• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.315-330
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• 2002

This paper proposes a model for analysing the non-linear behaviour of steel concrete composite beams prestressed by external slipping cables, taking into account the deformability of the interface shear connection. By assuming a suitable admissible displacement field for the composite beam, the balance condition is obtained by the virtual work principle. The solution is numerically achieved by approximating the unknown displacement functions as series of shape functions according to the Ritz method. The model is applied to real cases by showing the consequences of different connection levels between the concrete slab and the steel beam. Particular attention is focused on the limited ductility of the shear connection that may be the cause of premature failure of the composite girder.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.375-390
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• 2011

Composite beam, which combined the material characteristic of the steel and concrete, has been widely used in the construction of various building and bridge system. For the effective application of the composite beam, the composite action on the composite interface between the concrete element and the steel element should be achieved by shear connectors. The behavioral characteristics of composite beam are related with the degree of interaction and the degree of shear connection according to the shear strength and shear stiffness of the stud shear connectors. These two concepts are also affected by the number of installed shear connector and the strength of composite materials. In this study, experimental and analytical evaluations of the degree of shear connection affected by stud diameter were conducted, and the relationship between structural behavior and the degree of shear connection was verified. The very small difference among the ultimate loads of the specimens depending on the change of the degree of connection was possibly because of the dependence of the ultimate load on the characteristic of plastic moment of the composite beam.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.539-544
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• 2007

Glass fiber reinforced composite decks have high-strength, light-weight and high durability. The composite decks having vertical snap-fit connections are designed for pedestrian bridges and their structural behaviour are studied. The existing connection method of the composite decks in horizontal direction is replaced by the developed snap-fit connection method in vertical direction. The section shape of the composite decks having the vertical snap-fit connection is designed. The safety of the vertical snap-fit connection is verified by finite element analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 2017

A new composite tube connection method called the pre-tightened teeth connection technique is proposed to improve the composite tube connection efficiency. This paper first introduces the manufacturing process of the proposed technique. It then outlines how the mechanical properties of this technology were tested using four test groups. The factors that influence the load-bearing capacity and damage model of the connection were analyzed, and finally, the transfer load mechanism was investigated. The following conclusions can be obtained from the research results. (1) The new technique improves the compressive connection efficiency by a maximum of 79%, with the efficiency exceeding that of adhesive connections of the same thickness. (2) Changing the depth of teeth results in two types of damage: local compressive damage and shear damage. The bearing capacity can be improved by increasing the depth, length, and number of teeth as well as the pre-tightening force. (3) The capacity of the technique to transfer high loads is a result of both the relatively high interlaminar shear strength of the pultruded composite and the interlaminar shear strength increase provided by the pre-tightening force. The proposed technique shows favorable mechanical properties, and therefore, it can be extensively applied in the engineering field.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.115-130
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• 2017

A new type of moment-resisting bolted connection was developed for use in composite steel- concrete construction to connect composite open section steel beams to concrete filled steel square tubular columns. The connection was made possible using anchored blind bolts along with two through bolts. It was designed to act compositely with the in-situ reinforced concrete slab to achieve an enhanced stiffness and strength. The developed connection was incorporated in the design of a medium rise (five storey) commercial building which was located in low to medium seismicity regions. The lateral load resisting system for the design building consisted of moment resisting frames in two directions. A major full scale test on a sub-assembly of a perimeter moment-resisting frame of the model building was conducted to study the system behaviour incorporating the proposed connection. The behaviour of the proposed connection and its interaction with the floor slab under cyclic loading representing the earthquake events with return periods of 500 years and 2500 years was investigated. The proposed connection was categorized as semi rigid for unbraced frames based on the classification method presented in Eurocode 3. Furthermore, the proposed connection, composite with the floor slab, successfully provided adequate lateral load resistance for the model building.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.789-809
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• 2015

