• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.569-590
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• 2022

This paper presents a combined experimental and numerical study on stainless steel end-plate connections, with an emphasis placed on their ultimate behaviour and rotation capacity. In the experimental phase, six connection specimens made of austenitic and lean duplex stainless steels are tested under monotonic loads. The tests are specifically designed to examine the close-to-failure behaviour of the connections at large deformations. It is observed that the rotation capacity is closely related to fractures of the stainless steel bolts and end-plates. In the numerical phase, an advanced finite element model suitable for fracture simulation is developed. The incorporated constitutive and fracture models are calibrated based on the material tests of stainless steel bolts and plates. The developed finite element model exhibits a satisfactory accuracy in predicting the close-to-failure behaviour of the tested connections. Finally, the moment resistance and rotation capacity of stainless steel end-plate connections are assessed based on the experimental tests and numerical analyses.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.687-704
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• 2014

A great number of moment-resisting steel structures collapsed due to ductile crack initiation at welded beam-column connections, followed by explosive brittle fracture in the Kobe (Hyogoken-Nanbu) earthquake in 1995. A series of experimental and numerical studies on cracking behaviors of beam-column connections in steel bridge piers were carried out by the authors' team. This paper aims to study the effect of post weld treatment on cracking behaviors of the connections during a strong earthquake event. Experiments of three specimens with different weld finishes, i.e., as-welded, R-finish, and burr grinding, were conducted. The experimental results indicate that the instants of ductile crack initiation are greatly delayed for the specimens with R-finish and burr grinding finishes compared with the as-welded one. The strain concentration effect in the connection is also greatly reduced in the specimens with post weld treatment compared with the as-welded one, which was also verified in the tests.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.35-50
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• 2002

A series of tests on simple-welded plate specimens (SWPS) and T-stub tension specimens simulating some of the joint details in moment frame connections were conducted in this investigation. The effects of weld strength mismatch and weld metal toughness on structural behavior of these specimens were considered under both static and dynamic loading conditions. Finite element analyses were performed by taking into account typical weld residual stress distributions and weld metal strength mismatch conditions to facilitate the interpretation of the test results. The major findings are as follows: (a) Sufficient specimen size requirements are essential in simulating both load transfer and constraint conditions that are relevant to moment frame connections, (b) Weld residual stresses can significantly elevate stress triaxiality in addition to structural constraint effects, both of which can significantly reduce the plastic deformation capacity in moment frame connections, (c) Based on the test results, dynamic loading within a loading rate of 0.02 in/in/sec, as used in this study, premature brittle fractures were not seen, although a significant elevation of the yield strength can be clearly observed. However, brittle fracture features can be clearly identified in T-stub specimens in which severe constraint effects (stress triaxiality) are considered as the primary cause, (d) Based on both the test and FEA results, T-stub specimens provide a reasonable representation of the joint conditions in moment frame connections in simulating both complex load transfer mode and constraint conditions.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.02a
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• pp.289-292
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• 2007

Stress concentration have a effect on commission of structures and sometimes it cause the fracture of structures. Stress concentration is appeared where have a sudden section change like pipe connections. So stress concentration is a potent influence at pipe connentions. This paper make a study of pipe connections to alleviate stress concentration, and propose the stress concentration alleviation method that will make better efficient pipe system and will have a good effect on economic, social aspect.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.03a
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• pp.200-207
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• 2003

The seismic behaviors of steel moment connections are investigated based on the numerical analysis of the connections with US and Japanese typical details. The rupture index, representing the fracture potential, is used to evaluate the ductility of the connections at the critical location. The results show that the presence of a slab increases the beam strength, imposes constraint near the beam top flange, and consequently, induces concentrated deformation near the beam access hall, which reduces the ductility of the connection. The total deformation capacity of the connection depends not only on a beam but also on a column and panel zone.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.10 no.1 s.47
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• pp.25-32
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• 2006

In this study the seismic performance of welded steel moment connections to built-up box columns in the existing building built before 1994 Northridge earthquake was evaluated by cyclic tests. According to the test results, the pre-Northridge steel moment connections to the box columns also suffered from brittle fracture similar to that in the H-shaped column connections. However, the flange force transfer mechanism of the box column connections was substantially different from that of the H-shaped column connections, and the patterns of crack propagation may be changed due to the shape of the box column. Therefore, it is required to develop proper details for the box column connections instead of using the research results for H-shaped column connections in order to enhance the seismic performance the connections.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2018

