• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.585-596
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• 2017

Tubular joints have been widely used in offshore platforms and space structures due to their merits such as easy fabrication, aesthetic appearance and better static strength. For existing tubular joints, a grouted sleeve reinforced method was proposed in this paper. Experimental tests on five tubular T-joints reinforced with the grouted sleeve and two conventional tubular T-joints were conducted to investigate their mechanical behaviour. A constant axial compressive force was applied to the chord end to simulate the compressive state of the chord member during the tests. Then an axial compressive force was applied to the top end of the brace member until the collapse of the joint specimens occurred. The parameters investigated herein were the grout thickness, the sleeve length coefficient and the sleeve construction method. The failure mode, ultimate load, initial stiffness and deformability of these joint specimens were discussed. It was found that: (1) The grouted sleeve could change the failure mode of tubular T-joints. (2) The grouted sleeve was observed to provide strength enhancement up to 154.3%~172.7% for the corresponding un-reinforced joint. (3) The initial stiffness and deformability were also greatly improved by the grouted sleeve. (4) The sleeve length coefficient was a key parameter for the improved effect of the grouted sleeve reinforced method.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.157-185
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• 2014

This paper examines the behaviour of two types of practical open beam-to-tubular column connection details subjected to combined moment, axial and/or shear loads. Detailed continuum finite element models are developed and validated against available experimental results, and extended to deal with flexural, axial and shear load interactions. A numerical investigation is then carried out on the behaviour of selected connections with different stiffness and strength characteristics under various load combination scenarios. The influence of applied levels of axial tensile or compressive loads on the bending stiffness and capacity is examined and discussed. Additionally, the interaction effects between shear forces and co-existing bending and axial loads are examined and shown to be comparatively insignificant in terms of stiffness and capacity in most cases. It is also shown that the range of connections considered in this paper can provide rotational ductility levels in excess of those required under typical design scenarios. Based on these findings, a simplified component-based representation is proposed and described, and its ability to represent the connection response under combined loading is verified using results from detailed numerical simulations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.137-156
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• 2016

Due to excellent advantages such as better illuminative effects, considerable material savings and ease and rapidness of construction, the bolted ball-cylinder joint which is a new type joint system has been proposed in space truss structures. In order to reveal more information and understanding on the behaviour of bolted ball-cylinder joints, full-scale experiments on eight bolted ball-cylinder joint specimens were conducted. Five joint specimens were subjected to axial compressive force, while another three joint specimens were subjected to axial tensile force. The parameters investigated herein were the outside diameter of hollow cylinders, the height of hollow cylinders, the thickness of hollow cylinders, ribbed stiffener and axial force. These joint specimens were collapsed by excessive deformation of hollow cylinders, punching damage of hollow cylinders, evulsion of bolts, and weld cracking. The strain distributions on the hollow cylinder opening were mainly controlled by bending moments. To improve the ultimate bearing capacity and axial stiffness of bolted ball-cylinder joints, two effective measures were developed: (1) the thickness of the hollow cylinder needed to be thicker; (2) the ribbed stiffener should be adopted. In addition, the axial stiffness of bolted ball-cylinder joints exhibited significant non-linear characteristics.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.497-520
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• 2016

The confined concrete stress-strain curves utilised in computational models of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns can have a significant influence on the accuracy of the predicted behaviour. A generic model is proposed for predicting the stress-strain behaviour of confined concrete in short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns subjected to axial compression. The finite element (FE) analysis is carried out to simulate the concrete confining pressure in short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns. The concrete confining pressure relies on the geometric and material parameters of CFST columns. The post-peak behaviour of the concrete stress-strain curve is determined using independent existing experimental results. The strength reduction factor is derived for predicting the descending part of the confined concrete behaviour. The fibre element model is developed for the analysis of circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST short columns under axial loading. The FE model and fibre element model accounting for the proposed concrete confined model is verified by comparing the computed results with experimental results. The ultimate axial strengths and complete axial load-strain curves obtained from the FE model and fibre element model agree reasonably well with experimental results. Parametric studies have been carried out to examine the effects of important parameters on the compressive behaviour of short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns. The design model proposed by Liang and Fragomeni (2009) for short circular, elliptical and octagonal CFST columns is validated by comparing the predicted results with experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.667-686
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• 2014

