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The purpose of this paper is to investigate the static and dynamic inelastic response of rigid and semi-rigid connections of steel structures with concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns built in high seismic areas, and to compare it with those with open section columns.

CFST columns are frequently used in moment resistant steel frames located in seismic areas due to their inherent advantages, including their ductility, energy absorption capacity as well as their high bearing capacity. The smart combination of steel and concrete makes it possible to benefit from the advantages of both components to the maximum. This research work presents the nonlinear dynamic response of moment resistant steel frames with CFST columns, with rigid or semi-rigid connections, built in high seismic areas, according to the Algerian seismic code RPA 99/2003, European EC8 and American FEMA 356 to show the nonlinear characteristics of this type of structures, and their advantages over steel frames with open section columns.

The paper presents the advantages of using CFST columns with rigid and semi-rigid connections on the seismic response of portal steel frames. A high performance level in terms of ductility, plastic hinges distribution and their order of appearance has been obtained. It also shows the low effect of seismic loading on the structural elements with CFST columns compared to structures with open section columns.

The investigation of the numerical results has shown the possibility of their use in the seismic areas for their adequate performance, and also with respect to the design limits specified in the seismic guidelines. In addition, this study represents a first step to develop seismic performance factors for steel structures with CFST columns in Algeria, where the Algerian code do not include a comprehensive specification for the composite steel structures.

This paper aims to obtain fire resistance of semi-rigid joints for concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) composite frames and temperature filed distribution of composite joints in fire.

The temperature filed model of semi-rigid joints to CFST columns with slabs was made by using ABAQUS finite element (FE) software, in considering temperature heating-up stage of fire modelling. The effects of composite slab, fire type and construction location were discussed, and the model was verified by the test results. The temperature distribution of composite joint under three-side or four-side fire condition was studied by the sequentially coupled thermal analysis method. The temperature versus time curves and temperature distribution of various construction and location were analyzed.

The paper provides FE analysis and numerical simulation on temperature field of semi-rigid joints for CFST composite frames in fire. The effects of composite slab, fire type and construction location were discussed, and the model was verified by the test results. It suggests that the temperature distribution of composite joint in three- or four-side fire condition showed a different development trend.

Because of the chosen FE analysis approach, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed propositions further.

The research results will become the scientific foundation of mechanical behavior and design method of semi-rigid CFST composite frames in fire.

This paper fulfils an identified need to study the temperature field distribution of the semi-rigid joints to CFST columns and investigate the mechanical behavior of the semi-rigid CFST joints in fire.

The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the structural behaviour of fire-exposed unbraced composite frames. Designers to date paid little attention to unbraced one-bay composite frames as structural system. There are two main reasons for this. First, codes lack simplified methods for the fire design of these frames due to their sway and the linked P-Δ effects when subjected to fire, which complicates the design. Second, it is demanding to construct external composite joints for the regarded one-bay frames. Thus, external joints in composite constructions are mostly constructed as steel joints. Nevertheless, these frames offer advantages. These include increased usable space and flexibility in the building’s use, large spans, fast construction times and inherent fire resistance.

To profit from these benefits, two different external semi-rigid composite joint were developed for the considered one-bay composite frames. The first solution based on concrete-filled steel tube columns and the second on concrete-filled double skin tube columns. Furthermore, a numerical model was established to study the fire performance of unbraced composite frames. The model was validated against four fire tests on isolated composite joints and two large-scale fire tests on unbraced composite frames.

Overall, the predictions of the numerical model were in good agreement with the test results. Thus, the numerical model is appropriate for further investigations on the fire performance of unbraced composite frames.

The sequence of construction results in significant stresses in the steel section, which creates difficulties in numerical modelling and may account for the relatively few studies carried out at room temperature. For the fire design, there was, to the best knowledge of the author, to date no numerical model available that was capable of considering the sequence of construction.

This paper is aimed at clarifying the behaviour of concrete-filled stainless steel tube (CFSST) slender columns. Based on the review of previous works, it can be found that the pieces of research on the behaviour of CFSST slender columns are very rare and the existing studies, to the author’s knowledge, have not covered this topic in greater depth. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structural response and strength capacity of eccentric loaded long CFSST columns.

