• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.2
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• pp.221-231
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• 2019

This paper performs for the first time a simultaneous optimization for members sections along with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections for space steel frames with fixed, semi-rigid, and hinged bases using a biogeography-based optimization algorithm (BBO) and a genetic algorithm (GA). Furthermore, a member's sections optimization for a fully fixed space frame is carried out. A real and accurate simulation of semi-rigid connection behavior is considered in this study, where the semi-rigid base connections are simulated using Kanvinde and Grilli (2012) nonlinear model, which considers deformations in different base connection components under the applied loads, while beam-to-column connections are modeled using the familiar Frye and Morris (1975) nonlinear polynomial model. Moreover, the $P-{\Delta}$ effect and geometric nonlinearity are considered. AISC-LRFD (2016) specification constraints of the stress and displacement are considered as well as section size fitting constraints. The optimization is applied to two benchmark space frame examples to inspect the effect of semi-rigidity on frame weight and drift using BBO and GA algorithms.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.387-400
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• 2022

The practice of using encased steel-concrete columns in medium to high-rise structures has expanded dramatically in recent years. The study evaluates existing methodologies and codal guidelines for estimating the ultimate load-carrying characteristics of concrete-encased short columns experimentally. The present condition of composite column design methods was analyzed using the Egyptian code ECP203-2007, the American Institute of Steel Construction's AISC-LRFD-2010, Eurocode EC-4, the American Concrete Institute's ACI-318-2014, and the British Standard BS-5400-5. According to the codes, the axial load carrying characteristics of both the encased steel and concrete sections was examined. The effect of load-carrying capacities in different forms of encased steel sections on encased steel-concrete columns was studied experimentally. The axial load carrying capacity of twelve concrete-encased columns and four conventional reinforced columns were examined. The conclusion is that the confinement was not taken into account when forecasting the strength and ductility of the encased concrete, resulting in considerable disparities between codal provisions and experimental results. The configuration of the steel section influenced the confining effect. Better confinement is achieved with the laced and battened section than with the infilled steel tube reinforced and conventionally reinforced section. The ECP203-2007 code reported the most conservative results of all the codes used.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.183-196
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• 2022

Reduced beam section (RBS) moment connections used in special moment resisting frames are currently limited to beam sections that are not larger than nominal depths of 920 mm, weight of 447 kg/m and flange thickness of 44 mm. Due to the higher demand for structural components with jumbo sections, which can potentially be applied in the transfer girders in long-span building structures, the newly available steel heavy members are promising. To address this issue, advanced numerical models are developed to fully evaluate the distribution of stresses and concentrations of plastic strains for such jumbo RBS connections. This paper first presents a brief overview of an experimental study on four specimens with large beam and column sections. Then, a numerical model that includes initial imperfections, residual stresses, geometric nonlinearity, and explicitly modeled welds is presented. The model is used to further explore the behavior of the test specimens, including distribution of stresses, distribution of plastic strains, stress triaxiality and potential for fracture. The results reveal that the stresses are highly non-uniform across the beam flange and, similarly, the plastic strains concentrate at the extreme fiber of the bottom flange. However, neither of these phenomena, which are primarily a function of beam flange thickness, is reflected in current design procedures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.851-865
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• 2014

Full penetration welded steel moment-resisting frame (SMRF) structures with welded box sections are widely employed in steel bridges, where a large number of steel bridges have been in operation for over fifty years in Japan. Welding defects such as incomplete penetration at the beam-column connections of these existing SMRF steel bridge piers were observed during inspection. Previous experiments conducted by the authors' team indicate that gusset stiffeners (termed fillets in this study) at the beam-web-to-column-web joint of the beam-column connections may play an important role on the seismic performance of the connections. This paper aims to experimentally study the effect of the fillet radius on seismic performance of the connections with large welding defects. Four specimens with different sizes of fillet radii were loaded under quasi-static incremental cyclic loading, where different load-displacement relations and cracking behaviors were observed. The experimental results show that, as the size of the fillet radius increases, the seismic performance of the connections can be greatly improved.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.375-388
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• 2019

