Yes / Steel is a highly versatile and 100% recyclable material but is also carbon and energy intensive in production. Steel framed structures are inherently adaptable and potentially demountable. Reuse instead of the common practice of recycling steel by melting, makes good environmental sense, saving both on resources and carbon emissions. Reuse is commercially and technically viable, as demonstrated by isolated projects. Although steel reuse has been identified as an effective method to reduce the carbon and energy impact of construction, it is in effect only marginally used in practice. We found that although there is a sufficient spread between the price of steel scrap and new steel, this difference cannot be captured by the demolition contractors. In steel multi-storey high-rise building structures, composite construction is the most efficient and economic forms of construction. Composite beams incorporate composite floors with profiled steel sheeting are the most common structural system used in multi-storey high-rise buildings and is seen as one of the most important ways of expanding the use of steel buildings in Europe, i.e. increasing market share. However, in terms of reuse, current composite construction systems require extensive cutting on-site during the demolition process making reuse not viable. This paper presents an innovative composite system that is designed for deconstruction and reuse, its structural behaviour and failure modes were observed and analysed through a series of experimental studies and numerical simulation. The results showed that the structural behaviour of this new form of composite system not only allows for deconstruction and reuse, it has a similar structural performance to the traditional composite system with welded shear connectors.

A bridge with precast bridge deck panels was built at the Virginia Tech Structures Laboratory to examine constructability issues, creep and shrinkage behavior, and strength and fatigue performance of transverse joints, different types of shear connectors, and different shear pocket spacings. The bridge consisted of two AASHTO type II girders, 40 ft long and simply supported, and five precast bridge deck panels. Two of the transverse joints were epoxied male-female joints and the other two transverse joints were grouted female-female joints. Two different pocket spacings were studied: 4 ft pocket spacing and 2 ft pocket spacing. Two different shear connector types were studied: hooked reinforcing bars and a new shear stud detail that can be used with concrete girders. The construction process was well documented. The change in strain in the girders and deck was examined and compared to a finite element model to examine the effects of differential creep and shrinkage. After the finite element model verification study, the model was used to predict the long term stresses in the deck and determine if the initial level of post-tensioning was adequate to keep the transverse joints in compression throughout the estimated service life of the bridge. Cyclic loading tests and shear and flexural strength tests were performed to examine performance of the different pocket spacings, shear connector types and transverse joint configurations. A finite element study examined the accuracy of the AASHTO LRFD shear friction equation for the design of the horizontal shear connectors. The initial level of post-tensioning in the bridge was adequate to keep the transverse joints in compression throughout the service life of the bridge. Both types of pocket spacings and shear connectors performed exceptionally well. The AASHTO LRFD shear friction equation was shown to be applicable to deck panel systems and was conservative for determining the number of shear connectors required in each pocket. A recommended design and detailing procedure was provided for the shear connectors and shear pockets. / Ph. D.

The behavior and strength of welded shear studs are subjects of ongoing study. In recent years, research has shown that the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) specification equations for shear stud strength are unconservative for studs placed in deck with ribs transverse to the steel beam. Twenty-four solid slab push-out tests, 93 composite slab push-out tests, and bare stud tests were performed to study the effects on stud strength of friction, normal load, position of studs in the ribs of steel deck, concrete strength, and stud properties. Stud diameters ranged from 3/8 in. to 7/8 in., deck heights ranged from 2 in. to 6 in., and both single and pairs of studs were tested. The push-out test results from this study were combined with other studies to propose a new stud strength prediction model. Three new beam tests were performed to study the effect of the stud position in the ribs of the steel deck. The results of these tests, along with 61 other beam tests, were used to verify the new stud strength prediction model. A reliability study was performed to determine resistance factors for stud strength and beam strength. / Ph. D.

Full-depth precast deck panels are a promising alternative to the conventional cast-in-place concrete deck. They afford reduced construction time and fewer burdens on the motoring public. In order to provide designers guidance on the design of full-depth precast slab systems with their full composite strength, the horizontal shear resistance provided at the slab-to-beam interface must be quantified through further investigation. Currently, all design equations, both in the AASHTO Specifications and the ACI code, are based upon research for cast-in-place slabs. The introduction of a grouted interface between the slab and beam can result in different shear resistances than those predicted by current equations. A total of 29 push off tests were performed to quantify peak and post-peak shear stresses at the failure interface. The different series of tests investigated the surface treatment of the bottom of the slab, the type and amount of shear connector and a viable alternative pocket detail. Based on the research performed changes to the principles of the shear friction theory as presented in the AASHTO LRFD specifications are proposed. The proposal is to break the current equation into two equation that separate coulomb friction and cohesion. Along with these changes, values for the coefficient of friction and cohesion for the precast deck panel system are proposed. / Master of Science

