• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.661-678
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• 2024

The utilization of geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (GRAC) as the infilled core of the concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns provides superior economic and environmental benefits. However, limited research exists within the field of geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete considered a green and sustainable material, in addition to the limitation of the design guidelines to predict the behavior of such an innovative new material combination. Moreover, the behavior of high-strength concrete is different from the normal-strength one, especially when there is another material of high-strength properties, such as the steel tube. This paper aims to investigate the behavior of the axially loaded square high-strength GRACFST columns through the nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA). A total of thirty-two specimens were simulated using ABAQUS/Standard software with three main variables: recycled aggregate replacement ratio (0, 30, and 50) %, width-to-thickness ratios (52.0, 32.0, 23.4, and 18.7), and length-to-width ratio (3, 5, 9, and 12). During the analysis, the response in terms of the axial load versus the longitudinal strain was recorded and plotted. In addition, various mechanical properties were calculated and analyzed. In view of the results, it has been demonstrated that the mechanical properties of high-strength GRACFST columns such as ultimate load-bearing capacity, compressive stiffness, energy absorption capacity, and ductility increase with the increase of the steel tube thickness owing to the improvement of the confinement effect of the steel tube. In contrast, the incorporation of the recycled aggregate adversely affected the mentioned properties except the ductility, while the increase of the recycled aggregate replacement ratio improved the column's ductility. Moreover, it has been found that the increase in the length-to-width ratio significantly reduced both the failure strain and the energy absorption capacity. Finally, the obtained NLFEA results of the ultimate load-bearing capacity were compared with the corresponding predicted capacities by numerous codes. It has been concluded that AISC, ACI, and EC give conservative predictions for the ultimate load-bearing capacity since the confinement effect was not considered by these codes.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2024

Rotating beams play a crucial role in representing complex mechanical components that are prevalent in vital sectors like energy and transportation industries. These components are susceptible to the initiation and propagation of cracks, posing a substantial risk to their structural integrity. This study presents a two-stage methodology for detecting the location and estimating the size of an open-edge transverse crack in a rotating Euler-Bernoulli beam with a uniform cross-section. Understanding the dynamic behavior of beams is vital for the effective design and evaluation of their operational performance. In this regard, modal parameters such as natural frequencies and eigenmodes are frequently employed to detect and identify damages in mechanical components. In this instance, the Frobenius method has been employed to determine the first two natural frequencies and corresponding eigenmodes associated with flapwise bending vibration. These calculations have been performed by solving the governing differential equation that describes the motion of the beam. Various parameters have been considered, such as rotational speed, beam slenderness, hub radius, and crack size and location. The effect of the crack has been replaced by a rotational spring whose stiffness represents the increase in local flexibility as a result of the damage presence. In the initial phase of the proposed methodology, a damage index utilizing the slope of the beam's eigenmode has been employed to estimate the location of the crack. After detecting the presence of damage, the size of the crack is determined using a Genetic Algorithm optimization technique. The ultimate goal of the proposed methodology is to enable the development of more suitable and reliable maintenance plans.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.6
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• pp.557-570
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• 2024

Due to interfacial ageing, chemical action and interfacial damage, the interface debonding may appear in the interfaces of composite laminates. Particularly, the laminates display a side-dependent effect at small scale. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) and anisotropic thick nanoplate model is proposed to investigate the effects of imperfect interface and nonlocal parameter on the bending deformation, vibrational response and buckling stability of one-dimensional (1D) hexagonal quasicrystal (QC) layered nanoplates. By combining the linear spring model with the transferring matrix method, exact solutions of phonon and phason displacements, phonon and phason stresses of bending deformation, the natural frequencies of vibration and the critical buckling loads of 1D hexagonal QC layered nanoplates are derived with imperfect interfaces and nonlocal effects. Numerical examples are illustrated to demonstrate the effects of the imperfect interface parameter, aspect ratio, thickness, nonlocal parameter, and stacking sequence on the bending deformation, the vibrational response and the critical buckling load of 1D hexagonal QC layered nanoplate. The results indicate that both the interface debonding and nonlocal effect can reduce the stiffness and stability of layered nanoplates. Increasing thickness of QC coatings can enhance the stability of sandwich nanoplates with the perfect interfaces, while it can reduce first and then enhance the stability of sandwich nanoplates with the imperfect interfaces. The biaxial compression easily results in an instability of the QC layered nanoplates compared to uniaxial compression. QC material is suitable for surface layers in layered structures. The mechanical behavior of QC layered nanoplates can be optimized by imposing imperfect interfaces and controlling the stacking sequence artificially. The present solutions are helpful for the various numerical methods, thin nanoplate theories and the optimal design of QC nano-composites in engineering practice with interfacial debonding.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.337-349
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• 2024

