• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.541-558
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• 2019

In Special Concentrically Braced Frames (SCBFs), vertical and horizontal components of the brace force must be resisted by column and beam, respectively but normal force component existing at the gusset plate-to-column and beam interfaces, creates out-of-plane action making distortion in column and beam faces adjacent to the gusset plate. It is a main concern in Hollow Structural Section (HSS) columns and beams where their webs and gusset plate are not in the same plane. In this paper, a new gusset plate passing through the HSS columns and beams, named as through gusset plate, is proposed to study the force transfer mechanism in such gusset plates of SCBFs compared to the case with conventional gusset plates. For this purpose, twelve SCBFs with diagonal brace and HSS columns and twelve SCBFs with chevron brace and HSS columns and beams are considered. For each frame, two cases are considered, one with through gusset plates and the other with conventional ones. Based on numerical results, using through gusset plates prevents distortion and out-of-plane deformation at HSS column and beam faces adjacent to the gusset plate helping the entire column and beam cross-sections to resist respectively vertical and horizontal components of the brace force. Moreover, its application increases energy dissipation, lateral stiffness and strength around 28%, 40% and 32%, respectively, improving connection behavior and raising the resistance of the normal force components at the gusset plate-to-HSS column and beam interfaces to approximately 4 and 3.5 times, respectively. Finally, using such through gusset plates leads to better structural performance particularly for HSS columns and beams with larger width-to-thickness ratio elements.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2021

The purpose of this paper is to improve the inappropriate analysis results when the end of the brace on braced frame is applied as pinned connection in practice. The stiffness of the gusset plate connection on the braced frame has the amount of between pinned and rigid connection, and the analysis model that applies the stiffness of the connection must be used for accurate performance evaluation. In this study, the stiffness of the gusset plate designed by the balanced design procedure are quantified, and applied to the analysis model to simulate the gusset plate connection. The proposed model was verified through nonlinear static analysis (pushover analysis) of SAP2000. The effect of the connection on the seismic performance of the braced frame was analyzed by comparing the proposed model and pinned model. As a result, it was confirmed that the performance of the braced frame was evaluated conservatively in practice, and the ductility was overestimated. Therefore, it is important to consider the connection for accurate and economical performance evaluation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2003

A tubular member with through-gusset plate is often used to transmit axial compression in an electric transmission towers. In current code, the strength of tubular member is evaluated with an effective length factor k=0.9 without considering the deformation of boundary element. A buckling strength of member with end gusset plate is affected by stiffness ratio($\beta$) and the length ratio(G) between main tubular member and end gusset plate. In this study theoretical mechanism based on the elastic buckling behavior was investigated, and finite element analysis was performed to propose a formula for the buckling strength and effective length factor of tubular member in elsatic and inelastic ranges.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.735-751
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• 2014

Concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) composite columns, either circular (CCFT) or rectangular (RCFT), have many economical and aesthetic advantages but the behavior of their connections are complicated. This study aims to investigate, through an experimental program, the performance and behavior of different connections configurations between circular concrete filled steel tube columns (CCFT) and gusset plates subjected to shear and axial compression loadings. The study included seventeen connection subassemblies consisting of a fixed length steel tube and gusset plate connected to the tube end with different details tested under half cyclic loading. A notable effect was observed on the behavior of the connections due to its detailing changes with respect to capacity, failure mode, ductility, and stress distribution.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.609-619
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• 2001

It is almost impossible to evaluate the ultimate strength theoretically, because the behavior of Gusset-Tube connection stiffened with rib-plate is considerably complicate. Therefore in this study a finite element model of gusset-tube connection stiffened with rib-plate was established. The validity of finite element analysis was examined through comparing with previous experimental result and the behavior and strength of the connection was examined. From the parametric study considering lateral force ratio, eccentricity, gusset length based on finite element model, the stiffened effect was estimated and stiffening method was proposed.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.523-533
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• 2011

The demand for the circular hollow section (CHS) has been increasing due to its structural advantage in long-span structures and high-rise buildings. There are not enough researches on the CHS structure, though. The behavior of the gusset plate CHS joint, to predict the ultimate strength, is not easy to predict because the load deflection curve does not show consistency. Therefore, in this study, experiments and finite element analysis (FEA) were carried out to determine the ultimate strength according to the proposed ultimate deformation limit. Finally, a reasonable ultimate strength formula was proposed through comparisons with other design guides.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2009

