• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.147-161
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• 2020

Constructive merging of "basic" systems of different behavior creates hybrid systems. In doing so, the structural elements are grouped according to the behavior in carrying the load into a geometric order that provides sufficient load and structure functionality and optimization of the material consumption. Applicable in all materializations and logical geometric forms is a transparent system suitable for the optimization of load-bearing structures. Research by individual authors gave insight into suitable system constellations from the aspect of load capacity and the approximatemethod of estimating the participation of partialstiffnesswithin the rigidity ofthe hybrid system. The obtained terms will continue to be the basisfor our own research of the influence of variable parameters on the behavior of hybrid systemsformed of glued laminated girder and cable of different geometric shapes. Previous research has shown that by applying the strut-type hybrid systems can increase the load capacity and reduce the deformability ofthe free girder.The implemented parametric analysis pointsto the basic parameterin the behavior of these systems-the rigidity ofindividual elements and the overallstiffnessofthe system.The basic idea ofpre-stressing is that, in the load system or individual load-bearing element, prior to application of the exploitation load, artificially challenge the forcesthatshould optimize the finalsystembehaviorin the overall load. Pre-stressing is possible only if the supporting system orsystem's element possesssufficientstrength orstiffness, orreaction to the imposed forces of pre-stressing. In this paper will be presented own research of the relationship of partial stiffness of strut-type hybrid systemsofdifferentgeometric forms.Conducted parametric analysisofhybridsystemswithandwithoutpre-stressing, and on the example of the glulam-steel strut-type hybrid system under realistic conditions of change in the moisture content ofthe wooden girder,resulted in accurate expressions and diagramssuitable for application in practice.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.531-545
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• 2023

Composite dowels are implemented as a powerful alternative to headed studs for the efficient combination of Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) with high-strength steel in novel composite structures. They are required to provide sufficient shear resistance and ensure the transmission of tensile forces in the composite connection in order to prevent lifting of the concrete slab. In this paper, the load bearing capacity of puzzle-shaped and clothoidal-shaped dowels encased in UHPC specimen were investigated based on validated experimental test data. Considering the influence of the embedment depth and the spacing width of shear dowels, the characteristics of UHPC square plate on the load bearing capacity of composite structure, 240 numeric models have been constructed and analyzed. Three artificial intelligence approaches have been implemented to learn the discipline from collected experimental data and then make prediction, which includes Artificial Neural Network-Particle Swarm Optimization (ANN-PSO), Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) and an Extreme Learning Machine (ELM). Among the factors, the embedment depth of composite dowel is proved to be the most influential parameter on the load bearing capacity. Furthermore, the results of the prediction models reveal that ELM is capable to achieve more accurate prediction.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.6
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• pp.715-730
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• 2023

Broad studies have addressed the issue of structural element damage identification, however, rubber bearing, as a key component of load transmission between the superstructure and substructure, is essential to the operational safety of a bridge, which should be paid more attention to its health condition. However, regarding the limitations of the traditional bearing damage detection methods as well as few studies have been conducted on this topic, in this paper, inspired by the model updating-based structural damage identification, a two-stage bearing damage identification method has been proposed. In the first stage, we deduce a novel bearing damage localization indicator, called element relative MSE, to accurately determine the bearing damage location. In the second one, the prior knowledge of bearing damage localization is combined with sailfish optimization (SFO) to perform the bearing damage estimation. In order to validate the feasibility, a numerical example of a 5-span continuous beam is introduced, also the noise robustness has been investigated. Meanwhile, the effectiveness and engineering applicability are further verified based on an experimental simply supported beam and actual engineering of the I-40 Bridge. The obtained results are good, which indicate that the proposed method is not only suitable for simple structures but also can accurately locate the bearing damage site and identify its severity for complex structure. To summarize, the proposed method provides a good guideline for the issue of bridge bearing detection, which could be used to reduce the difficulty of the traditional bearing failure detection approach, further saving labor costs and economic expenses.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.3
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• pp.303-314
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• 2018

Shear walls are a typical member under a complex stress state and have complicated mechanical properties and failure modes. The separated-elements model Genetic Evolutionary Structural Optimization (GESO), which is a combination of an elastic-plastic stress method and an optimization method, has been introduced in the literature for designing such members. Although the separated-elements model GESO method is well recognized due to its stability, feasibility, and economy, its adequacy has not been experimentally verified. This paper seeks to validate the adequacy of the separated-elements model GESO method against experimental data and demonstrate its feasibility and advantages over the traditional elastic stress method. Two types of reinforced concrete shear wall specimens, which had the location of an opening in the middle bottom and the center region, respectively, were utilized for this study. For each type, two specimens were designed using the separated-elements model GESO method and elastic stress method, respectively. All specimens were subjected to a constant vertical load and an incremental lateral load until failure. Test results indicated that the ultimate bearing capacity, failure modes, and main crack types of the shear walls designed using the two methods were similar, but the ductility indexes including the stiffness degradation, deformability, reinforcement yielding, and crack development of the specimens designed using the separated-elements model GESO method were superior to those using the elastic stress method. Additionally, the shear walls designed using the separated-elements model GESO method, had a reinforcement layout which could closely resist the actual critical stress, and thus a reduced amount of steel bars were required for such shear walls.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.555-577
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• 2015

