• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2017

This article aims at presenting multi objective optimization of parameters that affect crashworthiness characteristics of bi-tubular structures using Taguchi method with grey relational analysis. To design the experiments, the $L_9$ orthogonal array has been used and based on that, the inner tubes have been fabricated by varying the three influence factors such as reference diameter, length difference and numbers of sides of the polygon with three levels, but all the outer cylinders have the same diameter and length 90 mm and 135 mm respectively. Then, the tailor made bi-tubular steel structures were subjected into quasi static axial compression. From the test results it is found that the crushing behaviors of bi-tubular structures with different combinations were fairly significant. The important responses (crashworthiness indicators) specific energy absorption and crush force efficiency have been evaluated from load - displacement curve. Finally optimal levels of parameters were identified using grey relational analysis, and significance of parameters was determined by analysis of variance. The optimum crashworthiness parameters are reference diameter 80 mm, length difference 0 mm and number of sides of polygon is 3, i.e., triangle within the selected nine bi-tube combinations.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.149-167
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• 2004

Offshore platforms have to serve in harsh environments and hence are likely to be damaged due to wave induced fatigue and environmental corrosion. Welded tubular joints in offshore platforms are most vulnerable to fatigue damage. Such damages endanger the integrity of the structure. Therefore it is all the more essential to assess the capacity of damaged structure from the point of view of its safety. Eight internally ring stiffened fatigue damaged tubular joints with nominal chord and brace diameter of 324 mm and 219 mm respectively and thickness 12 mm and 8 mm respectively were tested under axial brace compression loading to evaluate the reserve capacity of the joints. These joints had earlier been tested under fatigue loading under corrosive environments of synthetic sea water and hence they have been cracked. The extent of the damage varied from 35 to 50 per cent. One stiffened joint was also tested under axial brace tension loading. The residual strength of fatigue damaged stiffened joint tested under tension loading was observed to be less than one fourth of that tested under compression loading. It was observed in this experimental investigation that in the damaged condition, the joints possessed an in-built load-transfer mechanism. A bi-linear stress-strain model was developed in this investigation to predict the reserve capacity of the joint. This model considered the strain hardening effect. Close agreement was observed between the experimental and predicted results. The paper presents in detail the experimental investigation and the development of the analytical model to predict the reserve capacity of internally ring stiffened joints.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.369-380
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• 2019

When a extreme loading such as blast is applied to prestressed concrete (PSC) structures and infrastructures for an instantaneous time, serious property damages and human casualties occur. However, a existing design procedure for PSC structures such as prestressed containment vessel (PCCV) and gas storage tank do not consider a protective design for extreme internal blast scenario. Particularly, an internal blast is much more dangerous than that of external blast. Therefore, verification of the internal blast loading is required. In this paper, the internal blast resistance capacity of PSC member is evaluated by performing internal blast tests on RC and bi-directional PSC scaled down specimens. The applied internal blast loads were 22.68, 27.22, and 31.75 kg (50, 60, and 70 lbs) ANFO explosive charge at 1,000 mm standoff distance. The data acquisitions include blast pressure, deflection, strain, crack patterns, and prestressing force. The test results showed that it is possible to predict the damage area to the structure when internal blast loading occurs in PCCV structures.