Design Forces of Horizontal Braces Unlocated at Middle of Columns considering Random Initial Geometric Imperfections

The horizontal bracing forces of column-bracing systems derived from past studies and current design codes were considered only located at middle of columns. Actually, the horizontal braces used to reduce the out-of-plane effective column lengths are frequently designed not to locate at middle of columns. In this paper, a large number of column-bracing systems with the horizontal braces unlocated at middle of columns were modelled and analyzed using the finite element method, in which the random initial geometric imperfections of both the columns and the horizontal braces unlocated at middle of columns were well considered by the Monte Carlo method. Based on the numerical calculations, parametric analysis, and probability statistics, the probability density function of the horizontal bracing forces was found, so that the corresponding design forces of horizontal braces unlocated at middle of columns were proposed which were compared with the design mid-height horizontal bracing forces in the previous study and the relevant codes. The results indicate that the design forces of the horizontal braces located at 0.6 column height are smaller than the mid-height horizontal bracing forces in the previous study while the design forces of horizontal braces located at 0.7 column height are larger than the mid-height horizontal bracing forces in the previous study. The proposed design forces of the horizontal braces located and unlocated at middle of columns are both smaller than the mid-height horizontal bracing forces stipulated in GB50017-2017, Eurocode 3-1992, and AS4100-1998. The above conclusions provide references for the engineering applications and further related code revisions.

Cyclic Modeling of Bolted Beam-to-Column Connections: Component Approach

The work is aimed at the prediction of the cyclic response of bolted beam-to-column joints starting from the knowledge of their geometrical and mechanical properties. To this scope a mechanical model is developed within the framework of the component approach already codified by Eurocode 3 for monotonic loadings.Accuracy of the developed mechanical model is investigated by means of the comparison between numerical and experimental results with reference to an experimental program carried out at Salerno University. The obtained results are encouraging about the possibility of extending the component approach to the prediction of the cyclic response of bolted connections.

Experimental analysis and mechanical modeling of T-stubs with four bolts per row

The behavior of steel structures is significantly affected by the connections between the steel members. For this reason, special attention to the prediction of the joint rotational behavior is devoted by Eurocode 3 which provides the well-known component method. In EC3, starting from the results of several researches, the formulations for the characterization of the behavior of T-stubs with two bolts per row are given, but with reference to T-stubs with four bolts per row, even though they are present in many actual structural situations, the limited number of experimental tests and analytical models has not led yet to the codification of this component in the code. In this work, starting from the results of three experimental tests on T-stub with four bolts per row, carried out at the laboratory on materials and structures of the University of Coimbra, a FE model in ABAQUS has been set up in order to analyze the yield line patterns corresponding to the different collapse mechanisms. Subsequently, with reference to the yield line shape different from that of T-stub with two bolts per row, the effective lengths have been revaluated applying an energy approach. The definition of the effective width for all the possible collapse mechanisms allowed to set up a proposal for determining the resistance of T-stubs with 4 bolts per row consistent with the approach provided by Eurocode 3. The model accuracy has been verified by means of a comparison with the results provided by a numerical analysis.

Application of Component-Based Mechanical Models and Artificial Intelligence to Bolted Beam-to-Column Connections

Top and seat beam-to-column connections are commonly designed to transfer gravitational loads of simply supported steel beams. Nevertheless, the flexural resistance characteristics of these type of connections should be properly taken into account for design, when a reliable analysis of semi-rigid steel structures is desired. In this research paper, different component-based mechanical models from Eurocode 3 (EC3) and a literature proposal (by Kong and Kim, 2017) are considered to evaluate the initial stiffness (Sj,ini) and ultimate moment capacity (Mn) of top-seat angle connections with double web angles (TSACWs). An optimized artificial neural network (ANN) model based on the artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is proposed in this paper to acquire an informational model from the available literature database of experimental test measurements on TSACWs. In order to evaluate the expected effect of each input parameter (such as the thickness of top flange cleat, the bolt size, etc.) on the mechanical performance and overall moment–rotation (M–θ) response of the selected connections, a sensitivity analysis is presented. The collected comparative results prove the potential of the optimized ANN approach for TSACWs, as well as its accuracy and reliability for the prediction of the characteristic (M–θ) features of similar joints. For most of the examined configurations, higher accuracy is found from the ANN estimates, compared to Eurocode 3- or Kong et al.-based formulations.

Lateral buckling of steel beams. Compared analysis of CTE DB SE-A, EAE and EC3 codes

The Basic Document, Structural Safety, Steel of the Spanish Technical Building Code provides mathematical expressions to obtain the lateral buckling resistance of hot-rolled steel beams. These expressions include a coefficient, C1, that accounts for variation of the bending moment along the beam. However, this document only provides values for linear diagrams of bending moments. The instruction for Structural Steel, a copy of the latest version of Eurocode 3, does not include any method to obtain the elastic critical moment. On the contrary, a table with correction factors applicable to different types of bending moments diagrams is included. In this document both procedures have been combined and results have been compared to those obtained using other versions of the Eurocode 3. Finally, tables have been provided to ease the design of hot-rolled steel beams while preventing the lateral buckling.