Optimal Design for Thin-Walled Box Beam Based on Material Strength Reliability

According to the reliability of material strength,the optimal design for the cross sectional size of thin walled box beam was studied.Firstly the cross sectional size as design random variable was determined,then its stochastic nature was researched,with which the objective function is to seek the maximum reliability of the beam under given constraint conditions.This way is not the same as the conventional optimal design for the minimum weight of the material.With establishing the optimal objective,the reliability of the material under conditions of static and fatigue was considered.The corresponding calculated expressions are given.Normally the cross section sizes are fitted to the normal distribution,for the simplification of the design variable,the variation of the section size is assumed as a dependent variable proportional to the mean of the size.The way is different not only with the conventional optimal design but also with the common reliability design.The maximum reliability of material is obtained,meanwhile the area of the cross section is reduced,i.e.,the weight of the material is decreased.

Restrained Torsion of Thin-walled Box Beam with Honeycomb Core

Restrained torsion of thin-walled box beam with honeycomb core is analyzed on the basis of rigid profile assumption. The method of variable separation is applied and two ordinary differential governing equations are established and solved. The boundary conditions are satisfied rigorously and the solutions are expressed by means of eigen function expansions. The diagram of torque is formulated by trigonometric series and used to determine the coefficients in above expansions. The results of computation provide the chord-wise and span-wise distributions of normal and shear stress in the face plate along with shear stress in the honeycomb core.

Restrained Bending of Thin-Walled Box Beam with Honeycomb Core

Restrained bending of thin-walled box beam with honeycomb core is analyzed on the basis of rigid profile assumption. The method of variable separation is applied and two ordinary differential governing equations are established and solved. The boundary conditions are satisfied rigorously and the solutions are expressed by means of eigen function expansions. The diagram of shearing force is formulated by trigonometric series and used to determine the coefficients in above expansions. The computational resuits give the chord and span wise distributions of nomal and shear stress in the cover plate and the honeycomb core. At the same time, the attenuation of additional stress from fixed end to free end along the length of beam is shown clearly.

Closed-form solution to thin-walled box girders considering effects of shear deformation and shear lag

Considering three longitudinal displacement functions and uniform axial displacement functions for shear lag effect and uniform axial deformation of thin-walled box girder with varying depths,a simple and efficient method with high precision to analyze the shear lag effect of thin-walled box girders was proposed.The governing differential equations and boundary conditions of the box girder under lateral loading were derived based on the energy-variational method,and closed-form solutions to stress and deflection corresponding to lateral loading were obtained.Analysis and calculations were carried out with respect to a trapezoidal box girder under concentrated loading or uniform loading and a rectangular box girder under concentrated loading.The analytical results were compared with numerical solutions derived according to the high order finite strip element method and the experimental results.The investigation shows that the closed-form solution is in good agreement with the numerical solutions derived according to the high order finite strip method and the experimental results,and has good stability.Because of the shear lag effect,the stress in cross-section centroid is no longer zero,thus it is not reasonable enough to assume that the strain in cross-section centroid is zero without considering uniform axial deformation.

GEOMETRICALLY NONLINEAR FINITE ELEMENT MODEL OF SPATIAL THIN-WALLED BEAMS WITH GENERAL OPEN CROSS SECTION

Based on the theory of Timoshenko and thin-walled beams, a new finite element model of spatial thin-walled beams with general open cross sections is presented in the paper, in which several factors are included such as lateral shear deformation, warp generated by nonuni- form torsion and second-order shear stress, coupling of flexure and torsion, and large displacement with small strain. With an additional internal node in the element, the element stiffness matrix is deduced by incremental virtual work in updated Lagrangian （UL） formulation. Numerical examples demonstrate that the presented model well describes the geometrically nonlinear property of spatial thin-walled beams.

