Resistance of full-scale beams against close-in explosions.Numerical modeling and field tests

This paper explores the performances of a finite element simulation including four concrete models applied to a full-scale reinforced concrete beam subjected to blast loading. Field test data has been used to compare model results for each case. The numerical modelling has been, carried out using the suitable code LS-DYNA. This code integrates blast load routine(CONWEP) for the explosive description and four different material models for the concrete including: Karagozian & Case Concrete, Winfrith, Continuous Surface Cap Model and Riedel-Hiermaier-Thoma models, with concrete meshing based on 10, 15, and 20 mm. Six full-scale beams were tested: four of them used for the initial calibration of the numerical model and two more tests at lower scaled distances. For calibration, field data obtained employing pressure and accelerometers transducers were compared with the results derived from the numerical simulation. Damage surfaces and the shape of rupture in the beams have been used as references for comparison. Influence of the meshing on accelerations has been put in evidence and for some models the shape and size of the damage in the beams produced maximum differences around 15%. In all cases, the variations between material and mesh models are shown and discussed.

Behavior of transporting pipeline sections without and with hydrogen exposure based on full-scale tests

Pipeline transport of hydrogen is one of today’s economic and environmental challenges.In order to find safe and reliable application of both existing gas and build new pipelines,it is essential to carry out tests on full-scale pipeline section,including the potentially more dangerous places than the main pipe,the girth welds.For the investigations,pipeline sections of P355NH steel with girth welds were prepared and exposed to pure hydrogen at twice the maximum allowable operating pressure for 41 days.Subsequently,full-scale burst tests were carried out and specimens were cut and prepared from the typical locations of the failed pipeline sections for mechanical,and macro-and microstructural investigations.The results obtained were evaluated and compared with data from previous full-scale tests on pipeline sections without hydrogen exposure.The results showed differences in the behavior of pipeline sections loaded in different ways,with different characteristics of the materials and the welded joints,both in the cases without hydrogen exposure and in the cases exposed to hydrogen.

Full-scale multi-functional test platform for investigating mechanical performance of track–subgrade systems of high-speed railways

Motivated by the huge practical engineering demand for the fundamental understanding of mechanical characteristics of high-speed railway infrastructure,a fullscale multi-functional test platform for high-speed railway track–subgrade system is developed in this paper,and its main functions for investigating the mechanical performance of track–subgrade systems are elaborated with three typical experimental examples.Comprising the full-scale subgrade structure and all the five types of track structures adopted in Chinese high-speed railways,namely the CRTS I,the CRTS II and the CRTS III ballastless tracks,the double-block ballastless track and the ballasted track,the test platform is established strictly according to the construction standard of Chinese high-speed railways.Three kinds of effective loading methods are employed,including the real bogie loading,multi-point loading and the impact loading.Various types of sensors are adopted in different components of the five types of track–subgrade systems to measure the displacement,acceleration,pressure,structural strain and deformation,etc.Utilizing this test platform,both dynamic characteristics and long-term performance evolution of high-speed railway track–subgrade systems can be investigated,being able to satisfy the actual demand for large-scale operation of Chinese high-speed railways.As examples,three typical experimental studies are presented to elucidate the comprehensive functionalities of the full-scale multi-functional test platform for exploring the dynamic performance and its long-term evolution of ballastless track systems and for studying the long-term accumulative settlement of the ballasted track–subgrade system in high-speed railways.Some interesting phenomena and meaningful results are captured by the developed test platform,which provide a useful guidance for the scientific operation and maintenance of high-speed railway infrastructure.

Stiffness Degradation Modeling for Composite Wind Turbine Blades Based on Full-Scale Fatigue Testing

In order to provide more insights into the damage propagation composite wind turbine blades(blade)under cyclic fatigue loading,a stiffness degradation model for blade is proposed based on the full-scale fatigue testing of a blade.A novel non-linear fatigue damage accumulation model is proposed using the damage assessment theories of composite laminates for the first time.Then,a stiffness degradation model is established based on the correlation of fatigue damage and residual stiffness of the composite laminates.Finally,a stiffness degradation model for the blade is presented based on the full-scale fatigue testing.The scientific rationale of the proposed stiffness model of blade is verified by using full-scale fatigue test data of blade with a total length of 52.5 m.The results indicate that the proposed stiffness degradation model of the blade agrees well with the fatigue testing results of this blade.This work provides a basis for evaluating the fatigue damage and lifetime of blade under cyclic fatigue loading.

