• Advances in Computational Design
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.385-404
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• 2018

The study investigated an area of sustainable structural design that is often overlooked in practical engineering applications. Specifically, a novel method to simultaneously optimise the cost and embodied carbon performance of steel building structures was explored in this paper. To achieve this, a parametric design model was developed to analyse code compliant structural configurations based on project specific constraints and rigorous testing of various steel beam sections, floor construction typologies (precast or composite) and column layouts that could not be performed manually by engineering practitioners. Detailed objective functions were embedded in the model to compute the cost and life cycle carbon emissions of the different material types used in the structure. Results from a comparative numerical analysis of a real case study illustrated that the proposed optimisation approach could guide structural engineers towards areas of the solution space with realistic design configurations, enabling them to effectively evaluate trade-offs between cost and carbon performance. This significant contribution implied that the optimisation model could reduce the time required for the design and analysis of multiple structural configurations especially during the early stages of a project. Overall, the paper suggested that the deployment of automated design procedures can enhance the quality as well as the efficiency of the optimisation analysis.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.45-58
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• 2014

EC3 provides several methodologies for the stability verification of members and frames. However, when dealing with the verification of non-uniform members in general, with tapered cross-section, irregular distribution of restraints, non-linear axis, castellated, etc., several difficulties are noted. Because there are yet no guidelines to overcome any of these issues, safety verification is conservative. In recent research from the authors of this paper, an Ayrton-Perry based procedure was proposed for the flexural buckling verification of web-tapered columns. However, in order to apply this procedure, Linear Buckling Analysis (LBA) of the tapered column must be performed for determination of the critical load. Because tapered members should lead to efficient structural solutions, it is therefore of major importance to provide simple and accurate formula for determination of the critical axial force of tapered columns. In this paper, firstly, the fourth order differential equation for non-uniform columns is derived. For the particular case of simply supported web-tapered columns subject to in-plane buckling, the Rayleigh-Ritz method is applied. Finally, and followed by a numerical parametric study, a formula for determination of the critical axial force of simply supported linearly web-tapered columns buckling in plane is proposed leading to differences up to 8% relatively to the LBA model.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.159-178
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• 2008

An analytical procedure is presented for the determination of the buckling load and the buckling temperature of a straight, slender, geometrically perfect, axially loaded, translationally and rotationally restrained steel column exposed to fire. The exact kinematical equations of the column are considered, but the shear strain is neglected. The linearized stability theory is employed in the buckling analysis. Behaviour of steel at the elevated temperature is assumed in accordance with the European standard EC 3. Theoretical findings are applied in the parametric analysis of restrained columns. It is found that the buckling length factor decreases with temperature and depends both on the material model and stiffnesses of rotational and translational restraints. This is in disagreement with the buckling length for intermediate storeys of braced frames proposed by EC 3, where it is assumed to be temperature independent. The present analysis indicates that this is a reasonable approximation only for rather stiff rotational springs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.505-521
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• 2017

The steel plate shear wall with beam-only connected infill plate (SSW-BO) is an innovative lateral load resisting system consisting of infill plates connected to surrounding beams and separated from the main columns. In this research, the effects of perforation diameter as well as slenderness ratios of infill plates on the hysteresis behavior of SSW-BO systems were studied experimentally. Experimental testing is performed on eight one-sixth scaled one-story SSW-BO specimens with two plate thicknesses and four different circular opening ratios at the center of the panels under fully reversed cyclic quasi-static loading in compliance with the SAC test protocol. Strength, stiffness, ductility and energy absorption were evaluated based on the hysteresis loops. It is found that the systems exhibited stable hysteretic behavior during testing until significant damage in the connection of infill plates to surrounding beams at large drifts. It is also seen that pinching occurred in the hysteresis loops, since the hinge type connections were used as boundaries at four corners of surrounding frames. The strength and initial stiffness degradation of the perforated specimens containing opening ratio of 0.36 compared to the solid one is in the range of 20% to 30% and 40% to 50%, respectively.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.311-322
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• 2017

In this study, the seismic performance of concrete-steel composite moment frame structures equipped with seismic retrofitting systems such as seismic reinforcement, base isolators, and bracing members, which are typical earthquake damage mitigation systems, is evaluated through nonlinear dynamic analyses. A total of five frame models were designed and each frame model was developed for numerical analyses. A total of 80 ground acceleration data were used to perform the nonlinear dynamic analysis to measure ground shear force and roof displacement, and to evaluate the behavioral performance of each frame model by measuring inter-story drift ratios. The analysis results indicate that the retrofitting device of the base isolator make a significant contribution to generating relatively larger absolute displacement than other devices due to flexibility provided to interface between ground and column base. However, the occurrence of the inter-story drift ratio, which is a relative displacement that can detect the damage of the structure, is relatively small compared with other models. On the other hand, the seismic reinforced frame model enhanced with the steel plate at the lower part of the column was found to be the least efficient.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-43
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• 2016