Modeling and Free Vibration Behavior of Rotating Composite Thin-walled Closed-section Beams with SMA Fibers

Smart structure with active materials embedded in a rotating composite thin-walled beam is a class of typical structure which is using in study of vibration control of helicopter blades and wind turbine blades. The dynamic behavior investigation of these structures has significance in theory and practice. However, so far dynamic study on the above-mentioned structures is limited only the rotating composite beams with piezoelectric actuation. The free vibration of the rotating composite thin-walled beams with shape memory alloy（SMA） fiber actuation is studied. SMA fiber actuators are embedded into the walls of the composite beam. The equations of motion are derived based on Hamilton＇s principle and the asymptotically correct constitutive relation of single-cell cross-section accounting for SMA fiber actuation. The partial differential equations of motion are reduced to the ordinary differential equations of motion by using the Galerkin＇s method. The formulation for free vibration analysis includes anisotropy, pitch and precone angle, centrifugal force and SMA actuation effect. Numerical results of natural frequency are obtained for two configuration composite beams. It is shown that natural frequencies of the composite thin-walled beam decrease as SMA fiber volume and initial strain increase and the decrease in natural frequency becomes more significant as SMA fiber volume increases. The actuation performance of SMA fibers is found to be closely related to the rotational speeds and ply-angle. In addition, the effect of the pitch angle appears to be more significant for the lower-bending mode ones. Finally, in all cases, the precone angle appears to have marginal effect on free vibration frequencies. The developed model can be capable of describing natural vibration behaviors of rotating composite thin-walled beam with active SMA fiber actuation. The present work extends the previous analysis done for modeling passive rotating composite thin-walled beam.

Improved concept models for straight thin-walled columns with box cross section

This paper focuses on developing improved concept models for straight thin-walled box sectional columns which can better predict the peak crushing force that occurs during crashworthiness analyses. We develop a nonlinear translational spring based on previous research and apply such a spring element to build the enhanced concept models. The work presented in this article is developed on the basis of the publication of the author (Liu and Day, 2006b) and has been applied in a crashworthiness design issue, which is presented by the author in another paper (Liu, 2008).

Lateral static and dynamic characteristics of thin-walled box girder

To analyze the static and dynamic behaviors of the thin-walled box girder in its lateral webs in consideration of shear lag effect and shear deformation, an approach based on the minimum potential principle is introduced in this paper. Both static and dynamic response equations as well as the corresponding natural boundary conditions of the box girder are deduced. Meanwhile, three generalized displacement functions： w （x） , U（x） and O（x） are employed and their differences in the calculus of variation are quantitatively investigated. The comparison of finite shell element results with analytical results of calculation examples validates the feasibility of the proposed approach.

A comparative study on the hull strength of a ship with thin-walled box girders

Based on the Finite Element Analysis and Thin Walled-Box girder Mechanics, two design concepts of adding box girders under main deck in order to increase the hull strength of ship are presented. By comparison and analysis on the longitudinal strength, torsion strength and deck buckling between designed concepts and the original concept, it is found that by adding box girders under the main deck, the weight of hull structure is increased by lower than 10%, but the stress on the plate of the main deck is reduced by about 10%, the stress on the plating of the second deck is reduced about 20%. The shear stress on the plating of both of the main deck and second deck is reduced, but the shear stresses in several nodes are increased. Also the capability of resisting damage to ship is obviously increased by adding box girders under the main deck. The deck buckling is also increased by more than 90%. Consequently, the box girders added under the main deck are useful and effective to increase the strength of hull and ship survivability.

Nonlinear Free Vibration Analysis of Thin-walled Curved Beam with Non-symmetric Open Cross Section

A finite element formulation was presented for the nonlinear free vibration of thin-walled curved beams with non-symmetric open across section. The kinetic and potential energies were derived by the virtual principle. The energy function includes the effect of fiexural-torsional coupling, the torsion warping and the shear centre location. For finite element analysis, cubic polynomials were utilized as the shape functions of the two nodal thin-walled curved elements. Each node possesses seven degrees freedom including the warping degree of freedom. The nonlinear eigenvalue problem was solved by the direct iteration technique. The results are compared with those for straight beams as available in the literature. The results for nonlinear free vibration analysis of curved beams for various radii and subtended angle are presented.

