A numerical study of prestressed high strength steel tubular members

Abstract

The structural behavior of prestressed high strength steel (HSS) tubular members is investigated through the execution of advanced finite element modeling. Numerical models are developed and validated against published experimental data on HSS tubular members subjected to different levels of initial prestress and loaded either in tension or compression. The effect of the presence or absence of grouting on the strength and ductility of the members is also considered. To numerically replicate the structural response recorded in the tests, some key modeling features including the employed numerical solver, the adopted material models and the element types warrant careful consideration. Upon developing of the finite element models, the numerically generated ultimate loads, the corresponding failure modes and the full load-deformation curves are compared to the experimental ones, indicating a successful validation. As anticipated, prestressing enhances the load-bearing capacity for the tensile members, whereas it is detrimental for the compressive ones. A series of parametric studies is performed to assess the influence of key factors on the structural response of prestressed HSS members and the obtained results are discussed. Design guidance for tensile and compressive prestressed tubular members is also provided.

Vibration of prestressed beams: Experimental and finite-element analysis of post–tensioned thin-walled box-girders

“…The spatial solution of the thin-walled steel-box-girder was discretized into a group of FE linked to each other in a certain manner. Since basic elements can be combined in different ways, FE analyses can solve problems of dynamics of thin-walled structures involving complicated geometries and/or boundary conditions [49,50]. Elastic material, geometric properties, self-masses and unit weights (Table 1 and Section 3.1) were accounted in Strand7 [36].…”

Numerical modelling of concrete-filled aluminium alloy 6082-T6 columns under axial compression

“…In line with past studies [9,[14][15][16], the concrete damage plasticity model was used in the current investigation. This model can effectively capture the behaviour of concrete in the plastic range by adopting a Drucker-Prager hyperbolic flow potential function.…”

Flexural behaviour of concrete-filled double skin aluminium alloy tubes

“…FE models were developed utilizing the measured geometric dimensions and material properties listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3. The outer and inner tubes were modelled using four-node shell elements (S4R) [47][48][49] and the concrete infill was simulated considering eight-node solid elements (C3D8R) [9,50,51]. To select the optimum size of S4R and C3D8R elements, a mesh sensitivity study was performed.…”