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Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures

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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Building Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 7588

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ping Zhu

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Guest Editor

College of Civil Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Interests: behavior of steel-concrete composite structures; ultra-high concrete materials; computational mechanics

Dr. Zhe Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Civil Engineering, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou 412007, China
Interests: long-span and innovative civil structures; application of high-performance building materials in civil engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Structural analysis and design are integral to the construction and maintenance of civil structures, such as buildings and bridges, as they ensure compliance with safety standards and structural soundness. Therefore, research in this field is critical to furthering our understanding of these processes and improving structural stability and safety. One of the areas of research in structural analysis is theoretical analysis. This method uses mathematical models to predict how a structure will behave under different loads and stresses, allowing researchers to test the effectiveness of different structural designs and develop new frameworks for structural integrity, leading to the creation of more stable and efficient structures.

Performance evaluation is another area of research that assesses how well a structure performs under load. This type of research provides data on a structure's current performance and can identify areas of weakness that need improvement. By optimizing the structural design, performance evaluation can help structural engineers develop new ways to improve the stability and resilience of civil structures.

Research on structural analysis and design is an ongoing and critical process that helps experts in the field understand how structures behave and how to improve their performance. This Special Issue aims to gather and discuss the latest research in “Structural Analysis and Design in Civil Structures” to comprehensively cover this field and provide a well-documented reference for readers. Suitable article themes for submission include, though not exhaustively, theoretical analysis, performance evaluation, finite element analysis, structural optimization, and conceptual design of civil structures.

Dr. Ping Zhu
Dr. Zhe Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

structural analysis
structural design
performance evaluation
structural optimization
theoretical analysis of civil engineering
numerical analysis of civil engineering

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 7976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Approximate Analytical Algorithm for Pull-Out Resistance–Displacement Relationship of Series—Connected Anchor Plate Anchorage System

by Jie Liu, Chuang Nie, Xiya Tang and Xiquan Zou

Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1177; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071177 - 3 Apr 2025

Viewed by 192

Abstract

To improve the pull-out bearing capacity of the anchor plate support system, a support system with series-connected anchor plates was proposed. Based on the Winkler foundation model, a theoretical analysis method for the pull-out resistance–displacement relationship of the series-connected rectangular anchor plates was established through the force equilibrium and displacement continuity conditions. The model experiment of square anchor plates buried in cohesive soil was carried out, and using FLAC3D.6.0 software, a numerical simulation model of the anchor plate was established. Combining the experimental and simulation results, the approximate analytical solutions for the pull-out resistance–displacement relationship of the series-connected square anchor plates were obtained. The on-site experimental results concerning the pull-out resistance–displacement relationship of anchor plates from three engineering cases indicate that the pull-out bearing capacity of the anchor plate, as obtained by the C and M methods in this paper, surpassed the measured capacity. Furthermore, the application of the T-method was considered more rational. The research also indicates that the critical depth between deep- and shallow-buried anchor plates is approximately 4b; for series-connected square anchor plates, to avoid diminishing the pull-out bearing capacity of the support system, the minimum spacing between adjacent plates should satisfy L ≥ 4b. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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38 pages, 28528 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction of Flexural Ultimate Capacity for Reinforced UHPC Beams Using Ensemble Learning and SHAP Method

by Zhe Zhang, Xuemei Zhou, Ping Zhu, Zhaochao Li and Yichuan Wang

Buildings 2025, 15(6), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15060969 - 19 Mar 2025