The growing quantity of tires and building trash piling up in landfills poses a serious threat to the stability of the ecosystem. Researchers are exploring ways to reduce and use such byproducts of the construction industry in an effort to promote greener building practices. Thus, using recycled crumb rubber from scrap tires in concrete manufacturing is important for the industry's long-term viability. This study examines the proportion of waste rubber in fiber form, specifically at weight percentages of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Moreover, the study examines the shear behavior of reinforced concrete beams. A total of twelve RC beam specimens, each sized 100 mm by 150 mm by 1000 mm (w × d × L), were constructed and positioned to the test. Various mixtures were designed with different levels of scrap tire rubber content (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) and Stirrup Vol. Ratio (2.10, 2.80, and 3.53) in reinforced concrete beams. The findings indicate that the inclusion of scrap rubber in concrete leads to a decrease in both the mechanical characteristics and weight of the material. This is mostly attributed to the lower strength and stiffness of the rubberized concrete. Furthermore, estimations generated by a variety of design codes were examined alongside the obtained data. In order to make a comparison between the estimates provided by the different codes such as ACI 318-14, CEB-FIB and Iranian national building codes, a calculation was done to determine the ratio of the experimental shear strength to the anticipated shear strength for each code.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2024

In order to enhance the seismic performance of base-isolated structures on soft foundations, the hybrid system of base-isolated system (BIS) and shape memory alloy inerter (SMAI), referred to as BIS+SMAI, is for the first time here proposed. Considering the nonlinear hysteretic relationships of both the isolation layer and SMA, and soil-structure interaction (SSI), the equivalent linearized state space equation is established of the structure-BIS+SMAI system. The displacement variance based on the H₂ norm is then formulated for the structure with BIS+SMAI. Employing the particle swarm optimization, the optimization design methodology of BIS+SMAI is presented in the frequency domain. The evolvement rules of BIS+SMAI in the effectiveness, robustness, SMA driving force, inertia force, stroke, and damping enhancement effect are revealed in the frequency domain through changing the inerter-mass ratio, structural height, aspect ratio, and relative stiffness ratio between the soil and structure. Meanwhile, the validation of BIS+SMAI is conducted using real earthquake records. Results demonstrate that BIS+SMAI can effectively reduce the isolation layer displacement. The inerter can significantly increase the hysteretic displacement of SMA and thus enhance its energy dissipation capacity, implying that BIS+SMAI has better effectiveness than BIS+SMA. Although BIS+SMAI and BIS+ tuned inerter damper (TID) have practically the same effectiveness, BIS+SMAI has the lower optimum damping, significantly smaller inertia force, and higher robustness to perturbations of the optimum parameters. Therefore, BIS+SMAI can be used as a more engineering realizable hybrid system for enhancing the performance of base-isolated structures in soft soil areas.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.31-43
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• 2024

