• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.579-596
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• 2016

This paper describes a method of the refined plastic hinge approach in the framework of the higher-order element formulation that can efficaciously evaluate the limit state capacity of a whole reinforced concrete structural system using least number of element(s), whereas the traditional design of a reinforced concrete structure (i.e. AS3600; Eurocode 2) is member-based approach. Hence, in regard to the material nonlinearities, the efficient and economical cross-section analysis is provided to evaluate the element section capacity of non-uniform and arbitrary concrete section subjected to the interaction effects, which is helpful to formulate the refined plastic hinge method. In regard to the geometric nonlinearities, this paper relies on the higher-order element formulation with element load effect. Eventually, the load redistribution can be considered and make full use of the strength reserved owing to the redundancy of an indeterminate structure. And it is particularly true for the performance-based design of a structure under the extreme loads, while the uncertainty of the extreme load is great that the true behaviour of a whole structural system is important for the economical design approach, which is great superiority over the conservative optimal strength of an individual and isolated member based on traditional design (i.e. AS3600; Eurocode 2).

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.111-130
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• 2001

This paper presents an effective, reliable and accurate method for prediction of structural behaviour of steel frames at elevated temperature. The refined plastic hinge method, which has been used successfully in the second-order elasto-plastic analysis of steel frames at ambient conditions, is adopted here to allow for time-independent fire effects. In contrast to the existing rigorous finite element programs, the present method uses the advanced analysis technique that provides a simple and reliable means for practical study of the behaviour of steel frames at elevated temperature by a limiting stress model. The present method is validated against other test and numerical results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.147-160
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• 2006

GA-based fuzzy optimum design algorithm incorporated with the refined plastic hinge analysis method is presented in this study. In the refined plastic hinge analysis method, geometric nonlinearity is considered by using the stability functions of the beam-column members. Material nonlinearity is also considered by using the gradual stiffness degradation model, which considers the effects of residual stresses, moment redistribution through the occurence of plastic hinges, and the geometric imperfections of the members. In the genetic algorithm, the tournament selection method and the total weight of the steel frames. The requirements of load-carrying capacity, serviceability, ductility, and constructabil ity are used as the constraint conditions. In fuzzy optimization, for crisp objective function and fuzzy constraint s, the tolerance that is accepted is 5% of the constraints. Furthermore, a level-cut method is presented from 0 to 1 at a 0 .2 interval, with the use of the nonmembership function, to solve fuzzy-optimization problems. The values of conventional GA optimization and fuzzy GA optimization are compared in several examples of steel structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.387-407
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• 2006

A Genetic Algorithm (hereinafter GA) based optimum design algorithm and program for plane steel frames with partially restrained connections is presented. The algorithm was incorporated with the refined plastic hinge analysis method, in which geometric nonlinearity was considered by using the stability functions of beam-column members and material nonlinearity was considered by using the gradual stiffness degradation model that included the effects of residual stress, moment redistribution by the occurrence of plastic hinges, partially restrained connections, and the geometric imperfection of members. In the genetic algorithm, a tournament selection method and micro-GAs were employed. The fitness function for the genetic algorithm was expressed as an unconstrained function composed of objective and penalty functions. The objective and penalty functions were expressed, respectively, as the weight of steel frames and the constraint functions which account for the requirements of load-carrying capacity, serviceability, ductility, and construction workability. To verify the appropriateness of the present method, the optimum design results of two plane steel frames with fully and partially restrained connections were compared.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.339-349
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• 2017

In this paper, a conventional refined plastic hinge analysis is improved to account for the effects of local buckling and lateral-torsional buckling. The degradation of flexural strength caused by these effects is implicitly considered using practical LRFD equation. The second-order effect is captured using stability functions to minimize modeling and solution time. An incremental-iterative scheme based on the generalized displacement control method is employed to solve the nonlinear equilibrium equations. A computer program is developed to predict the second-order inelastic behavior of space steel frames. To verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed program, the obtained results are compared with the existing results and those generated using the commercial finite element package ABAQUS. It can be concluded that the proposed program proves to be a reliable and effective tool for daily use in engineering design.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.2 s.69
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• pp.201-213
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• 2004

