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The interaction between floor slabs and the vertical elements in a tall building structure results in a more efficient lateral load resisting system. The study examines the structural behaviour of the floor slab in the following situations: (i) Slab coupling a pair of shear walls in a cross-wall structure under cantilever bending action. (ii) Slab in composite action with a lintel beam connecting a pair of shear walls. (iii) Slab restraining a centre core against torsional warping. (iv) Slab coupling a centre core to a peripheral framed tube in a hull-core structure under cantilever bending action. (v) Slab connecting a row of columns in a flat-plate frame structure under lateral loading. The resistance of the floor slab against the deformation of the vertical elements, and the actions induced in the slab in the various situations are determined by finite element and influence coefficient techniques. The finite element technique idealises the slab-wall structure as an assembly of plate and shell elements and uses an established stiffness analysis to determine the displacements, forces and stress resultants in the slab. The influence coefficient technique approximates the interaction forces between the slab and walls as a system of discrete nodal forces which are determined from the solution of compatibility equations written in terms of plate influence coefficients and prescribed wall displacements. The results of parameter studies are presented in a series of design curves and tables to enable, the effective slab stiffness and slab actions to be readily determined for a wide range of structural configurations. Experimental tests on small-scale shear wall-slab models are carried out to substantiate the general accuracy of the theoretical methods of analysis.

Motivated by Robert Mast's original papers on lifting stability, this research study provides a method for predicting beam behavior during lifting, with application in the construction of bridges. A beam lifting cracking limit state is developed based on analytical equations for calculating the roll angle of the beam, the internal forces and moments, the weak-axis and strong-axis deflections, and the cross-sectional angle of twist. Finite element simulations are performed to investigate the behavior of concrete beams during lifting and to validate the proposed method. Additionally, a statistical characterization of beam imperfections is presented, based on recently conducted field measurements of beam lateral sweep and eccentricity of lift supports. Finally, numerical examples for two typical precast prestressed concrete beam cross-sections are included to demonstrate the proposed method. / Master of Science

Engineered wood I-joists have grown in popularity as flooring and roofing structural systems in the past 30 years, replacing solid sawn lumber joists. Typical wood I-joists are manufactured with a very slender section, which is desirable to achieve higher flexural capacities and longer spans; however, this makes them susceptible to lateral torsional buckling failure. Continuous beam spans and uplift forces on roof uplift are potential scenarios where lateral instability can occur and reflects the need to investigate the lateral torsional buckling behavior of wood I-joists. Within this context, the present study conducts an experimental investigation on the material properties and the critical buckling load of 42 wood I-joist specimens. A 3D finite element model is built using the experimentally determined material parameters to effectively predict the observed buckling behavior of the specimens while also accounting for initial imperfections in the joists. The adequacy of other analytical models to predict the critical buckling load of wood I-joists are also investigated. It is demonstrated that the American design standard underestimates the critical buckling load of wood I-joists while the classical theory provides an adequate estimate of the buckling capacity. Furthermore, the effects of initial imperfections on the lateral torsional buckling behavior are discussed. The developed and verified FE model is used to reproduce the nonlinear buckling behavior of the wood I-joist and also to provide an accurate estimate of the lateral torsional buckling capacity using the linear buckling analysis.

