• International journal of steel structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1397-1409
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• 2018

Stiffened plates with high slenderness parameters show large out-of-plane deflections, due to elastic buckling, which may occur before the plates reach their ultimate strength. From a serviceability point of view, restriction of out-of-plane deflections exceeding the fabrication tolerance is of primary importance. Compressive strength at the serviceability limit state (SLS) for slender stiffened plates under uniaxial stress was investigated through nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element analysis, considering both geometric and material nonlinearity. Both normal and high-performance steel were considered in the study. The SLS was defined based on a deflection limit and an elastic buckling strength. Probabilistic distributions of the SLS strengths were obtained through Monte Carlo simulations, in association with the response surface method. On the basis of the obtained statistical distributions, partial safety factors were proposed for SLS. Comparisons with the ultimate strength of different design codes e.g. Japanese Code, AASHTO, and Canadian Code indicate that AASHTO and Canadian Code provide significantly conservative design, while Japanese Code matches well with a 5% non-exceedance probability for compressive strength at SLS.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.385-395
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• 2021

This research concentrates on the effects of distributions and volume fractions of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the nonlinear bending behavior of deep cylindrical panels reinforced by functionally graded carbon nanotubes under thermo-mechanical loading, hitherto not reported in the literature. Assuming the effects of shear deformation and moderately high value of the radius-to-side ratio (R/a), based on the first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT) and von Karman type of geometric nonlinearity, the governing system of equations is obtained. The analytical solution of field equations is carried out using the Ritz method together with the Newton-Raphson iterative scheme. The effects of radius-to-side ratio, temperature change, and boundary conditions on the nonlinear response of the functionally graded carbon nanotubes reinforced composite deep cylindrical panel (FG-CNTRC) are investigated. It is concluded that, among the five possible distribution patterns of CNT, FG-V CNTRC deep cylindrical panel is strongest with the highest bending moment and followed by UD, X, O, and Ʌ-ones. Also, considering the present deep cylindrical panel formulation increases the accuracy of the results. Hence, according to the noticeable amount of R/a in FG-CNTRC cylindrical panels, it is mandatory to apply strain-displacement relations of deep cylindrical panels for bending analysis of FG-CNTRC which certainly is desirable for industrial application.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.183-196
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• 2022

Reduced beam section (RBS) moment connections used in special moment resisting frames are currently limited to beam sections that are not larger than nominal depths of 920 mm, weight of 447 kg/m and flange thickness of 44 mm. Due to the higher demand for structural components with jumbo sections, which can potentially be applied in the transfer girders in long-span building structures, the newly available steel heavy members are promising. To address this issue, advanced numerical models are developed to fully evaluate the distribution of stresses and concentrations of plastic strains for such jumbo RBS connections. This paper first presents a brief overview of an experimental study on four specimens with large beam and column sections. Then, a numerical model that includes initial imperfections, residual stresses, geometric nonlinearity, and explicitly modeled welds is presented. The model is used to further explore the behavior of the test specimens, including distribution of stresses, distribution of plastic strains, stress triaxiality and potential for fracture. The results reveal that the stresses are highly non-uniform across the beam flange and, similarly, the plastic strains concentrate at the extreme fiber of the bottom flange. However, neither of these phenomena, which are primarily a function of beam flange thickness, is reflected in current design procedures.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.393-406
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• 2022

In the present article, functionally graded small-scaled plates based on modified strain gradient theory (MSGT) are studied for analyzing the nonlinear bending and post-buckling responses. Von-Karman's assumptions are applied to incorporate geometric nonlinearity and the first-order shear deformation theory is used to model the plates. Modified strain gradient theory includes three length scale parameters and is reduced to the modified couple stress theory (MCST) and the classical theory (CT) if two or all three length scale parameters become zero, respectively. The Ritz method with Legendre polynomials are used to approximate the unknown displacement fields. The solution is found by the minimization of the total potential energy and the well-known Newton-Raphson technique is used to solve the nonlinear system of equations. In addition, numerical results for the functionally graded small-scaled plates are obtained and the effects of different boundary conditions, material gradient index, thickness to length scale parameter and length to thickness ratio of the plates on nonlinear bending and post-buckling responses are investigated and discussed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.599-612
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• 2014

This paper presents the effects of the construction stages using time dependent material properties on the structural behaviour of concrete arch dams. For this purpose, a double curvature Type-5 arch dam suggested in "Arch Dams" symposium in England in 1968 is selected as a numerical example. Finite element models of Type-5 arch dam are modelled using SAP2000 program. Geometric nonlinearity is taken into consideration in the construction stage analysis using P-Delta plus large displacement criterion. In addition, the time dependent material strength variations and geometric variations are included in the analysis. Elasticity modulus, creep and shrinkage are computed for different stages of the construction process. In the construction stage analyses, a total of 64 construction stages are included. Each stage has generally $6000m^3$ concrete volume. Total duration is taken into account as 1280 days. Maximum total step and maximum iteration for each step are selected as 200 and 50, respectively. The structural behaviour of the arch dam at different construction stages has been examined. Two different finite element analyses cases are performed. In the first case, construction stages using time dependent material properties are considered. In the second case, only linear static analysis (not considered construction stages) is taken into account. Variation of the displacements and stresses are obtained from the both analyses. It is highlighted that construction stage analysis using time dependent material strength variations and geometric variations has an important effect on the structural behaviour of arch dams. The maximum longitudinal, transverse and vertical displacements obtained from construction stages and static analyses are 1.35 mm and 0 mm; -8.44 and 6.68 mm; -4.00 and -9.90 mm, respectively. In addition, vertical displacements increase from the base to crest of the dam for both analyses. The maximum S11, S22 and S33 stresses are obtained as 1.60MPa and 2.84MPa; 1.39MPa and 2.43MPa; 0.60MPa and 0.50MPa, respectively. The differences between maximum longitudinal, transverse, and vertical stresses obtained from construction stage and static analyses are 78%, 75%, and %17, respectively. On the other hand, there is averagely 12% difference between minimum stresses for all three directions.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

