• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.599-605
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• 2009

This paper presents a numerical evaluation of the flow rate of air conditioner outdoor unit by investigating the effects of fan location and shroud shape. To determine optimal design parameters, we investigated the exhaust flow rate by changing shroud height, fan height, fan guide height, and fan width. The 3rd order central composite design was performed to select three most important parameters affecting the exhaust flow rate. According to the result of response surface method, the exhaust flow rate of the optimum model increased by 6.25% compared to that of the base model.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.641-657
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• 2015

Application of reduced web beam section (RWBS) as a sacrificial fuse element has become a popular research field in recent years. Weakening of beam web in these connections may cause local web buckling around the opening area which can affect cyclic behavior of connection including: maximum load carrying capacity, strength degradation rate, dissipated energy, rotation capacity, etc. In this research, effect of local web buckling on the cyclic behavior of RWBS connections is investigated using finite element modeling (FEM). For this purpose, a T-shaped moment connection which has been tested under cyclic loading by another author is used as the reference model. Fracture initiation in models is simulated using Cyclic Void Growth Model (CVGM) which is based on micro-void growth and coalescence. Included in the results are: effect of opening corner radii, opening dimensions, beam web thickness and opening reinforcement. Based on the results, local web buckling around the opening area plays a significant role on the cyclic behavior of connection and hence any parameter affecting the local web buckling will affect entire connection behavior.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.217-229
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• 2017

The effect of column loss location on the structural response of steel moment resisting frames (MRF) is investigated in this study. A series of nonlinear static and dynamic analyses were performed to determine the resistance of a generic frame to an arbitrary column loss and detect the structural members that are susceptible to failure progression beyond that point. Both force-controlled and deformation-controlled actions based on UFC 4-023-03 and ASCE/SEI 41-06 were implemented to define the acceptance criteria for nine APM cases defined in this study. Results revealed that the structural resistance against an arbitrary column loss in the top story is at least 80% smaller than that of the bottom story. In addition, it was found that the dynamic increase factor (DIF) at the failure point is at most 1.13.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.771-783
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• 2018

In this paper, topology optimization (TO) is applied to find a new configuration for the perforated steel plate shear wall (PSPSW) based on the maximization of reaction forces as the objective function. An infill steel plate is introduced based on an experimental model for TO. The TO is conducted using the sensitivity analysis, the method of moving asymptotes and SIMP method. TO is done using a nonlinear analysis (geometry and material) considering the buckling. The final area of the optimized plate is equal to 50% of the infill plate. Three plate thicknesses and three length-to-height ratios are defined and their effects are investigated in the TO. It indicates the plate thickness has no significant impact on the optimization results. The nonlinear behavior of optimized plates under cyclic loading is studied and the strength, energy and fracture tendency of them are investigated. Also, four steel plates including infill plate, a plate with a central circle and two types of the multi-circle plate are introduced with equal plate volume for comparing with the results of the optimized plate.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.353-365
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• 2023

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have emerged as a novel functional material that is being increasingly applied in diverse fields including medical, aeronautical and structural engineering to be used in the active, passive and semi-active structural control devices. This paper is mainly aimed at evaluating the ductility and response modification factor of the steel plate shear wall (SPSW) frames with and without the Ni-Ti shape memory alloys. To this end, different configurations were utilized, in which the walls were used in the first, third, middle, and all stories. The models were numerically analyzed using OpenSees Software. The obtained results indicate that improving the shape memory properties of alloys can greatly enhance the ductility and response modification factor. Furthermore, the model whose first and third stories are equipped with the SMA shear wall was found to be 290% more ductile, with a greater response modification factor compared to the unequipped frame.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.487-498
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• 2024

Steel moment resisting frames (MRFs) typically have inter-story drift concentrations at lower stories during earthquakes as found from previous research. Hinged walls (HWs) can be used as structural strengthening components to force the MRFs deform uniformly along the building height. However, large moment demands are often observed on HWs and make the design of HWs non-economical. This paper proposes a method to reduce the moment demand on HWs using a ductile connection system between the MRFs and the HWs. The ductile connection system is designed with a yield strength and energy dissipation capacity, for the purpose of limiting the seismic forces transferred to the HWs and dissipating seismic energy. Nonlinear time history analyses were performed using 10 far-filed earthquakes at maximum considered earthquake level. The analysis results show that the proposed ductile connection system can reduce: (1) seismic moment demands in the HWs; (2) floor accelerations; (3) the connection force between HWs and MRFs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.305-323
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• 2024

