• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.15-33
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• 2012

For an axially loaded box-shaped member, the width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements preferably should not be greater than 40 for Q235 steel grades in accordance with the Chinese code GB50017-2003. However, in practical engineering the plate width-to-thickness ratio is up to 120, much more than the limiting value. In this paper, a 3D nonlinear finite element model is developed that accounts for both geometrical imperfections and residual stresses and the ultimate capacity of welded built-up box columns, with larger width-to-thickness ratios of 60, 70, 80, and 100, is simulated. At the same time, the interaction buckling strength of these members is determined using the effective width method recommended in the Chinese code GB50018-2002, Eurocode 3 EN1993-1 and American standard ANSI/AISC 360-10 and the direct strength method developed in recent years. The studies show that the finite element model proposed can simulate the behavior of nonlinear buckling of axially loaded box-shaped members very well. The width-to-thickness ratio of the plate elements in welded box section columns can be enlarged up to 100 for Q235 steel grades. Good agreements are observed between the results obtained from the FEM and direct strength method. The modified direct strength method provides a better estimation of the column strength compared to the direct strength method over the full range of plate width-to-thickness ratio. The Chinese code and Eurocode 3 are overly conservative prediction of column capacity while the American standard provides a better prediction and is slightly conservative for b/t = 60. Therefore, it is suggested that the modified direct strength method should be adopted when revising the Chinese code.

• International Journal of Ocean System Engineering
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.160-169
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• 2012

Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) is a common practice to join thick plates such as the structural members of large scale offshore structures and very large container ships. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties and variability of the fatigue crack initiation life in the flux cored arc welded API 2W Gr.50 steel joints typically applied to offshore structures with a focus on the effect of the materials in fatigue crack growth life from the notch root of a compact tension specimen. Offshore structural steel (API 2W Gr.50) plates (60-mm thick) were used to fabricate multi-path flux core arc welded butt welded joints to clearly consider fatigue fractures at the weld zone from the notch. Fatigue tests were performed under a constant amplitude cyclic loading of R = 0.4. The mean fatigue crack initiation life of the HAZ specimen was the highest among the base metal (BM), weld metal (WM), and heat affected zone (HAZ). In addition, the coefficient of variation was the highest in the WMl specimen. The variability of the short fatigue crack growth rates from the notch tips in the WM and HAZ specimens was higher than in BM.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.102-115
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• 1994

This paper is to evaluate the fatigue strength of lap joints of materials applied to LNG carrier cargo containment of GAZ-TRANSPORT(GT) type, which was welded by manual and automatic TIG welding process. The thicknesses of lapped members were 1.5mm/1.5mm or 1.5mm/0.7mm in Invar to Invar joint, and 1.5mm/8.0mm in Invar to stainless steel joint, respectively. These lap joints were mainly applied to the membrance fabrication of GT-LNG carrier. Fatigue tests of Invar/Inar lap joints were conducted under the stress ratio R=0 at room temperature. The effect of mean stress and cumulative fatigue damage on the allowable stress of Invar lap joint was evaluated on the basis of test results. Fatigue test was also conducted on Inver/Stainless steel lap joints welded by automatic TIG process without filler metals. The fatigue test of the joint was carried out under the same conditions as those of Invar/invar lap joints. The fatigue strength of the joint welded without filler metal was comparable to those welded with filler metal quoted from reference. The fatigue strength of Invar/stainless steel lap joint was only dependent on the lap throat thickness, and not on the welding process. Based on test results, the applicability of TIG welding process without filler metal in Invar/stainless steel lap joint was reviewed by controlling welding variables to assure the valid throat thickness of lap joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.229-242
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• 2018

High strength steel is widely used in industrial applications to improve the load-bearing capacity and reduce the overall weight and cost. To take advantage of the benefits of this type of steel in construction, an innovative hybrid fabricated member consisting of high strength steel tubes welded to mild steel plates has recently been developed. Component-scale uniaxial and multiaxial cyclic experiments have been conducted with simultaneous constant or varying axial compression loads using a multi-axial substructure testing facility. The structural interaction of high strength steel tubes with mild steel plates is investigated in terms of member capacity, strength and stiffness deterioration and the development of plastic hinges. The deterioration parameters of hybrid specimens are calibrated and compared against those of conventional steel specimens. Effect of varying axial force and loading direction on the hysteretic deterioration model, failure modes and axial shortening is also studied. Plate and tube elements in hybrid members interact such that the high strength steel is kept within its ultimate strain range to prevent sudden fracture due to its low ultimate to yield strain ratio while the ductile performance of plate governs the global failure mechanism. High strength material also significantly reduces the axial shortening in columns which prevents undesirable frame deformations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.261-271
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• 2015

