• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제55권2호
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• pp.299-313
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• 2015

In this paper, an optimization process using Genetic Algorithm (GA) that mimics biological processes is presented for optimum design of planar frames with semi-rigid connections by selecting suitable standard sections from a specified list taken from American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The stress constraints as indicated in AISC-LRFD (American Institute of Steel Construction - Load and Resistance Factor Design), maximum lateral displacement constraints and geometric constraints are considered for optimum design. Two different planar frames with semi-rigid connections taken from the literature are carried out first without considering concrete slab effects in finite element analyses and the results are compared with the ones available in literature. The same optimization procedures are then repeated for full and semi rigid planar frames with composite (steel and concrete) beams. A program is developed in MATLAB for all optimization procedures. Results obtained from this study proved that consideration of the contribution of the concrete on the behavior of the floor beams provides lighter planar frames.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.733-744
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• 2016

In this study, optimum structural designs of braced (non-swaying) planar steel frames are investigated by using one of the recent meta-heuristic search techniques, teaching-learning based optimization. Optimum design problems are performed according to American Institute of Steel Construction- Allowable Stress Design (AISC-ASD) specifications. A computer program is developed in MATLAB interacting with SAP2000 OAPI (Open Application Programming Interface) to conduct optimization procedures. Optimum cross sections are selected from a specified list of 128W profiles taken from AISC. Two different braced planar frames taken from literature are carried out for stress, geometric size, displacement and inter-storey drift constraints. It is concluded that teaching-learning based optimization presents robust and applicable optimum solutions in multi-element structural problems.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.1121-1144
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• 2016

This paper presents a displacement-based finite element procedure for second-order distributed plasticity analysis of planar steel frames with semi-rigid beam-to-column connections under static loadings. A partially strain-hardening elastic-plastic beam-column element, which directly takes into account geometric nonlinearity, gradual yielding of material, and flexibility of semi-rigid connections, is proposed. The second-order effects and distributed plasticity are considered by dividing the member into several sub-elements and meshing the cross-section into several fibers. A new nonlinear solution procedure based on the combination of the Newton-Raphson equilibrium iterative algorithm and the constant work method for adjusting the incremental load factor is proposed for solving nonlinear equilibrium equations. The nonlinear inelastic behavior predicted by the proposed program compares well with previous studies. Coupling effects of three primary sources of nonlinearity, geometric imperfections, and residual stress are investigated and discussed in this paper.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.423-442
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• 2001

This paper presents a method of elastic-plastic analysis for planar steel frames that provides the accuracy of distributed plasticity methods with the computational efficiency that is greater than that of distributed plasticity methods but less than that of plastic-hinge based methods. This method accounts for the effect of spread of plasticity accurately without discretization through the cross-section of a beam-column element, which is achieved by the following procedures. First, nonlinear equations describing the relationships between generalized stresses and strains of the cross-section are derived analytically. Next, nonlinear force-deformation relationships for the beam-column element are obtained through lengthwise integration of the generalized strains. Elastic-plastic flexibility coefficients are then calculated by differentiating the above element force-deformation relationships. Finally, an elastic-plastic stiffness matrix is obtained by making use of the flexibility-stiffness transformation. Adding the conventional geometric stiffness matrix to the elastic-plastic stiffness matrix results in the tangent stiffness matrix, which can readily be used to evaluate the load carrying capacity of steel frames following standard nonlinear analysis procedures. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified by several examples that are sensitive to the effect of spread of plasticity.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제45권3호
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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.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제15권5호
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• pp.513-534
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• 2003

Using fluid dampers to connect adjacent buildings for enhancing their seismic resistant performance has been recently investigated but limited to linear elastic adjacent buildings only. This paper presents a study of inelastic seismic response of adjacent buildings linked by fluid dampers. A nonlinear finite element planar model using plastic beam element is first constructed to simulate two steel frames connected by fluid dampers. Computed linear elastic seismic responses of the two steel frames with and without fluid dampers under moderate seismic events are then compared with the experimental results obtained from shaking table tests. Finally, elastic-plastic seismic responses of the two steel frames with and without fluid dampers are extensively computed, and the fluid damper performance on controlling inelastic seismic response of the two steel frames is assessed. The effects of the fundamental frequency ratio and structural damping ratio of the two steel frames on the damper performance are also examined. The results show that not only in linear elastic stage but also in inelastic stage, the seismic resistant performance of the two steel frames of different fundamental frequencies can be significantly enhanced if they are properly linked by fluid dampers of appropriate parameters.