Full-scale model tests and nonlinear analysis of prestressed concrete simply supported box girders

Full-scale model tests were carried out on a 30 m span prestressed concrete box girder and a 20 m span prestressed concrete hollow slab. Failure models were prestressed reinforcement tensile failure and crashing of roof concrete, respectively. The ductility indexes of the box girder and hollow slab were 1.99 and 1.23, respectively, according to the energy viewpoint. Based on the horizontal section hypothesis, the nonlinear computation procedure was established using the limited banding law, and it could carry out the entire performance analysis including the unloading, mainly focusing on the ways to achieve the unloading curves computation through stress-strain, moment-curvature and load-displacement curves. Through the procedure, parameters that influence on the bearing capacity, deformation performance and ductility of the structures were analyzed. Those parameters were quantity of prestressed reinforcement and tension coefficients of prestressed reinforcement. From the analysis, some useful conclusions can be obtained.

An Advanced Control Strategy for Dual-Actuator Driving System in Full-Scale Fatigue Test of Wind Turbine Blades

A new dual-actuator fatigue loading system of wind turbine blades was designed.Compared with the traditional pendulum loading mode,the masses in this system only moved linearly along the loading direction to increase the exciting force.However,the two actuators and the blade constituted a complicated non-linear energy transferring system,which led to the non-synchronization of actuators.On-site test results showed that the virtual spindle synchronous strategy commonly used in synchronous control was undesirable and caused the instability of the blade’s amplitude eventually.A cross-coupled control strategy based on the active disturbance rejection algorithm was proposed.Firstly,a control system model was built according to the synchronization error and tracking error.Furthermore,based on arranging the transition process,estimating the system state and error feedback,and compensating disturbance,an active disturbance rejection controller was designed by adopting the optimal control function.Finally,on-site test results showed that the cross-coupled control strategy based on the active disturbance rejection algorithm could ensure the synchronization of two actuators.The maximum speed synchronization error of the two motors was less than 16 RPM,the displacement synchronization error of the two actuators was less than 0.25 mm and approaching zero after 4 seconds,and the peak value of vibration of the blade was less than 5 mm,which satisfied the fatigue test requirement.

Experimental and analytical study on design performance of full-scale viscoelastic dampers

Viscoelastic（VE） dampers, with their stiffness and energy dissipation capabilities, have been widely used in civil engineering for mitigating wind-induced vibration and seismic responses of structures, thus enhancing the comfort of residents and serviceability of equipment inside. In past relevant research, most analytical models for characterizing the mechanical behavior of VE dampers were verified by comparing their predictions with performance test results from small-scale specimens, which might not adequately or conservatively represent the actual behavior of full-scale dampers, especially with regard to the ambient temperature, temperature rise, and heat convection effects. Thus, in this study, by using a high-performance testing facility with a temperature control system, full-scale VE dampers were dynamically tested with different displacement amplitudes, excitation frequencies, and ambient temperatures. By comparing the analytical predictions with the experimental results, it is demonstrated that adopting the fractional derivative method together with considering the effects of excitation frequencies, ambient temperatures, temperature rises, softening, and hardening, can reproduce the design performance of full-scale VE dampers very well.

Rapid seismic analysis methodology for in-service wind turbine towers

The wind energy industry has been growing rapidly during the past decades.Along with this growth,engineering problems have gradually emerged in the wind power industry,including those related to the structural reliability of turbine towers.This study proposes a rapid seismic analysis methodology for existing wind turbine tower structures.The method is demonstrated and validated using a case study on a 1.5 MW tubular steel wind turbine tower.Three finite element(FE)models are developed first.Field tests are conducted to obtain the turbine tower’s vibrational characteristics.The tests include(1) remotely measuring the tower vibration frequencies using a long range laser Doppler Vibrometer and(2) monitoring the tower structural vibration by mounting accelerometers along the height of the tubular structure.In-situ measurements are used to validate and update the FE models of the wind turbine tower.With the updated FE model that represents the practical structural conditions,seismic analyses are performed to study the structural failure,which is defined by the steel yielding of the tubular tower.This research is anticipated to benefit the management of the increasing number of wind energy converters by providing an understanding of the seismic assessment of existing tubular steel wind turbine towers.