Powell's optimal identification of material constants of thin-walled box girders based on Fibonacci series search method

A dynamic Bayesian error function of material constants of the structure is developed for thin-walled curve box girders. Combined with the automatic search scheme with an optimal step length for the one-dimensional Fibonacci series, Powell＇s optimization theory is used to perform the stochastic identification of material constants of the thin-walled curve box. Then, the steps in the parameter identification are presented. Powell＇s identification procedure for material constants of the thin-walled curve box is compiled, in which the mechanical analysis of the thin-walled curve box is completed based on the finite curve strip element （FCSE） method. Some classical examples show that Powell＇s identification is numerically stable and convergent, indicating that the present method and the compiled procedure are correct and reliable. During the parameter iterative processes, Powell＇s theory is irrelevant with the calculation of the FCSE partial differentiation, which proves the high computation efficiency of the studied methods. The stochastic performances of the system parameters and responses axe simultaneously considered in the dynamic Bayesian error function. The one-dimensional optimization problem of the optimal step length is solved by adopting the Fibonacci series search method without the need of determining the region, in which the optimized step length lies.

A new finite element of spatial thin-walled beams

Based on the theories of Timoshenko＇s beams and Vlasov＇s thin-walled members, a new spatial thin-walled beam element with an interior node is developed. By independently interpolating bending angles and warp, factors such as transverse shear deformation, torsional shear deformation and their Coupling, coupling of flexure and torsion, and second shear stress are considered. According to the generalized variational theory of Hellinger-Reissner, the element stiffness matrix is derived. Examples show that the developed model is accurate and can be applied in the finite element analysis of thinwalled structures.

THE APPROXIMATE ANALYTICAL SOLUTION FOR THE BUCKLING LOADS OF A THIN-WALLED BOX COLUMN WITH VARIABLE CROSS-SECTION

For a thin-walled box column with variable cross-section, the three governing equations for torsional-flexural buckling are ordinary differential equations of the second or fourth order with variable coefficients, so it is very difficult to solve them by means of an analytic method. In this paper, polynomials are used to approximate the geometric properties of cross-section and certain coefficients of the differential equations. Based on the energy principle and the Galerkin's method, the approximate formulas for calculating the flexural and torsional buckling loads of this kind of columns are developed respectively, and numerical examples are used to verify the correctness of the solutions obtained. The results calculated in this paper provide the basis for demonstrating the stability of thin-walled box columns with variable cross-section. This paper is of practical value.

Closed-form solution for shear lag effects of steel-concrete composite box beams considering shear deformation and slip

Based on the consideration of longitudinal warp caused by shear lag effects on concrete slabs and bottom plates of steel beams,shear deformation of steel beams and interface slip between steel beams and concrete slabs,the governing differential equations and boundary conditions of the steel-concrete composite box beams under lateral loading were derived using energy-variational method.The closed-form solutions for stress,deflection and slip of box beams under lateral loading were obtained,and the comparison of the analytical results and the experimental results for steel-concrete composite box beams under concentrated loading or uniform loading verifies the closed-form solution.The investigation of the parameters of load effects on composite box beams shows that:1) Slip stiffness has considerable impact on mid-span deflection and end slip when it is comparatively small;the mid-span deflection and end slip decrease significantly with the increase of slip stiffness,but when the slip stiffness reaches a certain value,its impact on mid-span deflection and end slip decreases to be negligible.2) The shear deformation has certain influence on mid-span deflection,and the larger the load is,the greater the influence is.3) The impact of shear deformation on end slip can be neglected.4) The strain of bottom plate of steel beam decreases with the increase of slip stiffness,while the shear lag effect becomes more significant.

Lateral-torsional buckling of box beam with corrugated steel webs

Corrugated steel web is folded along the longitudinal direction and has the mechanical properties such as axial compression stiffness corrugation effect, shear modulus corrugation effect, similar to that of an accordion. In order to study the lateral-torsional buckling of box beams with corrugated steel webs (BBCSW) under the action of bending moment load, the neutral equilibrium equation of BBCSW under the action of bending moment load is derived through the stationary value theory of total potential energy and further, along with taking Kollbrunner-Hajdin correction method and the mechanical properties of the corrugated web into consideration. The analytical calculation formula of lateral-torsional buckling critical bending moment of BBCSW is then obtained. The lateral-torsional buckling critical bending moment of 96 BBCSW test specimens with different geometry dimensions are then calculated using both the analytical calculation method and ANSYS finite element method. The results show that the analytical calculation results agree well with the numerical calculation results using ANSYS, thus proving the accuracy of the analytical calculation method and model simplification hypothesis proposed in this paper. Also, compared with the box beams with flat steel webs (BBFSW) with the same geometry dimensions as BBCSW, within the common range of web space-depth ratio and web span-depth ratio, BBCSW’s lateral-torsional buckling critical bending moment is larger than that of BBFSW. Moreover, the advantages of BBCSW’s stability are even more significant with the increase of web space-depth ratio and web depth-thickness ratio.