A study for the nonlinear solution strategies to predict the ultimate behavior of a curved PSC cable-stayed bridge with complex geometry and highly nonlinear characteristics is presented. The load and displacement control strategies are used and found to be stable for the nonlinear solution of the PSC bridge up to the moderately excessive load. The ultimate analysis of curved PSC cable-stayed bridge using these solution strategies is not converged due to the propagation of the cracks in the wide range of the concrete elements and excessive variation of the stresses in the concrete elements and cables according to the complex geometry. The load control strategy using scale-down of the unbalanced loads is proposed as an alternative method for the case that the solution is not converged due to the severe nonlinearities involved in the PSC structures like a curved PSC cable-stayed bridge. Through the ultimate analysis of the PSC girder, the accuracy and the stability of the proposed solution strategies are evaluated. Finally, the numerical results for the ultimate analysis of the curved PSC cable-stayed bridge using scale-down of the unbalanced loads are compared with those obtained from other investigator. The validity of the proposed nonlinear solution strategy is demonstrated fairly well.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.1427-1435
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• 2010

A mixed finite element model was developed using the classical plate theory to analyze the nonlinear bending of a plate. The appropriate weight functions for the constraints integrated over the domain were determined by the Lagrange multiplier method by using the principle of minimum virtual energy; which provides the constitutive relations between force-like variables and strains. All of detail terms of element wise coefficient matrices and associate tangent matrices to be used in the Newton iterative method are presented. Then, the linear solutions of the current model and those of the traditional displacement model under the SS (simple support) boundary conditions were compared with the existing analytical solution. The post-processed images of the nonlinear results of the force-like variables are presented to show the continuity of the solutions at the joint of the element boundaries. Finally, the converged nonlinear finite element solutions of the current model are compared with those of existing traditional displacement model.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.367-382
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• 2007

A nonlinear numerical method was developed to assess the stability of suspension bridge catwalks under a wind load. A section model wind tunnel test was used to obtain a catwalk's aerostatic coefficients, from which the displacement-dependent wind loads were subsequently derived. The stability of a suspension bridge catwalk was analyzed on the basis of the geometric nonlinear behavior of the structure. In addition, a full model test was conducted on the catwalk, which spanned 960 m. A comparison of the displacement values between the test and the numerical simulation shows that a numerical method based on a section model test can be used to effectively and accurately evaluate the stability of a catwalk. A case study features the stability of the catwalk of the Runyang Yangtze suspension bridge, the main span of which is 1490 m. Wind can generally attack the structure from any direction. Whenever the wind comes at a yaw angle, there are six wind load components that act on the catwalk. If the yaw angle is equal to zero, the wind is normal to the catwalk (called normal wind) and the six load components are reduced to three components. Three aerostatic coefficients of the catwalk can be obtained through a section model test with traditional test equipment. However, six aerostatic coefficients of the catwalk must be acquired with the aid of special section model test equipment. A nonlinear numerical method was used study the stability of a catwalk under a yaw wind, while taking into account the six components of the displacement-dependent wind load and the geometric nonlinearity of the catwalk. The results show that when wind attacks with a slight yaw angle, the critical velocity that induces static instability of the catwalk may be lower than the critical velocity of normal wind. However, as the yaw angle of the wind becomes larger, the critical velocity increases. In the atmospheric boundary layer, the wind is turbulent and the velocity history is a random time history. The effects of turbulent wind on the stability of a catwalk are also assessed. The wind velocity fields are regarded as stationary Gaussian stochastic processes, which can be simulated by a spectral representation method. A nonlinear finite-element model set forepart and the Newmark integration method was used to calculate the wind-induced buffeting responses. The results confirm that the turbulent character of wind has little influence on the stability of the catwalk.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.403-414
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• 1994

Nonlinear analysis of RC containment structure under thermal load and pressure is presented to trace the behaviour after an assumed LOCA. The temperature distribution varying with time through the wall thickness is determined by transient finite element analysis with the two time level scheme in time domain. The layered shell finite elements are used to represent the containment structures in nuclear power plants. Both geometric and material nonlinearities are taken into account in the finite element formulation. The constitutive relation of concrete is modeled according to Drucker-Prager yield criteria in compression. Tension stiffening model is used to represent the tensile behaviour of concrete including bond effect. The reinforcing bars are modeled by smeared layer at the location of reinforcements accounting elasto-plastic axial behaviors. The steel liner model under Von Mises yield criteria is adopted to represent elastic-perfect plastic behaviour. Geometric nonlinearity is formulated to consider the large displacement effect. Thermal stress components are determined by the initial strain concept during each time step. The temperature differential between any two consecutive time steps is considered as a load incremental. The numerical results from this study reveal that nonlinear temperature gradient based on transient thermal analysis will produces excessive large displacement. Nonlinear behavior of containment structures up to ultimate stage can be traced reallistically. The present study allows more realistic analysis of concrete containment structures in nuclear power plants.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 1989

An analytical study was conducted using the Galerkin technique to determine behaviour of thin fibrereinforced and laminated composite pipes under soil pressure. Geometric nonlinearity and material linearity have been assumed. It is assumed that vertical and lateral soil pressure are proportional to the depth and lateral displacement of the pipe respectively. It is also assumed that radial shear stress is negligible because the ratio of thickness to the radius of pipe is very small. The above results are verified by the finite element analysis.