Viewed by 241

Abstract

In this study, ensemble learning (EL) models are designed to enhance the accuracy and efficiency in predicting the flexural ultimate capacity of reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) beams with the aim of providing a more reliable and efficient design experience for structural applications. For model training and testing, a comprehensive database is initially established for the flexural ultimate capacity of reinforced UHPC beams, comprising 339 UHPC-based specimens with varying design parameters compiled from 56 published experimental investigations. Furthermore, multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms, including both traditional and EL models, are employed to develop optimized predictive models for the flexural ultimate capacity of reinforced UHPC specimens derived from the established database. Four statistical indicators of model performance are utilized to assess the accuracies of the prediction results with ML models used. Subsequently, a highly efficient evaluation of ML models is taken by analyzing the sensitivity of ML models to varying data subsets. Finally, a Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) method is employed to interpret several EL models, thereby substantiating their reliability and determining the extent of influence exerted by each feature on the prediction results. The present ML models predict accurately the flexural ultimate capacity M_u of reinforced UHPC beams after optimization, with EL models providing a higher level of accuracy than the traditional ML models. The present study also underscores the significant impact of the database division ratios of training-to-testing sets on the effectiveness of performance prediction for the ML models. The optimal model functionality may be accomplished by properly considering the effects of database subset distribution on the performance prediction and model stability. The CatBoost model demonstrates superior performance in terms of predictive accuracy, as evidenced by its highest R² value and lowest RMSE, MAE, and MAPE values. This substantial improvement in performance prediction of the flexural capacity for reinforced UHPC beams is notable when compared to existing empirical methods. The CatBoost model displays a more uniform distribution of SHAP values for all parameters, suggesting a balanced decision-making process and contributing to its superior and stable model performance. The current study identifies a significant positive relationship between the increases in height and reinforcement ratio of steel rebars and the growth in normalized SHAP values. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role played by each feature in the prediction of the flexural ultimate capacity of reinforced UHPC beams, thereby providing a foundation for more accurate model optimization and a more refined feature section strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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16 pages, 2337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study on Bending Behaviors of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Hollow-Core Slabs

by Liuyiyi Yang, Quan Shen, Miao Lu and Xiaohua Yang

Buildings 2025, 15(5), 812; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15050812 - 4 Mar 2025

Viewed by 566

Abstract

Ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) has the characteristics of high strength, toughness, and excellent crack resistance. In order to fully utilize the high-strength properties of UHPFRC and reduce the structural weight and construction cost, solid slabs can be fabricated into hollow-core slabs or composite sandwich slabs. In order to further analyze the mechanical properties and mechanism of action of UHPFRC hollow-core slabs, one solid slab and two hollow-core slabs with the same geometric dimensions, reinforcement, and steel fiber volume content are designed in this paper, and their stress performance under a static load was investigated using a four-point bending test. The research results show that the UHPFRC hollow-core slab is anisotropic, and the bending stiffness of the section with parallel, distributed tubes is slightly smaller than that of the solid slab. The addition of steel fibers can greatly limit the development of cracks on a slab surface, so the elastic limit of a UHPFRC hollow slab is higher than that of a conventional concrete hollow slab. The whole bending process is roughly divided into the elastic stage, the elastic–plastic stage, and the plastic stage; the crack development process on the bottom of the slab can be classified into the cracking stage, the stable crack development stage, and the rapid propagation stage. In the elastic stage, the cross-sectional deformation of the UHPFRC hollow-core slab in the bending process still satisfies the assumption of a flat section. A row of parallel, round tubes on the neutral axis has a little effect on the cracking load, bearing capacity, and deformation capacity of the UHPFRC slab. By conducting the comparative analysis of the hollow rate and bearing capacity, when the hollow rate reaches 13.57%, the comprehensive weight of the solid slab is reduced by 13.16%, the cracking moment is slightly reduced, and the ultimate load is only reduced by 8.78%. Under the premise of meeting the bearing capacity, the hollow rate of the UHPFRC hollow-core slab can be appropriately increased to save money and energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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18 pages, 8856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study on the Impact of Synthetic Jets at Flow Separation Points on the Wake of a Square Cylinder

by Lang Zhai, Diefeng Luo and Wenlu Li

Buildings 2025, 15(5), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15050731 - 24 Feb 2025