A GA-based optimum design algorithm and a program for plane steel frame structures with semi-rigid connections are presented. The algorithm is incorporated with the refined plastic hinge analysis method wherein geometric nonlinearity is considered by using the stability functions of beam-column members, and material nonlinearity, by using the gradual stiffness degradation model that includes the effects of residual stresses, moment redistribution through the occurrence of plastic hinges, semi-rigid connections, and geometric imperfection of members. In the genetic algorithm, the tournament selection method and micro-GAs are employed. The fitness function for the genetic algorithm is expressed as an unconstrained function composed of objective and penalty functions. The objective and penalty functions are expressed as the weight of steel frames and the constraint functions, respectively. In particular, the constraint functions fulfill the requirements of load-carrying capacity, serviceability, ductility, and construction workability. To verify the appropriateness of the present method, the optimal design results of two plane steel frames with rigid and semi-rigid connections are compared.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.103-113
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• 1996

This paper presents practical notional-load plastic-hinge method for a two-dimensional steel structure design. The proposed method incorporates the refined plastic-hinge concept for spread of plasticity together with a practical notional-load approach. The proposed method can assess realistically both strength and behavior of a structural system and its individual members in a direct manner. As a result, the method can be used for design without tedious separate member capacity checks, including the calculation of K-factor. The strengths predicted by the proposed method are then compared with those predicted by the exact plastic-zone analysis as well as by the conventional LRFD procedure. A good agreement is generally observed. The displacement predictions are compared with the plastic-zone solutions. Analysis and design guidelines in using the proporsed method are given in detail. Analysis and design procedures are recommended. Member sizes determined by the proposed method are compared with those determined by the LRFD method. It is concluded that the procedures are suitable for adoption in practice.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.483-492
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• 2009

In this study, nonlinear analysis of steel plane frame was performed using the refined plastic hinge method of advanced analysis techniques. In deterioration of stiffness in plastic zone, influences by flexural bending, residual stress, geometrical non-linearity, and semi-rigid connection are considered. And also, further reduced tangent modulus was used for geometrical non-linearity, top and seat angle were chosen for semi-rigid connection. Furthermore, 3 parameter power model was used for moment-rotation behaviour of beam to column connection. The loading conditions are combined with axial and lateral force and the inverse triangle distribution of lateral and eight type of analytical models were used in analysis. The results of analyses were compared with semi-rigid and rigid connection on behaviour of numerical analysis models. And also, the behaviors of frame with changes of semi-rigidity were analyzed by using the results obtained from MIIDAS-GENw.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.16 no.1 s.68
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• pp.21-32
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• 2004

In this study, a continuous optimum design model with its application program for plane steel frame structures developed. In the model, the sequential unconstrained minimization technique (SUMT) transforming the nonlinear optimization problem with multidesign variables and constraints into an unconstrained minimization problem and the refined plastic hinge analysis method as one of the most effective second-order inelastic analysis methods for steel frame structures were implemented. The total weight of a steel frame structure was taken as the objective function, and the AISC-LRFD code requirements for the local and member buckling, flexural strength, shear strength, axial strength and size of the cross-sectional shapes of members were used for the derivation of constraint equations. To verify the appropriateness of the present model, the optimum designs of serveral plane steel frame structures subject to vertical and horizontal loads were conducted.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.12 no.3 s.46
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• pp.317-328
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• 2000

The objective of the research is to develop an algorithm for the optimum design of two-dimensional braced steel frames using an advanced analysis, which considers both material and geometric nonlinearties. Since both nonlinearties are considered in analysis process, Optimum design algorithm which does not require to calculate K-factor is presented. A multi-level discrete optimization technique with two parameters that uses the information of structural system and separate member has been developed. The structural analysis is performed by the relined plastic-hinge method which is based on zero-length plastic hinge theory. Optimization problem are formulated by AISC-LRFD code. The feasibility, validity and efficiency of the developed algorithm is demonstrated by the results of the braced steel frame.