• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제10권4호
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• pp.361-371
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• 2010

Enhancement in the seismic buckling capacity of steel tanks caused by the addition of fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) retrofit layers attached to the outer walls of the steel tank is investigated. Three-dimensional non-linear finite element modeling is utilized to perform such analysis considering non linear material properties and non-linear large deformation large strain analysis. FRP composites which possess high stiffness and high failure strength are used to reduce the steel hoop stress and consequently improve the tank capacity. A number of tanks with varying dimensions and shell thicknesses are examined using FRP composites added in symmetric layers attached to the outer surface of the steel shell. The FRP shows its effectiveness in carrying part of the hoop stresses along with the steel before steel yielding. Following steel yielding, the FRP restrains the outward bulging of the tank and continues to resist higher hoop stresses. The percentage improvement in the ultimate base moment capacity of the tank due to the addition of more FRP layers is shown to be as high as 60% for some tanks. The percentage of increase in the tank moment capacity is shown to be dependent on the ratio of the shell thickness to the tank radius (t/R). Finally a new methodology has been explained to calculate the location of Elephant foot buckling and consequently the best location of FRP application.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.245-260
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• 2015

In this study, nominal moment-axial load interaction diagrams, moment-curvature relationships, and ductility of rectangular hybrid beam-column concrete sections are analyzed using the modified Hognestad concrete model. The hybrid columns are primarily reinforced with steel bars with additional Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) control bars. Parameters investigated include amount, pattern, location, and material properties of concrete, steel, and GFRP. The study was implemented using a user defined comprehensive $MATLAB^{(R)}$ simulation model to find an efficient hybrid section design maximizing strength and ductility. Generating lower bond stresses than steel bars at the concrete interface, auxiliary GFRP bars minimize damage in the concrete core of beam-column sections. Their usage prevents excessive yielding of the core longitudinal bars during frequent moderate cyclic deformations, which leads to significant damage in the foundations of bridges or beam-column spliced sections where repair is difficult and expensive. Analytical results from this study shows that hybrid steel-GFRP composite concrete sections where GFRP is used as auxiliary bars show adequate ductility with a significant increase in strength. Results also compare different design parameters reaching a number of design recommendations for the proposed hybrid section.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.591-600
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• 2019

Based on the energy-variational principle, a coupling vibration analysis model of high-speed railway simply supported beam bridge-track structure system (HSRBTS) was established by considering the effect of shear deformation. The vibration differential equation and natural boundary conditions of HSRBTS were derived by considering the interlayer slip effect. Then, an analytic calculation method for the natural vibration frequency of this system was obtained. By taking two simply supported beam bridges of high-speed railway of 24 m and 32 m in span as examples, ANSYS and MIDAS finite-element numerical calculation methods were compared with the analytic method established in this paper. The calculation results show that two of them agree well with each other, validating the analytic method reported in this paper. The analytic method established in this study was used to evaluate the natural vibration characteristics of HSRBTS under different interlayer stiffness and length of rails at different subgrade sections. The results show that the vertical interlayer compressive stiffness had a great influence on the high-order natural vibration frequency of HSRBTS, and the effect of longitudinal interlayer slip stiffness on the natural vibration frequency of HSRBTS could be ignored. Under different vertical interlayer stiffness conditions, the subgrade section of HSRBTS has a critical rail length, and the critical length of rail at subgrade section decreases with the increase in vertical interlayer compressive stiffness.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.361-372
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• 2019

In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the research and development of high-strength steel plates, with particular emphasis on the enhancement of the seismic resistance of buildings and bridges. Many efforts have also been undertaken to improve the properties of high-strength bolts and weld materials. However, there are still different opinions on steel joints that combine high-strength bolts and fillet welds. Therefore, it is necessary to verify the design specifications and guidelines, especially for newly developed 1,400-MPa high-strength bolts, 570-MPa steel plates, and weld materials. This paper presents the results of literature reviews and experimental investigations. Test parameters include bolt strengths, weld orientations, and their combinations. The results show that advances in steel materials have increased the plastic deformation capacities of steel welds. That allows combination joints to gain their maximum strength before the welds have fracture failures. When in combination with longitudinal welds, high-strength bolts slip, come in contact with cover plates, and develop greater bearing strength before the joints reach their maximum strength. However, in the case of combinations with transverse welds, changes in crack angles cause the welds to provide additional strength. The combination joints can therefore develop strength greater than estimated by adding the strength of bolted joints in proportion to those of welded joints. Consequently, using the slip resistance as the available strength of high-strength bolts is recommended. That ensures a margin of safety in the strength design of combination joints.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.55-75
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• 2021

The lightweight superstructure is beneficial for bridges in remote areas and emergency erection. In such weight-sensitive applications, the combination of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) as a material and box-beams as a structural system have enormous scope. This combination offers various advantages, but as a thin-walled structure, their designs are often governed by buckling criteria. FRP box-beams lose their stability either by flange or web buckling mode. In this paper, the web buckling behavior of simply supported FRP box-beam subjected to transverse load has been studied by modeling full box-beam to consider the effect of real state of stress (stress variation in length direction) and boundary conditions (rotational restraint at web-flange junction). A parametric study by varying the sectional geometry and fiber orientation is carried out by using ANSYS software. The accuracy of the FE models was ensured by verifying them against the available results provided in the literature. With the help of developed database the influential parameters (i.e., αs, βw, δw and γ) affecting the web bucklings are identified. Design trends have been developed which will be helpful to the designers in the preliminary stage. Finally, the importance of governing parameters and design trends are demonstrated through pedestrian bridge design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.271-280
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• 2021