Static load test and load transfer mechanism study of squeezed branch and plate pile in collapsible loess foundation

As a special geological phenomenon, the character of collapsible loess foundation is collapsible when penetrated by water. This character leads to the soil losing load bearing capacity largely and may lead to foundation failure. Pile is a popular foundation used in collapsible loess. The squeezed branch and plate pile is a new type of pile developed in recent years and has not be used in a project before. In this paper three squeezed branch and plate piles are tested in collapsible loess after immersion processing. The results may be used for reference in similar construction project, and to provide theoretical references for de- signing of the squeezed branch and plate piles in engineering practice.

Aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train crossing the wake of a bridge tower from moving model experiments

In a strong crosswind,the wake of a bridge tower will lead to an abrupt change of the aerodynamic forces acting on a vehicle passing through it,which may result in problems related to the transportation safety.This study investigates the transient aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train moving in a truss girder bridge and passing by a bridge tower in a wind tunnel.The scaled ratio of the train,bridge,and tower are 1:30.Effects of various parameters such as the incoming wind speed,train speed,and yaw angle on the aerodynamic performance of the train were considered.Then the sudden change mechanism of aerodynamic loads on the train when it crosses over the tower was further discussed.The results show that the bridge tower has an apparent shielding effect on the train passing through it,with the influencing width being larger than the width of the tower.The train speed is the main factor affecting the influencing width of aerodynamic coefficients,and the mutation amplitude is mainly related to the yaw angle obtained by changing the incoming wind speed or train speed.The vehicle movement introduces an asymmetry of loading on the train in the process of approaching and leaving the wake of the bridge tower,which should not be neglected.

Some Advances in the Application of Weathering and Cold-Formed Steel in Transmission Tower

Application of weathering and cold-formed steel in transmission lines can reduce steel consumption and environmental pollution. Some advances in the studies on the weathering and cold-formed steel in transmission tower are introduced. Firstly, corrosion-resistant tests of weathering steel samples under different simulating technical atmospheres were carried out separately for 240 hours. It shows that the corrosion degree of joint samples is higher than that of single chip samples, and the corrosion-resistant performance of weathering steel is superior to common carbon steel. The corrosion-resistance of weathering steel meets with the requirement of transmission tower. Secondly, experiments and finite element analysis for cold-formed angles and a 220kV prototype tower were completed, and the stability coeffi-cient fitting curves as well as the modification formulas of slenderness ratio for cold-formed members were determined. According to the structural characteristics of transmission towers, four sections of cold-formed angles with different sections and slenderness ratios were selected in this study. The finite element model well predicted the buckling behav-iour of the cold-formed members. Ultimate loads calculating by the fitting curve were well agreed to the experimental values, especially for the members with small slenderness ratios. Weight of the cold-formed steel tower can be reduced by more than 5 percent after considering the strength enhancement. Cost of the weathering and cold-formed steel transmission tower is nearly equivalent to that of hot-rolled steel tower with hot galvanizing.

超高层工业建筑中“机械-自然-城市-人”多尺度复合设计研究——以日立电梯试验塔“H1 TOWER”为例

工业建筑因其特殊的功能和尺度,相关研究往往以结构设备技术为重心。而在技术革新、城市发展的推动下,当代工业建筑设计进入了类型多样化、技术高度化、城市景观化、使用人性化的新发展阶段。本文以日立电梯“H1 TOWER”为例,针对高速电梯试验塔这一新工业建筑类型,从机械、自然、城市、人这四种尺度对试验塔的不同要求进行梳理,对平面构成、建筑轮廓、风穴与立面、外墙细部中对意匠与技术方案的整合进行具体考察,并结合同类建筑作进一步比较分析与总结,提出多尺度复合、多专业协同将是拓展工业建筑设计维度、工程技术与城市人文融合的关键。

