• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.641-657
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• 2015

Application of reduced web beam section (RWBS) as a sacrificial fuse element has become a popular research field in recent years. Weakening of beam web in these connections may cause local web buckling around the opening area which can affect cyclic behavior of connection including: maximum load carrying capacity, strength degradation rate, dissipated energy, rotation capacity, etc. In this research, effect of local web buckling on the cyclic behavior of RWBS connections is investigated using finite element modeling (FEM). For this purpose, a T-shaped moment connection which has been tested under cyclic loading by another author is used as the reference model. Fracture initiation in models is simulated using Cyclic Void Growth Model (CVGM) which is based on micro-void growth and coalescence. Included in the results are: effect of opening corner radii, opening dimensions, beam web thickness and opening reinforcement. Based on the results, local web buckling around the opening area plays a significant role on the cyclic behavior of connection and hence any parameter affecting the local web buckling will affect entire connection behavior.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.74-81
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• 2017

The door impact beam of the side-impacted vehicle plays a key role in securing occupant safety by preventing intrusion from the impacting vehicle. Despite the low production cost, the press door impact beam has been adopted sparingly because of the strength inferiority. In this study, the design technologies of the press beam aimed at improving bending strength were investigated. First, the effect of the section shape and size was examined. Next, thickness and material strength were increased. Also, the TRB beam application was simulated by varying combined thickness. Some TRB beams with reduced weight exhibited bending strength over the strength of the pipe beam. Then, the beam with a closed center section also showed remarkably enhanced maximum bending strength.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.571-583
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• 2017

A kind of accordion-web RBS connection, "Tubular Web RBS (TW-RBS)" connection is proposed in this research. TW-RBS is made by replacing a part of web with a tube at the desirable location of the beam plastic hinge. This paper presents first a numerical study under cyclic load using ABAQUS finite element software. A test specimen is used for calibration and comparison of numerical results. Obtained results indicated that TW-RBS would reduce contribution of the beam web to the whole moment strength and creates a ductile fuse far from components of the beam-to-column connection. Besides, TW-RBS connection can increase story drift capacity up to 9% in the case of shallow beams which is much more than those stipulated by the current seismic codes. Furthermore, the tubular web like corrugated sheet can improve both the out-of-plane stiffness of the beam longitudinal axis and the flange stability condition due to the smaller width to thickness ratio of the beam flange in the plastic hinge region. Thus, the tubular web in the plastic hinge region improves lateral-torsional buckling stability of the beam as just local buckling of the beam flange at the center of the reduced section was observed during the tests. Also change of direction of strain in arc shape of the tubular web section is smaller than the accordion webs with sharp corners therefore the tubular web provides a better condition in terms of low-cycle fatigue than other accordion web with sharp corners.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.203-221
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• 2008

In this paper, we present an idea of the geometry-dependent MITC method. The simple concept is exemplified to improve a 2-node iso-beam (isoparametric beam) finite element of varying section. We first study the behavior of a standard 2-node iso-beam finite element of prismatic section, which has been widely used with reduced integration (or the equivalent MITC method) in order to avoid shear locking. Based on analytical studies on cantilever beams of varying section, we propose the axial strain correction (ASC) scheme and the geometry-dependent tying (GDT) scheme for the 2-node iso-beam element. We numerically analyze varying section beam problems and present the improved performance by using both ASC and GDT schemes.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.69-77
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• 2003

This paper presents test results on eight reduced beam section(RBS) steel moment connections. The testing program addressed bolted versus welded web connection and panel zone(PZ) strength as key variables, Specimens with medium PZ strength were designed to promote energy dissipation from both PZ and RBS regions such that the requirement for expensive doublet plates could be reduced. Both strong and medium PZ specimens with a welded web connection were able to provide satisfactory connection rotation capacity for special moment-resisting frames. On the other hand, specimens with a bolted web connection performed poorly due to premature brittle fracture of the beam flange of the weld access hole. If fracture within the beam flange groove weld was avoided using quality welding, the fracture tended to move into the beam flange base metal of the weld access hole. Plausible explanation of a higher incidence of base metal fracture in bolted web specimens was presented. The measured strain data confirmed that the classical beam theory dose not provide reliable shear transfer prediction in the connection. The practice of providing web bolts uniformly along the beam depth was brought into question. Criteria for a balanced PZ strength improves the plastic rotation capacity while reduces the amount of beam distortion ore also proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.173-178
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• 2001

The cost on transmission and election of precast concrete members largely depends on the weight of them. In this study, the weight of prestressed precast beam could be reduced by control the section and prestressing force to meet the required strength on the basis of the optimum process. The top and bottom concrete stress of the section considered is required to check according to each construction step for this process. The original rectangular beam weight could be reduced up to 50~39% due to the development of a U-beams from the optimum process.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.306-316
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• 2002

This paper summarizes the results of full-scale cyclic seismic testing on four RBS (reduced beam section) steel moment connections. Key test variables were web bolting vs. welding and strong vs. medium PZ (panel zone) strength. The specimen with medium PZ strength was specially designed to mobilize energy dissipation from both the PZ and RBS region in a balanced way; the aim was to reduce the requirement of expensive doubler plates. Both strong and medium PZ specimens with web-welding were able to provide sufficient connection rotation capacity required of special moment frames, whereas specimens with web-bolting showed inferior performance due to the premature brittle fracture of the beam flange across the weld access hole. In contrast to the case of web-welded specimens, the web-bolted specimens could not transfer the actual plastic moment of the original (or unreduced) beam section to the column. If a quality welding for the beam-to-column joint is made as in this study, the fracture-prone area tends to move into the beam flange base metal within the weld access hole. Analytical study was also conducted to understand the observed base metal fracture from the engineering mechanics point of view.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2000

In simply supported composite beams, the neutral axis of the composite cross section usually is located the top flange of the steel I-shape, so that the top flange does not impart much strength to the member. This suggests that omitting the top flange entirely could be a means to lower the cost of the beam without greatly reducing the strength. The purpose of this investigation is to research flexural strength and behavior of the composite beams with reduced top flange of steel. Five specimens with H and inverted T steel section were tested. As the test results, comparison of the experimental to computed full-plastic moment, and variations of flexural strength with reduced top flange were analyzed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.6 s.73
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• pp.833-846
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• 2004

This study presents a non-prismatic beam element for modeling the elastic behavior of steel beams, which have the post-Northridge connections in steel moment frames. The elastic stiffness matrix, including the shear effects for non-prismatic members with reduced beam section (RBS) connection, is in closed form. A simplified approach is also suggested, which uses a prismatic beam element to model beams with the RBS connection. This method can estimate quiteexactly the maximum story drift ratios of frames with the RBS connection. The effects of reduced beam section connection on the elastic stiffness of steel moment frames were investigated. The selection of a proper model to account for deformations at the joint might have a more important role in estimating the maximum story drift ratios of frames with better accuracy than the RBS cutouts.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.493-502
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• 2001

This paper describes a seismic design procedure for rib-reinforced RBS(Reduced Beam Section) steel moment connections. Engineers often use rib plates to enhance seismic performance of steel moment connections. thinking that the 2nd moment of inertia is increased so that the tensile stress in the beam flange groove weld is reduced However the force transfer mechanism in the rib connections is completely different from that as predicted by the classical beam theory ; a clear diagonal strut action is present in the rib. By treating the rib as a strut the writer has recently proposed an equivalent strut model that could be used as the basis of a practical design procedure. In this paper the proposed equivalent strut model is briefly presented first. A step-by-step design procedure is then recommended based on the proposed model.