A very widely used analytical method (mathematical model), mentioned in Eurocode 3, to examine the connections' bending behavior is the component-based method that has certain weak points shown in the plastic behavior part of the moment-rotation curves. In the component method available in Eurocode 3, for simplicity, the effect of strain hardening is omitted, and the bending behavior of the connection is modeled with the help of a two-line diagram. To make the component method more efficient and reliable, this research proposed its advanced version, wherein the plastic part of the diagram was developed beyond the guidelines of the mentioned Regulation, implemented to connect the end plate, and verified with the moment-rotation curves found from the laboratory model and the finite element method in ABAQUS. The findings indicated that the advanced component method (the method developed in this research) could predict the plastic part of the moment-rotation curve as well as the conventional component-based method in Eurocode 3. The comparison between the laboratory model and the outputs of the conventional and advanced component methods, as well as the outputs of the finite elements approach using ABAQUS, revealed a different percentage in the ultimate moment for bolt-extended end-plate connections. Specifically, the difference percentages were -31.56%, 2.46%, and 9.84%, respectively. Another aim of this research was to determine the optimal dimensions of the end plate joint to reduce costs without letting the mechanical constraints related to the bending moment and the resulting initial stiffness, are not compromised as well as the safety and integrity of the connection. In this research, the thickness and dimensions of the end plate and the location and diameter of the bolts were the design variables, which were optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Snake Optimization (SO), and Teaching Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) to minimization the connection cost of the end plate connection. According to the results, the TLBO method yielded better solutions than others, reducing the connection costs from 43.97 to 17.45€ (60.3%), which shows the method's proper efficiency.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.175-182
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• 2006

In the design of composite structures, shear connectors such as headed stud, channel, perforated plate, etc, are commonly used to transfer longitudinal shear forces across the steel-concrete interface. Many researches have been conducted to improve the characteristics of different types of shear connector. This paper presents the results of 11 push-out tests performed on the new perforated rib connectors with shearing bars embedded in concrete slab under static loads. The results obtained from these tests are as following : 1) The bearing plate welded on both sides of perforated rib plate improves the stiffness and strength. 2) The capacity of perforated connectors is influenced primarily by the transverse reinforcements and shearing bars.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.141-152
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• 2007

Considering uncertainties of random input data, it is more reasonable to use probabilistic method than the conventional deterministic method for the design of structures or for the assessment of the responses of structures, which are designed as safe even under extreme loads. Therefore, to assess the quantitative effects of the constructed cable stayed bridge by the input random variables, a sensitivity analysis is studied. Using perturbation method, an analysis program is developed for the iterative probabilistic finite element analyses and sensitivity analyses of the cable stayed bridge, except the initial shape analysis. Monte-Carlo Simulations were used for the verification of the developed program. The results of sensitivity analysis shows the governing effects of external loads. Because the results also provide the sensitive effects of the stiffness of members and the magnitudes of prestressing force of cables, the developed

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.156-162
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• 2008

The fatigue durability test using the actual size beam was performed with a cramp joint in order to apply to the highway bridge deck slab. Three types of beam were investigated for durability performance by considering stress conditions in real bridge deck slabs, 1) A beam with major shear force applied at the joint (RC Type) 2) A beam with major bending moments applied at the joint (PSC Type) 3) A beam with the pure shear applied at the joint. The experiment for beams with cramp joints showed that the cramp joint had enough durability for fatigue regardless of the overlaid length of the looped distribution bars under the current design strength level. Moreover, it was clarified that the enough durability for fatigue under the load repetition was achieved by increasing the joint span grater than 1.5D with the consideration of the deformation due to reduction in joint stiffness.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.227-237
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• 2024

The incidence angle of seismic excitation relative to the two orthogonal major axes of structures has been a subject of considerable research interest. Previous studies have primarily focused on single-storey symmetric and asymmetric structures, suggesting a minimal effect of incidence angle on structural behavior. This research extends the investigation to multi-storey structures, including vertically irregular configurations, using a comprehensive set of 20 near fault and 20 far field seismic excitation. The study employs nonlinear time-history analysis with a bidirectional hysteresis model to capture inelastic deformations accurately. Various structural models, including one-storey and two- storey regular structures (R1, R2) and vertically irregular structures with setbacks in one direction (IR1) and both directions (IR2), are analysed. The analysis reveals that the incidence angle has no discernible impact over the response of regular multi-storey structures. However, vertically irregular structures exhibit notable responses at corner columns, which decrease towards central columns, irrespective of the incidence angle. This response is attributed to the inherent mass distribution and stiffness irregularities rather than the angle of seismic excitation. The findings indicate that for both near fault and far field seismic excitation, the incidence angle's impact remains marginal even for complex structural configurations. Consequently, the study suggests that the angle of incidence of seismic excitation need not be a primary consideration in the seismic design of both regular and vertically irregular structures. These conclusions are robust across various structural models and seismic excitation characteristics, providing a comprehensive understanding the impact of incidence angle on seismic response.