In the work at hand, the development of a morphing flap, actuated through shape memory alloy load bearing elements, is described. Moving from aerodynamic specifications, prescribing the morphed shape enhancing the aerodynamic efficiency of the flap, a suitable actuation architecture was identified, able to affect the curvature. Each rib of the flap was split into three elastic elements, namely "cells", connected each others in serial way and providing the bending stiffness to the structure. The edges of each cell are linked to SMA elements, whose contraction induces rotation onto the cell itself with an increase of the local curvature of the flap airfoil. The cells are made of two metallic plates crossing each others to form a characteristic "X" configuration; a good flexibility and an acceptable stress concentration level was obtained non connecting the plates onto the crossing zone. After identifying the main design parameters of the structure (i.e. plates relative angle, thickness and depth, SMA length, cross section and connections to the cell) an optimization was performed, with the scope of enhancing the achievable rotation of the cell, its ability in absorbing the external aerodynamic loads and, at the same time, containing the stress level and the weight. The conceptual scheme of the architecture was then reinterpreted in view of a practical realization of the prototype. Implementation issues (SMA - cells connection and cells relative rotation to compensate the impressed inflection assuring the SMA pre-load) were considered. Through a detailed FE model the prototype morphing performance were investigated in presence of the most severe load conditions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.485-497
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• 2024

Ring beam is the main anchorage zone of the tendons in the nuclear power prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV). Its safety is crucial and has a great influence on the overall performance of PCCV. In this paper, two half-scale ring beams were tested to investigate the mechanical performance of the anchorage zone in the PCCV under multidirectional pressure. The effect of working condition with different tension sequences was investigated. Additionally, a half axisymmetric plane model of the containment was established by the finite element simulation to further predict the experimental responses and propose the local reinforcement design in the anchorage zone of the ring beam. The results showed that the ultimate load of the specimens under both working conditions was greater than the nominal ultimate tensile force. The original reinforcement design could meet the bearing capacity requirements, but there was still room for optimization. The ring beam was generally under pressure in the anchorage area, while the splitting force appeared in the under-anchor area, and the spalling force appeared in the corner area of the tooth block, which could be targeted for local strengthening design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.25-41
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• 2024

The measurement of pile bearing capacity is crucial for the design of pile foundations, where in-situ tests could be costly and time needed. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the potential use of fuzzy-based techniques to anticipate the maximum weight that concrete driven piles might bear. Despite the existence of several suggested designs, there is a scarcity of specialized studies on the exploration of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFIS) for the estimation of pile bearing capacity. This paper presents the introduction and validation of a novel technique that integrates the fire hawk optimizer (FHO) and equilibrium optimizer (EO) with the ANFIS, referred to as ANFIS_FHO and ANFIS_EO, respectively. A comprehensive compilation of 472 static load test results for driven piles was located within the database. The recommended framework was built, validated, and tested using the training set (70%), validation set (15%), and testing set (15%) of the dataset, accordingly. Moreover, the sensitivity analysis is performed in order to determine the impact of each input on the output. The results show that ANFIS_FHO and ANFIS_EO both have amazing potential for precisely calculating pile bearing capacity. The R² values obtained for ANFIS_FHO were 0.9817, 0.9753, and 0.9823 for the training, validating, and testing phases. The findings of the examination of uncertainty showed that the ANFIS_FHO system had less uncertainty than the ANFIS_EO model. The research found that the ANFIS_FHO model provides a more satisfactory estimation of the bearing capacity of concrete driven piles when considering various performance evaluations and comparing it with existing literature.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.363-375
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• 2019

Since the double-deck tunnel is deeply constructed in the city, it is necessary to secure the installation space of air supply and exhaust, escape passage stairs, elevator, distribution facilities and connection tunnels in the vertical shaft for the double-deck tunnel. Also, in order to minimize the effect of construction on adjacent area, it is necessary to construct the concrete structures at high speed in vertical shaft after tunnel excavation. Therefore, the slabs and the stairs in vertical shaft are needed to be constructed using precast concrete, and the rapid construction techniques of bracket for supporting the inner precast structure are needed. The bracket installation methods include cast-in-place concrete, precast concrete and steel. In this study, the improvement of the steel brackets with good economical efficiency and good workability was carried out in consideration of the improvement of the construction speed. We have developed a new bracket that is optimized through bracket shape improvement, anchor bolt position adjustment and quantity optimization. As a result of the structural performance test, it was confirmed that the required load supporting capacity was secured. As a result of structural performance test for bar type anchor bolt and bent anchor anchor bolt, it was confirmed that the required load carrying capacity was secured and that the load bearing capacity of bent anchor bolt was large.