• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.617-624
• /
• 2017

In this study, a new empirical method is presented to obtain Dynamic Increase Factor (DIF) in nonlinear static analysis of structures against sudden removal of a gravity load-bearing element. In this method, DIF is defined as a function of minimum ratio of difference between maximum moment capacity ($M_u$) and moment demand ($M_d$) to plastic moment capacity ($M_p$) under unamplified gravity loads of elements. This function determines the residual strength of a damaged building before amplified gravity loads. For each column removal location, a nonlinear dynamic analysis and a step-by-step nonlinear static analysis are carried out and the modified empirical DIF formulas are derived, which correspond to the ratio min $[(M_u-M_d)/M_p]$ of beams in the bays immediately adjacent to the removed column, and at all floors above it. Therefore, the new DIF can be used with nonlinear static analysis instead of nonlinear dynamic analysis to assess the progressive collapse potential of a moment frame structure. The proposed DIF formulas can estimate the real residual strength of a structure based on critical member.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.31-44
• /
• 2018

This paper reports a novel steel beam-to-column connection suitable for use in the weak axis of I-section column. Monotonic and cyclic loading experimental investigations and numerical analysis of the proposed weak-axis connection were conducted, and the calculation procedure of the beam-column relative rotation angle and plastic rotation angle was developed and described in details. A comparative analysis of mechanical property and steel consumption were employed for the proposed I-section column weak-axis connection and box-section column bending connection. The result showed that no signs of fracturing were observed and the plastic hinge formed reliably in the beam section away from the skin plate under the beam end monotonic loading, and the plastic hinge formed much closer to the skin plate under the beam end cyclic loading. The fracture of welds between diaphragm and skin plate would cause an unstable hysteretic response under the column top horizontal cyclic loading. The proposed weak-axis connection system could not only simplify the design calculation progress when I-section column is adopted in frame structural design but also effectively satisfy the requirements of 'strong joint and weak member', as well as lower steel consumption.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.705-717
• /
• 2018

This paper presents a numerical investigation on the mechanical performance of concrete-filled dual steel tubular columns of circular section subjected to concentric axial load. A three-dimensional numerical model is developed and validated against a series of experimental tests. A good agreement is obtained between the experimental and numerical results, both in the peak load value and in the ascending and descending branches of the load-displacement curves. By means of the numerical model, a parametric study is carried out to investigate the influence of the main parameters that determine the axial capacity of double-tube columns, such as the member slenderness, inner and outer steel tube thicknesses and the concrete grade - of both the outer concrete ring and inner core -, including ultra-high strength concrete. A total number of 163 numerical simulations are carried out, by combining the different parameters. Specific indexes are defined (Strength Index, Concrete-Steel Contribution Ratio, Inner Concrete Contribution Ratio) to help rating the relative mechanical performance of dual steel tubular columns as compared to conventional concrete-filled steel tubular columns, and practical design recommendations are subsequently given.

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

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
• /
• 2009.03a
• /
• pp.551-560
• /
• 2009

Introduced was a new anti-corrosive method with improved ease of construction, economy, and durability that could be applicable for steel-composite drilled shaft. The feasibility and economy of sea-water-resistant steel was evaluated under the assumption that it was to substitute carbon steel for steel casing of drilled shaft foundation as a load carrying structural member not just as a sacrifice casing, and that anti-corrosive protection measures as required by the domestic standards was applied. Sea-water-resistant steel was found to cost 30% to 55% more, depending on pile diameter and the type of applied anti-corrosive measures, than carbon steel for the service life time of 70 years: 50% to 90% more for 100 years of service life.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.305-319
• /
• 2015

On mesoscopic level, concrete can be treated as a three-phase composite material consisting of mortar, aggregates and interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between mortar and aggregate. A lot of research has confirmed that ITZ plays a crucial role in the mechanical fracture process of concrete. The aim of the present study is to propose a numerical method on mesoscale to analyze the failure mechanism of reinforced concrete (RC) structures under mechanical loading, and then it will help precisely predict the damage or the cracking initiation and propagation of concrete. Concrete is meshed by means of the Rigid Body Spring Model (RBSM) concept, while the reinforcing steel bars are modeled as beam-type elements. Two kinds of RC members, i.e. subjected to uniaxial tension and beams under bending, the fracture process of concrete and the distribution of cracks, as well as the load-deflection relationships are investigated and compared with the available test results. It is found that the numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental observations, indicating that the model can successfully simulate the failure process of the RC members.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
• /
• 2014.11a
• /
• pp.193-194
• /
• 2014

