• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.77-89
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• 2008

Presence of high degree of orthotropy enhances shear lag phenomenon in laminated composite box-beams and it persists till failure. In this paper three key parameters governing shear lag behavior of laminated composite box beams are identified and defined by simple expressions. Uniqueness of the identified key parameters is proved with the help of finite element method (FEM) based studies. In addition to this, for the sake of generalization of prediction of shear lag effect in symmetrical laminated composite box beams a feed forward back propagation neural network (BPNN) model is developed. The network is trained and tested using the data base generated by extensive FEM studies carried out for various b/D, b/tF, tF/tW and laminate configurations. An optimum network architecture has been established which can effectively learn the pattern. Computational efficiency of the developed ANN makes it suitable for use in optimum design of laminated composite box-beams.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.691-705
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• 2018

In this paper, nonlinear displacements of laminated composite beams are investigated under non-uniform temperature rising with temperature dependent physical properties. Total Lagrangian approach is used in conjunction with the Timoshenko beam theory for nonlinear kinematic model. Material properties of the laminated composite beam are temperature dependent. In the solution of the nonlinear problem, incremental displacement-based finite element method is used with Newton-Raphson iteration method. The distinctive feature of this study is nonlinear thermal analysis of Timoshenko Laminated beams full geometric non-linearity and by using finite element method. In this study, the differences between temperature dependent and independent physical properties are investigated for laminated composite beams for nonlinear case. Effects of fiber orientation angles, the stacking sequence of laminates and temperature on the nonlinear displacements are examined and discussed in detail.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.281-291
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• 2021

An equivalent single-layer theory (EST) is put forward for analyzing free vibrations of steel-concrete composite beams (SCCB) based on a higher-order beam theory. In the EST, the effect of partial interaction between sub-beams and the transverse shear deformation are taken into account. After using the interlaminar shear force continuity condition and the shear stress free conditions at the top and bottom surface, the displacement function of the EST does not contain the first derivatives of transverse displacement. Therefore, the C0 interpolation functions are just demanded during its finite element implementation. Finally, the EST is validated by comparing the results of two simply-supported steel-concrete composite beams which are tested in laboratory and calculated by ANSYS software. Then, the influencing factors for free vibrations of SCCB are analyzed, such as, different boundary conditions, depth to span ratio, high-order shear terms, and interfacial shear connector stiffness.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.5 no.2_3
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• pp.193-202
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• 2005

This paper describes recent developments in composite construction and their effect on codified design procedures in the UK. Areas of particular interest include: rules on shear connection, design of beams with web openings, serviceability limits, such as floor vibrations, and fire safe design. The design of cellular beams with regular circular openings now includes generalized rules for web-post buckling, and for the development of in-plane moment in the web-post for asymmetric sections. Closed solutions for the maximum shear force due to limits on web-post bending or buckling are presented. The fire resistance of cellular beams is also dependent on the temperature of the web-post, and for closely spaced openings. It is necessary to increase the thickness of fire protection to the web. For serviceability design of beams, deflection limits and natural frequency and response factor for vibration are presented. It may be necessary to use stricter limits for certain applications.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.615-633
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• 2015

Composite steel-concrete beams are used frequently in situations where axial forces are introduced. Some examples include the use in cable-stayed bridges or inclined members in stadia and bridge approach spans. In these situations, the beam may be subjected to any combination of flexure and axial load. However, modern steel and composite construction codes currently do not address the effects of these combined actions. This study presents an analysis of composite beams subjected to combined loadings. An analytical model is developed based on a cross-sectional analysis method using a strategy of successive iterations. Results derived from the model show an excellent agreement with existing experimental results. A parametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of axial load on the flexural strength of composite beams. The parametric study is then extended to a number of section sizes and employs various degrees of shear connection. Design models are proposed for estimating the flexural strength of an axially loaded member with full and partial shear connection.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1369-1389
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• 2016