This paper presents experimental and numerical studies into the structural behavior of a high performance corbel type composite connection adopted in Raffles City of Hangzhou, China. Physical tests under both monotonic and quasi-static cyclic loads were conducted to investigate the load carrying capacities and deformation characteristics of this new type of composite connection. A variety of structural responses are examined in detail, including load-deformation characteristics, the development of sectional direct and shear strains, and the history of cumulative plastic deformation and energy. A three-dimensional finite element model built up with solid elements was also proposed for the verification against test results. The studies demonstrate the high rigidity, strength and rotation capacities of the corbel type composite connections, and give detailed structural understanding for engineering design and practice. Structural engineers are encouraged to adopt the proposed corbel type composite connections in mega high-rise buildings to achieve an economical and buildable and architectural friendly engineering solution.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.281-298
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• 2013

Composite special moment frame is one of the systems that are utilized in areas with low to high seismicity to deal with earthquake forces. Composite moment frames are composed of reinforced concrete columns (RC) and steel beams (S); therefore, the connection region is a combination of steel and concrete materials. In current study, a three dimensional finite element model of composite connections is developed. These connections are used in special composite moment frame, between reinforced concrete columns and steel beams (RCS). Finite element model is discussed as a most reliable and low cost method versus experimental procedures. Based on a tested connection model by Cheng and Chen (2005), the finite element model has been developed under cyclic loading and is verified with experimental results. A good agreement between finite element model and experimental results was observed. The connection configuration contains Face Bearing Plates (FBPs), Steel Band Plates (SBPs) enveloping around the RC column just above and below the steel beam. Longitudinal column bars pass through the connection with square ties around them. The finite element model represented a stable response up to the first cycles equal to 4.0% drift, with moderately pinched hysteresis loops and then showed a significant buckling in upper flange of beam, as the in test model.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

The concept of horizontal shear connection utilization on wood-concrete beams intends to be an alternative connection detail for composite wood-concrete decks. The volume of sawn-wood is over three times more expensive than concrete, in Brazil. In order to be competitive in the Brazilian market we need a composite deck with the least amount of wood and a simple and inexpensive connection detail. This research project uses medium to high density tropical hardwoods managed from the Brazilian Amazon region and construction steel rods. The beams studied are composed of a bottom layer of staggered wood boards and a top layer of concrete. The wood members are laterally nailed together to form a wide beam, and horizontal rebar connectors are installed before the concrete layer is applied on top. Two sets of wood-concrete layered beams with horizontal rebar connectors (6 and 8) were tested in third-point loading flexural bending. The initial results reveal medium composite efficiency for the beams tested. An improvement on the previously conceived connection detail (set with six connectors) for the composite wood-concrete structural floor system was achieved by the set with eight connectors. The new layout of the horizontal rebar connectors added higher composite efficiency for the beams tested. Further analysis with advanced rigorous numerical Finite Element Modeling is suggested to optimize the connection parameters. Composite wood-concrete decks can attend a large demand for pedestrian bridges, as well as residential and commercial slabs in the Brazilian Amazon.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.282-287
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• 2008

Since glass-fiber reinforced composite decks have high-strength, light-weight and high durability, many researchs on the composite decks for bridges are currently performed and many composite decks are developed. In this paper, a composite deck with snap-fit connection for pedestrian bridge is developed and studied. A study on behavior of snap-fit connection of composite deck for pedestrian bridge during assembling or disassembling is performed by analysis and experiment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.291-306
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• 2006

In order to improve the constructability and meanwhile ensure excellent seismic behavior, several innovative composite connection details were conceived and studied by the authors. This paper reports experimental results and observations on seismic behavior of steel beam bolted to reinforced concrete column connections (bolted RCS or BRCS). The proposed composite connection details involve post tensioning the end plates of the steel beams to the reinforced concrete or precast concrete columns using high-strength steel rods. A rational design procedure was proposed to assure a ductile behavior of the composite structure. Strut-and-tie model analysis indicates that a bolted composite connection has a favorable stress transfer mechanism. The excellent capacity and behavior were then validated through five full-scale beam to column connection model tests.