• 국제강구조저널
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• 제18권5호
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• pp.1560-1576
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• 2018

With the aim to provide an efficient platform for the elastic-plastic analysis of steel structures, reinforced concrete (RC) structures and steel-concrete composite structures, a program iFiberLUT based on the fiber model was developed within the framework of ABAQUS. This program contains an ABAQUS Fiber Generator which can automatically divide the beam and column cross sections into fiber sections, and a material library which includes several concrete and steel uniaxial material models. The range of applications of iFiberLUT is introduced and its feasibility is verified through previously reported test data of individual structural members as well as planar steel frames, RC frames and composite frames subjected to various loadings. The simulation results indicate that the developed program is able to achieve high calculation accuracy and favorable convergence within a wide range of applications.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.253-267
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• 2023

The bearing capacities resisted by the two-bay beams of multi-story planar frames with unequal spans under column removal scenarios differ considerably owing to the asymmetric stress on the left and right beams connected to the failed column and cause the potential for beams with larger span-to-depth ratios to be unable to exert effectively, which is disadvantageous for resisting the vertical load in unequal-span frame structures. To address this problem, the structural measure of adding braces to the weak bays of multi-story unequal-span frames was proposed, with the objective of achieving a coordinated stress state in two-bay beams with unequal spans, thereby improving the collapse resistance of unequal-span frame structures. Before conducting the numerical simulation, the modeling methods were verified by previous experimental results of two multi-story planar frames with and without steel braces. Thereafter, the effects of the tensile and compressive braces on the collapse behavior of the frame structures were elucidated. Then, based on the mechanical action laws of the braces throughout the collapse process, a detailed design method for improving the collapse resistance of unequal-span frame structures was proposed. Finally, the proposed design method was verified by using sufficient example models, and the results demonstrated that the design method has good application prospects and high practical value.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.79-86
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• 2016

In this study, the three different meta-heuristics namely the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Stochastic Fractal Search (SFS), and Adaptive Differential Evolution with Optional External Archive (JADE) algorithms are examined. This study considers optimization of the planer frame to minimize its weight subjected to the strength and displacement constraints as per the American Institute of Steel and Construction - Load and Resistance Factor Design (AISC-LRFD). The GWO algorithm is associated with grey wolves' activities in the social hierarchy. The SFS algorithm works on the natural phenomenon of growth. JADE on the other hand is a powerful self-adaptive version of a differential evolution algorithm. A one-bay ten-story planar steel frame problem is examined in the present work to investigate the design ability of the proposed algorithms. The frame design is produced by optimizing the W-shaped cross sections of beam and column members as per AISC-LRFD standard steel sections. The results of the algorithms are compared. In addition, these results are also mapped with other state-of-art algorithms.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제29권4호
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• pp.391-410
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• 2008

In this article, a harmony search algorithm is presented for optimum design of steel frame structures. Harmony search is a meta-heuristic search method which has been developed recently. It is based on the analogy between the performance process of natural music and searching for solutions of optimization problems. The design algorithms obtain minimum weight frames by selecting suitable sections from a standard set of steel sections such as American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) wide-flange (W) shapes. Stress constraints of AISC Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) and AISC Allowable Stress Design (ASD) specifications, maximum (lateral displacement) and interstorey drift constraints, and also size constraint for columns were imposed on frames. The results of harmony search algorithm were compared to those of the other optimization algorithms such as genetic algorithm, optimality criterion and simulated annealing for two planar and two space frame structures taken from the literature. The comparisons showed that the harmony search algorithm yielded lighter designs for the design examples presented.