• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.261-273
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• 2017

The control of the deformative behaviour of pre-stressed concrete roof elements for a satisfactory service performance is a main issue of their structural design. Slender light-weight wing-shaped roof elements, typical of the European heritage, are particularly sensitive to this problem. The paper presents the results of deformation measurements during storage and of both torsional-flexural and purely flexural load tests carried out on a full-scale 40.5 m long innovative wing-shaped roof element. An element-based simplified integral procedure that de-couples the evolution of the deflection profile with the progressive shortening of the beam is adopted to catch the experimental visco-elastic behaviour of the element and the predictions are compared with normative close-form solutions. A linear 3D fem model is developed to investigate the torsional-flexural behaviour of the member. A mechanical non-linear beam model is used to predict the purely flexural behaviour of the roof member in the pre- and post-cracking phases and to validate the loss prediction of the adopted procedure. Both experimental and numerical results highlight that the adopted analysis method is viable and sound for an accurate simulation of the service behaviour of precast roof elements.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.449-465
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• 2017

The aim of the present work is to present a computational study of the non-linear aero-elastic behavior of a multi-layered Thermal Protection System (TPS). The severity of atmospheric re-entry conditions is due to the combination of high temperatures, high pressures and high velocities, and thus the aero-elastic behavior of flexible structures can be difficult to assess. In order to validate the specific computational model and the overall strategy for structural and aerodynamics analyses of flexible structures, the simplified TPS sample tested in the 8' High Temperature Tunnel (HTT) at NASA LaRC has been selected as a baseline for the validation of the present work. The von $K{\acute{a}}rm{\acute{a}}n^{\prime}s$ three dimensional large deflection theory for the structure and a hybrid Raleigh-Ritz-Galerkin approach, combined with the first order Piston Theory to describe the aerodynamic flow, have been used to derive the equations of motion. The paper shows that a good description of the physical behavior of the fabric is possible with the proposed approach. The model is further applied to investigate structural and aero-elastic influence of the number of the layers and the stitching pattern.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.121-131
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• 2022

The main goal of this study is to prepare a program for analyzing High Strength Steel Fibrous Reinforced Concrete (HSSFRC) slabs and predict the response and strength of the slab instead of preparing a prototype and testing it in the laboratory. For this purpose, new equations are proposed to represent the material properties of High Strength Steel Fibrous Reinforced Concrete. The proposed equations obtained from performing regression analysis on many experimental results using statistical programs. The finite element method is adopted for non-linear analysis of the slabs. The eight-node "Serendipity element" (3 DoF) is chosen to represent the concrete. The layered approach is adopted for concrete elements and the steel reinforcement is represented by a smeared layer. The compression properties of the concrete are modeled by a work hardening plasticity approach and the yield condition is determined depending on the first two stress invariants. A tensile strength criterion is adopted in order to estimate the cracks propagation. many experimental results for testing slabs are compared with the numerical results of the present study and a good agreement is achieved regarding load-deflection curves and crack pattern. The response of the load deflection curve is slightly stiff at the beginning because the creep effect is not considered in this study and for assuming perfect bond between the steel reinforcement and the concrete, however, a great agreement is achieved between the ultimate load from the present study and experimental results. For the models of the tension stiffening and cracked shear modulus, the value of Bg and Bt (Where Bg and Bt are the curvature factor for the cracked shear modulus and tension stiffening models respectively) equal to 0.005 give good results compared with experimental result.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.309-328
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• 2021

The objective of this work was to develop a methodology for geodetic monitoring on onshore wind towers, to ascertain the existence of displacements from object points located in the tower and at the foundation's base. The geodesic auscultation was carried out in the Gravatá 01 and 02 wind towers of the Eólica Gravatá wind farm, located in the Brazilian municipality of Gravatá-PE, using a stable Measurement Reference System. To verify the existence of displacements, pins were implanted, with semi-spherical surfaces, at the bases of the towers being monitored, measured by means of high-precision geometric leveling and around the Gravatá 02 tower, concrete landmarks, iron rods and reflective sheets were implanted, observed using geodetic/topographic methods: GNSS survey, transverse with forced centering, three-dimensional irradiation, edge measurement method and trigonometric leveling of unilateral views. It was found that in the Gravatá 02 tower the average rays of the circular sections of the transverse welds (ST) were 1.8431 m ± 0.0005 m (ST01) and 1.6994 m ± 0.0268 m of ST22, where, 01 and 22 represent the serial number of the transverse welds along the tower. The average calculation of the deflection between the coordinates of the center of the circular section of the ST22 and the vertical reference alignment of the ST1 was 0°2'39.22" ± 2.83" in the Northwest direction and an average linear difference of 0.0878 m ± 0.0078 m. The top deflection angle was 0°8'44.88" and a linear difference of ± 0.2590 m, defined from a non-linear function adjusted by Least Squares Method (LSM).