Viewed by 368

Abstract

To investigate the application of synthetic jet technology in the control of the wake flow around a square cylinder, a two-dimensional numerical simulation study was conducted using CFD and the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method to simulate the flow field. Synthetic jets were applied near the flow separation points on both sides of the square cylinder to analyze the wake flow characteristics without jets and the effects of synthetic jets on the wake flow structure. The impact of jet frequency and jet velocity on the control effectiveness of synthetic jets was explored from the perspectives of lift and drag coefficients, power spectral density (PSD), total energy of fluctuations, and velocity and vorticity contour maps. The results indicate that synthetic jets effectively modify the wake flow structure of the square cylinder, suppress vortex shedding, and reduce wind loads on the cylinder. An optimal combination of dimensionless parameters exists for achieving the best control performance. Under the G2 condition (momentum coefficient of 0.6), the overall control effect was found to be optimal. Specifically, at an excitation frequency of 1, the lift coefficient was reduced by approximately 79%, and the drag coefficient was reduced by 52%. Additionally, the total energy of the lift fluctuations was at a minimum under this condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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25 pages, 8926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Simplified Analysis Model for Predicting the Crack Width and Deflection of Reinforced UHPC Shallow T-Shaped Beams Under Four-Point Bending

by Zhe Zhang, Yichuan Wang, Binchen Yuan and Ping Zhu

Buildings 2025, 15(2), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15020227 - 14 Jan 2025

Viewed by 752

Abstract

To predict the mid-span deflection and crack width of reinforced ultra-high-performance concrete (R-UHPC) shallow T-shaped beams, a simplified analysis model comprising a bilinear curve with several characterization points is proposed in this paper. The proposed model is distinguished from existing deflection and crack width prediction methods by its consideration of several significant factors, including the tensile stiffening effect, tension contribution of UHPC post-cracking, nonconstant bond behavior of the interface, and shrinkage and creep effect. To obtain closed-form solutions, the proposed simplified analysis model directly incorporates the bond properties from bond tests, thereby eliminating the reliance on constant bond stress simplification and the subsequent necessity for member calibration, which is commonly required in existing design codes for UHPC-based structures. To validate the proposed model, six reinforced UHPC shallow T-shaped specimens with dimensions of 3.7 m × 0.7 m × 0.22 m, varying reinforcement ratios and fiber types within UHPC, are utilized and tested statically under four-point bending conditions. The experimental values obtained from these tests are then compared with the theoretical calculations derived from the simplified analysis model. The ratios of mid-span deflections and crack widths at reinforcement yielding, calculated using the simplified analysis model, to the counterparts from experimental values are found to be within a range of 0.9 and 0.95, respectively. The average percentage of differences between experimental and predicted values for the deflections and crack widths at reinforcement yielding are 4.2% and 5.8%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that the simplified analysis model proposed is accessible and accurate for predicting the deflection and crack width of reinforced UHPC shallow T-shaped beams, which has the potential to be a valuable reference for the design and calculation of such beams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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12 pages, 3526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Numerical Study of Dynamic Behaviors of Graphene-Platelet-Reinforced ETFE Tensile Membrane Structures Subjected to Harmonic Excitation

by Yu Wang, Jiajun Gu, Xin Zhang, Jian Fan, Wenbin Ji and Chuang Feng

Buildings 2024, 14(11), 3597; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14113597 - 12 Nov 2024

Viewed by 835

Abstract

This study presents a numerical investigation of the dynamic behavior of graphene platelet (GPL)-reinforced ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) tensile membrane structures subjected to harmonic excitation. Modal and harmonic response analyses were performed to assess both the natural frequencies and the dynamic responses of the ETFE membrane. GPLs were employed as the reinforcements to enhance the mechanical properties of the membrane materials, whose Young’s modulus was predicted through the effective medium theory (EMT). Parametric studies were conducted to examine the impact of pre-strain and the attributes of the GPL reinforcements, including weight fraction and aspect ratio, on the natural frequencies and amplitude–frequency response curves of the membrane structure. The first natural frequency substantially increased from 5.46 Hz without initial strain to 31.0 Hz with the application of 0.1% initial strain, resulting in a frequency shift that moved the natural frequency out of the range of typical wind-induced pulsations. Embedding GPL fillers into ETFE membrane was another potential solution to enhance the dynamic stability of the membrane structure, with a 1% addition of GPLs resulting in a 48.6% increase in the natural frequency and a 45.1% reduction in resonance amplitude. GPLs with larger aspect ratios provided better reinforcement, offering a means to fine-tune the membrane’s dynamic response. These results underscore that by strategically adjusting both pre-strain levels and GPL characteristics, the membrane’s dynamic behavior can be optimized, offering a promising approach for improving the stability of structures subjected to wind-induced loads. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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21 pages, 4638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Analysis of Internal Force Distribution in Combining Supporting Structures for Expansive Soil High Slope along Railway

