Non-destructive Evaluation of Absolute Stress in Steel Members Using Shear-Wave Spectroscopy

Non-destructive measurement of absolute stress in steel members can provide useful information to optimize the design of steel structures and allow the safety of existing structures to be evaluated.This paper investigates the non-destructive capability of ultrasonic shear-wave spectroscopy in absolute stress evaluation of steel members.The effect of steel-member stress on the shear-wave amplitude spectrum is investigated,and a method of absolute stress measurement is proposed.Specifically,the process for evaluating absolute stress using shear-wave spectroscopy is summarized.Two steel members are employed to investigate the relationship between the stress and the frequency in shear-wave echo amplitude spectrum.The H-beam loaded by the universal testing machine is evaluated by the proposed method and the traditional strain gauge method for verification.The results show that the proposed method is effective and accurate for determining absolute stress in steel members.

A nonlinear explicit dynamic GBT formulation for modeling impact response of thin-walled steel members

A nonlinear explicit dynamic finite element formulation based on the generalized beam theory(GBT)is proposed and developed to simulate the dynamic responses of prismatic thin-walled steel members under transverse impulsive loads.Considering the rate strengthening and thermal softening effects on member impact behavior,a modified Cowper-Symonds model for constructional steels is utilized.The element displacement field is built upon the superposition of GBT cross-section deformation modes,so arbitrary deformations such as cross-section distortions,local buckling and warping shear can all be involved by the proposed model.The amplitude function of each cross-section deformation mode is approximated by the cubic non-uniform B-spline basis functions.The Kirchhoff s thin-plate assumption is utilized in the construction of the bending related displacements.The Green-Lagrange strain tensor and the second Piola-Kirchhoff(PK2)stress tensor are employed to measure deformations and stresses at any material point,where stresses are assumed to be in plane-stress state.In order to verify the effectiveness of the proposed GBT model,three numerical cases involving impulsive loading of the thin-walled parts are given.The GBT results are compared with those of the Ls-Dyna shell finite element.It is shown that the proposed model and the shell finite element analysis has equivalent accuracy in displacement and stress.Moreover,the proposed model is much more computationally efficient and structurally clearer than the shell finite elements.

Bonding Characteristics and Flexural Stiffening Effect of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics Strand Sheets Bonded to Steel Beams

Corrosion of steel structures is unavoidable and the structural performance decreases dramatically due to the corrosion. As a repairing method for corroded steel members, bonding carbon fiber sheets with resin had been developed. The purpose of this study is to propose the flexural strengthening method for steel members by using CFRP （carbon fiber reinforced polymer） strand sheets. In order to clarify the stiffening effect and the debonding characteristics of CFRP strand sheets, and to optimize the strengthening design specifications, the flexural tests using high tension steel beams strengthened with CFRP strand sheets are performed. Two cases of experiments are carried out. In Experiment 1, the result from previous research is reflected in the strengthening design. Moreover in Experiment 2, the debonding characteristics obtained from Experiment 1 are reflected. As a result, it was clarified that CFRP strand sheets have stiffening effect equivalent to the theoretical value and its debonding property is practically high enough when FRP （fiber reinforcement polymer） sheets have an appropriate bonding length.

Mechanical Properties of Two Kinds of New Cold-Formed Flange-Closed Welding Section Members

The hollow flange beam(HFB) is a unique cold-formed steel section developed in Australia for use as a flexural member.It′s a particular cross section with two torsion rigid closed triangular flanges and a comparatively flexible web,and it is a type of high efficient cross section.This paper presents two kinds of new cold-formed flange-closed welding sections named HF1 and HF2 according to different section component and parameters of HFB.Nonlinear finite element method has been adopted to investigate the mechanical properties such as buckling mode,deformation process,rigidity,ductility and correlation curve of two kinds of new section members which being subjected to axial compression,flexure,combined compression and bending.Systematical comparisons of the consumed steel quantities of per unit load carrying capacity between new section members and the same section dimensions of cold-formed C-section members have been carried out.Some conclusions can be drawn from above work that the new sections have some superior properties including higher load carrying capacity and section modulus,sufficient section stiffness,and difficult occurrence for the sub element local buckling.The new sections are suitable for bearing flexure,compression,combined compression and bending.The new sections′ consumed steel quantities of per unit load carrying capacity are almost half as those of the same dimension C-section members′.The experimental investigation is carried out further on the new cold-formed flange-closed welding section members and can be used in the practical engineering.

Review on Connections for Original Bamboo Structures

Bamboo is a green construction material in line with sustainable development strategies.The use of raw bamboo in architecture has existed since ancient times.In the long development years of original bamboo buildings,many areas in the world gradually formed unique bamboo buildings,which have become an important local cultural feature.For building structures,joints are the key to ensure structural load transfer.Because of hollow and thin-walled material property of bamboo,the connection in raw bamboo buildings has always been a major difficulty and problem in the application of bamboo,which seriously hinders the development of original bamboo structures.In order to promote the use of raw bamboo,two traditional connection methods in raw bamboo structures are described in this paper firstly,with the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods pointed out.Also,research progress on four categories of raw bamboo building joints is described namely,bolt joints,steel member joints,filler reinforced joints and other types of joints.This work can provide a reference for future research and engineering applications.