This paper aims to investigate the axial load behavior and stability strength of square tubed steel-reinforced concrete (TSRC) columns. Unlike concrete filled steel tubular (CFST) column, the outer steel tube of a TSRC column is mainly used to provide confinement to the core concrete. Ten specimens were tested under axial compression, and the main test variables included length-to-width ratio (L/B) of the specimens, width-to-thickness ratio (B/t) of the steel tubes, and with or without stud shear connectors on the steel sections. The failure mode, ultimate strength and load-tube stress response of each specimen were summarized and analyzed. The test results indicated that the axial load carried by square tube due to friction and bond of the interface increased with the increase of L/B ratio, while the confinement effect of tube was just the opposite. Parametric studies were performed through ABAQUS based on the test results, and the feasibility of current design codes has also been examined. Finally, a method for calculating the ultimate strength of this composite column was proposed, in which the slenderness effect on the tube confinement was considered.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.195-205
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• 2013

The buckling problem of linearly tapered micro-columns is investigated on the basis of modified strain gradient elasticity theory. Bernoulli-Euler beam theory is used to model the non-uniform micro column. Rayleigh-Ritz solution method is utilized to obtain the critical buckling loads of the tapered cantilever micro-columns for different taper ratios. Some comparative results for the cases of rectangular and circular cross-sections are presented in graphical and tabular form to show the differences between the results obtained by modified strain gradient elasticity theory and those achieved by modified couple stress and classical theories. From the results, it is observed that the differences between critical buckling loads achieved by classical and those predicted by non-classical theories are considerable for smaller values of the ratio of the micro-column thickness (or diameter) at its bottom end to the additional material length scale parameters and the differences also increase due to increasing of the taper ratio.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.935-940
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• 2006

Numerical methods are developed for solving the elastica and buckling load of cantilever column with constant volume, subjected to a compressive end load. The linear, parabolic and sinusoidal tapers with the regular polygon cross-sections are considered, whose material volume and span length are always held constant. The differential equations governing the elastica of buckled column are derived. The Runge-Kutta method is used to integrate the differential equations, and the Regula-Falsi method is used to determine the horizontal deflection at free end and the buckling load, respectively. The numerical methods developed herein for computing the elastica and the buckling loads of the columns are found to be efficient and reliable.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.384-391
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• 2011

This paper deals with free vibrations of the parabolic hollowed beam-columns with constant volume. The cross sections of beam-column taper are the hollowed regular polygons whose depths are varied with the parabolic functional fashion. Volumes of the objective beam-columns are always held constant regardless given geometrical conditions. Ordinary differential equation governing free vibrations of such beam-columns are derived and solved numerically for determining the natural frequencies. In the numerical examples, hinged-hinged, hinged-clamped and clamped-clamped end constraints are considered. As the numerical results, the relationships between non-dimensional frequency parameters and various beam-column parameters such as end constraints, side number, section ratio, thickness ratio and axial load are reported in tables and figures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.451-454
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• 2003

Nonpoint source pollution of groundwater and subsurface water from irrigated agriculture is a major concern in many areas. In this study we aimed to investigate the effect of the water applied by irrigation in agricultural area on the transport of nitrogen and phosphorus originated from fertilizers applied to the surface of soil in agricultural activities. We first conducted investigation on the resdual concentrations of soil N and P in a selected agricultural area. And simulating the target area by column studies in the laboratory leaching extent of various components from the composite and urea fertilizers applied on the soil surface during irrigation was studied. Infiltration of water enhanced the leaching of nitrogen and phosphorus in both the rice paddy field soil and the patch soil. The downward N and P transport with infiltrating water was more pronounced in the patch soil column and the increased residual concentrations of N and P in the lower sections in the patch soil column was found with time.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.429-448
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• 2001

An analytical model incorporating bending and shear behavior is presented to predict the lateral loading characteristic for rectangular hollow columns. The moment-curvature relationship for the rectangular hollow sections of a column is firstly determined. Then the nonlinear lateral load-displacement relationship for the hollow column can be obtained accordingly. In this model, thirteen constitutive laws for confined concrete and five approaches to estimate the shear capacity are used. A series of tests on 12 model hollow columns aimed at the seismic shear behavior are reported, and the test data are compared to the analytical results. It is found that the analytical model reflects the experimental results rather closely.