This paper investigates the flexural stiffness of simply supported steel-concrete composite I-beams under positive bending moment through combined experimental, numerical, and different standard methods. 14 composite beams are tested for experimental study and parameters including shear connection degree, transverse and longitudinal reinforcement ratios, loading way are also investigated. ABAQUS is employed to establish finite element (FE) models to simulate the flexural behavior of composite beams. The influences of a few key parameters, such as the shear connection degree, stud arrangement, stud diameter, beam length, loading way, on the flexural stiffness is also studied by parametric study. In addition, three widely used standard methods including GB, AISC, and British standards are used to estimate the flexural stiffness of the composite beams. The results are compared with the experimental and numerical results. The findings have provided comprehensive understanding of the flexural stiffness and the modelling of the composite beams. The results also indicate that GB 50017-2003 could provide better results in comparison to the other standards.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.563-580
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• 2010

Composite beams using bolts to attach steel plates to the side faces of existing reinforced concrete (RC) coupling beams can enhance both their strength and deformability. The behavior of those composite beams differs substantially from the behavior of typical composite beams made up of steel beams and concrete slabs. The former are subjected to longitudinal, vertical and rotational slips, while the latter only involve longitudinal slip. In this study, a mixed analysis method was adopted to develop the fundamental equations for accurate prediction of the load-carrying capacity of steel plate strengthened RC coupling beams. Then, a rigid plastic analysis technique was used to cope with the full composite effect of the bolt group connections. Two theoretical models for the determination of the strength of medium-length plate strengthened coupling beams based on mixed analysis and rigid plastic methods are presented. The strength of the strengthened coupling beams is derived. The vertical and longitudinal slips of the steel plates and the shear strength of the anchor-bolt connection group is considered. The theoretical models are validated by the available experimental results presented in a companion paper. The strength of the specimens predicted from the mixed analysis model is found to be in good agreement with that from the experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1001-1021
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• 2015

Ultra-lightweight cement composite (ULCC) with a compressive strength of 60 MPa and density of $1,450kg/m^3$ has been developed and used in the steel-concrete-steel (SCS) sandwich structures. This paper investigates the structural performances of SCS sandwich composite beams with ULCC as filled material. Overlapped headed shear studs were used to provide shear and tensile bond between the face plate and the lightweight core. Three-dimensional nonlinear finite element (FE) model was developed for the ultimate strength analysis of such SCS sandwich composite beams. The accuracy of the FE analysis was established by comparing the predicted results with the quasi-static tests on the SCS sandwich beams. The FE model was also applied to the nonlinear analysis on curved SCS sandwich beam and shells and the SCS sandwich beams with J-hook connectors and different concrete core including ULCC, lightweight concrete (LWC) and normal weight concrete (NWC). Validations were also carried out to check the accuracy of the FE analysis on the SCS sandwich beams with J-hook connectors and curved SCS sandwich structure. Finally, recommended FE analysis procedures were given.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.545-554
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• 2018

This study presents a novel method of improving the strength and stiffness of cold-formed steel (CFS) beams. Flexural members are primary members in most of the structures. Hence, there is an urgent need in the CFS industry to look beyond the conventional CFS beam sections and develop novel techniques to address the severe local buckling problems that exist in CFS flexural members. The primary objective of this study was to develop new CFS composite beam sections with improved structural performance and economy. This paper presents an experimental study conducted on different CFS composite beams with simply supported end conditions under four point loading. Material properties and geometric imperfections of the models were measured. The test strengths of the models are compared with the design strengths predicted by using Australian/New Zealand Standard for cold-formed steel structures. Furthermore, to ensure high precision testing, a special testing rig was also developed for testing of long span beams. The description of test models, testing rig features and test results are presented here. For better interpretation of results, a comparison of the test results with a hot rolled section is also presented. The test results have shown that the proposed CFS composite beams are promising both in terms of better structural performance as well as economy.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.577-593
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• 2014

An exact dynamic stiffness method is introduced for investigating the free vibration characteristics of the steel-concrete composite beams consisting of a reinforced concrete slab and a steel beam which are connected by using the stud connectors. The elementary beam theory is used to define the dynamic behaviors of the two beams and the relative transverse deformation of the connectors is included in the formulation. The dynamic stiffness matrix is formulated from the exact analytical solutions of the governing differential equations of the composite beams in undamped free vibration. The application of the derived dynamic stiffness matrix is illustrated to predict the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the steel-concrete composite beams with seven boundary conditions. The present results are compared to the available solutions in the literature whenever possible.