• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.255-268
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• 2017

Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) are widely used to strengthen steel structures and retrofitting of existing structures due to its excellent properties. This paper reviews the use of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) in strengthening steel and concrete structures. The paper discusses the use of FRP in strengthening of steel bridges, uses of FRP in repairing of corroded structures and the behaviour of different adhesives. The paper then deals with the FRP strengthened hollow sections and the different failure experienced. The paper then reviewed the current state of art used in strengthening tubular structures and focusing on FRP in strengthening of joints.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.835-845
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• 1994

In this paper, the effects of the adhesive thickness and adherend roughness on the static and fatigue strengths of the adhesively bonded circular single lap joints has been investigated by an experimental method. The stacking sequence effect of the composite adherend on the static and fatigue strength and the fracture patterns of the adhesive failure were also observed. Since the circular single lap joint fails catastrophically beyond the static strength of fatigue limit, the tubular polygonal adhesively bonded joints such as triangular, tetragonal, pentagonal, hexagonal as well as elliptical joints were manufactured in order to give partial mechanical characteristics to the adhesively bonded tubular joints. These joints were tested both in static and fatigue modes. From the experimental investigations, it was found that the fatigue strength of the circular adhesively bonded joints was much dependent on the arithmetical average surface roughness of the adherends and the polygonal adhesively bonded joints had better fatigue strength characteristics than the circular adhesively bonded joints.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.587-587
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• 1989

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.383-390
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• 2017

This paper highlights the experimental and numerical investigations performed on a tubular T-joint fabricated from circular hollow sections under axial compressive loads applied at the brace. Tests were performed on a reference joint and the joint wrapped with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP). The Nitowrap EP carbon fiber with Nitowrap 410 resin serve as a composite material is used for wrapping the T-joint. Schematic diagram of the fabricated tubular joint for the experimental test setup, along with the experimental and numerical results are presented. After performing these experiments, it has been demonstrated that the joint wrapped with CFRP has a better strength and lesser deflection than a reference joint. Finite element analysis carried out in Ansys reveals that the results were in good correlation with the experimental values.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.203-216
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• 2016

To study the stress concentration factors (SCFs) of concrete-filled tubular Y-joints subject to in-plane bending, experiments were used to investigate the hot spot stress distribution along the intersection between chord and brace. Three concrete-filled tubular chords forming Y-joints were tested with different reinforcing components, including doubler-plate, sleeve, and haunch-plate reinforcement. In addition, an unreinforced joint was also tested for comparison. Test results indicate that the three different forms of reinforcement effectively reduce the peak SCFs compared with the unreinforced joint. The current research suggests that the linear extrapolation method can be used for chords, whereas the quadratic extrapolation method must be used for braces. The SCF is effectively reduced and more evenly distributed when the value of the axial compression ratio in the chord is increased. Furthermore, the SCFs obtained from the test results were compared to predictions from some well-established SCF equations. Generally, the predictions from those equations are very consistent for braces, but very conservative for concrete-filled chords.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.127-132
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• 2002

Recent deepwater offshore structures in Gulf of Mexico utilize butt welded tubular joints. Application of welded tubular joint includes tendons, production risers, and steel catenary risers. Fatigue life assessment of these joints becomes more critical because the structures to which they are attached are allowed to undergo cyclic and sometimes large displacements around an anchored position. Estimating the fatigue behavior of these tubular members in the design stage is generally conducted by using S-N curves specified in the codes and standards. Applying the stress concentration factor of the welded structure to S-N approach often results in very conservative assessment because the stress field acting on the tubular has a non-uniform distribution through the thickness. Fracture mechanics and fitness for service (FFS) technology have been applied in the design of the catenary risers. This technology enables the engineer to establish proper requirements on weld quality and inspection acceptance criteria to assure satisfactory structural integrity during its design life. It also provides guidance on proper design curves to be used and a methodology for accounting for the effects of non-uniform stress distribution through the wall thickness. An attempt was made to develop set of S-N curves based on fracture mechanics approach by considering non-uniform stress distribution and a threshold stress intensity factor. Series of S-N curves generated from this approach were compared to the existing S-N curves. For flat plate butt joint, the S-N curve generated from fracture mechanics matches with the IIW class 100 curve when initial crack depth was 0.5 mm (0.02"). Similar comparison with API X′ was made for tubular joint.. These initial crack depths are larger than the limits of inspection by current Non-destructive examination (NDE) means, such as Automatic Ultrasonic Inspection (AUT). Thus a safe approach can be taken by specifying acceptance criteria that are close to limits of sizing capability of the selected NDE method. The comparison illustrates conservatism built into the S-N design curve.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.119-129
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• 2015