High-frequency interference waves in low strain dynamic testing of X-section concrete piles

Stress waves propagate along vertical,radial and circumferential directions when a non-uniformly distributed load is applied at one end of a three-dimensional shaft.As a result,the receiving signals are usually mixed with undesired interference components,often featuring as high-frequency fluctuations.Previous studies have revealed that sectional geometry(shape and size)greatly affects the high-frequency interference.In this study,low strain dynamic testing on full-scale X-section concrete is conducted in order to investigate the influences of high-frequency interference on velocity responses at the pile head.Emphasis is placed on the frequency and peak value of interference waves at various receiving points.Additionally,the effects of the geometrical,and mechanical properties of the pile shaft on high-frequency interference are elaborated on through the three-dimensional finite element method.The results show that the measured wave is obscured by interference waves superposed by two types of high-frequency components.The modulus and cross-sectional area are contributing factors to the frequency and peak value of the interference waves.On the other hand,the position with the least interference is determined,to some extent,by the accurate shape of the X-section.

Updating empirical results of wind loads on cooling towers for turbulence intensity effects

Variations of wind effects on large cooling towers observed at different turbulence intensities for our previous full-scale measurements might be caused by the inherent uncertainties in our physical experiments.Accordingly,the one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)technique is employed for analyzing the data measured on the prototype Pengcheng cooling tower.Because ANOVA indicates that the variations of full-scale wind effects are basically the effects of turbulence intensity,the empirical results of wind loads on cooling towers obtained by generalizing physical experimental data without considering the turbulence intensity effects are updated using model test results obtained in multiple flow fields.The empirical fluctuating wind pressure distribution is updated based on the fact that the fluctuating wind pressure coefficient linearly increases with the increase in the turbulence intensity,and the empirical formulae of the spectra and the coherences is updated based on conservative assumptions.Comparisons of the empirical results and full-scale measurement data suggest that the original empirical results are either too conservative or unsafe for use.However,economic efficiency and conservativeness will be balanced if the updated empirical results are employed for the wind engineering design.

Wind?Induced Interference Effect Between Newly?Built Cooling Tower and Existing Cooling Tower

Disturbance effect is one of the important factors for wind damage to large cooling towers.Existing studies on the wind-induced interference of cooling tower groups are aimed at the same size and the lack of wind-induced interference effects between cooling towers of different sizes.With the background of the additional cooling tower project at Shandong Luxi Power Plant in China,the rigid body pressure wind tunnel test is carried out to obtain 194 conditions for the three combinations of the existing four-tower combination(small size),the new two-tower combination(large size)and the six-tower combination surface wind pressure distribution.Numerical simulation of the surrounding flow field of the cooling tower group with the most unfavorable interference condition of the six-tower combination is conducted using the computational fluid dynamics(CFD)method.Based on this,the characteristics of the average and pulsating wind pressure distribution of the cooling tower surface under the six-tower combination are mainly studied,and the load interference coefficients of the large-sized cooling tower and the small-sized cooling tower under the three tower group combinations are compared.The velocity flow field and vorticity changes around the cooling tower group at unfavorable wind angles are analyzed,and the wind-induced interference mechanism between cooling tower groups of different sizes is mainly refined.Research shows that the interference effect between such cooling tower groups of different sizes is much larger than that of cooling tower groups of the same size,which is specifically manifested as the enhancement effect of small-sized cooling towers and the shielding effect of large-sized cooling towers.The interference coefficient of large-sized cooling tower groups increases by 28%,and the interference coefficient of small-sized cooling tower groups decreases by 6.4%.The airflow acceleration caused by the pinch effect between small-sized cooling tower groups has an adverse effect on large-sized cooling towers and can significantly increase the magnitude of local wind load.The shielding effect of large-sized cooling towers can reduce the overall wind load of small-sized cooling towers.The research conclusions can provide the basis of wind load value design for wind resistance design of such large cooling tower addition projects.

Cloze Test

We were standing at the top of a church tower. My father had me tothis spot in a small Italian town not far from our home in Rome.I wonderedwhy.“Look ,Elsa.” Father said. I all my courage and looked downI saw the square in the centre of the village. I saw the crisscross oftwisting turning streets leading to the square.

