• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.51-66
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• 2022

This paper presents the axial compression behavior of partially encased composite (PEC) columns using H-shaped structural steel. In the experimental program, a total of eight PEC columns with H-shaped steel sections of different flange and web slenderness ratios were tested to investigate the interactive mechanism between steel and concrete. The test results showed that the PEC columns could sustain the load well beyond the peak load provided that the flange slenderness ratio was not greater than five. In addition, the previous analytical model was extended to predict the axial load-strain relationships of the PEC columns with H-shaped steel sections. A good agreement between the predicted load-strain relationships and test data was observed. Using the analytical model, the effects of compressive strength of concrete (21 to 69 MPa), yield strength of steel (245 to 525 MPa), slenderness ratio of flange (4 to 10), and slenderness ratio of web (10 to 25) on the interactive mechanism (K_h = confinement factor for highly confined concrete and K_w = reduction factor for steel web) and ductility index (DI = ratio between strain at peak load and strain at proportional load) were assessed. The numerical results showed that the slenderness of steel flange and yield strength of steel significantly influenced the compression behavior of the PEC columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.45-67
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• 2010

Composite steel-concrete structures are employed extensively in modern high rise buildings and bridges. This concept has achieved wide spread acceptance because it guarantees economic benefits attributable to reduced construction time and large improvements in stiffness. Even though the combination of steel and concrete enhances the strength and stiffness of composite beams, the time-dependent behaviour of concrete may weaken the strength of the shear connection. When the concrete loses its strength, it will transfer its stresses to the structural steel through the shear studs. This behaviour will reduce the strength of the composite member. This paper presents the development of an accurate finite element model using ABAQUS to study the behaviour of shear connectors in push tests incorporating the time-dependent behaviour of concrete. The structure is modelled using three-dimensional solid elements for the structural steel beam, shear connectors, concrete slab and profiled steel sheeting. Adequate care is taken in the modelling of the concrete behaviour when creep is taken into account owing to the change in the elastic modulus with respect to time. The finite element analyses indicated that the slip ductility, the strength and the stiffness of the composite member were all reduced with respect to time. The results of this paper will prove useful in the modelling of the overall composite beam behaviour. Further experiments to validate the models presented herein will be conducted and reported at a later stage.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.647-659
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• 2018

Through extensive research, there exist a new type of connection between railway bridge girders and steel-concrete composite panels. In addition to conventional shear connectors, newly developed blind bolts have been recently adopted for retrofitting. However, the body of knowledge on their influence and application to railway structures has not been thoroughly investigated. This study has thus placed a particular emphasis on the application of blind bolts on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a feasible alternative constituent of railway track upgrading. Finite element modeling has been used to simulate the behaviours of the precast steel-concrete panels with common types of bolt connection using commercially available package, ABAQUS. The steel-concrete composite track slabs have been designed in accordance with Australian Standards AS5100. These precast steel-concrete panels are then numerically retrofitted by three types of most practical bold connections: head studded shear connector, Ajax blind bolt and Lindapter hollow bolt. The influences of bolt connections on load and stress transfers and structural behaviour of the composite track slabs are highlighted in this paper. The numerical results exhibit that all three bolts can distribute stresses effectively and can be installed on the bridge girder. However, it is also found that Lindapter hollow bolts are superior in minimising structural responses of the composite track slabs to train loading.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.21-35
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• 2019

This study investigates the flexural behavior of steel-concrete composite beams strengthened with prestressed carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates. An innovative mechanical anchorage system was developed. The components of the system can be easily assembled on site before applying a prestressing force, and removed from the structures after strengthening is completed. A total of seven steel-concrete composite specimens including four simply supported beams strengthened at the positive moment region and three continuous beams strengthened at the negative moment region were tested statically until failure. Experimental results showed that the use of prestressed CFRP plates enhanced the flexural capacity and reduced the mid-span deflection of the beams. Furthermore, by prestressing the CFRP laminates, the material was used more efficiently, and the crack resistance of the continuous composite specimens at the central support was significantly improved after strengthening. Overall, the anchorage system proved to be practical and feasible for the strengthening of steel-concrete composite beams. The theoretical analysis of ultimate bearing capacity is reported, and good agreement between analytical values and experimental results is achieved.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2019