In this paper, a new finite element (FE) model is presented for predicting the nonlinear behaviour of CFSST slender columns under eccentric load. The FE model developed accounts for confinement influences of the concrete in-filled material. In addition, the initial local and overall geometric imperfections were introduced in the numerical model in addition to the inelastic response of stainless steel. The interaction between the stainless section and concrete in-filled was modelled using contact pair algorithm. The FE model was then verified against an experimental work presented in the literature. The ultimate strengths, axial load–lateral displacement and failure mode of CFSST slender columns predicted by the FE model were validated against corresponding experimental results.

The simulation results show that the improvement in the column strengths (compared to hollow section) is less significant when the composite columns have small width-to-thickness ratio. Finally, comparisons were made between the results obtained from FE simulation and those computed from the Eurocode 4 (EC4). It has been found that the EC4 predictions in most analysed cases are conservative for composite columns analysed under a combination of axial load and uniaxial or biaxial bending. However, the conservatism of the code is reduced with a higher slenderness ratio of the composite columns.

The simulation results throughout this research were compared with the corresponding Eurocode predictions.

This paper provides new findings about the structural behaviour of CFSST columns.

Concrete arch structures are commonly constructed for various civil engineering applications. Despite their frequent use, there is a lack of research on the response and performance of concrete arches when subjected to fire loading. Hence, this paper aims to investigate the response and in-plane failure modes of shallow circular concrete arches subjected to mechanical and fire loading.

This study is conducted through the development of a three-dimensional finite element (FE) model in ANSYS. The FE model is verified by comparison to a non-discretisation numerical model derived herein and the reduced modulus buckling theory, both used for the non-linear inelastic analysis of shallow concrete arches subjected to uniformly distributed radial loading and uniform temperature field. Both anti-symmetric and symmetric buckling modes are examined, with analysis of the former requiring geometric imperfection obtained by an eigenvalue buckling analysis.

The FE results show that anti-symmetric bifurcation buckling is the dominant failure mode in shallow concrete arches under mechanical and fire loading. Additionally, parametric studies are presented which illustrate the influence of various parameters on fire resistance time.

Fire response of concrete arches has not been reported in the open literature. The authors have previously investigated the stability of shallow concrete arches subjected to mechanical and uniform thermal loading. It was found that temperature greatly reduced the buckling loads of concrete arches. However, this study was limited to the simplifying assumptions made which include elastic material behaviour and uniform temperature loading. The present study provides a realistic insight into the fire response and stability of shallow concrete arches. The findings herein may be adopted in the fire design of shallow concrete arches.

Concrete in-filled stainless steel square tubular column combines both the benefits of concrete and steel material, providing enhanced ductility and high compressive strength to the vertical structural members. Other advantages include high stiffness, better resistance to corrosion, increased pace of construction, enhanced bearing capacity, etc. The purpose of this paper is to understand the various behavioural aspects of concrete in-filled cold-formed duplex stainless steel (CI-CFDSS) square tubular column under axial compressive loads and to assess its structural performance.

In the current paper, the performance of CI-CFDSS square tubular column is numerically investigated under uniform static loading using finite element technique. The numerical study was based on an experimental investigation, which was carried out earlier, in order to study the effects of concrete strength and shape of stainless steel tube on the strength and behaviour of CI-CFDSS square tubular column. The experimental CI-CFDSS square tubular column has a length equal to 450 mm, breadth of 150 mm, width of 150 mm, thickness of 6 mm and a constant ratio of length to overall depth equal to 3. Numerical modelling of the experimental specimen was carried out using ABAQUS software by providing appropriate material properties. Non-linear finite element analysis was performed and the load vs axial deflection curve of the numerical CI-CFDSS square tubular column obtained was validated with the results of the experiment. In order to understand the behaviour of CI-CFDSS square tubular column under axial compressive loads, a parametric study was performed by varying the grade of concrete, type of stainless steel, thickness of stainless steel tube and shape of cross section. From the results, the performance of CI-CFDSS square tubular column was comparatively studied.

When the grade of concrete was increased the deformation capacity of the CI-CFDSS square tubular column reduced but showed better load carrying capacity. The steel tube made of duplex stainless steel exhibited enhanced performance in terms of load carrying capacity and axial deformation than the other forms, i.e. austenitic and ferritic stainless steel. The most suitable cross section for the CI-CFDSS square tubular column with respect to its performance is rectangular cross section and variation of the steel tube thickness led to the change of overall dimensions of the N-CI-CFDSS-SHS1C40 square tubular column showing marginal difference in performance.