In this study, the fatigue property of U rib-to-crossbeam connections in orthotropic steel bridge (OSB) crossbeams under heavy traffic vehicle load was investigated considering the effects of in-plane shear stress. The applicability of an improved structural stress (ISS) method was validated for the fatigue behavior analysis of nonwelded arc-shaped cutout regions in multiaxial stress states. Various types of fatigue testing specimens were compared for investigating the equivalent structural stress, fatigue crack initiation positions, and failure modes with the unified standards. Furthermore, the implications of OSB crossbeams and specified loading cases are discussed with respect to the improved method. The ISS method is proven to be applicable for analyzing the fatigue property of nonwelded arc-shaped cutout regions in OSB crossbeams. The used method is essential for gaining a reliable prediction of the most likely failure modes under a specific heavy traffic vehicle load. The evaluated results using the used method are proven to be accurate with a slighter standard deviation. We obtained the trend of equivalent structural stress in arc-shaped cutout regions and validated the crack initiation positions and propagation directions by comparing them with the fatigue testing results. The implications of crossbeam spans on fatigue property are less significant than the effects of crossbeams.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.1-19
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• 2021

Composite nature of the masonry structures in general causes complex and non-linear behaviour, especially in intense vibration conditions. The presence of different types and forms of structural elements and different materials is a major problem for the analysis of these type of structures. For this reason, the analysis of the behaviour of masonry structures requires a combination of experimental tests and non-linear mathematical modelling. The famous UNESCO Heritage Old Bridge in Mostar was selected as an example for the analysis of the global behaviour of reinforced stone arch masonry bridges. As part of the experimental research, a model of the Old Bridge was constructed in a scale of 1:9 and tested on a shaking table platform for different levels of seismic excitation. Non-linear mathematical modelling was performed using a combined finite-discrete element method (FDEM), including the effect of connection elements. The paper presents the horizontal displacement of the top of the arch and the failure mechanism of the Old Bridge model for the experimental and the numerical phase, as well as the comparison of the results. This research provided a clearer insight into the global behaviour of stone arch masonry structures reinforced with steel clamps and steel dowels, which is significant for the structures classified as world cultural heritage.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.843-853
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• 2022

The fatigue behavior of welded open rib-to crossbeam joints (ORCJ) in orthotropic bridge structures is investigated using a traction structural stress method. The fatigue behaviors of welded open rib-to crossbeam joints have been a subject of study for decades for ensuring operational safety and future design improvement. A mesh-insensitive combination of traction structural stresses in ORCJ was obtained considering the effect of in-plane shear stress and validated by fatigue test results. The proposed method is advantageous for predicting fatigue cracks that initiate from the crossbeam cutout and propagate along the crossbeam. The investigations carried out with the proposed approach reveal that the normal structural stress decreases with the propagation of fatigue cracks, while the ratio of shear stress to normal stress increases. The effect of shear structural stress is significant for the analysis of fatigue behavior of ORCJ in multiaxial stress states.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.637-648
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• 2021

Nowadays, one of the practical, fast and easy ways to strengthen steel elements is the use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). Most previous research in the CFRP strengthening of steel members has carried out on straight steel members. The main difference between horizontal curved beams and straight beams under vertical load is the presence of torsional moment in the horizontal curved beams. In the other words, the horizontal curved beams are analyzed and designed for simultaneous internal forces included bending moment, torsional moment, and shear force. The horizontal curved steel beams are usually used in buildings, bridges, trusses, and others. This study explored the effect of the CFRP strengthening on the behavior of the horizontal curved square hollow section (SHS) steel beams. Four specimens were analyzed, one non-strengthened curved steel beam as a control column and three horizontal curved steel beams strengthened using CFRP sheets (under concentrated load and uniform distributed load). To analyze the horizontal curved steel beams, three dimensional (3D) modeling and nonlinear static analysis methods using ANSYS software were applied. The results indicated that application of CFRP sheets in some specific locations of the horizontal curved steel beams could increase the ultimate capacity of these beams, significantly. Also, the results indicated when the horizontal curved steel beams were under distributed load, the increase rate in the ultimate capacity was more than in the case when these beams were under concentrated load.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.251-262
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• 2023

There are many examples of steel structures subjected to severe environmental conditions with bolted connections directly exposed to extreme climatic agents such as freeze-thaw cycles or low temperatures. Some examples are: steel bridges, mining transfer towers, wind towers... These service conditions neither are included in Eurocode 3 or EN1090-2, nor there are references in other international standards. In this experimental research, 46 specimens of non-slip joints with HV M20 bolts and four different types of contact surfaces have been studied. Half of the specimens were subjected to fourteen twelve-hours freeze-thaw cycles, with periodic immersion in water and temperature oscillation. Subsequently, half of the connections were subjected to a slip test under monotonic load at temperature of -20 ± 0.5 ℃ and the other half at room temperature. The results were compared with others equal joints not subjected to freeze-thaw cycles and kept at room temperature for the same time. This finally resulted in 4 sets of joints by combining the freeze-thaw degradation or not with the low-temperature conditions or not in the slip testing. Therefore, a total of 16 different conditions were studied by also considering 4 different contact surfaces between the joined plates in each set. The results obtained show influence of environmental conditions on the slip resistant capacity of these joints.