Fire is one of the environmental parameters affecting the structure causing element internal forces to change, as well as reducing the strength of the materials. One of the common types of floors in tall steel structures is the steel concrete composite slab. Shear connectors are used in steel and concrete composite beam in various shapes also has played significant role in a burning fire event of building with a steel concrete composite beam. The current study has reviewed the effects of temperature raising on the angle connector behavior through the use of push out tests and monotonic static force. The results have shown (1) the ductility of the samples is acceptable based on EC4 standard; (2) temperature raising has reduced the stiffness; (3) the shear ductility increment; and (4) the shear capacity reduction. Also, the amount of angle shear connector resistance has been decreased from 18.5% to 41% at ambient temperature up to $850^{\circ}C$.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.583-594
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• 2019

In recent years, composite concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) members have been widely utilized in framed building structures like beams, columns, and beam-columns since they have significant advantages such as reducing construction time, improving the seismic performance, and possessing high ductility, strength, and energy absorbing capacity. This paper presents a new composite joint - the composite CFST beam-column joint in which the CFST member is used as the beam. The main components of the proposed composite joint are steel H-beams, CFST beams welded with the steel H-column, and a reinforced concrete slab. The steel H-beams and CFST beams are connected with the concrete slab using shear connectors to ensure composite action between them. The structural performance of the proposed composite joint was evaluated through an experimental investigation. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) model was developed to simulate this composite joint using the ABAQUS/Explicit software, and the accuracy of the FE model was verified with the relevant experimental results. In addition, a number of parametric studies were made to examine the effects of the steel box beam thickness, concrete compressive strength, steel yield strength, and reinforcement ratio in the concrete slab on the proposed joint performance.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.495-508
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• 2020

Double skin composite walls are alternatives to concrete walls to resist gravity load in structures. The composite action between steel faceplates and concrete core largely depends on the internal mechanical connectors. This paper investigates the structural behavior of novel composite wall system with T section and under combined compressive force and bending moment. The truss connectors are used to bond the steel faceplates to concrete core. Four short specimens were designed and tested under eccentric compression. The influences of the thickness of steel faceplates, the truss spacing, and the thickness of web wall were discussed based on the test results. The N-M interaction curves by AISC 360, Eurocode 4, and CECS 159 were compared with the test data. It was found that AISC 360 provided the most reasonable predictions.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.471-472
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• 2010

In this study, a new modeling framework for predicting temperature and structural behaviors of structures under fire condition is proposed. The proposed modeling framework including fire simulation, heat transfer and structural analysis is applied to simulate fire tests performed on the steel-concrete composite structures in Cardington, UK, for model validations. Good predictions are shown for spatial-temporal temperatures and deflections of fire-damaged steel-concrete structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.143-162
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• 2019

A number of desirable characteristics concerning excellent durability, aesthetics, recyclability, high ductility and fire resistance have made stainless steel a preferred option in engineering practice. However, the relatively high initial cost has greatly restricted the application of stainless steel as a major structural material in general construction. This drawback can be partially overcome by introducing composite stainless steel-concrete structures, which provides a cost-efficient and sustainable solution for future stainless steel construction. This paper presents a preliminary numerical study on stainless steel-concrete composite beam-to-column joints with bolted flush endplates. In order to ensure a consistent corrosion resistance within the whole structural system, all structural steel components were designed with austenitic stainless steel, including beams, columns, endplates, bolts, reinforcing bars and shear connectors. A finite element model was developed using ABAQUS software for composite beam-to-column joints under monotonic and symmetric hogging moments, while validation was performed based on independent test results. A parametric study was subsequently conducted to investigate the effects of several critical factors on the behaviour of composite stainless steel joints. Finally, comparisons were made between the numerical results and the predictions by current design codes regarding the plastic moment capacity and the rotational stiffness of the joints. It was concluded that the present codes of practice generally overestimate the rotational stiffness and underestimate the plastic moment resistance of stainless steel-concrete composite joints.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.323-342
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• 2013

In the case of seismic-resistant composite dual moment resisting and eccentrically braced frames, the current design practice is to avoid the disposition of shear connectors in the expected plastic zones, and consequently to consider a symmetric moment or shear plastic hinges, which occur only in the steel beam or link. Even without connectors, the real behavior of the hinge may be different from the symmetric assumption since the reinforced concrete slab is connected to the steel element close to the hinge locations, and also due to contact friction between the concrete slab and the steel element. At a larger level, the structural response in the case of important seismic motions depends directly on the elasto-plastic behavior of elements and hinges. The numerical investigation presented in this study summarizes the results of elasto-plastic analyses of several steel frames, considering the interaction of the steel beam with the concrete slab. Several parameters, such as the inter-story drift, plastic rotation requirements and behavior factors q were monitored. In order to obtain accurate results, adequate models of plastic hinges are proposed for both the composite short link and composite reduced beam sections.