• Wind and Structures
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.381-392
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• 2020

Despite that the failure of sign structure may not have disastrous consequence, its sheer number still ensures the need for rigorous safety standard to regulate their maintenance and construction. During its service life, a sign structure is subject to extensive wind load, sometimes well over its permissible design load. A fragility analysis of a sign structure offers a tool for rational decision making and safety evaluation by using a probabilistic framework to consider the various sources of uncertainty that affect its performance. Wind fragility analysis was used to determine the performance of sign structure based on the performance of its connection components. In this study, basic wind fragility concepts and data required to support the fragility analysis of the sign structure such as sign panel's parameters, connection component's parameters, as well as wind load parameters were presented. Fragility and compound fragility analysis showed disparity between connection component. Additionally, reinforcement of the connection system was introduced as an example of the utilization of wind fragility results in the retrofit decision making.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.745-762
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• 2014

As an important part, the connections generally are important for the overall behavior of the structure and the strength and serviceability of the connection should be ensured. This paper presents the mechanical properties of membrane connections in tensioned membrane structure. First, the details of common connections used in the membrane structure are introduced. Then, the common connections including membrane seam, membrane-flexible edge connection and membrane-rigid edge connection are tested and the corresponding failure mechanisms are discussed. Finally, the effects of connection parameters on the connection strength are investigated and proper connection parameters are proposed. The strength reduction factors corresponding to different connection types are proposed, which can be references for the design and analysis of membrane structures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2017

The pipe connection process using a clamping ring is used for joining small pipes in the refrigerator and air-conditioner industries instead of the brazing process, which induces inevitable thermal deformation in the pipes. However, few studies have been carried out on the process to select optimal parameters in joining pipes, and studies on the relation between the process parameters of the connection and connecting force of the joint have not been conducted. In this study, the connection process of pipes with the clamping ring was modeled using the finite element method (FEM) and analyzed to obtain the contact stress distribution between the pipes with which the connecting force of the joint was estimated. Considering the characteristics of pipe connection, the process was modeled and simulated in a two-dimensional axisymmetric solution domain. With the numerical model, the effect of ring shape on the connection was studied by adding a projection to the end of a ring or changing the length of a ring. The results of the analyses revealed that the contact stress distribution could be predicted with the suggested model. The effect of the ring shape was also presented. The effect of any combination of process parameters could be easily estimated through the related analyses.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.555-581
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• 2018

The moment-resistant steel frames are frequently used as a load-bearing structure of buildings. Global response of a moment-resistant frame structure strongly depends on connections behavior, which can significantly influence the response and load-bearing capacity of a steel frame structure. The analysis of a steel frame with included joints behavior is the main focus of this work. In particular, we analyze the behavior of two connection types through experimental tests, and we propose numerical beam model capable of representing connection behavior. The six experimental tests, under monotonic and cyclic loading, are performed for two different types of structural connections: end plate connection with an extended plate and end plate connection. The proposed damage-plasticity model of Reissner beam is able to capture both hardening and softening response under monotonic and cyclic loading. This model has 18 constitutive parameters, whose identification requires an elaborate procedure, which we illustrate in this work. We also present appropriate loading program and arrangement of measuring equipment, which is crucial for successful identification of constitutive parameters. Finally, throughout several practical examples, we illustrate that the steel structure connections are very important for correct prediction of the global steel frame structure response.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.587-599
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• 2023

The establishment of a hysteretic model which can accurately predict the hysteretic characteristics of the stud connection is of utmost importance for the seismic assessment of composite structures. In this paper, the Bouc-Wen-Baber-Noori(BWBN) model was adopted to describe the typical hysteretic characteristics of stud connections. Meanwhile, the Newton-Raphson iterative procedure and the Backward Euler method were used to determine the restoring force, and the Genetic Algorithm was employed to identify the parameters of the BWBN model based on the experimental data consisting of eight specimens. The accuracy of the identified parameters was demonstrated by comparison with the experimental data. Finally, prediction equations for the BWBN model parameters were developed in terms of the physical parameters of stud connections, which provides an approach to get the hysteretic response of stud connections conveniently.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.174-179
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• 1999

