• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.277-309
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• 2013

Beam-to-column connections behaviour plays an important role in the analysis and design of steel and precast concrete structures. The paper presents a computer-based method for geometrically nonlinear frames with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections. The analytical procedure employs modified stability functions to model the effect of axial force on the stiffness of members. The member modified stiffness matrix, and the modified fixed end forces for various loads were found. The linear and nonlinear analyses were applied for two planar steel structures. The method is readily implemented on a computer using matrix structural analysis techniques and is applicable for the efficient nonlinear analysis of frameworks.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.155-181
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• 2016

In the present paper we discuss the stability and the post-buckling behaviour of thin piezoelastic plates. The first part of the paper is concerned with the modelling of such plates. We discuss the constitutive modelling, starting with the three-dimensional constitutive relations within Voigt's linearized theory of piezoelasticity. Assuming a plane state of stress and a linear distribution of the strains with respect to the thickness of the thin plate, two-dimensional constitutive relations are obtained. The specific form of the linear thickness distribution of the strain is first derived within a fully geometrically nonlinear formulation, for which a Finite Element implementation is introduced. Then, a simplified theory based on the von Karman and Tsien kinematic assumption and the Berger approximation is introduced for simply supported plates with polygonal planform. The governing equations of this theory are solved using a Galerkin procedure and cast into a non-dimensional formulation. In the second part of the paper we discuss the stability and the post-buckling behaviour for single term and multi term solutions of the non-dimensional equations. Finally, numerical results are presented using the Finite Element implementation for the fully geometrically nonlinear theory. The results from the simplified von Karman and Tsien theory are then verified by a comparison with the numerical solutions.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2007.04a
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• pp.381-386
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• 2007

The present study is concerned with the application of Constant arc-length method that proposed by Crisfield in the investigation of the geometrically nonlinear behaviour of spatial structures composed by truss or beam element. The arc-length method can trace the full nonlinear equilibrium path of Spatial structure far beyond the critical point such as limit or bifurcation point. So, we have developed the constant arc-length method of Crisfield to analysis spatial structure. The finite element formulation is used to develop the 3d truss/beam element including the geometrical nonlinear effect. In an effort to evaluate the merits of the methods, extensive numerical studies were carried out on a number of selected structural systems. The advantages of Constant arc length method in tracing the post-buckling behavior of spatial structures, are demonstrated.

• Journal of the Society of Naval Architects of Korea
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.307-317
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• 1991

A displacement-based finite element method is presented for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of eccentrically stiffened plates. The nonlinear degenerated shell and eccentric isobeam(isoparametric beam) elements are formulated on the basis of total Lagrangian and updated Lagrangian descriptions. To describe the stiffener's local plate buckling mode, some additional local degrees of freedom are used in the eccentric isobeam element. The eccentric isobeam element can be affectively employed to model the eccentric stiffener just like the case of the degenerated shell element. A detailed nonlinear analysis including the effects of stiffener's eccentricity is performed to estimate the critical load and the post buckling behaviour of an eccentrically stiffened plate. The critical buckling loads are found higher than analytic plate buckling load but lower than Euler buckling load which are the buckling strength requirements of classification society.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.1065-1084
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• 2016

The analysis and design of skeletal structures is greatly influenced by the behaviour of beam-to-column connections, where patented designs have led to a wide range of types with differing structural quantities. The behaviour of beam-to-column connections plays an important role in the analysis and design of framed structures. This paper presents an overview of the influence of connection behaviour on structural stability, in the in-plane (bending) mode of sway. A computer-based method is presented for geometrically nonlinear plane frames with semi-rigid connections accounting for shear deformations. The analytical procedure employs transcendental modified stability functions to model the effect of axial force on the stiffness of members. The member stiffness matrix were found. The critical load has been searched as a suitable load parameter for the loss of stability of the system. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the analysis procedure. The method is readily implemented on a computer using matrix structural analysis techniques and is applicable for the efficient nonlinear analysis of frameworks. Combined with a parametric column effective length study, connection and frame stiffness are used to propose a method for the analysis of semi-rigid frames where column effective lengths are greatly reduced and second order (deflection induced) bending moments in the column may be distributed via the connectors to the beams, leading to significant economies.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.539-569
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• 2012