by Yuan Yan, Yidan Zhang, Quan Shen and Chaohui Wang

Buildings 2024, 14(10), 3081; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14103081 - 26 Sep 2024

Viewed by 713

Abstract

To simulate the influence of rainfall on the internal forces of expansive soil slope retaining structures, an approximate calculation method for the humidity stress field of expansive soil is proposed in this study. Considering both rainy and non-rainy conditions, on a high expansive soil slope, a numerical model is constructed for a combining supporting structure, which is composed of upper and lower anti-sliding piles and anchor rods/cable frames. Furthermore, the distribution of internal forces in the retaining structure is studied, and design optimization is performed. The research findings reveal that the bending moment profile along the longitudinal axis of the lower anti-sliding pile demonstrates a distinctive “W” pattern, which is characterized by initial reduction, following augmentation, a subsequent reduction, and final amplification. In contrast, the upper anti-sliding pile experiences an ascending trend, followed by a descending trend, and then a subsequent ascending trend. Interestingly, the introduction of rainfall grants an escalation in both the shear force exerted along the entire length of the upper and lower anti-sliding piles and the bending moment encountered by the lower anti-sliding pile. The determination of the internal force distribution of the expansive soil slope retaining structures under different conditions, using the proposed calculation method, provides a further optimization in their design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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30 pages, 15731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Design and Mechanical Behavior Investigation of Steel–Concrete Composite Decks of Narrow-Width Steel Box Composite Bridge

by Yunteng Chen, Yongchun Zhang, Maofeng Yu, Xiangsen Hu, Wei He, Kaiqiang Qin, Yaoyu Zhu and Xiaochen Wei

Buildings 2024, 14(4), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14040912 - 27 Mar 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1723

Abstract

Steel–concrete composite decks are commonly employed in narrow-width steel box composite girder bridges to augment their lateral spanning capabilities, while the concurrent omission of longitudinal stiffeners leads to a substantial reduction in the number of components, thereby yielding a structurally optimized bridge configuration. This paper delineates the structural design parameters of a narrow-profile steel box composite girder bridge and assess the mechanical behavior of its incorporated steel–concrete composite deck under static and fatigue loading conditions. To this end, two full-scale segment specimens from the composite bridge decks were subjected to equal amplitude cyclic fatigue tests. The investigation specifically concentrated on the impacts of two types of shear connectors—namely, perforated steel plates combined with shear studs and perfobond rib shear connectors (PBL connectors)—on the static and fatigue performance, including fatigue stiffness, of the steel–concrete composite bridge decks. The results indicate that, under the static bending condition, the composite deck specimen equipped with stud connectors demonstrates superior overall flexural stiffness in comparison to the specimen featuring PBL connectors. Furthermore, the flexural stiffness of the steel–concrete composite specimens experiences a negligible alteration across two million fatigue loading cycles. Upon the completion of two million fatigue loading cycles, the composite deck specimens incorporating the shear connectors composed of perforated steel plates and shear studs exhibit relatively wider crack widths under the static peak load. Both configurations of the steel–concrete composite bridge deck specimens manifest evident interfacial detachment, signifying insufficient tensile pull-out stiffness of the shear connectors. It is recommended to increase the quantity of the shear connectors or select the pertinent types in order to enhance the interface shear resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Structural Analysis and Design of Civil Structures)

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