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This study aims to develop a rational model to predict the thermal axial forces developed in shear tab connections with composite beams when subjected to transient-state fire temperatures.

Finite element (FE) models are first developed in ABAQUS and validated against experimental data available in the literature. Second, a parametric study is conducted to identify the major parameters that affect the behavior of shear tab connections with composite beams in the fire. This includes beam length, shear tab thickness, shear tab location, concrete slab thickness, setback distance and partial composite action. A design-oriented model is developed to predict the thermal induced axial forces during the heating and cooling phases of a fire event. The model consists of multi-linear springs that can predict the stiffness and strength of each component of the connection with the composite beam.

The FE results show that significant thermal axial forces are generated in the composite beam in the fire. This is prominent when the beam bottom flange comes in contact with the column. Fracture at the toe of the welds governs the behavior during the cooling phase in most FE simulations. Also, the rational model is validated against the FE results and is capable of predicting the thermal axial forces developed in shear tab connections with composite beams under different geometrical properties.

The proposed model can predict the thermal axial force demand and can be used in performance-based approaches in future structural fire engineering applications.

This paper aims at developing a mechanical-based model for predicting the thermally induced axial forces and rotation of steel top and seat angles connections with and without web angles subjected to elevated temperatures due to fire. Finite element (FE) simulations and experimental results are used to develop the mechanical model.

The model incorporates the overall connection and column-beam rotation of key component elements, and includes nonlinear behavior of bolts and base materials at elevated temperatures and some major geometric parameters that impact the behavior of such connections when exposed to fire. This includes load ratio, beam length, angle thickness, and gap distance. The mechanical model consists of multi-linear and nonlinear springs that predict each component stiffness, strength, and rotation.

The capability of the FE model to predict the strength of top and seat angles under fire loading was validated against full scale tests. Moreover, failure modes, temperature at failure, maximum compressive axial force, maximum rotation, and effect of web angles were all determined in the parametric study. Finally, the proposed mechanical model was validated against experimental results available in the literature and FE simulations developed as a part of this study.

The proposed model provides important insights into fire-induced axial forces and rotations and their implications on the design of steel bolted top and seat angle connections. The originality of the proposed mechanical model is that it requires low computational effort and can be used in more advanced modelling applications for fire analysis and design.

This study aims to investigate the thermal creep behavior of steel frame assemblies with shear tab connections subjected to transient-state fire temperatures. Different key parameters are investigated to study their effect on the global response of the steel frames in fire.

Finite element (FE) models of connection assemblies are first analyzed using Abaqus under transient-state temperature conditions and validated against experimental work available in the literature. Upon acquiring the validated conditions, parametric studies are carried out to study the effect of key geometric and heating parameters on the overall response of the frame assembly to fire temperatures. Thermal creep material is also incorporated in the analyses through a user-defined subroutine, and a comparison between including and excluding creep material is illustrated to show the effect of thermal creep on the structural behavior.

The results reported herein indicate that having a rigid column increases the thermal-induced axial forces, thus increasing the development of thermal creep strains. Slow heating rates can cause axial stress relaxation in the restrained beam and increase the mid-span deflection and consequently the development of beam catenary action. The results also show that reaching higher initial cooling temperatures and having longer cooling phase durations result in more tensile forces at the end of the cooling phase.

Previous studies were limited to isolated steel connections under steady-state conditions. This study investigates the creep behavior of shear tab connection assemblies under transient-state conditions of fire when creep effects are explicitly considered. This can provide a rational and realistic assessment of the steel behavior in fire events.

This paper aims to provide a parametric investigation into the behaviour of steel, concrete and composite beams exposed to fire. This investigation gives insight into the structural behaviour of elements experiencing thermal and mechanical loading illustrating reasons for observed global structural behaviour, and identifying how selected design parameters influence results obtained. Non-linear heating/thermal bowing behaviour is specifically considered.

Cross-sectional stresses and strains, resultant thermal forces, bending stiffness, axial stiffness and deflections are plotted for beams subjected to different fire regimes or input values. The impact of changes in input parameters on beam section properties is illustrated. Unusual structural responses, localised effects and general trends are identified in relation to variations in thermal gradients, concrete tensile capacity, standard fire exposure time and the assumed concrete flange widths of composite beams.

Stress-strain plots highlighting cross-sectional structural behaviour, trends in beam properties and the influence of design parameters are provided. Some counter-intuitive behaviour is explained, such as increased member stiffness being offset by increased thermal effects, leading to this parameter having negligible impact on global behaviour but a significant effect on local stresses and strains. Increased concrete strengths may lead to increased thermal deformations, whilst the inclusion of concrete tensile capacity typically has a minimal influence.

The research focusses on cross-sectional properties, although results generated illustrate how global behaviour is affected.

Design engineers are made aware of how selected input values influence predicted structural response. Also, localised stress and strain behaviour relative to imposed loads and thermal effects can be identified.