Due to reduced self weight and alleviated wind effect, the multi-column wind towers that consist of a number of circular tubes as vertical members interconnected with horizontal brace members can be a substitute for the large-scale single cylinder wind towers. It is critical to guarantee strengths of tubular joints where vertical and horizontal members are structurally connected in order to make the whole multi-column system behave as a single tower structure. In this study, strength evaluation has been conducted for T-type tubular joints that are applicable in multi-column towers. Four of available design codes, i.e., AISC, Eurocode3, ISO 19902, CIDECT have been investigated and predictor equations in the considered design codes were validated and discussed through parametric numerical study on slenderness ratios of chords and braces at joints.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-55
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• 2023

In this study, the SCFs in tubular T-joints stiffened with external ring under axial load are studied and discussed. After verification of the present numerical model with the results of several available experimental tests, 156 FE models were generated and analyzed to parametrically evaluate the effect of the joint geometry and the ring geometry on the SCFs. Results indicated that the SCF of the stiffened T-joints at crown point can be down to 24% of the SCF of the corresponding un-reinforced joint at the same point. Also, the effect of the ring on the SCF at saddle point is more remarkable than the effect of the ring on the SCF at crown point. Moreover, against un-reinforced joints under axial load, the SCF at saddle point of the stiffened joint is smaller than the SCF at crown point of that stiffened joint. The ring results in the redistribution of stresses in the ring and metal substrate. Also, the effect of the ring thickness on the decrease of the SCFs is slight and can be ignored. In final step, the geometric parameters affecting the SCFs of the stiffened T-joints are analyzed by multiple nonlinear regression analyses. An accurate formula is proposed for determining the SCFs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.141-156
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• 2019

This paper presents the flexural behaviour of stainless steel beam-to-tubular column joints with extended endplates subjected to static loading. Moment-rotation relationships were investigated numerically by using Abaqus software with geometric and material nonlinearity considered. The prediction of damages among components was achieved through ductile damage models, and the influence of initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses was evaluated in large fabricated stainless steel joints involving hollow columns and concrete-filled columns. Parametric analysis was subsequently conducted to assess critical factors that could affect the flexural performance significantly in terms of the initial stiffness and moment resistance. A comparison between codes of practice and numerical results was thereafter made, and design recommendations were proposed for further applications. Results suggest that the finite element model can predict the structural behaviour reasonably well with the component damage consistent with test outcomes. Initial geometric imperfections and residual stresses are shown to have little effect on the moment-rotation responses. A series of parameters that can influence the joint behaviour remarkably include the strain-hardening exponents, stainless steel strength, diameter of bolts, thickness of endplates, position of bolts, section of beams and columns. AS/NZS 2327 is more reliable to predict the joint performance regarding the initial stiffness and moment capacity compared to EN 1993-1-8.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.409-426
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• 2018

This paper presents the strengthening of tubular joint by wrapping Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP). In this study, total number of layers, stacking sequence and length of wrapping are the different parameters involved when fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) composites are used for strengthening. For this, parameters where varied and results were compared with the reference joint. The best stacking sequence was identified which has the highest value in ultimate load with lesser deflections. For determining the best stacking sequence, numerical investigation was performed on CFRP composites; length of wrapping and number of layers were fixed. Later, the studies were focused on CFRP and GFRP strengthened joint by varying the total number of layers and length of wrapping. An attempt was done to propose a parametric equation from multiple regression analysis, which can be used for CFRP strengthened joints. Hashin failure criteria was used to check the failure of composites. Results revealed that FRP was having a greater influence in the load bearing capacity of joints, and in reducing the deflections and stresses of joint under axial compressive loads. It was also seen that, CFRP was far better than GFRP in reducing the stresses and deflection.