• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.659-676
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• 2005

The novel form of composite walling system consists of two skins of profiled steel sheeting with an in-fill of concrete. The behaviour of such walling under in-plane shear is important in order to utilise this system as shear elements in a steel framed building. Steel sheet-concrete interface governs composite action, overall behaviour and failure modes of such walls. This paper describes the finite element (FE) modelling of the shear behaviour of walls with particular emphasis on the simulation of steel-concrete interface. The modelling of complex non-linear steel-concrete interaction in composite walls is conducted by using different FE models. Four FE models are developed and characterized by their approaches to simulate steel-concrete interface behaviour allowing either full or partial composite action. Non-linear interface or joint elements are introduced between steel and concrete to simulate partial composite action that allows steel-concrete in-plane slip or out of plane separation. The properties of such interface/joint elements are optimised through extensive parametric FE analysis using experimental results to achieve reliable and accurate simulation of actual steel-concrete interaction in a wall. The performance of developed FE models is validated through small-scale model tests. FE models are found to simulate strength, stiffness and strain characteristics reasonably well. The performance of a model with joint elements connecting steel and concrete layers is found better than full composite (without interface or joint elements) and other models with interface elements. The proposed FE model can be used to simulate the shear behaviour of composite walls in practical situation.

• 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.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.877-889
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• 2019

The developments of double skin composite (DSC) walls with novel enhanced C-channel connectors (DSCW-EC) were reported. Followed axial compression tests on prototype walls were carried to evaluate structural performances of this novel DSC composite structures. The testing program consists of five specimens and focused on the layout of the novel enhanced C-channel (EC) connectors, which include the web direction of C-channels, steel-faceplate thickness, vertical and horizontal spacing of C-channels. Crushing in concrete core and buckling of steel faceplate were two main observed failed modes from the compression tests. However, elastic or plastic buckling of the steel faceplate varies with designed parameters in different specimens. The influences of those investigated parameters on axial compressive behaviors of DSCW-ECs were analyzed and discussed. Recommendations on the layout of novel EC connectors were then given based on these test results and discussions. This paper also developed analytical models for predictions on ultimate compressive resistance of DSCW-ECs. Validation against the reported test results show that the developed theoretical models predict well the ultimate compressive resistance of DSCW-ECs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.505-517
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• 2008

A numerical analysis method was studied to predict the nonlinear behavior of slender double skin composite walls. For convenience in numerical analysis, the model for the double skin composite wall was developed as a macroscopic model that can predict nonlinear behavior with relatively simplified models. For the wall showing flexure-dominant behavior, a multiple layer model was used. Each layer was modeled with composite elements of concrete and steel plate. An X-type truss model was used for coupling beams showing shear-dominant behavior. To describe the cyclic behavior of concrete and steel elements, simplified cyclic models for the materials were proposed. The proposed analysis model was applied to isolated walls and coupled walls with rectangular or T-shaped cross-sections. The analytical results were compared with existing test results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.461-477
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• 2016

Steel-concrete-steel (SCS) sandwich composite wall has been proposed for building and offshore constructions. An ultra-lightweight cement composite with density1380 kg/m3 and compressive strength up to 60 MPa is used as core material and inter-locking J-hook connectors are welded on the steel face plates to achieve the composite action. This paper presents the numerical models using nonlinear finite element analysis to investigate the load displacement behavior of SCS sandwich walls subjected to axial compression. The results obtained from finite element analysis are verified against the test results to establish its accuracy in predicting load-displacement curves, maximum resistance and failure modes of the sandwich walls. The studies show that the inter-locking J-hook connectors are subjected to tension force due to the lateral expansion of cement composite core under compression. This signifies the important role of the interlocking effect of J-hook connectors in preventing tensile separation of the steel face plates so that the local buckling of steel face plates is prevented.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.463-476
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• 2021

