• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.773-791
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• 2023

Connections with damage concentrated to pre-selected components can enhance seismic resilience for moment resisting frames. These pre-selected components always yield early to dissipate energy, and their energy dissipation mechanisms vary from one to another, depending on their position in the connection, geometry configuration details, and mechanical characteristics. This paper presents behaviour insights on two types of beam-to-beam connections that the angles were designed as energy dissipation components, through the results of experimental study and finite element analysis. Firstly, an experimental programme was reviewed, and key responses concerning the working mechanism of the connections were presented, including strain distribution at the critical section, section force responses of essential components, and initial stiffness of test specimens. Subsequently, finite element models of three specimens were established to further interpret their behaviour and response that were not observable in the tests. The moment and shear force transfer paths of the composite connections were clarified through the test results and finite element analysis. It was observed that the bending moment is mainly resisted by axial forces from the components, and the dominant axial force is from the bottom angles; the shear force at the critical section is primarily taken by the slab and the components near the top flange. Lastly, based on the insights on the load transfer path of the composite connections, preliminary design recommendations are proposed. In particular, a resistance requirement, quantified by a moment capacity ratio, was placed on the connections. Design models and equations were also developed for predicting the yield moment resistance and the shear resistance of the connections. A flexible beam model was proposed to quantify the shear resistance of essential components.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.319-336
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• 2024

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has attracted increasing attention in prefabricated steel-concrete composite beams as achieving the onsite construction time savings and structural performance improvement. The inferior replacement and removal efficiency of conventional prefabricated steel-UHPC composite beams (PSUCBs) has thwarted its sustainable applications because of the widely used welded-connectors. Single embedded nut bolted shear connectors (SENBs) have recently introduced as an attempt to enhance demountability of PSUCBs. An in-depth exploration of the mechanical behavior of SENBs in UHPC is necessary to evidence feasibilities of corresponding PSUCBs. However, existing research has been limited to SENB arrangement impacts and lacked considerations on SENB geometric configuration counterparts. To this end, this paper performed twenty push-out tests and theoretical analyses on the shear performance and design recommendation of SENBs. Key test parameters comprised the diameter and grade of SENBs, degree and sequence of pretension, concrete casting method and connector type. Test results indicated that both diameters and grades of bolts exerted remarkable impacts on the SENB shear performance with respect to the shear and frictional responses. Also, there was limited influence of the bolt preload degrees on the shear capacity and ductility of SENBs, but non-negligible contributions to their corresponding frictional resistance and initial shear stiffness. Moreover, inverse pretension sequences or monolithic cast slabs presented slight improvements in the ultimate shear and slip capacity. Finally, design-oriented models with higher accuracy were introduced for predictions of the ultimate shear resistance and load-slip relationship of SENBs in PSUCBs.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.85-94
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• 2016

In this study, the hydrophilic chemical grout using silanol (HCGS) was introduced to overcome the limitations of conventional epoxy resin which have been used for strengthening reinforced concrete (RC) structures. Then, flexural tests on the RC slabs strengthened by FRP sheets were conducted. Three slab specimens were tested in this study; a control specimen with no strengthening, and two specimens strengthened by a typical epoxy resin or HCGS, respectively, as a binder between the slabs and the FRP sheets. In addition, an analytical model was developed to evaluate the flexural behavior of strengthened slab members, considering the horizontal shear force at the interface between concrete slabs and FRP sheets. The analysis results obtained from the proposed model indicated that the strengthened specimens showed fully composite behavior before their flexural failure. Especially, the specimen strengthened by HCGS, which can overcome the limitations of conventional epoxy resin, showed a similar flexural performance with that strengthened by a conventional epoxy resin.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.459-477
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• 2006

A theoretical research project is undertaken to develop integrated analysis and design tools for long span composite beams in modern high-rise buildings, and it aims to develop non-linear finite element models for practical design of composite beams. As the first paper in the series, this paper presents the development study as well as the calibration exercise of the proposed finite element models for simply supported composite beams. Other practical issues such as continuous composite beams, the provision of web openings for passage of building services, the partial continuity offered by the connections to columns as well as the behaviour of both unprotected and protected composite beams under fires will be reported separately. In this paper, details of the finite elements and the material models for both steel and reinforced concrete are first described, and finite element studies of composite beams with full details of test data are then presented. It should be noted that in the proposed finite element models, both steel beams and concrete slabs are modelled with two dimensional plane stress elements whose widths are assigned to be equal to the widths of concrete flanges, and the flange widths and the web thicknesses of steel beams as appropriate. Moreover, each shear connector is modelled with one horizontal spring and one vertical spring to simulate its longitudinal shear and pull-out actions based on measured load-slippage curves of push-out tests of shear connectors. The numerical results are then carefully analyzed and compared with the corresponding test results in terms of load mid-span deflection curves as well as load end-slippage curves. Other deformation characteristics of the composite beams such as stress and strain distributions across the composite cross-sections as well as distributions of shear forces and slippages in shear connectors along the beam spans are also examined in details. It is shown that the numerical results of the composite beams compare well with the test data in terms of various load-deformation characteristics along the entire deformation ranges. Hence, the proposed analysis and design tools are considered to be simple and yet effective for composite beams with practical geometrical dimensions and arrangements. Structural engineers are strongly encouraged to employ the models in their practical work to exploit the full advantages offered by composite construction.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.3 s.81
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• pp.391-396
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• 2004