An experimental study on the ultimate behaviors of the mild carbon steel (SPHC) fillet-welded connection is presented in this paper. Seven specimens were fabricated by the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). All specimens failed by typical block shear fracture in the base metal of welded connections not weld metal. Block shear fracture observed in the base metal of welded connection is a combination of single tensile fracture transverse to the loading direction and two shear fractures longitudinal to the loading direction. Test strengths were compared with strength predictions by the current design equations and suggested equations by previous researchers. It is known that current design specifications (AISC2010 and KBC2016) and Oosterhof & Driver's equation underestimated overly the ultimate strength of the welded connection by on average 44%, 31%, respectively and prediction by Topkaya's equation was the closest to the test results. Consequently, modified equation is required to be proposed considering the stress triaxiality effect and material property difference on the block shear strength for base metal fracture in welded connections fabricated with mild carbon steel.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.1039-1054
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seismic performance of weak-axis column-tree type connections used in steel moment frames. These connections are composed of a shop-welded and fieldbolted steel structure and can improve welding quality. On this basis, column-tree type connections are widely used in steel moment resisting frames in Korea and Japan. In this study, splices designed with a semirigid concept regarding the seismic performance of column-tree connections were experimentally evaluated. The structures can absorb energy in an inelastic state rather than the elastic state of the structures by the capacity design method. For this reason, the plastic hinge might be located at the splice connection at the weak-axis column-tree connection by reducing the splice plate thickness. The main variable was the distance from the edge of the column flange to the beam splice. CTY series specimens having column-tree connections with splice length of 600 mm and 900 mm were designed, respectively. For comparison with two specimens with the main variable, a base specimen with a weak-axis column-tree connection was fabricated and tested. The test results of three full-scale test specimens showed that the CTY series specimens successfully developed ductile behavior without brittle fracture until 5% story drift ratio. Although the base specimen reached a 5% story drift ratio, brittle fracture was detected at the backing bar near the beam-to-column connection. Comparing the energy dissipation capacity for each specimen, the CTY series specimens dissipated more energy than the base specimen.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.153-174
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• 2012

Micromechanical facture models can be used to predict ductile fracture in steel structures. In order to calibrate the parameters in the micromechanical models for the largely used Q345 steel in China, uniaxial tensile tests, smooth notched tensile tests, cyclic notched bar tests, scanning electron microscope tests and finite element analyses were conducted in this paper. The test specimens were made from base metal, deposit metal and heat affected zone of Q345 steel to investigate crack initiation in welded steel connections. The calibrated parameters for the three different locations of Q345 steel were compared with that of the other seven varieties of structural steels. It indicates that the toughness index parameters in the stress modified critical strain (SMCS) model and the void growth model (VGM) are connected with ductility of the material but have no correlation with the yield strength, ultimate strength or the ratio of ultimate strength to yield strength. While the damage degraded parameters in the degraded significant plastic strain (DSPS) model and the cyclic void growth model (CVGM) and the characteristic length parameter are irrelevant with any properties of the material. The results of this paper can be applied to predict ductile fracture in welded steel connections.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1-11
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• 2017

This study focused on the ultimate behaviors(ultimate strength and fracture mode ) of single shear bolted connection with austenitic sainless steel(STS201) and curling effect on the ultimate strength using finite element analysis based on test results. Main variables are end distance in the parallel direction to loading and edge distance in the perpendicular direction to loading. The validation of finite element analysis procedures was verified through the comparisons of ultimate strength, fracture mode and curling(out-of-plane deformation) occurrence between test results and numerical predictions. Curling was observed in both test and analysis results and it reduced the ultimate strength of single- shear bolted connections with relatively long end distances. Strength reduction ratios caused by curling were estimated quantitatively by maximum 19%, 32%, respectively for specimens with edge distance, 48 mm and 60 mm compared with strengths of uncurled connections with restrained out-of-plane deformation. Finally, analysis strengths were compared with current design strengths and it is found that design block shear equations did not provide the accurate predictions for bolted connections with strength reduction by curling.