The objective of the research reported herein is to present a comprehensive evaluation of all available experimental data from push-out tests utilizing the ELCO Grade 8 standoff screws. The goal is to develop a strength prediction equation and determine reliability parameters compatible with the Load Factor Resistance Design (LRFD) procedure that would allow the use of this shear connector in design of composite floor systems. The study considers results from push-out tests using this type of screw reported by Hankins et al. (1994), Alander et al. (1998), Webler et al. (2000), and Mujagic et al. (2000). Further, this study identifies the limitations in earlier approaches aimed at predicting the strength of standoff screws. An improved strength prediction model is developed that considers all applicable limit states and determines maximum strength of a connector. A reliability study was also conducted to derive strength reduction factors to be used in design. Parameters considered in the model include deck type and geometry, screw height, concrete compressive strength, top chord angle yield strength, and stand-off screw rupture strength. Results from strength prediction model were compared with results from composite joist tests. / Master of Science

Electrical connectors are the blocks that connect solar panels together. Whenever a photovoltaic plant commences, the main discussion goes around on solar panels, inverters, charge controllers, etc. But the topic of connectors is usually hardly discussed. Connectors in a photovoltaic system can definitely contribute to improve the overall performance of the system, provided that importance is given while selecting the connectors. The electrical connectors used in photovoltaic systems can be connected in two possible ways. Connectors can be connected either in a pure-connection or in a cross-connection. Male and female connectors from the same brand results a pure-connection (P-C). Male and female connectors from two different brands results in a cross-connection (C-C). There have been discussions in photovoltaic, electrical connector markets and international solar events regarding the risks involved, losses and consequences due to a cross-connection. The main reason behind cross-connections is the unawareness of the installers in knowing the difference between a pure-connection and a cross-connection. Even though the installers are aware of this difference, they are not aware of the consequences of cross-connections. Multi-Contact, a leading electrical connector manufacturer of MC4 photovoltaic connectors affected by the counterfeit products of MC4, due to the sudden boom in the solar market during 2011-12. With the help of TÜV Rheinland, Multi-Contact conducted couple of tests namely temperature increase test and accelerated stress tests to understand the disadvantages of cross-connections. This thesis tried to replicate the tests performed by Multi-Contact in an attempt to understand the test results by using connectors that are used in the Swedish market. Performing temperature increase test and accelerated stress tests on most commonly used connectors in the Swedish market is the main aim of this thesis. The first test, gives an understanding of the temperature variations across various connector sets (four connector sets from various manufacturers used in this thesis) and the latter tests helps to understand the quality of the contact resistance of these connector sets. The four connector set manufacturers used in this test were Multi-Contact (MC), Weidmüller (WM), Blussun solar (BSS) and PBM. The quality of contact resistance of a connector is directly related to the quality of the connector set. During the 20 minutes of the temperature increase test, the connector set from WM performed better than its competitors in the P-C. Whereas, the MC-BSS connector set had performed well in the C-C. The connector type of male MC and female BSS showed its dominance throughout the test. Unfortunately, no conclusions were able to be drawn from this test results due to insufficient information about the test procedure. From the results of accelerated stress tests, the C-C set from MC outperformed its P-C counterpart. All ten connector sets used in this project passed the standard and qualified as connectors with good quality contact resistance. Therefore the best results out of only a P-C connector set does not seems to be completely true. With the standard used in this thesis, it is quite difficult to judge the quality of connectors. Rather than saying a P-C is superior and a C-C is inferior in terms of quality, there is a need to come up with a new method to evaluate the quality of connectors. Matching the connectors based on their tolerances could be a potential solution to the mismatching problem in connectors.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:27:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 3860910 bytes, checksum: 9ab336631481a62fdd3b09160dd8a7a6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-08-20 / This work describes an experimental investigation of Wood-to- concrete and woodto- wood joints for composite members using steel-bar and concrete connectors. In wood concrete joints, symmetric three-member specimens were built, with wood outside pieces and concrete inside. In wood-to-wood joints, both three-member and two-member symmetric specimens were built. The steel-bar connectors consisted of straight pins with heads, cut from the bars, inserted normally to the wood surface and shaped like arches. They were simply driven into the wood, glued with an epoxy adhesive or with load distribution plate in compression side. The concrete connector’s joints are made with concrete-filled mortise. In addition, steel bars, placed normally to the joined pieces, were used to avoid opening and separation of the member during loading. In these connections, variable slope of the mortise and location at one or at both sides of the wood member are used. The specimens were then subjected to an increasing compressive force, and forcedisplacement diagrams were plotted, from which the stiffness were calculated, both of service (Ks) and ultimate limit states (Ks). These results for all connections have shown high values for strength and stiffness. In wood-to-concrete steel-bar connections ductile processes are obtained and the end failure occurs in concrete. In concrete connections, these results have shown that most of the failures occurred in a fragile manner, with stiffness remained approximately constant during the evaluation. / Apresenta-se neste trabalho uma avaliação experimental de ligações de peças mistas madeira-concreto e de peças compostas de madeira, com emprego de conectores de barras de aço e de conectores de concreto. Nas ligações de peças mistas, foram ensaiados corpos-de-prova simétricos com três peças, com peças laterais de madeira e peça central de concreto. Nas ligações entre de peças de madeira, foram ensaiados corpos-de-prova simétricos, com três peças e com duas peças. Os conectores de barras de aço foram executados como pinos retos com cabeça, dispostos normais às peças de madeira e na forma de arco, com fixação na madeira por cravação direta, com emprego de adesivo epóxi ou com auxílio de placa de distribuição de carga no lado comprimido. Os conectores de concreto foram obtidos pelo preenchimento de entalhes executados na madeira e barras transversais de aço, empregadas para impedir a abertura entre as peças ligadas. Os entalhes foram executados com diferentes inclinações, em um único lado ou nos dois lados das peças de madeira. Nos ensaios, os corpos-de-prova foram submetidos à força de compressão crescente, sendo obtidas as resistências, as curvas força x deslocamento relativo e as rigidezes relativas aos estados limites últimos (Ku) e de utilização ou de serviço (Ks). Os resultados indicaram a ocorrência de elevadas resistências e rigidezes para todas as ligações. Nas ligações de peças mistas com conectores de barra de aço ocorreram processos de ruptura com indícios de ductilidade, com rupturas finais no concreto por efeito de compressão-fendilhamento. Nas ligações com conectores de concreto ocorreram processos de ruptura predominantemente frágeis e valores de rigidezes praticamente constantes ao longo do carregamento.