The concept of using Steel-concrete (SC) composite walls as retaining walls has recently been introduced by the authors and their effectiveness of resisting out-of-plane loads has also been demonstrated. In this paper, an improved analytical formulation based on partial interaction theory, which has previously been developed by the authors, is presented. The improved formulation considers a new loading condition and also accounts for cracking in concrete to simulate the real conditions. Due to a limited number of test specimens, further finite element (FE)simulations are performed in order to verify the analytical procedure in more detail. It is observed that the results from the improved analytical procedure are in excellent agreement with both experimental and numerical results. Moreover, a detailed parametric study is conducted using the developed FE model to investigate effects of different parameters, such as distance between shear connectors, shear connector length, concrete strength, steel plate thickness, concrete cover thickness, wall's width to thickness ratio, and wall's height to thickness ratio, on the behavior of SC composite walls subjected to out-of-plane loads.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.455-471
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• 2021

The present work focuses on experimental and numerical performance of the ferrocement RC walls reinforced with welded steel mesh, expanded steel mesh, fiber glass mesh and tensar mesh individually. The experimental program comprised twelve RC walls having the dimensions of 450 mm×100 mm×1000 mm under concentric compression loadings. The studied variables are the type of reinforcing materials, the number of mesh layers and volume fraction of reinforcement. The main aim is to assess the influence of engaging the new inventive materials in reinforcing the composite RC walls. Non-linear finite element analysis; (NLFEA) was carried out to simulate the behavior of the composite walls employing ANSYS-10.0 Software. Parametric study is also demonstrated to check out the variables that can mainly influence the mechanical behavior of the model such as the change of wall dimensions. The obtained numerical results indicated the acceptable accuracy of FE simulations in the estimation of experimental values. In addition, the strength gained of specimens reinforced with welded steel mesh was higher by amount 40% compared with those reinforced with expanded steel mesh. Ferrocement specimens tested under axial compression loadings exhibit superior ultimate loads and energy absorbing capacity compared to the conventional reinforced concrete one.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.225-240
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• 2022

Local responses of steel plate-concrete composite (SC) walls under impact loads are typically evaluated using design equations available in the AISC N690s1-15. These equations enable design of impact-resistant SC walls, but some essential parts such as the effects of wall size and shear reinforcement ratio have not been addressed. Also, since they were developed for design basis events, improved equations are required for accurate prediction of the impact behaviors of SC walls for beyond design basis impact evaluation. This paper presents a numerical study to construct a robust numerical model of SC walls subjected to impact loads to reasonably predict the SC-wall impact behavior, to evaluate the findings observed from the impact tests including the effects of the key design parameters, and to assess the actual responses of full-scale SC walls. The numerical calculations are validated using intermediate-scale impact tests performed previously. The influences of the fracture energy of concrete and the conservative aspects of the current design equations are discussed carefully. Recommendations are made for design practice.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.11a
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• pp.215-216
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• 2023

Leakage in the structure due to the irregular flow of groundwater in the underground structure penetrates into internal spaces such as underground parking lots and basement through underground walls, which is expensive in terms of maintenance of the building. In this study, various composite waterproofing methods installed on the outer walls of underground structures were selected to evaluate the structural performance of composite specimens due to bending behavior through experiments and analysis on bending test behavior on concrete attachment surfaces.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.187-196
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• 2020

Double skin composite wall system owns several structural merits in terms of high load-carrying capacity, large axial stiffness, and favorable ductility. A recently proposed form of truss connector was used to bond the steel plates to the concrete core to achieve good composite action. The structural behavior of rectangular high walls under compression and T-shaped high walls under eccentric compression has been investigated by the authors. Furthermore, the influences of the truss spacings, the wall width, and the faceplate thickness have been previously studied by the authors on short walls under uniform compression. This paper experimentally investigated the effect of width-to-thickness ratio on the compressive behavior of short walls. Compressive tests were conducted on three short specimens with different width-to-thickness ratios. Based on the test results, it is found that the composite wall shows high compressive resistance and good ductility. The walls fail by local buckling of steel plates and crushing of concrete core. It is also observed that width-to-thickness ratio has great influence on the compressive resistance, initial stiffness, and strain distribution across the section. Finally, the test results are compared with the predictions by modern codes.