge in the world. Ultimate behavior of the example bridge is investigated using three methods. Comparisons of the accuracy and reliability of the three methods are given. The effects of material nonlinearity of individual bridge element and distribution pattern of live load and initial lateral deflection of main arch ribs as well as yield stresses of material and changes of temperature on the ultimate load-carrying capacity of the bridge have been studied. The results show that the distribution pattern of live load and yield stresses of material have important effects on bridge behavior. The critical load analyses based on the linear buckling method and geometrically nonlinear buckling method considerably overestimate the load-carrying capacity of the bridge. The ultimate load-carrying capacity analysis and overall safety evaluation of a long-span steel arch bridge should be based on the geometrically and materially nonlinear buckling method. Finally, the in-plane failure mechanism of long-span steel arch bridges is explained by tracing the spread of plastic zones.