Tapered concrete filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) columns have been used in China for structures such as electricity transmission towers. In practice, the bearing capacity related to the connection details on the top of the column is not fully understood. In this paper, the experimental behaviour of tapered CFDST stub columns subjected to axial partial compression is reported, sixteen specimens with top endplate and ten specimens without top endplate were tested. The test parameters included: (1) tapered angle, (2) top endplate thickness, and (3) partial compression area ratio. Test results show that the tapered CFDST stub columns under axial partial compression behaved in a ductile manner. The axial partial compressive behaviour and the failure modes of the tapered CFDST stub columns were significantly influenced by the parameters investigated. Finally, a simple formula for predicting the cross-sectional capacity of the tapered CFDST sections under axial partial compression is proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-47
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• 2005

This paper presents the results of a series of tests carried out on hollow and concrete-filled coldformed steel sections subjected to axial and bending forces. The effects of eccentricity ratio and strength of in-fill on the behaviour of these sections were studied. A total of forty-eight medium sized columns and six beams were tested to failure. Extensive measurements of material properties, strains, axial shortening and lateral deflection were carried out. Interaction of local and overall buckling was observed in the tests. Failure mode observations were local buckling coupled with overall buckling. A description of the specially fabricated end fixtures for applying eccentric loading to the columns and to simulate pinned end condition is also presented. The experimental results of hollow columns are compared with the existing Indian, British and American codes of practice and the results of concrete-filled columns are compared with EC4 recommendations. It is seen that in the case of hollow columns predictions based on British and American codes of practice and in the case of concrete-filled columns predictions based on EC4 recommendations agree reasonably well with the experimental results. From the experiments it is seen that the provision of in-fill substantially increases the ultimate load carrying capacity of the order of one and a half to two times and the increase in strength of the in-filled concrete from a low grade concrete of compressive strength 24.94 MPa to a high grade concrete of compressive strength 33.26 MPa increases the ultimate load carrying capacity by one and a half times irrespective of the eccentricity of loading.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.67-97
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• 2015

This article presents a computing procedure developed to predict the torsional strength of axially restrained reinforced concrete beams. This computing procedure is based on a modification of the Variable Angle Truss Model to account for the influence of the longitudinal compressive stress state due to the axial restraint conditions provided by the connections of the beams to other structural elements. Theoretical predictions from the proposed model are compared with some experimental results available in the literature and also with some numerical results from a three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis. It is shown that the proposed computing procedure gives reliable predictions for the ultimate behaviour, namely the torsional strength, of axially restrained reinforced concrete beams under torsion.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.595-614
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• 2001

This paper studies the behaviour of a homogeneous cable in a horizontal rigid duct and loaded by an axial compressive force. This behaviour is characterized by spatial buckling modes, named sinusoidal and helical, due to friction and total or partial cable locking. The evaluation of critical buckling loads involved by drilling technology has been studied by many authors. This work presents a new formulation, taking the friction effects into account, for the transmission of the axial load during the postbuckling process. New analytical expressions of pitches in both buckling cases are also given. A life-sized bench is presented, which permits to study the laying of optical fiber cables by squeezing them into an underground duct. Finally, analytical solutions are compared with experimental tests and finite element simulations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.95-112
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• 2004

A series of tests was performed to consider the behaviour of short composite columns under axial compressive loading, covering a range of S275 and S355 grade steel square hollow section filled with normal and high strength concrete. The interaction between the steel and the concrete component is considered and the results show that concrete shrinkage has an effect on the axial strength of the column. Comparisons between Eurocode 4, ACI-318 and the Australian Standards with the findings of this research were made. Result showed the equation used by the ACI-318 and the proposed Australian Standards gave better predication for the axial capacity of concrete filled SHS columns than the Eurocode 4.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.431-452
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• 2014

The present study focuses on the mechanical behaviour of concrete filled double skin steel tubular (CFDST) stub columns confined by fiber reinforced polymer (FRP). A series of axial compression tests have been conducted on two CFDST stub columns, eight CFDST stub columns confined by FRP and a concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) stub column confined by FRP, respectively. The influences of hollow section ratio, FRP wall thickness and fibre longitudinal-circumferential proportion on the load-strain curve and the concrete stress-strain curve for stub columns with annular section were discussed. The test results displayed that the FRP jacket can obviously enhance the carrying capacity of stub columns. Based on the test results, a new model which includes the effects of confinement factor, hollow section ratio and lateral confining pressure of the outer steel tube was proposed to calculate the compressive strength of confined concrete. Using the present concrete strength model, the formula to predict the carrying capacity of CFDST stub columns confined by FRP was derived. The theoretically predicted results agree well with those obtained from the experiments and FE analysis. The present method is also adapted to calculate the carrying capacity of CFST stub columns confined by FRP.