Investigation of in-plane moment connections of I-beams to square concrete-filled steel tube columns under gravity loads

AbstractThis paper focuses on experimental and analytical behavior of the ultimate moment of the connections of steel I-beams to square concrete-filled steel tube columns. External stiffeners around the columns are used at the beam flange levels. Five specimens are tested monotonically. The test parameters are the column stiffener dimensions and filling the steel tube column with concrete. Two types of failure modes are observed; beam flange failure and stiffener failure. The experimental results show that the ultimate moment of the connection is increased by increasing stiffener’s dimensions and filling the steel tube column with concrete. ANSYS finite element program is used to simulate the behavior, taking into account both geometric and material nonlinearities. Analytical results that are in fair agreement with the experimental ones are then used to discuss the influence of the main geometric parameters on the connection behavior. The parameters are the stiffener and column dimensions as well as filling the steel tube column with concrete. Different square column cross sections are chosen to cover the three classes of section classifications according to Egyptian code of practice, which are: compact, non compact or slender. The increase in the ultimate moment of the connections is based upon both column cross sections’ compactness and stiffener dimensions while the maximum advantages occur with slender columns

Experimental and finite element study on the inelastic lateral buckling behavior of coped I-beams

An experimental study of inelastic lateral torsional buckling of coped beams with simply supported ends is presented in this paper. Six full scale coped steel I-beam tests were conducted. The test parameters include the aspect ratio of cope length to beam depth at coped region as well as the ratio of cope depth to beam depth. The results of tests were compared with finite element model results. The test results showed that a reduction in the inelastic buckling load due to coping could reach more than 60% of the uncoped buckling capacity. A group of twelve finite element models for steel coped beams are investigated. The study takes into consideration variable parameters such as cope depth and length. A comparison between uncoped models and models with different geometrical parameters, is performed. The finite element results showed that both the cope length and cope depth have a significant influence on the lateral torsional buckling capacity. A parametric study of coped beams with stiffeners at coped region is reported in this paper. Based on the results of coped beams strengthened with either horizontal or vertical stiffeners, it is found that for cope depth to beam depth (dc/D) ⩾ 0.25; both horizontal and vertical stiffeners are required to prevent local web buckling at the coped region

Dynamic Behavior of Steel and Composite Ferry Subjected to Transverse Eccentric Moving Load Using Finite Element Analysis

The most important problems confronted by designers of floating structures are minimizing weight and increasing payload to get proper resistance to the applied loads. In the present study, the structural performance of a ferry is analyzed using both metallic and composite materials as a result of the dynamic load of the Military Load Capacity (MLC) 70 (tank load). The model is composed of sixteen floating pontoons. Finite element simulation and dynamic analysis were performed using ANSYS software (analysis system software), considering a moving MLC70 (tank load). Both concentric and eccentric cases of loading are considered. Draft, deformation, and stresses are obtained and investigated. For the steel ferry, the von-Mises stresses are investigated, while for the composite ferry, the maximum principal stresses are investigated. Furthermore, buckling analysis is performed on the composite ferry and the buckling load factor is determined. The results of the dynamic analysis illustrated that the transverse eccentricity of the moving tank MLC70 must not exceed 0.5 m for a steel ferry while it may reach up to 1.5 m for the composite ferry. This research can also be a useful tool in the design of floating composite and steel ferries