The research summarized in this thesis is comprised of an experimental analysis of the mechanical behavior of a wood composite I-joist with different bracing configurations exposed dynamic walking loads. Three 16 in. deep GPI® 65 I-joists were simply supported and laid parallel to each other, while the bracing was attached to the top flange. Five different brace stiffnesses were used: zero stiffness (control), 1.2 lb/in., 8.5 lb/in., 14.0 lb/in. and infinitely stiff. Two different brace configurations were used: one-quarter of the span length (60 in.) and one third the span length (80 in.). The dynamic walking loads consisted of human test subjects attached to a safety platform walking across the I-joist at a designated pace. Experimental results for this research consisted of the I-joist's lateral accelerations, lateral displacements and twist. An Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used for the statistical analysis of the results and was performed for each measurement. The statistical analysis determined the effects of different bracing configurations, stiffnesses, measurement locations as well as test subjects' weight and occupation. Test results and observed trends are provided for all test configurations. Lateral displacement and twist experienced the same trend throughout the experiment: as brace stiffness increased, lateral displacement and twist decreased. This correlated with basic beam theory and bracing fundamentals. It should be noted that as the stiffness increased, the effect on lateral displacement and twist response decreased. However, the trend for lateral displacement and twist was not observed for the lateral accelerations. The 1.2 lb/in. brace stiffness had much larger lateral accelerations for the 60 in. brace configuration throughout the span and were also larger at the bracing point for the 80 in. brace configuration. This could have been due to the energy applied from the springs or a natural frequency of the I-joist system could have been reached during testing. However, the other four brace stiffnesses followed the same trend as the lateral displacements and twist. In addition, this research demonstrates a method for the measurement of lateral buckling due to worker loads. The mitigation of lateral buckling can use appropriate bracing systems. The measurements of the change in lateral buckling behavior can be used to develop safety devices and ultimately ensure the protection of construction workers. / Master of Science

Hunting is a very common instability exhibited by rail vehicles operating at high speeds. The hunting phenomenon is a self excited lateral oscillation that is produced by the forward speed of the vehicle and the wheel-rail interactive forces that result from the conicity of the wheel-rail contours and the friction-creep characteristics of the wheel-rail contact geometry. Hunting can lead to severe ride discomfort and eventual physical damage to wheels and rails. A comprehensive study of the lateral stability of a single wheelset, a single truck, and the complete rail vehicle has been performed. This study investigates bifurcation phenomenon and limit cycles in rail vehicle dynamics. Sensitivity of the critical hunting velocity to various primary and secondary stiffness and damping parameters has been examined. This research assumes the rail vehicle to be moving on a smooth, level, and tangential track, and all parts of the rail vehicle to be rigid. Sources of nonlinearities in the rail vehicle model are the nonlinear wheel-rail profile, the friction-creep characteristics of the wheel-rail contact geometry, and the nonlinear vehicle suspension characteristics. This work takes both single-point and two-point wheel-rail contact conditions into account. The results of the lateral stability study indicate that the critical velocity of the rail vehicle is most sensitive to the primary longitudinal stiffness. A method has been developed to eliminate hunting behavior in rail vehicles by increasing the critical velocity of hunting beyond the operational speed range. This method involves the semi-active control of the primary longitudinal stiffness using the wheelset yaw displacement. This approach is seen to considerably increase the critical hunting velocity. / Master of Science