The behaviour of beam-to-column connections plays an important role in the analysis and design of steel structures. A computer-based method is presented for nonlinear steel frames with semi-rigid connections accounting for shear deformations. The analytical procedure employs transcendental stability functions to model the effect of axial force on the stiffness of members. The member stiffness matrix, and the fixed end forces for various loads were found. The nonlinear analysis method is applied for three planar steel structures. The method is readily implemented on a computer using matrix structural analysis techniques and is applicable for the efficient nonlinear analysis of frameworks.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.495-508
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• 2020

To investigate the structural behaviour of grouped tanks under wind loads, 2 problems need to be figured out, wind pressures on tank shells and critical loads of the shell under these pressure distribution patterns. Following the wind tunnel tests described in the companion paper, this paper firstly seeks to obtain wind loads on the external wall in a squarely-arranged cylindrical tank group by numerical simulation, considering various layouts. The outcomes demonstrate that the numerical method can provide similar results on wind pressures and better insights on grouping effects through extracted streamlines. Then, geometrically nonlinear analyses are performed using several selected potentially unfavourable wind pressure distributions. It is found that the critical load is controlled by limit point buckling when the tank is empty while excessive deformations when the tank is full. In particular, significant reductions of wind resistance are found on grouped full tanks compared to the isolated tank, considering both serviceability and ultimate limit state, which should receive special attention if the tank is expected to resist severe wind loads with the increase of liquid level.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.219-238
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• 2012

Objective of this paper is to compare linear buckling analysis formulations, available in commercial finite element programs. Modern steel design codes, including Eurocode 3, make abundant use of linear buckling loads for calculation of slenderness, and of linear buckling modes, used as shapes of imperfections for nonlinear analyses. Experience has shown that the buckling mode shapes and the magnitude of buckling loads may differ, sometimes significantly, from one algorithm to another. Thus, three characteristic examples have been used in order to assess the linear buckling formulations available in the finite element programs ADINA and ABAQUS. Useful conclusions are drawn for selecting the appropriate algorithm and the proper reference load in order to obtain either the classical linear buckling load or a good approximation of the actual geometrically nonlinear buckling load.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.681-701
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• 2014

The main aim of this study is to propose an efficient meta-heuristic algorithm for topology optimization of geometrically nonlinear single layer domes by serially integration of computational advantages of firefly algorithm (FA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). During the optimization process, the optimum number of rings, the optimum height of crown and tubular section of the member groups are determined considering geometric nonlinear behaviour of the domes. In the proposed algorithm, termed as FA-PSO, in the first stage an optimization process is accomplished using FA to explore the design space then, in the second stage, a local search is performed using PSO around the best solution found by FA. The optimum designs obtained by the proposed algorithm are compared with those reported in the literature and it is demonstrated that the FA-PSO converges to better solutions spending less computational cost emphasizing on the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.164-176
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• 1996

The main intention of this paper is to develop and compare the algorithm based on finite element procedures for nonlinear transient dynamic analysis which has combined effects of material and geometric nonlinearities. Incremental equilibrium equations based on the principle of virtual work are derived by the finite element approach. For the elasto - plastic large deformation analysis of shells and the determination of the displacement-time configuration under time-varying loads, the explicit, implicit and combined explicit-implicit time integration algorithm is adopted. In the time structure is selected and the results are compared with each others. Isoparametric 8-noded quadrilateral curved elements are used for shell structure in the analysis and for geometrically nonlinear elastic behaviour, a total Lagrangian coordinate system was adopted. On the other hands, material nonlinearity is based on elasto-plastic models with Von-Mises yield criteria. Thus, the combined explicit-implicit time integration algorithm is benefit in general case of shell structure, which is the result of this paper.