This paper provides novel insight into the (sometimes counter-intuitive) behaviour of beams exposed to fire, highlighting trends and the influence of important input parameters on predicted response.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the enhancement and suppression of heat transfer for hybrid nanofluids (Cu–Al2O3/water) in a square enclosure containing a thermal-conductive cylinder when the Lorentz force is applied to the hybrid nanofluids.

Since the inner conductive cylinder in present research has a complex geometry, an in-house meshless method, namely, the local radial basis function (LRBF) method, is applied to solve the 2 dimensional (2D) incompressible Navier–Stokes equation in the fluid domain and Fourier heat conduction equation in solid domain. The solid–fluid interface remains the physical continuity of temperature and heat flux. Only the Lorentz force is considered for the presence of the magnetic field. The conjugate natural convection is assumed to be steady, thus only fully developed heat exchange from the nanofluids to solid or vice versa is comprehensively investigated.

It can be concluded that Lorentz force plays a more significant role than hybrid nanofluids in enhancing/suppressing heat transfer when the orientation of magnetic field is the same to the x direction. The thermal conductivity ratio can dramatically change the isotherms and streamlines as well as the mean value of the Nusselt number, resulting in totally different heat transfer phenomena. The included angle of magnetic field also has a significant effect on the heat transfer rate when it changes from horizontal to vertical.

The constant thermo-physical properties of incompressible fluid and the 2D steady flow are considered in this study.

The conjugate MHD natural convection of hybrid nanofluids is numerically investigated by an in-house meshless LRBF method. The enhancement and suppression of heat transfer under the combined influence of the volume fraction of nanoparticles, Hartmann number and the thermal conductivity ratio are comprehensively investigated.

This paper aims to understand the structural fire performance of two-way post-tensioned flat slabs, particularly their deformations and load-carrying mechanisms in fire, and to explore the behaviour of post-tensioned high-strength self-compacting concrete flat slabs with unbonded tendons in fire.

Four tests of post-tensioned high-strength self-compacting concrete flat slabs were conducted under fire conditions. Numerical modelling using the commercial package ABAQUS was conducted to help interpret the test results.

Two of the specimens with lower moisture contents demonstrated excellent fire resistance performance, while the others with slightly higher moisture contents experienced severe concrete spalling.

The test results were discussed in respect of thermal profiles, deflections, crack patterns and concrete spalling. The performance of post-tensioned high-strength self-compacting concrete flat slabs with unbonded tendons under fire conditions was better understood.

This paper aims to consider numerical analysis of laminar double-diffusive natural convection inside a non-homogeneous closed medium composed of a saturated porous matrix and a clear binary fluid under spatial sinusoidal heating/cooling on one side wall and uniform salting.

The domain of interest is a partially square porous enclosure with sinusoidal wall heating and cooling. The fluid flow, heat and mass transfer dimensionless governing equations associated with the corresponding boundary conditions are discretized using the finite volume method. The resulting algebraic equations are solved by an in-house FORTRAN code and the SIMPLE algorithm to handle the non-linear character of conservation equations. The validity of the in-house FORTRAN code is checked by comparing the current results with previously published experimental and numerical works. The effect of the porous layer thickness, the spatial frequency of heating and cooling, the Darcy number, the Rayleigh number and the porous to fluid thermal conductivity ratio is analyzed.

The results demonstrate that for high values of the spatial frequency of heating and cooling (f = 7), temperature contours show periodic variations with positive and negative values providing higher temperature gradient near the thermally active wall. In this case, the temperature variation is mainly in the porous layer, while the temperature of the clear fluid region is practically the same as that imposed on the left vertical wall. This aspect can have a beneficial impact on thermal insulation. Besides, the porous to fluid thermal conductivity ratio, Rk, has practically no effect on Shhot wall, contrary to Nuinterface where a strong increase is observed as Rk is increased from 0.1 to 100, and much heat transfer from the hot wall to the clear fluid via the porous media is obtained.

The findings are useful for devices working on double-diffusive natural convection inside non-homogenous cavities.

The authors believe that the presented results are original and have not been published elsewhere.

This paper aims to propose a united kinematic calibration method for a dual-machine system in automatic drilling and riveting. The method takes both absolute and relative pose accuracy into account, which will largely influence the machining accuracy of the dual-machine system and assembly quality.

A comprehensive kinematic model of the dual-machine system is established by the superposition of sub-models with pose constraints, which involves base frame parameters, kinematic parameters and tool frame parameters. Based on the kinematic model and the actual pose error data measured by a laser tracker, the parameters of coordinated machines are identified by the Levenberg–Marquardt method as a multi-objective nonlinear optimization problem. The identified parameters of the coordinated machines will be used in the control system.

A new calibration method for the dual-machine system is developed, including a comprehensive kinematic model and an efficient parameter identification method. The experiment results show that with the proposed method, the pose accuracy of the dual-machine system was remarkably improved, especially the relative position and orientation errors.

This method has been used in an aircraft assembly project. The calibrated dual-machine system shows a good performance on system coordination and machining accuracy.