Previous experimental studies have effectively demonstrated the remarkable efficiency of the stiffened channel link in connecting circular columns and I-shaped beams. This research aims to present design criteria and assess the seismic properties of this specific connection type through numerical modeling. Various parameters, including stiffener type and geometric properties of the stiffened channel element, were duly taken into account. The findings from over 136 nonlinear finite element analyses (FEAs) reveal that the recommended detailing scheme reliably satisfies all the regulations specified for rigid beam-to-column connections in special moment frames.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.109-119
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• 2024

This study presents a replaceable reduced beam section (R-RBS) located at the column end in moment resisting frames (MRFs). An end of the R-RBS is connected to column by using end-plate moment connection and the other end of that is connected to main beam with beam splice connection. Therefore, the RBS that is expected to yield under an earthquake can be easily replaceable. Geometry of the RBS and the thickness of the beam splice connection are the prime variables of this study. A total of eight experimental test was carried out to examine the seismic performance of the proposed R-RBS with the connection details. The results obtained from experimental studies demonstrated that plate sizes of the beam splice connection significantly affect the seismic performance of RBSs used in MRFs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.2_3
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• pp.181-192
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• 2005

The effective length method for flexural (column) buckling has been used for many decades but its use is somewhat limited in various contemporary design codes to moderately slender structures with elastic critical load factor (${\lambda}_{cr}$) less than 3 to 5. In pace with the use of higher grade steel in recent years, the influence of buckling in axial buckling resistance of a column becomes more important and the over-simplified assumption of effective length factor can lead to an unsafe, an uneconomical or a both unsafe and uneconomical solution when some members are over-designed while key elements are under-designed. Effective length should not normally be taken as the distance between nodes multiplied by an arbitrary factor like 0.85, 1.0, 2.0 etc. Further, the classification of non-sway and sway-sensitive frames makes the conventional design procedure tedious to use and, more importantly, limited to simple regular frames. This paper describes the practical use of second-order analysis with section capacity check allowing for $P-{\delta}$ and $P-{\Delta}$ effects together with member and system imperfections. Most commercial software considers only the $P-{\Delta}$ effect, but not member and frame imperfections nor $P-{\delta}$ effect, and engineers must be very careful in their uses. A verification problem is also given for validation of software for this type of powerful second-order analysis and design. It is a trend for popular and advanced national design codes in using the second-order analysis as a norm for analysis and design of steel structures while linear analysis may only be used in very simple structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.749-776
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• 2016

In this paper, a Performance Based Design (PBD) approach is validated for multi-storey concentrically braced frame (CBF) systems. Direct Displacement Based Design (DDBD) procedure is used and validated by designing 4- and 12-storey CBF buildings. Nonlinear time history analysis (NLTHA) is used to check the performance of the design methodology by employing different accelerograms having displacement spectra matching the design displacement spectrum. Displacements and drifts obtained from NLTHA are found to fall within the design displacement limits used in the DDBD procedure. In NLTHA, both tension and compression members are found to be resisting the base shear, $F_b$, not only the tension members as assumed in the design methodology and suggested by Eurocode 8. This is the reason that the total $F_b$ in NLTHA is found to be greater than the design shear forces. Furthermore, it is found that the average of the maximum ductility values recorded from the time history analyses for the 4-and 12-storey buildings are close to the design ductility obtained from the DDBD methodology and ductility expressions established by several researchers. Moreover, the DDBD is compared to the Forced Based Design (FBD) methodology for CBFs. The comparison is carried out by designing 4 and 12-storey CBF buildings using both DDBD and FBD methodologies. The performance for both methodologies is verified using NLTHA. It is found that the $F_b$ from FBD is larger than $F_b$ obtained from DDBD. This leads to the use of larger sections for the structure designed by FBD to resist the lateral forces.