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Buildings
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Mechanical Performance of Connections in Steel and Composite Structures
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Mechanical Performance of Connections in Steel and Composite Structures

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 726

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Youtian Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: steel structures; steel–concrete composite structures; structural fire engineering; seismic engineering; engineering mechanics; finite element modelling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Boshan Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Hainan University, Haikou, China
Interests: cold-formed steel structures; steel–concrete composite structures; marine engineering; composite materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Connections are fundamental components that ensure the safety, integrity, and serviceability of steel and composite structures. Their mechanical performance directly influences the global behavior, stiffness, and ductility of structural systems, especially under complex loading conditions such as earthquakes, fire, and fatigue. Recent advances in materials, fabrication technologies, and analytical modeling have significantly expanded our understanding of connection behavior and opened up new opportunities for the development of more efficient and sustainable connection systems.

This Special Issue on “Mechanical Performance of Connections in Steel and Composite Structures” aims to gather together the latest research findings and engineering practices regarding the design, analysis, and experimental assessment of various connection types. We welcome studies that contribute to improving structural resilience, reusability, and sustainability through innovative connection concepts and design methods.

Potential areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Experimental and numerical investigations of steel and composite connections;
  • Bolted, welded, and hybrid connection systems;
  • Seismic, fire, and fatigue performance of connections;
  • Demountable and reusable connection technologies;
  • Advanced modeling, simulation, and design methodologies;
  • Innovative materials and fabrication techniques for connection improvement;
  • Performance-based design approaches for structural connections.

Dr. Youtian Wang
Prof. Dr. Boshan Chen
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • steel connections
  • bolted connections
  • welded connections
  • composite connection
  • stainless steels
  • high-strength steels
  • fininte element modeling

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 1538 KB  
Article
Study on Collapse Mechanism and Collapse Resistance Evaluation Method for Crossed Cable-Truss Spoke Structure
by Peng Qi, Jian Lu, Lichen Wang and Jianhui Hu
Buildings 2026, 16(9), 1664; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16091664 - 23 Apr 2026
Viewed by 106
Abstract
The new crossed cable-truss spoke structure (CCTSS) significantly improves the lateral stiffness and integral stability of the ordinary spoke cable-truss structure, but it still has the shortcomings of general tensile structures, like low redundancy and weak collapse resistance. Its collapse resistance is still [...] Read more.
The new crossed cable-truss spoke structure (CCTSS) significantly improves the lateral stiffness and integral stability of the ordinary spoke cable-truss structure, but it still has the shortcomings of general tensile structures, like low redundancy and weak collapse resistance. Its collapse resistance is still unclear. In the paper, the structural characteristics of CCTSS are introduced. Secondly, the influence of initial prestresses on the collapse performance of CCTSS is studied. Then the collapse response features and collapse mechanism of the members and joints of CCTSS are revealed under the actions of no loads, full-span loads and half-span loads. Finally, a calculation method of the dynamic force amplification coefficient is proposed based on the collapse results of CCTSS, and a calculation method of the importance of members and joints is further proposed based on the dynamic internal force amplification coefficient, which indirectly evaluates structural collapse resistance. The results show that CCTSS has good local collapse resistance, but the failure of ring cables and joints at the ring cables will cause the structure to lose its integral bearing capacity. Meanwhile, the proposed calculation method of the importance of components and joints has a simple calculation process and is convenient to utilize, which has good engineering application value. The research content provides a theoretical basis and analysis method for structural safety design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance of Connections in Steel and Composite Structures)
29 pages, 19648 KB  
Article
Unveiling the Mechanism of Heat-Input Control and Low-Carbon Welding Consumables on Suppression of Transition Zone Hard/Brittle Layers in Stainless Steel Clad Joints
by Fei Feng, Yanqing Fu and Jinsan Ju
Buildings 2026, 16(5), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16050975 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 307
Abstract
The formation of hard/brittle layers (HBLs) forming in proximity to the transition-layer interface during the welding process of stainless steel clad plates constitutes a pivotal element in determining the limitations on joint homogeneity and toughness. In order to elucidate their formation mechanisms and [...] Read more.
The formation of hard/brittle layers (HBLs) forming in proximity to the transition-layer interface during the welding process of stainless steel clad plates constitutes a pivotal element in determining the limitations on joint homogeneity and toughness. In order to elucidate their formation mechanisms and develop viable suppression routes, S31603/Q420qENH clad plates were utilised to fabricate five butt joints. This was achieved by varying the carbon content of the welding consumables and the heat input in the transition layer. A programme was conducted that combined microstructural and microhardness characterisation, mechanical testing, and numerical welding simulations. The findings indicate that base-layer consumables with comparatively elevated carbon content (w(C) ≥ 0.06%) expeditiously engender a constricted, localised hardened band in close proximity to the transition-layer interface. This is characterised by the predominance of martensite and Cr-rich compounds of the MxCry type, which function as the principal genesis of bending cracks. Conversely, the utilisation of low-carbon welding consumables has been shown to markedly reduce interfacial carbon activity and C-Cr segregation, thereby suppressing the precipitation of MxCry phases and effectively decreasing the overall thickness of the HBLs. Further numerical analysis shows that moderately increasing the transition-layer heat input lowers the T8/5 cooling rate and shifts the cooling path away from the martensite region. This transforms the interfacial microstructure from a localised hardened band into a more uniform, graded structure. These findings provide an engineerable process-control strategy for enhancing both microstructural uniformity and toughness in stainless steel clad joints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanical Performance of Connections in Steel and Composite Structures)
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