Plastic shrinkage crack occurs at the exposed surfaces of freshly placed concrete due to consolidation of the concrete mass and rapid evaporation of water from the surface. This so-called shrinkage crack is a major concern for concrete, especially for flat structures such as pavements, slabs for industrial factories and retaining walls. This study has been performed to obtain the plastic shrinkage and the permeability of hydrophilic poly vinyl alcohol(PVA) fiber reinforced mortar and concrete. Test results indicated that PVA fiber reinforced cement composite showed an ability to reduce the total crack area and the maximum crack width (as compared to plain and polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete). Also, according to the permeability test result, it was found that PVA fiber reinforced cement composite was more reducing than polypropylene fiber reinforced cement composite.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.155-167
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• 2014

Steel-concrete composite beam has been used for a considerable time in building construction. An essential component of a composite beam is the shear connection between the steel section and the concrete slabs, which is provided by mechanical shear connectors. A variety of shapes and devices have been in use as shear connectors. This study summarizes the results of an experimental investigation involving the testing of push-out specimens with angle shear connectors. All of 22 push-out specimens were designed to study the effect of a number of parameters on the shear capacity of angle shear connectors such as the height of the angle connector, the length of welding, and the pitch of angles. Based on the test results, a design equation was developed for predicting the shear strength of angle shear connectors.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.263-270
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• 2017

In this study, two geometrically identical multi-storey steel buildings with different lateral load resisting systems are structurally analyzed under same earthquake conditions and they are compared with respect to their construction costs of their structural systems. One of the systems is a steel structure with eccentrically steel braced frames. The other one is a RC wall-steel frame system, that is a steel framed structure in combination with a reinforced concrete core and shear walls of minimum thickness that the national code allows. As earthquake resisting systems, steel braced frames and reinforced concrete shear walls, for both cases are located on identical places in either building. Floors of both buildings will be of reinforced concrete slabs of same thickness resting on composite beams. The façades are assumed to be covered identically with light-weight aluminum cladding with insulation. Purpose of use for both buildings is an office building of eight stories. When two systems are structurally analyzed by FEM (finite element method) and dimensionally compared, the dual one comes up with almost 34% less cost of construction with respect to their structural systems. This in turn means that, by using a dual system in earthquake zones such as Turkey, for multi-storey steel buildings with RC floors, more economical solutions can be achieved. In addition, slender steel columns and beams will add to that and consequently more space in rooms is achieved.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2017

This mixed-use Raffles City (RCH) development is located near the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, located southwest of Shanghai, China. The project incorporates retail, offices, housing, and hotel facilities and marks the site of a cultural landscape within the Quianjiang New Town Area. The project is composed of two 250-meter-tall twisting towers with a form of vibrant waves, along with a commercial podium and three stories of basement car parking. It reaches a height of 60 stories, presenting views both to and from the Qiantang River and West Lake areas, with a total floor area of almost 400,000 square meters. A composite moment frame plus concrete core structural system was adopted for the tower structures. Concrete filled steel tubular (CFT) columns together with steel reinforced concrete (SRC) beams form the outer moment frame of the towers' structure. The internal slabs and floor beams are of reinforced concrete. This paper presents the engineering design and construction of this highly complex project. Through comprehensive discussion and careful elaboration, some conclusions are reached, which serve as a reference guide for the design and construction of similar free-form, hybrid, mix-use buildings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.2
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• pp.131-142
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• 2018

The perfobond connector, composed of a steel plate with a number of holes, serves as a certain type of shear connector in steel and concrete composite structures. Depending on limits in hole distances and rib heights, various hole shapes including circular-hole and long-hole are alternatives for perfobond connectors. This study presented the results of tests performed on 72 push-out specimens with perfobond connectors. The purpose was to evaluate the shear strength of perfobond connectors with circular-hole and long-hole. The effects of various parameters were investigated, including the hole diameter, the hole length, the hole height, the concrete strength, the existence, diameter and strength of rebar in the hole, the thickness, height and distance of perfobond ribs, and the thickness of concrete slabs. On the basis of 132 push-out test results in references and in this study, an analytical model was proposed by regression analysis to predict the shear strength of perfobond connectors. The proposed equation agreed reasonably well with the experimental results of perfobond connectors with different hole shapes.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.361-376
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• 2019

In this research, bending analysis of a micro sandwich skew plate with isotropic core and piezoelectric composite face sheets reinforced by carbon nanotube on the elastic foundations are studied. The classical plate theory (CPT) are used to model micro sandwich skew plate and to apply size dependent effects based on modified strain gradient theory. Eshelby-Mori-Tanaka approach is considered for the effective mechanical properties of the nanocomposite face sheets. The governing equations of equilibrium are derived using minimum principle of total potential energy and then solved by extended Kantorovich method (EKM). The effects of width to thickness ratio and length to width of the sandwich plate, core-to-face sheet thickness ratio, the material length scale parameters, volume fraction of CNT, the angle of skew plate, different boundary conditions and types of cores on the deflection of micro sandwich skew plate are investigated. One of the most important results is the reduction of the deflection by increasing the angle of the micro sandwich skew plate and decreasing the deflection by decreasing the thickness of the structural core. The results of this research can be used in modern construction in the form of reinforced slabs or stiffened plates and also used in construction of bridges, the wing of airplane.