Failure modes result in fracture or tearing, which may cause deterioration of resistance and reduction of inelastic deformation capacity. The potential failure modes for Special Concentrically Braced Frames (SCBFs) include fracture or tearing of the brace, net section fracture of the brace or gusset plate, fracture of the gusset plate welds, shear fracture of the bolts, block shear, excessive bolt bearing deformation, and buckling of the gusset plate. HSS tubular braces are commonly used in SCBFs, and net section fracture of the tubular brace may also occur through the brace net section at the end of the slot cut into the tube to slip over the gusset plate. This failure mode is categorized as a tension failure mode, and may cause dramatic loss of resistance and brittle behavior. Net section reinforcement is required according to AISC design specifications (AISC 2001). In this paper, the need to reinforce the net section area was discussed. Initially, the results of the net section fracture tests done by the University of California in Berkeley were presented with the modeling of these tests using FE models. To investigate the possibility of net section fracture in an actual frame, the slot end hole model was adapted to the frame FE model, and alternate near-fault histories were applied with tension-dominated cycles, since previous analyses showed that loading history was the most critical factor in net section fracture. The need for this reinforcement (cover plate) and the tension-dominated near-fault history were investigated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.877-895
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• 2015

Connections to circular hollow steel sections (CHS) are considered one of the most complex and time consuming connections in steel construction. Such connections are usually composed of gusset plates welded to the outside of the steel tube or penetrating the steel tube. Design guides, accounting for the effect of connection configuration on the strength of the connection, are not present. This study aims to investigate, through experimental testing and a parametric study, the influence of connection configuration on the strength of one sided branch plate-to-CHS members. A notable effect was observed on the behavior of the connections due to its detailing changes with respect to capacity, failure mode, ductility, and stress distribution. A parametric study is performed using the calibrated analytical model to include a wider range of parameters. The study involves 26 numerical analyses of finite element models including parameters of the diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio, length of gusset plate, and connection configuration. Accordingly, a modification to the formulas provided by the current design recommendations was suggested to include connection configuration effects for the one sided branch plate-to-CHS members.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2012

With the increase in the demand for high-rise buildings, the use of high-strength steel has likewise increased. Thus, it has become more necessary to study the resistance force of the high-strength hollow structural section (HSS) joint of 600MPa. Additionally, the current design equation in Korea limits maximum yield stress at 360MPa in the case of HSS. In other words, since the current specification does not apply to HSS of 600MPa, this study aims to investigate the applicability of design equations as well as examine the behavior of the connection through the experiment and finite element analysis (FEA) of the plate-tube connection of 600MPa. In particular, this paper presents the behavior of joints with the gusset plates welded in the longitudinal direction of the circular hollow section (CHS) when the joints are subjected to lateral force. Comparing design equations with the results of FEA and the test, existing design equations are underestimated to be 56~79% in the case of high-strength materials.

• Design & Manufacturing
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.24-33
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• 2022

Fiber-reinforced plastics(FRPs) have excellent specific stiffness and strength, so they are usually used as automotive parts that require high rigidity and lightweight instead of metal. However, it is difficult to predict the mechanical properties of injection molded parts due to the fiber orientation and breakage of FRPs. In this paper, the fiber orientation characteristics and mechanical properties of injection molded specimens were evaluated in order to fabricate automotive transmission side covers with FRPs and design a rib structure for improvement of their rigidity. The test molds were designed and manufactured to confirm the fiber orientation characteristics of each position of the injection molded standard plate-shaped specimens, and the tensile properties of the specimens were evaluated according to the injection molding conditions and directions of specimens. A gusset-rib structure was designed to improve the additional structural rigidity of the target products, and a proper rib structure was selected through the flexural tests of the rib-structured specimens. Based on the evaluation of fiber orientation and mechanical characteristics, the optimization analyses of gate location were performed to minimize the warpage of target products. Also, the deformation analyses against the internal pressure of target product were performed to confirm the rigidity improvement by gusset-rib structure. As a result, it could be confirmed that the deformation was reduced by 27~37% compared to the previous model, when the gusset-rib structure was applied to the joining part of the target products.