This paper proposes a new method with high accuracy and efficiency for the dual-machine system calibration. The research can be extended to multi-machine and multi-robot fields to improve the system precision.

The study aims to assess the heater and cooler positional impacts systematically using four different quadrantal cavities filled with hybrid nanofluid, keeping the curved surface adiabatic under the orientated magnetic fields. Both heat transfer and entropy generation analyses are performed for a hybrid nanofluid flow in a quarter circular cavity considering different orientations of magnetic fields. The investigation is focused to assess the heater and cooler positional impacts systematically using four different quadrantal cavities (first to fourth quadrantal cavities), keeping the curved surface always adiabatic. The impacts of pertinent variables like Rayleigh number, Hartmann number and volumetric concentration of hybrid nanofluid on heat transfer characteristics are in consideration with the second law of thermodynamics. The analysis includes the thermal, viscous and magnetic aspects of entropy generation.

After validating against the experimental results, the present work explores numerically following the Galerkin weighted finite element technique. The solution is obtained through an iterative process satisfying the convergence limit of 10⁻⁸ and 10⁻¹⁰ for the maximum residuals and the mass defect, respectively.

It revealed that the mutual exchange of heater-cooler positions on the adjacent straight edges of the quadrant cavity does not have any impact on the flow direction. Although the magnitude of flow velocity enhances, the sidewall plays a decision-making role in the formation of a single circulation vortex. It also shows that thermal entropy production is the main cause behind thermodynamic irreversibility. The second or third quadrantal arrangement could have been opted as the best configuration of the heater-cooler position for achieving superior heat transfer. The Lorentz force plays a great role to moderate the heat transfer process. The maximum entropy generation is located, as expected, at the heating-cooling junction point.

There are plenty of prospects for extension of the present research concept numerically or experimentally, adopting three-dimensional analysis, working fluids, boundary conditions, etc. In fact, the study could be carried out for unsteady or turbulent fluid flow.

As the position of the heated source and cold sink on the enclosure geometry can significantly alter the thermo-fluid phenomena, this kind of analysis is of utmost relevance for the further development of efficient heating/cooling arrangements and proper management of the devices subjected to magnetic field applications. This original contribution could be a potentially valuable source for future research and exploration pertaining to a thermal system or device, like heat exchangers, solar collectors, thermal storage, electronic cooling, food and drying technologies and others.

In the literature, an inadequate number of works have focused on a quadrantal cavity, mostly considering the first quadrant of the circle. However, during practical applications, it is possible that the cavity can take the shape of the other three quadrants too, and the corresponding knowledge on relative performance is still missing. Furthermore, the present investigation includes the existence of magnetic fields at various orientations. The impact analysis of this field-induced Lorentz force on the nanofluid thermal performance is another major contribution from the present work that would enrich the domain knowledge and could be useful for thermal system engineers.

The purpose of this paper is to address various works on mixed convection and proposes 10 unified models (Models 1–10) based on various thermal and kinematic conditions of the boundary walls, thermal conditions and/ or kinematics of objects embedded in the cavities and kinematics of external flow field through the ventilation ports. Experimental works on mixed convection have also been addressed.

This review is based on 10 unified models on mixed convection within cavities. Models 1–5 involve mixed convection based on the movement of single or double walls subjected to various temperature boundary conditions. Model 6 elucidates mixed convection due to the movement of single or double walls of cavities containing discrete heaters at the stationary wall(s). Model 7A focuses mixed convection based on the movement of wall(s) for cavities containing stationary solid obstacles (hot or cold or adiabatic) whereas Model 7B elucidates mixed convection based on the rotation of solid cylinders (hot or conductive or adiabatic) within the cavities enclosed by stationary or moving wall(s). Model 8 is based on mixed convection due to the flow of air through ventilation ports of cavities (with or without adiabatic baffles) subjected to hot and adiabatic walls. Models 9 and 10 elucidate mixed convection due to flow of air through ventilation ports of cavities involving discrete heaters and/or solid obstacles (conductive or hot) at various locations within cavities.

Mixed convection plays an important role for various processes based on convection pattern and heat transfer rate. An important dimensionless number, Richardson number (Ri) identifies various convection regimes (forced, mixed and natural convection). Generalized models also depict the role of “aiding” and “opposing” flow and combination of both on mixed convection processes. Aiding flow (interaction of buoyancy and inertial forces in the same direction) may result in the augmentation of the heat transfer rate whereas opposing flow (interaction of buoyancy and inertial forces in the opposite directions) may result in decrease of the heat transfer rate. Works involving fluid media, porous media and nanofluids (with magnetohydrodynamics) have been highlighted. Various numerical and experimental works on mixed convection have been elucidated. Flow and thermal maps associated with the heat transfer rate for a few representative cases of unified models [Models 1–10] have been elucidated involving specific dimensionless numbers.

This review paper will provide guidelines for optimal design/operation involving mixed convection processing applications.