Green Frame is a building frame system composed of precast concrete columns and beams. For the construction to run smoothly, the quantity of frames should be estimated in the planning phase and a plan on production of members should be established in connection with the overall work plan. The algorithm for calculation of the amount of forms used in Green Frame automatically estimates the quantity of forms using the design structure prepared in the design phase. The number and area of forms are calculated using the member size drawn from the structure design. Based on the quantity calculated, the type and area per form size are estimated to be used in preparing BOQ (Bill of Quantity). Thus, the time required for architectural planning and design can be shortened when the algorithm for calculation of the amount of forms is applied. This study is on the basic research of calculating the quantity of forms using the structure design and of the algorithm for calculation of the amount of forms used for production of composite PC members.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.1177-1195
• /
• 2015

Six specimens are tested to investigate the cyclic behavior of beam-to-column abnormal joints in steel moment-resisting frames, which are designed according to the principle of strong-member and weak-panel zone. Key parameters include the axial compression ratio of column and the section depth ratio of beams. Experimental results indicate that four types of failure patterns occurred during the loading process. The $P-{\Delta}$ hysteretic loops are stable and plentiful, but have different changing tendency at the positive and negative direction in the later of loading process due to mechanical behaviors of specimens. The ultimate strength tends to increase with the decrease of the section depth ratio of beams, but it is not apparent relationship to the axial compression ratio of column, which is less than 0.5. The top panel zone has good deformation capacity and the shear rotation can reach to 0.04 rad. The top panel zone and the bottom panel zone don't work as a whole. Based on the experimental results, the equation for shear strength of the abnormal joint panel zone is established by considering the restriction of the bottom panel zone to the top panel zone, which is suitable for the abnormal joint of H-shaped or box column and beams with different depths.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.1259-1277
• /
• 2015

The present study is focused on the behavior and design of perforated steel storage rack columns under axial compression. These columns may exhibit different types of behavior and levels of strength owing to their peculiar features including their complex cross-section forms and perforations along the member. In the present codes of practice, the design of these columns is carried out using analytical formulas which are supported by experimental tests described in the relevant code document. Recently proposed analytical approaches are used to estimate the load carrying capacity of axially compressed steel storage rack columns. Experimental and numerical studies were carried out to verify the proposed approaches. The experimental study includes compression tests done on members of different lengths, but of the same cross-section. A comparison between the analytical and the experimental results is presented to identify the accuracy of the recently proposed analytical approaches. The proposed approach includes modifications in the Direct Strength Method to include the effects of perforations (the so-called reduced thickness approach). CUFSM and CUTWP software programs are used to calculate the elastic buckling parameters of the studied members. Results from experimental and analytical studies compared very well. This indicates the validity of the recently proposed approaches for predicting the ultimate strength of steel storage rack columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.73-92
• /
• 2012

The effect of element interaction and material nonlinearity on the ultimate capacity of stainless steel plated cross-sections is investigated in this paper. The focus of the research lies in cross-sections failing by local buckling; member instabilities, distortional buckling and interactions thereof with local buckling are not considered. The cross-sections investigated include rectangular hollow sections (RHS), I sections and parallel flange channels (PFC). Based on previous finite element investigations of structural stainless steel stub columns, parametric studies were conducted and the ultimate capacity of the aforementioned cross-sections with a range of element slendernesses and aspect ratios has been obtained. Various design methods, including the effective width approach, the direct strength method (DSM), the continuous strength method (CSM) and a design method based on regression analysis, which accounts for element interaction, were assessed on the basis of the numerical results, and the relative merits and weaknesses of each design approach have been highlighted. Element interaction has been shown to be significant for slender cross-sections, whilst the behaviour of stocky cross-sections is more strongly influenced by the material strain-hardening characteristics. A modification to the continuous strength method has been proposed to allow for the effect of element interaction, which leads to more reliable ultimate capacity predictions. Comparisons with available test data have also been made to demonstrate the enhanced accuracy of the proposed method and its suitability for the treatment of local buckling in stainless steel cross-sections.