Steel concentrically braced frame is an efficient system that can acquire resistance against the lateral force of buildings with the least amount of quantity. In this study is intended to proceed on the research of schemes for reinforcement by supplementing previously installed H-formed brace with non-welded cold-formed plastic stiffening materials restricting the flexure and buckling and acquire a consistent strength on the tensile and compressive force. As for the measures of supplementing previously-installed inverted V-formed braced frame, stiffening materials in the previous studies were converted to weak-axial supplementing materials to suggest a specific scheme evaluating the structural function through an experiment of members, interpretation of members, and frame-focused experiment. Reinforced brace satisfied the requirement to be prevent AISC brace from being ruptured due to imbalanced strength in the beam.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.877-895
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• 2015

Connections to circular hollow steel sections (CHS) are considered one of the most complex and time consuming connections in steel construction. Such connections are usually composed of gusset plates welded to the outside of the steel tube or penetrating the steel tube. Design guides, accounting for the effect of connection configuration on the strength of the connection, are not present. This study aims to investigate, through experimental testing and a parametric study, the influence of connection configuration on the strength of one sided branch plate-to-CHS members. A notable effect was observed on the behavior of the connections due to its detailing changes with respect to capacity, failure mode, ductility, and stress distribution. A parametric study is performed using the calibrated analytical model to include a wider range of parameters. The study involves 26 numerical analyses of finite element models including parameters of the diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio, length of gusset plate, and connection configuration. Accordingly, a modification to the formulas provided by the current design recommendations was suggested to include connection configuration effects for the one sided branch plate-to-CHS members.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2012

The orthotropic steel deck bridge made by using relatively thin steel plate, and structural members such as transverse and longitudinal ribs, cross beam, etc. in the bridge are fabricated with complex shape by welding. Therefore, the possibility occurring deformation and defects by welding is very high, and stress states in the welded connection parts are very complex. Also, the fatigue cracks in orthotropic steel deck bridge are happening fromthe welded connection parts of secondary member than main member. However, stress evaluation for main members is mainly carried out in the design process of the bridge, detailed stress evaluation and characteristic analysis is not almost reviewed in the structural details which fatigue crack occurred. For the orthotropic steel deck bridge with open ribs which has been serviced for 29 years, in this study, the cause of fatigue crack is investigated and the fatigue safety of the bridge is examined based on fieldmeasurement by the loading test and real traffic condition. Also, structural analyses using gridmodel and detailed analysis model were carried out for the welded connection parts of longitudinal rib and diaphramthat fatigue crack occurred. Additionally, the behavior characteristics due to running vehicles were investigated by using influence area analysis for these structural details, and the occurrence causes of fatigue crack in the target bridge were clarified.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.15-22
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• 2002

To analysis of the embanked slope stability using a jointed reinforcement, the internal stability and the external stability have to be satisfied, respectively. But, because the lengths of ready-made steel-grid were limited, the reinforcements must be connecting themselves to the reinforcing. In this study, the mechanical test was carried out to investigate the tensile failure and the pullout failure at the joint parts of them, which was based on the analysis of reinforced slope in field. Through the tensile tests in mid-air for the jointed steel-grid, the deformation behavior was seriously observed as follows : deformation of longitudinal member, plastic deformation of longitudinal member and of crank part. Those effects were due to the confining pressure and overburden pressure of the surrounding ground. The bearing resistance at jointed part of jointed steel-grid was due to the latter only. The maximum tensile forces were higher about 20kN~27kN than ultimate pullout resistance, but, the results of those was almost the same in mid-soil. The failures of steel-grid occurred at welded point both of longitudinal members and transverse members and of jointed parts. The strength of jointed parts itself got pullout force about 20kN, which was about 65% for ultimate pullout force of the longitudinal members N=2. To the stability analysis of reinforced structure including the reinforced slope, the studying of connection effects at jointed part of reinforcement members must be considered. Through the results of them, the stability of reinforced structures should be satisfied.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1581-1598
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• 2015

A concentric braced steel frame is a very efficient structural system because it requires relatively smaller amount of materials to resist lateral forces. However, primarily developed as a structural system to resist wind loads based on an assumption that the structure behaves elastically, a concentric braced frame possibly experiences the deterioration in energy dissipation after brace buckling and the brittle failure of braces and connections when earthquake loads cause inelastic behavior. Consequently, plastic deformation is concentrated in the floor where brace buckling occurs first, which can lead to the rupture of the structure. This study suggests reinforcing H-shaped braces with non-welded cold-formed stiffeners to restrain flexure and buckling and resist tensile force and compressive force equally. Weak-axis reinforcing members (2 pieces) developed from those suggested in previous studies (4 pieces) were used to reinforce the H-shaped braces in an inverted V-type braced frame. Monotonic loading tests, finite element analysis and cyclic loading tests were carried out to evaluate the structural performance of the reinforced braces and frames. The reinforced braces satisfied the AISC requirement. The reinforcement suggested in this study is expected to prevent the rupture of beams caused by the unbalanced resistance of the braces.

• 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.