Shear deformable finite beam elements for composite box beams

The shear deformable thin-walled composite beams with closed cross-sections have been developed for coupled flexural, torsional, and buckling analyses. A theoretical model applicable to the thin-walled laminated composite box beams is presented by taking into account all the structural couplings coming from the material anisotropy and the shear deformation effects. The current composite beam includes the transverse shear and the restrained warping induced shear deformation by using the first-order shear deformation beam theory. Seven governing equations are derived for the coupled axial-flexural-torsional-shearing buckling based on the principle of minimum total potential energy. Based on the present analytical model, three different types of finite composite beam elements, namely, linear, quadratic and cubic elements are developed to analyze the flexural, torsional, and buckling problems. In order to demonstrate the accuracy and superiority of the beam theory and the finite beam elements developed by this study,numerical solutions are presented and compared with the results obtained by other researchers and the detailed threedimensional analysis results using the shell elements of ABAQUS. Especially, the influences of the modulus ratio and the simplified assumptions in stress-strain relations on the deflection, twisting angle, and critical buckling loads of composite box beams are investigated.

A new 3-D element formulation on displacement of steel-concrete composite box beam

Slip of a composite box beam may reduce its stiffness, enlarge its deformation and affect its performance. In this work, the governing differential equations and boundary conditions of composite box beams were established. Analytic solutions of combined differential equations were also established. Partial degree of freedom was adopted to establish a new FEA element of three-dimensional beam, taking into account the slip effect. Slip and its first-order derivative were introduced into the nodes of composite box beams as generalized degree of freedom. Stiffness matrix and load array of beam elements were established. A three-dimensional nonlinear calculation program was worked out. The results show that the element is reliable and easy to divide and is suitable for special nonlinear analysis of large-span composite box beams.

Numerical Investigation on the Ultimate Strength of Box Beams with Impact Damage

The objective of this paper is to study the residual ultimate strength of box beams with impact-induced damage,as a model of what may occur in ship hulls.The bottom and side plates of ship hulls can suffer denting or fracture damage due to grounding,collision and other contacts during the ship’s service life and these impact-induced damages could result in considerable strength degradation.Box beams are firstly subjected to impact loading and then four-point bending loading is imposed on the damaged structures to assess the residual strength using ANSYS/LS_DYNA.The ultimate moment and collapse modes are discussed considering the effect of impact location.The impact-induced deformation is introduced in the four-point bending simulation,and the impact-induced stress is included or not to determine the effect of residual stress and distortion after impact.It is shown that impact location has significant influence on the residual ultimate bending moment of the damaged box beam providing that the impact energy is kept constant.The collapse modes also change when the impactor strikes on different locations.Damaged hard corner and inclined neutral axes might explain the reduction of ultimate strength and diverse collapse modes.The residual stress in the box beam after impact may increase or decrease the ultimate strength depending on impact location.

Distortional buckling analysis of steel-concrete composite box beams considering effect of stud rotational restraint under hogging moment

Restrained distortional buckling is an important buckling mode of steel-concrete composite box beams(SCCBB)under the hogging moment.Rotational and lateral deformation restraints of the bottom plate by the webs are essential factors affecting SCCBB distortional buckling.Based on the stationary potential energy principle,the analytical expressions for the rotational restraint stiffness(RRS)of the web upper edge as well as the RRS and the lateral restraint stiffness(LRS)of the bottom plate were derived.Also,the SCCBB critical moment formula under the hogging moment was derived.Using twenty specimens,the theoretical calculation method is compared with the finite-element method.Results indicate that the theoretical calculation method can effectively and accurately reflect the restraint effect of the studs,top steel flange,and other factors on the bottom plate.Both the RRS and the LRS have a nonlinear coupling relationship with the external loads and the RRS of the web’s upper edge.Under the hogging moment,the RRS of the web upper edge has a certain influence on the SCCBB distortional buckling critical moment.With increasing RRS of the web upper edge,the SCCBB critical moment increases at first and then tends to be stable.

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.