A verificação da estabilidade lateral de vigas pré-moldadas merece maior atenção em vigas longas e delgadas, especialmente durante as fases transitórias, como o içamento e o transporte, e também quando se leva em conta a deformabilidade das ligações temporárias. Apresenta-se nesta tese, um estado da arte sobre o problema da instabilidade lateral em vigas pré-moldadas, a fim de situar este trabalho no contexto técnico atual, bem como estudos anteriores relacionados à torção pura e quando associada a outras solicitações. Alguns modelos numéricos foram implementados computacionalmente a fim de simular o comportamento não-linear físico de vigas de concreto armado e protendido sob ação conjunta de torção, flexão bi-lateral e força axial. O modelo adequado a situações onde a torção é predominante sobre a flexão baseia-se na analogia ao comportamento de treliça espacial e na extensão da teoria dos campos diagonais comprimidos. Os resultados numéricos obtidos foram satisfatoriamente comparados aos experimentais disponíveis na literatura técnica. Nos casos onde a flexão é predominate, utilizou-se um modelo numérico que permite calcular a rigidez à torção após a fissuração por flexão da viga, sendo este o recomendado para as análises das fases transitórias de içamento por cabos. Duas vigas longas e esbeltas de concreto armado, sob tombamento lateral gradual e ação única do peso-próprio, foram moldadas e ensaiadas no laboratório. Os resultados experimentais obtidos serviram para validar o modelo numérico. No ensaio, a utilização de estações totais para medidas de deslocamentos mostrou ser uma boa alternativa, comparando-se bem aos resultados numéricos calculados. As medidas experimentais das deformações no concreto e nas armaduras concordaram satisfatoriamente com as respostas numéricas. Na aplicação à elementos estruturais com protensão, o comportamento numérico obtido para uma viga protendida de ponte de seção I, sob tombamento lateral gradual, comparou-se satisfatoriamente com a resposta experimental. Enfim, a medida da segurança do içamento de uma viga protendida de ponte e de uma tesoura protendida de cobertura foi calculada numericamente, considerando apoios deformáveis à torção. Os resultados numéricos mostram a importância de se escolher adequadamente o comprimento dos balanços, bem como a inclinação dos cabos de suspensão, garantindo a estabilidade da viga / The lateral stability of long and slender precast concrete beams requires great attention. In particular, it is important to ensure the stability of these members during transitory phases like tilting and transport, and also when the deformability of temporary supports is taken into account. The state of the art of the problem of lateral stability in precast concrete beams is presented in order to place this work in the current technical context. Previous studies of the problem of pure torsion and combined loading are reviewed. Numerical models considering the physical non-linear behavior of reinforced and prestressed concrete beams subjected to combined torsion, bi-axial bending and axial loads were implemented. The appropriate model when torsion dominates over bending is based on the space truss model and an extension of the diagonal compression field theory. The numerical results obtained compared satisfactorily with the experimental ones available in the technical literature. In bending dominated cases, a numerical model that evaluates the torsional stiffness in a cracked state due to bending is recommended for the analyses of temporary phases such as tilting. Two slender reinforced concrete beam models were built and tested under controlled gradual tilting conditions and self-weight action. These experimental results were used to validate the numerical model. Experimental results obtained using total stations for measuring displacements showed to be a good alternative, comparing well with those provided by the numerical model. The experimental measures of deformations in concrete and steel agreed well with the numerical calculations. Good agreement between numerical and experimental results was obtained for a prestressed concrete I-beam gradually tilted. Finally, a numerical analysis considering the flexibility of the supports of a prestressed concrete I-beam and a prestressed concrete truss with variable cross-section was carried out. The numerical results showed the importance of choosing the appropriate overhang length as well as the inclination of the suspension cables, in order to ensure the stability of the beam

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has completed the design of a signature bridge in Fort Worth, TX. The proposed structure is comprised of precast, post-tensioned concrete network arches. The arches will be cast on their sides and then rotated into the vertical orientation. Concerns exist about the durability and stability of the arches during stressing, handling, and transportation. The rotation process in particular represents a critical period in the life of the arches. A monitoring system was proposed to track stresses in the arches throughout the construction operations. The primary goals of the project are to install vibrating wire gages (VWGs) in the arches prior to casting to monitor the performance of the arches until the bridge is completed. The instrumentation will be used to provide real-time feedback to TxDOT and the contractor during stressing, handling, and bridge construction. This thesis focuses on the results of a preliminary laboratory study conducted in support of the instrumentation initiative. The purpose of the study was two-fold: to establish the capabilities and limitations of the VWGs and to study the buckling behavior of slender concrete elements with unbonded post-tensioning. More than sixty axial load tests were performed on two slender concrete specimens instrumented with VWGs. Observations are made on the accuracy and reliability of the VWGs. In general, the VWGs were found to be both accurate and reliable in measuring structural parameters and reporting trends in behavior, even at low loads. Some apparent errors were identified, but these were attributed to testing inconsistencies and scale factors rather than to gage error. Observations were also made on the buckling behavior of the elements under a variety of axial loading configurations. The effects of the engagement of the tensioned strand with the duct had a significant impact on the behavior. Strand engagement was shown to increase the buckling capacity of the members through stiffening action, but did not necessarily eliminate the risk of instability. Both the gage resolution study and the stability tests are expected to significantly enhance the ability of the research team to support the arch construction operations. / text