This paper presents the results of an experimental study investigating the effects of anchorage systems used in externally bonded steel plates on the strength and ductility of reinforced concrete structures. In the literature, diagonal steel plates bonded to frames were designed to be more flexible than the connections to eliminate the possible effect of the connection flexibility. However, to better evaluate the performance of the strengthened structures, the strength and behavior of connections should also be considered. The purpose of this study was to experimentally investigate the effects of different connection types of steel plates bonded to the frame using anchors on the strengthened RC structures. For this purpose, eleven specimens were designed to simulate the interior and exterior connection behavior. Two of these were used as the control beams and remaining nine for the investigation of the functionality of the end steel plates. Experimental results show that the load carrying capacity of the strengthened beams is directly related to the connection types of the steel plates. For the interior connections, L-shaped end plates that were strengthened using steel anchors must have adequate stiffness to prevent its shape. While, for the exterior connections, the connection with three anchors carried more load than the other exterior connections.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.549-556
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• 2018

Progressive building collapse occurs when failure of a structural component leads to the failure and collapse of surrounding members, possibly promoting additional failure. Global system collapse will occur if the damaged system is unable to reach a new static equilibrium configuration. The most common type of primary failure which led to the progressive collapse phenomenon, is the sudden removal of a column by various factors. In this study, a method is proposed to prevent progressive collapse phenomena in structures subjected to removal of a single column. A vierendeel peripheral frame at roof level is used to redistribute the removed column's load on other columns of the structure. For analysis, quasi-static approach is used which considers various load combinations. This method, while economically affordable is easily applicable (also for new structures as well as for existing structures and without causing damage to their architectural requirements). Special emphasis is focused on the evolution of vertical displacements of column removal point. Even though additional stresses and displacements are experienced by removal of a structural load bearing column, the proposed method considerably reduces the displacement at the mentioned point and prevents the collapse of the structural frame.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.547-559
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• 2020

Buckling restrained braces (BRBs) were developed as an enhanced alternative to conventional braces by restraining their global buckling, thus allowing development of a stable quasi-symmetric hysteretic response. A wider adoption of buckling restrained braced frames is precluded due to proprietary character of most BRBs and the code requirement for experimental qualification. To overcome these problems, BRBs with capacities corresponding to typical steel multi-storey buildings in Romania were developed and experimentally tested in view of prequalification. The first part of this paper presents the results of the experimental program which included sub-assemblage tests on ten full-scale BRBs and uniaxial tests on components materials (steel and concrete). Two different solutions of the core were investigated: milled from a plate and fabricated from a square steel profile. The strength of the buckling restraining mechanism was also investigated. The influence of gravity loading on the unsymmetrical deformations in the two plastic segments of the core was assessed, and the response of the bolted connections was evaluated. The cyclic response of BRBs was evaluated with respect to a set of performance parameters, and recommendations for design were given.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.561-580
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• 2020

Buckling restrained braces (BRBs) were developed as an enhanced alternative to conventional braces by restraining their global buckling, thus allowing development of a stable quasi-symmetric hysteretic response. A wider adoption of buckling restrained braced frames is precluded due to proprietary character of most BRBs and the code requirement for experimental qualification. To overcome these problems, BRBs with capacities corresponding to typical steel multi-storey buildings in Romania were developed and experimentally tested in view of prequalification. In the second part of this paper, a complex nonlinear numerical model for the tested BRBs was developed in the finite element environment Abaqus. The calibration of the numerical model was performed at both component (material models: steel, concrete, unbonding material) and member levels (loading, geometrical imperfections). Geometrically and materially nonlinear analyses including imperfections were performed on buckling restrained braces models under cyclic loading. The calibrated models were further used to perform a parametric study aiming at assessing the influence of the strength of the buckling restraining mechanism, concrete class of the infill material, mechanical properties of steel used for the core, self-weight loading, and frame effect on the cyclic response of buckling restrained braces.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.443-458
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• 2005

Steel angles are widely used in roof trusses as web and chord members and in lattice towers. Very often angle members are connected eccentrically. As a result, not only an angle member is under an axial force, but it is also subject to a pair of end eccentric moments. Moreover, the connection at each end provides some fixity so neither pinned nor the fixed end represents the reality. Many national design codes allow for the effects due to eccentricities by modifying the slenderness ratio and reducing the compressive strength of the member. However, in practice, it is difficult to determine accurately the effective length. The concept behind this method is inconsistent with strength design of members of other cross-sectional types such as I or box sections of which the buckling strength is controlled by the Perry constant or the initial imperfection parameters. This paper proposes a method for design of angle frames and trusses by the second-order analysis. The equivalent initial imperfection-to-length ratios for equal and unequal angles to compensate the negligence of initial curvatures, load eccentricities and residual stresses are determined in this paper. From the obtained results, the values of imperfection-to-length ratios are suggested for design and analysis of angle steel trusses allowing for member buckling strength based on the Perry-Robertson formula.