Search Results (5)

Current research on the stress mechanisms of composite connectors within steel–concrete structures of bridge towers is sparse, and there is a lack of established experimental methods and finite element modeling techniques for studying these mechanisms. This study focuses on a specific type of composite shear connector within the steel–concrete section of the Shunde Bridge tower. By employing proposed experimental methods and finite element model analysis, this research examines the load–slip curves and stress distribution of these shear connectors. It aims to elucidate the stress mechanisms and mechanical relationships between the composite connectors and the individual perforated plate connectors and shear stud connectors that comprise them. The results demonstrate that the proposed experimental methods and finite element modeling approaches effectively analyze the stress mechanisms of composite connectors, revealing that the ultimate load-bearing capacity and elastic stiffness of the composite connectors are approximately the sum of those of the individual connectors configured in parallel; The mechanical performance of the composite connectors in the steel–concrete section of the bridge tower is approximately the additive sum of the mechanical performances of the individual connectors comprising them. By comparing the experimentally measured load–slip curves with those calculated from the finite element models, it validates the modeling approach of the finite element model, and the material parameters established through material characteristic tests and literature review are reasonable. Full article

Additional steel supporting joists (ASSJs) can effectively enhance the anti-overturning capacity of the existing solo-column concrete pier (SCP) bridges. Although the interface consists of bolt connections between steel and concrete is the crucial load-transmitting portion, the design of the interface between the ASSJ and SCP still mainly relies on practical experiences. In an actual bridge rehabilitation project with ASSJs in China, a novel connection comprising large-diameter bolts and an epoxy resin layer was adopted to overcome the shortcomings of the initial design. In this study, connections composited with large-diameter bolts and different interfacial treatments were investigated. Four push-out tests on the interfacial shear performance of steel–concrete connections were carried out. The experimental parameters encompassed the interface treatment method (barely roughened surface, smearing epoxy resin, and filling epoxy mortar) and the number of bolts (single row and double rows). The failure modes were unveiled. According to the experimental results, the interfacial treatment method with filling epoxy mortar could uniformly transfer stress between concrete and steel and improve the shear stiffness and shear resistance of the steel–concrete connections. Compared with specimens with barely roughened interfaces, epoxy mortar and epoxy resin employed at the steel–concrete interface can increase the shear-bearing capacity of connections by approximately 47.71% and 43.46%, respectively. However, the interfacial treatment method with smearing epoxy resin resulted in excessive stiffness of the shear members and brittle failure mode. As the number of the bolts increased from a single row to a double row, the shear-bearing capacity of a single bolt in the specimen exhibited approximately an 8% reduction. In addition, by comparing several theoretical formulae with experimental results, the accurate formula for predicting the shear-bearing capacity of bolts was recommended. Furthermore, the load-bearing capacity of an ASSJ in the actual engineering rehabilitation was verified by the recommended formula GB50017-2017, which was found to accurately predict the shear-bearing capacity of large-diameter bolt connectors with an epoxy mortar layer. Full article

In this study, structural thin-layer sandwich walls (SWs) made of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) without conventional reinforcements were investigated. Other researchers have shown that SWs with thin wythes can be used as load bearing structures in low-rise buildings, thereby reducing the amount of concrete by 2–5 times if compared to conventional reinforced-concrete SWs. In most studies, relatively warm climatic regions are the focus, and thin-layer SWs with shear connectors to obtain a certain level of composite action are investigated. In almost no studies has sound insulation been evaluated. In this study, a numerical investigation of structural, thermal and sound insulation performances was carried out. The load-bearing capacities of composite and non-composite SWs are compared. Regions with the lowest five-day mean air temperature of −20 ${}^{\circ }$C were considered. The characteristics of the SW are compared to the requirements given in relevant European and Latvian standards. The minimum thermal insulation for family houses varies from 120 mm to 200 mm, depending on the material. To ensure sufficient sound insulation, the average thickness of the concrete wythes should be around 60 mm, preferably with a 15 mm difference between them. Structural analysis of the proposed wall panel was performed using non-linear finite element analysis software ATENA Science. The obtained load-bearing capacity exceeded the design loads of a single-story family house by around 100 times, regardless of the degree of composite action. Full article

Glass fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite connectors used in precast sandwich insulation wall panels directly affect the safety of the wall. In practical applications, a precast concrete sandwich insulation wall panel is transported to the construction site for hoisting 3–5 days after steam curing, and its concrete strength typically reaches approximately 70% of the design strength (i.e., the concrete strength after natural curing for 14 days). This study investigated the natural curing of concrete for 14 days and analyzed the mechanical properties of FRP connectors with two different sections in terms of their failure mode, failure process, and load–displacement curves. Numerical analysis and finite element parametric analysis of the connectors were conducted based on experimental data. The average ultimate shear capacity of a single rectangular-section connector was 8.37 kN and that of the cross-section connector was 8.37 kN. The connectors exhibited a good shear resistance, and the rectangular-section connectors had better ductility than the cross-section connectors. The wall panel exhibited three types of failure modes: splicing failure of the fiber layer of the connector, fiber fracture in the anchorage of the connector, failure of the concrete of the anchorage, and mainly material damage of the connector itself. The error between the load simulation value and test value of a single connector was less than 10% of the numerical simulation error requirement, and the finite element simulation results were reliable. The results of the parametric simulation of the shear capacity showed that the distance between connectors, anchorage depth, and insulation layer thickness had a significant influence on the shear performance of concrete connectors. Full article

Composite material has been widely used in various fields for its high specific strength and high specific stiffness, so the connectors applicable to composite structures capture many researchers’ attention. With the advantages of higher carrying capacity and repetitive assembling and disassembling, bolted joint becomes one of the most popular connectors in engineering practice. Cutting off the fiber and causing stress concentration are more serious to composite than metal, so it is necessary to predict the strength of the composite joints. Most investigations focus on the response under quasi-static loading, while dynamic effects should be in consideration in increasing impact conditions. The dynamic mechanical properties of composite joint may have a significant impact on the structural deformation and damage modes. For this purpose, this paper conducts dynamic composite single-bolted joint simulations in ABAQUS/Explicit, which used for predicting dynamic strength of the composite joint. T800/X850 laminates were tested to investigate their dynamic properties in our lab. Then the three-dimension progression damage model was established, while the dynamic constitutive model, damage initial criteria and damage evolution law of composite materials were coded in VUMAT of the finite element software ABAQUS/Explicit. The model was validated by quasi-static experiments of composite joint. The simulation results indicate that the yield strength and ultimate strength of the single-bolted composite joint are obviously increasing when consider the strain rate effect and dynamic loading. And the load-displacement curves show significant difference in damage stage. The main damages are sub-layer buckling and fiber breakage caused by extrusion. Full article