A verificação da estabilidade lateral de vigas pré-moldadas merece maior atenção em vigas longas e delgadas, especialmente durante as fases transitórias, como o içamento e o transporte, e também quando se leva em conta a deformabilidade das ligações temporárias. Apresenta-se nesta tese, um estado da arte sobre o problema da instabilidade lateral em vigas pré-moldadas, a fim de situar este trabalho no contexto técnico atual, bem como estudos anteriores relacionados à torção pura e quando associada a outras solicitações. Alguns modelos numéricos foram implementados computacionalmente a fim de simular o comportamento não-linear físico de vigas de concreto armado e protendido sob ação conjunta de torção, flexão bi-lateral e força axial. O modelo adequado a situações onde a torção é predominante sobre a flexão baseia-se na analogia ao comportamento de treliça espacial e na extensão da teoria dos campos diagonais comprimidos. Os resultados numéricos obtidos foram satisfatoriamente comparados aos experimentais disponíveis na literatura técnica. Nos casos onde a flexão é predominate, utilizou-se um modelo numérico que permite calcular a rigidez à torção após a fissuração por flexão da viga, sendo este o recomendado para as análises das fases transitórias de içamento por cabos. Duas vigas longas e esbeltas de concreto armado, sob tombamento lateral gradual e ação única do peso-próprio, foram moldadas e ensaiadas no laboratório. Os resultados experimentais obtidos serviram para validar o modelo numérico. No ensaio, a utilização de estações totais para medidas de deslocamentos mostrou ser uma boa alternativa, comparando-se bem aos resultados numéricos calculados. As medidas experimentais das deformações no concreto e nas armaduras concordaram satisfatoriamente com as respostas numéricas. Na aplicação à elementos estruturais com protensão, o comportamento numérico obtido para uma viga protendida de ponte de seção I, sob tombamento lateral gradual, comparou-se satisfatoriamente com a resposta experimental. Enfim, a medida da segurança do içamento de uma viga protendida de ponte e de uma tesoura protendida de cobertura foi calculada numericamente, considerando apoios deformáveis à torção. Os resultados numéricos mostram a importância de se escolher adequadamente o comprimento dos balanços, bem como a inclinação dos cabos de suspensão, garantindo a estabilidade da viga / The lateral stability of long and slender precast concrete beams requires great attention. In particular, it is important to ensure the stability of these members during transitory phases like tilting and transport, and also when the deformability of temporary supports is taken into account. The state of the art of the problem of lateral stability in precast concrete beams is presented in order to place this work in the current technical context. Previous studies of the problem of pure torsion and combined loading are reviewed. Numerical models considering the physical non-linear behavior of reinforced and prestressed concrete beams subjected to combined torsion, bi-axial bending and axial loads were implemented. The appropriate model when torsion dominates over bending is based on the space truss model and an extension of the diagonal compression field theory. The numerical results obtained compared satisfactorily with the experimental ones available in the technical literature. In bending dominated cases, a numerical model that evaluates the torsional stiffness in a cracked state due to bending is recommended for the analyses of temporary phases such as tilting. Two slender reinforced concrete beam models were built and tested under controlled gradual tilting conditions and self-weight action. These experimental results were used to validate the numerical model. Experimental results obtained using total stations for measuring displacements showed to be a good alternative, comparing well with those provided by the numerical model. The experimental measures of deformations in concrete and steel agreed well with the numerical calculations. Good agreement between numerical and experimental results was obtained for a prestressed concrete I-beam gradually tilted. Finally, a numerical analysis considering the flexibility of the supports of a prestressed concrete I-beam and a prestressed concrete truss with variable cross-section was carried out. The numerical results showed the importance of choosing the appropriate overhang length as well as the inclination of the suspension cables, in order to ensure the stability of the beam

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