Simulation Analysis and Experimental Study on the Working State of Sinking Headframe in the Large Underground Shaft

Based on the newly developed sinking headframe for the deep and large shaft, the finite element model of the full-scale headframe was established by using SAP2000. Through the calculation, the theoretical stress of the headframe at sinking depths of 40 m, 143 m, 223 m, 518 m, 762 m, 1000 m, 1250 m, and 1503 m was obtained and then compared with the field measured stress. The results show that with the increase of shaft sinking depth, the theoretical stress of finite element simulation and the field measured stress of each member of the sheave wheel platform and the headframe increase linearly, and for the maximum member stress in the upper, middle, and lower layers of the headframe, the numerical simulation value is greater than the field measured value and less than the designed steel strength. In other words, under normal working conditions, headframe members are in the elastic stress stage and meet the design requirements, and instability failure of headframe members will not occur. The end-restraint mode of the supporting bars has a great influence on the force of the top member. The reasonable selection of the restraint mode in the simulation is the key to the accuracy of the calculation results. The simulation results well reflect the actual stress of the headframe and provide a reliable guarantee for the follow-up work of the project.

Lateral deformation behavior of eccentrically loaded slender RC columns with different levels of rotational end restraint at elevated temperatures

Purpose In literature, previous studies have focused on analyzing rienforced concrete (RC) columns with idealized end conditions when subjected to fire. In nature, full fixity or free rotation at column ends is not attained. Such ends may be considered partially restrained in rotation. This paper aims to shed a new light on the effect of different degrees of rotational restraint on the lateral deformation behavior of slender heated RC columns subjected to non-linear strain distributions produced by a time-dependent temperature history. Design/methodology/approach To find the strain distribution on the cross section, an iterative technique is adopted using Newton–Raphson method. By introducing a reliable calculation procedure, the lateral deformational behavior is expressed using numerical and searching techniques. A methodology is presented to calculate the effective length factor for RC columns at elevated temperature. Findings The results of the proposed model showed good agreement with available experimental test results. It was also found that the variation of rotational end restraint level has a considerable effect on the lateral deformation behavior of heated slender RC columns. In addition, the effectiveness and the validity of an analytical model should be verified by simultaneously validating the axial and lateral deformations. Moreover, the effective length factor for heated column is higher than that for the corresponding column at ambient temperature. Originality/value This paper shows the impact of different boundary conditions on the behavior of heated slender RC columns. It suggests powerful techniques to determine the lateral deflection and the effective length factor at high temperatures.

Stability of pinned-rotationally restrained arches

The article aims to find the buckling loads for pinned-rotationally restrained shallow circular arches in terms of the rotational end stiffness, geometry and material distribution. The loading is a concentrated vertical force placed at the crown. A geometrically nonlinear model is presented which relates not only the axial force but also the bending moment to the membrane strain. The nonlinear load-strain relationship is established between the strain and load parameters. This equation is then solved and evaluated analytically. It turns out that the stiffness of the end-restraint has, in general, a significant effect on the lowest buckling load. At the same time, some geometries are not affected by this. As the stiffness becomes zero, the arch is pinned-pinned and as the stiffness tends to infinity, the arch behaves as if it were pinned-fixed and has the best load-bearing abilities.

Stability of the neutral equilibrium of columns with a rotational end restraint by the generalized Fourier series

In this paper, stability of the neutral equilibrium and initial post-buckling of a column with a rotational end restraint is analyzed based on Koiter initial post-buckling theory. The potential energy functional is written in terms of the angle. By the generalized Fourier series of the disturbance angle, it is proved that the second-order variation of the potential energy is semi-positive definite at the neutral equilibrium. The stability of the neutral equilibrium is determined by the sign of the fourth-order variation for the buckling mode. For all values of the stiffness of the rotational end restraint, the neutral equilibrium is stable and the bifurcation equilibrium is upward in the initial post-buckling.

Matrix Method for Buckling Analysis of Frames Based on Hencky Bar-Chain Model

Presented herein is a matrix method for buckling analysis of general frames based on the Hencky bar-chain model comprising of rigid segments connected by hinges with elastic rotational springs. Unlike the conventional matrix method of structural analysis based on the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, the Hencky bar-chain model (HBM) matrix method allows one to readily handle the localized changes in end restraint conditions or localized structural changes (such as local damage or local stiffening) by simply tweaking the spring stiffnesses. The developed HBM matrix method was applied to solve some illustrative example problems to demonstrate its versatility in solving the buckling problem of beams and frames with various boundary conditions and local changes. It is hoped that this easy-to-code HBM matrix method will be useful to engineers in solving frame buckling problems.

Implication of end restraint in triaxial tests on the derivation of stress–dilatancy rule for soils having high compressibility

Constitutive models for soils are developed and validated against laboratory tests assuming these give representative information on the true material behaviour. However, data from standard laboratory tests reflect the sample response rather than the true material behaviour, due to nonuniformities in stresses and strains generated over the experimental test. The work examines the implications of end restraint on the definition of the stress–dilatancy rule of highly compressible soils with a finite element numerical approach. The numerical model replicates a reconstituted peat, typically characterized by a combination of high compressibility and high friction angle, which increases the severity of end restraint effects. Simulated results show that the global measurements from standard triaxial tests with rough end platens would not give the proper stress–dilatancy rule, if they were interpreted as the response of a single soil element at the constitutive level. Both overestimation and underestimation of the true dilatancy compared to the material response can be observed, depending on the deformation mode. To support the validity of the numerical results, experimental findings from drained triaxial tests on reconstituted peat are presented. Practical indications are given on how the standard interpretation of drained triaxial tests data on peats can be improved.

Mechanical Analysis of Unconfined Compression Test of Cylinder

The unconfined compression test is widely used because of convenient specimen formation, simple experimental process, and low requirement for equipment. In view of the experimental characteristics, the axisymmetric mechanical model of a cylinder with horizontal friction was constructed and its elastic analytic solution was also deduced. The stress and the strain of the cylinder under unconfined compression with different boundary conditions were analyzed by using the analytical solution, and the failure characteristics of the cylinder under unconfined compression were studied and verified by laboratory testing. The results showed that the end restraint effect of the cylinder increased with the decrease of the height-to-diameter ratio and the increase of the Poisson ratio. When the end surface of the cylinder was constrained, the maximum tensile strain appeared in the middle of the cylindrical side; its value increased with the constraint effect, and greater loads were needed to make the same vertical displacement. The compressive strength derived from the current method would be too weak, and the compressive modulus of elasticity would be too great. If the end constraint was large, a small network crack first formed in the middle of the outer side of the cylinder, forming the double-tapered destruction. If the end face was weakly restrained, the cracks descended from the top to the bottom, and the specimens split.