This study consists of three self-standing parts, each dealing with a different aspect of design of composite steel-concrete flexural members. The first part deals with a new type of shear connection in composite joists. Composite steel-concrete flexural members have increasingly become popular in design and construction of floor systems, structural frames, and bridges. A particularly popular system features composite trusses (joists) that can span large lengths and provide empty web space for installation of typical utility conduits. One of the prominent problems with respect to composite joists has been the installation of welded shear connection due to demanding welding requirements and the need for significant welding equipment at the job site. This part of the study presents a new type of shear connection developed at Virginia Tech— standoff screws. Results of experimental and analytical research are presented, as well as the development of a recommended design methodology. The second part deals with reliability of composite beams. Constant research advances in the field of composite steel-concrete beam design have resulted in numerous enhancements and changes to the American design practice, embodied in the composite construction provisions of the AISC Specification (AISC 1999). Results of a comprehensive reliability study of composite beams are presented. The study considers specification changes since the original reliability study by Galambos et al. (1976), considers a larger database of experimental data, and analyses recent proposals for changes in design of shear connection. Comparison of three different design methods is presented based on a study of 15,064 composite beam cases. A method to consider effect of degree of shear connection on strength reduction factor is proposed. Finally, while basic analysis theories between the two are similar, requirements for determining the strength of composite beams in Eurocode 4 (CEN 1992) and 1999 AISC Specification (AISC 1999) differ in many respects. This is particularly true when considering the design of shear connections. This part of the dissertation explores those differences through a comparative step-by-step discussion of major design aspects, and accompanying numerical example. Several shortcomings of 1999 AISC Specification are identified and adjustments proposed. / Ph. D.

The research described here is part of a multi-university project on “Performance-based Design of New Masonry Structures.” Within the context of that project, the main objectives of this research was to study the inelastic seismic performance of low-rise concrete masonry structures with clay masonry veneer and veneer connectors; to develop analytical models for those structures and the elements comprising them; and to use the results of the research to propose refinements to current design provisions for concrete masonry with clay masonry veneer. The experimental work described here includes the design and testing of concrete masonry wall specimens with clay masonry veneer under quasi-static loading. Identical specimens were subjected to shake-table testing at another university. The experimental work described here also includes the design of a full-scale, one-story concrete masonry building specimen with clay masonry veneer. That building specimen was subjected to shake-table testing at another university. The analytical work of this research includes the development of nonlinear hysteretic models for concrete masonry walls, clay masonry veneer and veneer connectors. The analytical models for wall specimens were calibrated using the results of the quasi-static and shake-table tests of wall specimens. The analytical model for the building specimen was compared with and refined using shake-table test results for the building specimen. Finally, the calibrated and refined analytical model of the building specimen was used for parameter studies intended to supply general information about the behavior of low-rise reinforced concrete masonry structures with clay masonry veneer. Based on the these experimental and analytical results, basic concepts of the seismic response and design of low-rise concrete masonry buildings were reaffirmed; most design and construction requirements of the 2008 MSJC Code and Specification were reaffirmed; and several recommendations were made to improve those requirements. / text

Embedded systems are ubiquitous in our society, they control vehicles, aircrafts and medical instruments. Some of these systems are distributed, which means they are part of a network and their operation is coordinated. Software development for such systems can be a difficult problem. In this thesis we propose SOFA 2 component system to simplify the software development for distributed embedded systems where the distribution of components is handled entirely by the component system. Lego Mindstorms is proposed as the model of a distributed embedded system. A runtime environment for SOFA 2 and a demo application were developed to evaluate the approach. The proposed approach delivers seamless component distribution. Nevertheless, non-functional requirements such as memory, program size or disk space must be included in the implementation to fully benefit from a component system.