In this paper, we propose an optimal algorithm for finding the shortest connection of two kinds of parts to pairs. If total part numbers are of size N, then there are order 2ㆍ(N/2)$^{N}$ possible solutions, of which we want the one that minimizes the energy function. The appropriate dynamic rule and parameters used in network are proposed by a new energy function which is minimized when 3-constraints are satisfied. This dynamic nile has three important parameters, an enhancement variable connected to pairs, a normalized distance term and a time variable. The enhancement variable connected to pairs have to a perfect connection of two kinds of parts to pairs. The normalized distance term get rids of a unstable states caused by the change of total part numbers. And the time variable removes the un-optimal connection in the case of distance constraint and the wrong or not connection of two kinds of parts to pairs. First of all, we review the theoretical basis for Hopfield model and present a new energy function. Then, the connection matrix and the offset bias created by a new energy function and used in dynamic nile are shown. Finally, we show examples through computer simulation with 20, 30 and 40 parts and discuss the stability and feasibility of the resultant solutions for the proposed connection algorithm.m.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.877-895
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• 2015

Connections to circular hollow steel sections (CHS) are considered one of the most complex and time consuming connections in steel construction. Such connections are usually composed of gusset plates welded to the outside of the steel tube or penetrating the steel tube. Design guides, accounting for the effect of connection configuration on the strength of the connection, are not present. This study aims to investigate, through experimental testing and a parametric study, the influence of connection configuration on the strength of one sided branch plate-to-CHS members. A notable effect was observed on the behavior of the connections due to its detailing changes with respect to capacity, failure mode, ductility, and stress distribution. A parametric study is performed using the calibrated analytical model to include a wider range of parameters. The study involves 26 numerical analyses of finite element models including parameters of the diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio, length of gusset plate, and connection configuration. Accordingly, a modification to the formulas provided by the current design recommendations was suggested to include connection configuration effects for the one sided branch plate-to-CHS members.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.57-71
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• 2013

The prediction of the low cycle fatigue (LCF) life of beam-column connections requires an LCF model that is developed using specific geometric information. The beam-column connection has several geometric variables, and changes in these variables must be taken into account to ensure sufficient robustness of the design. Previous research has verified that the finite element model (FEM) can be used to simulate LCF behavior at the end plate moment connection (EPMC). Three critical parameters, i.e., end plate thickness, beam flange thickness, and bolt distance, have been selected for this study to determine the geometric effects on LCF behavior. Seven FEMs for different geometries have been developed using these three critical parameters. The finite element analysis results have led to the development of a modified LCF model for the critical parameter groups.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.463-477
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• 2014

The modelling approach in the case of connections in precast buildings is specific. The assembly of the constitutive parts of the connection requires the inclusion of contact definitions in the model. In addition, the material non-linearity including the influence of the spatial stress distribution should be taken into account where appropriate. Here a complex model of a beam-to-column dowel connection is presented. Experiments on the analysed connection were performed within the framework of the European project SAFECAST (Performance of Innovative Mechanical Connections in Precast Building Structures under Seismic Conditions). Several material and interaction parameters were investigated and the influence of each of them was evaluated. The set of parameters which gave the best match with the experiments was chosen.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.337-364
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• 2015

In this paper we present methodology for parameters identification of constitutive model which is able to present behavior of a connection between two members in a structure. Such a constitutive model for frame connections can be cast in the most general form of the Timoshenko beam, which can present three failure modes. The first failure mode pertains to the bending in connection, which is defined as coupled plasticity-damage model with nonlinear softening. The second failure mode is seeking to capture the shearing of connection, which is defined as plasticity with linear hardening and nonlinear softening. The third failure mode pertains to the diffuse failure in the members; excluding it leads to linear elastic constitutive law. Theoretical formulation of this Timoshenko beam model and its finite element implementation are presented in the second section. The parameter identification procedure that will allow us to define eighteen unknown parameters is given in Section 3. The proposed methodology splits identification in three phases, with all details presented in Section 4 through three different examples. We also present the real experimental results. The conclusions are stated in the last section of the paper.