沈阳恒隆市府广场超高层塔楼风荷载分析研究

为了确定高度350.6m沈阳恒隆市府广场塔楼结构设计的风荷载,采用刚性风洞试验与风洞数值模拟相结合的方法分析塔楼的风荷载,风洞试验研究给出楼层剪力与扭矩及风致加速度。采用四种湍流模型进行风洞数值模拟,分析建筑平均风压系数、体型系数、基底剪力及倾覆力矩,并与风洞试验进行比较,得出适用于超高层建筑风洞模拟的湍流分析模型,利用该分析模型的数值风洞模拟技术,分析塔楼13个风向角的风压系数、体型系数和基底剪力,为结构风荷载取值提供依据。研究结果表明:相比于《建筑结构荷载规范》(GB 50009—2012)对近似矩形平面建筑物的体型系数的规定,RSM模型迎风面0.83、背风面-0.56,与规范矩形截面迎风面0.8、背风面-0.6最为接近;RSM模型与试验吻合最好;选取RSM模型来分析超高层等大型复杂结构风荷载,能够得到较为准确的结果。

不同螺栓等级下共享铁塔挂载连接件承载性能研究

为研究螺栓等级对挂载连接件承载性能的影响,选取了4.8级普通螺栓(KL-4.8)与8.8级摩擦型高强螺栓(KL-8.8)连接的挂载连接件进行静力试验研究。采用ABAQUS有限元分析软件对其受力性能进行模拟,使用可靠的数值模型系统分析螺栓等级和螺栓直径对连接件承载性能的影响。结果表明:在水平荷载作用下,两种不同螺栓等级连接的挂载连接件节点处均未出现滑移;两种连接件的破坏模式基本一致,左右两侧方钢管底部及右侧方钢管顶部均出现断裂;KL-8.8的整体刚度、极限承载能力以及变形能力均高于KL-4.8;当采用4.8级普通螺栓连接且承载力低于74.13 kN时,螺栓直径不宜小于18 mm,否则螺栓杆会发生剪切变形;当采用8.8级和10.9级高强螺栓连接时,双板件连接处节点偏于刚性连接,挂载连接件的整体刚度和极限荷载主要取决于方刚管、挂载铁杆等其他部件;挂载连接件在承载过程中通过双板件与主材之间的摩擦力和螺栓抗剪来抵抗外载,实际工程中应根据挂载重量合理选择螺栓参数。

基于节段模型测力方法的塔式起重机风荷载特性研究

塔式起重机被广泛应用于铁道工程和土木工程施工过程,属于高耸结构体系,风荷载是塔式起重机结构设计的控制性荷载。为完善《塔式起重机设计规范》(GB/T 13752—2017)和《建筑结构荷载规范》(GB 50009—2012)中的塔式起重机斜风向设计风荷载计算方法,解决风向、吊臂、平衡臂位置等因素对塔式起重机遮挡和干扰引起的设计风荷载计算问题。选取平头塔式起重机为研究对象,对塔身、吊臂、平衡臂进行多工况的节段模型测力风洞试验,研究湍流强度、节段干扰和遮挡等因素对塔式起重机节段风荷载特性的影响规律,研究不同风向下节段阻力系数分布规律,对比标准化阻力系数与当前主要规范的异同,进而探讨节段斜风向标准化阻力系数计算方法。研究结果表明湍流强度对节段阻力系数影响较小,可忽略,而平衡臂和吊臂相邻节段的干扰会减小测试节段的阻力系数;在斜风向下,由于吊臂和平衡臂之间存在相邻节段干扰,国内外规范方法的计算值均会大于干扰工况的节段风洞试验值;当前主要国家规范规定的垂直风向塔身、吊臂、平衡臂阻力系数与风洞试验测得的阻力系数值较为接近,基于风洞试验结果给出典型风向的塔式起重机各节段的风荷载系数取值可用于结构设计;基于风洞试验测试结果推导的塔式起重机斜风向风荷载计算方法具有较好的拟合效果。研究成果可推荐相关工程应用,可为相关规范的修改或补充提供参考。