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.369-380
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• 2017

The effects of the vertical component of a ground motion on the earthquake performances of semi-ductile high-rise R/C structures were investigated in the present study. Linear and non-linear time-history analyses were conducted on an existing in-service R/C building for the loading scenarios including and excluding the vertical component of the ground motion. The ratio of the vertical peak acceleration to the horizontal peak acceleration (V/H) of the ground motion was adopted as the main parameter of the study. Three different near-source earthquake records with varying V/H ratio were used in the analyses. The linear time-history analyses indicated that the incorporation of the vertical component of a ground motion into analyses greatly influences the vertical deflections of a structure and the overturning moments at its base. The lateral deflections, the angles of rotation and the base shear forces were influenced to a lesser extent. Considering the key indicators of vertical deflection and overturning moments determined from the linear time-history analysis, the non-linear analyses revealed that the changes in the forces and deformations of the structure with the inclusion of the vertical ground motion are resisted by the shear-walls. The performances and damage states of the beams were not affected by the vertical ground motion. The vertical ground motion component of earthquakes is markedly concluded to be considered for design and damage estimation of the vertical load-bearing elements of the shear-walls and columns.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1163-1192
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• 2016

This paper presents the cost optimization of a composite I beam floor system, designed to be made from a reinforced concrete slab and steel I sections. The optimization was performed by the mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) approach. For this purpose, a number of different optimization models were developed that enable different design possibilities such as welded or standard steel I sections, plastic or elastic cross-section resistances, and different positions of the neutral axes. An accurate economic objective function of the self-manufacturing costs was developed and subjected to design, resistance and deflection (in)equality constraints. Dimensioning constraints were defined in accordance with Eurocode 4. The Modified Outer-Approximation/Equality-Relaxation (OA/ER) algorithm was applied together with a two-phase MINLP strategy. A numerical example of the optimization of a composite I beam floor system, as presented at the end of this paper, demonstrates the applicability of the proposed approach. The optimal result includes the minimal produced costs of the structure, the optimal concrete and steel strengths, and dimensions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.295-313
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• 2005

This paper evaluates the effective width of composite steel beams with precast hollowcore slabs numerically using the finite element method. A parametric study, carried out on 27 beams with different steel cross sections, hollowcore unit depths and spans, is presented. The effective width of the slab is predicted for both the elastic and plastic ranges. 8-node three-dimensional solid elements are used to model the composite beam components. The material non-linearity of all the components is taken into consideration. The non-linear load-slip characteristics of the headed shear stud connectors are included in the analysis. The moment-deflection behaviour of the composite beams, the ultimate moment capacity and the modes of failure are also presented. Finally, the ultimate moment capacity of the beams evaluated using the present FE analysis was compared with the results calculated using the rigid - plastic method.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 1993

This paper presents a geometrically non-linear and elastoplastic F.E. formulation using a total Lagrangian approach for the two dimensional isoparametric curved beam elements. The beam element is derived by using plane stress elements. The basic element geometry is constructed using the coordinates of the nodes on the element center line and the nodal point normals. The element displacement field is described using two translations of the node on the center line and a rotation about the axes normal to the plane containing the center line of the element. The layered approach is used for the elastoplastic analysis of the plane framed structure with the arbitrary cross section. The iterative load or displacement incremental method for non-linear finite element analysis of the frame structure is used. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the behavior and the accuracy of the proposed beam element for geometric and elastoplastic non-linear applications. Comparisons made with present theory and other published data show that tilt' beam element products accurate results with good convergence characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.649-654
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• 2004

In this paper, the fracture toughness and mechanisms of failure in a random SiC-whisker/$Al_{2}O_3$ ceramic composite were investigated using in situ observations during mode I(opening) loading. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite was obtained by hot press sintering of $Al_{2}O_3$ powder and SiC whisker as the matrix and reinforcement, respectively. The whisker and powder were mixed using a turbo mill. The composite was produced at SiC whisker volume fraction of $0.3\%$. Compared with monolithic $Al_{2}O_3$, fracture toughness enhancement was observed in $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite. This improved fracture toughness was attributed to SiC whisker bridging and crack deflection. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite exhibited typically brittle fracture behavior, but a fracture process zone was observed in this composite. This means that the load versus load-line displacement curve of $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite from a fracture test may involve a small non-linear region near the peak load.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.311-321
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• 2017

This paper presents the details of analytical studies carried out towards the prediction of flexural capacity and load-deflection behaviour of Laced Steel-Concrete Composite (LSCC) beams. Analytical expressions for flexural capacity of the beams are derived in accordance with the basic principles of conventional Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, but incorporated with relevant modifications to account for the composite nature of the cross-section. The ultimate flexural capacity of the two LSCC beams predicted using the derived expressions is found to be approximately 20% lower than those obtained due to measurement from experiments. Further to these, two simple methods are also proposed on the basis of unit load method and equivalent steel beam method to determine the non-linear load-deflection response of the LSCC beams for monotonic loading. Upon validation of the proposed methods by comparing the predicted responses with those of experiments and finite element analysis, it is found that the methods are useful to find nonlinear response of such composite beams.