The research work presented in this manuscript is authentic and could contribute to the understanding of the behavioural aspects of CI-CFDSS square tubular column under axial compressive loads.

Measuring texture parameters are time consuming and expensive; it is necessary to develop an efficient and rapid method to evaluate them. Image analysis can be a useful tool. The purpose of this paper is to predict texture parameters in different beef cuts applying image analysis techniques.

Samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Texture parameters were analyzed by instrumental, image analysis techniques and by Warner–Bratzler shear force.

Significant differences (p<0.05) were obtained for image and instrumental texture features. Higher amount of porous were observed in freeze dried samples of beef cuts from Gluteus Medius and semintendinosus muscles. A linear trend with a linear correlation was applied for instrumental and image texture. High correlations were found between image and instrumental texture features. Instrumental parameters showed a positive correlation with image texture feature.

This research suggests that the addition of image texture features improves the accuracy to predict texture parameter. The prediction of quality parameters can be performed easily with a computer by recognizing attributes within an image.

In this article, we present an analysis of the axial compression behavior of thin circular tube columns filled with concrete. Experimental study was conducted by using one concrete composition and two lengths of columns. Thirteen columns were tested in axial compression. A comparison of experimental results with Algerian design codes DTR-DC, AIJ, DL/T and the empirical equations from the literature was performed. The analysis results for the thin tube show that the axial capacity in compression is underestimated by the DTR-DC. However, DL/T and AIJ codes are in agreement with test results. The results of empirical equations give different results depending on the length columns and section type.

This study aims to investigate the effect of high temperature (600°C) on the compressive strength of concrete covered with a mixture of polypropylene fiber and gypsum plaster (PFGP).

To study the compressive strength of concrete specimens exposed to temperature, 16 cubic specimens (size: 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm) were made. After 28 days of processing and gaining the required strength of specimens, first, polypropylene fiber was mixed with gypsum plaster (CaSO4.2H2O) and then the concrete specimens were covered with this mixture. To cover the concrete specimens with the PFGP, the used PFGP thickness was 15 mm or 25 mm. The polypropylene rates mixed with the gypsum plaster were 1, 3 and 5 per cent. A total of 14 specimens, 12 of which were covered with PFGP, were exposed to high temperature in two target times of 90 and 180 min.

The results show that the PFGP as covering materials can improve the compressive strength lost because of the heating of the concrete specimens. The results also show that the presence of polypropylene fiber in gypsum plaster has the effect on the compressive strength lost because of the heating of the PFGP-covered concrete. The cover of PFGP having 3 per cent polypropylene fiber had the best effect on remained strength of the specimens.

The cover of PFGP having 3 per cent polypropylene fiber has the best effect on remained strength of the PFGP covered specimens exposed to temperature.

This research paper adopts the fundamental tenets of advanced technologies in industry 4.0 to monitor the structural health of concrete beam members using cost-effective non-destructive technologies. In so doing, the work illustrates how a coalescence of low-cost digital technologies can seamlessly integrate to solve practical construction problems.

A mixed philosophies epistemological design is adopted to implement the empirical quantitative analysis of “real-time” data collected via sensor-based technologies streamed through a Raspberry Pi and uploaded onto a cloud-based system. Data was analysed using a hybrid approach that combined both vibration-characteristic-based method and linear variable differential transducers (LVDT).

The research utilises a novel digital research approach for accurately detecting and recording the localisation of structural cracks in concrete beams. This non-destructive low-cost approach was shown to perform with a high degree of accuracy and precision, as verified by the LVDT measurements. This research is testament to the fact that as technological advancements progress at an exponential rate, the cost of implementation continues to reduce to produce higher-accuracy “mass-market” solutions for industry practitioners.

Accurate structural health monitoring of concrete structures necessitates expensive equipment, complex signal processing and skilled operator. The concrete industry is in dire need of a simple but reliable technique that can reduce the testing time, cost and complexity of maintenance of structures. This was the first experiment of its kind that seeks to develop an unconventional approach to solve the maintenance problem associated with concrete structures. This study merges industry 4.0 digital technologies with a novel low-cost and automated hybrid analysis for real-time structural health monitoring of concrete beams by fusing several multidisciplinary approaches into one integral technological configuration.