Thesis, Ph.D., University of Hong Kong, 1983. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1964. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 104.

This study is concerned with the minimum cost design of a multi-storey building. The building consists of rectangular steel plane frames which are evenly spaced and support identical floors and a roof. The frame spacing, the column positions within the frame, and the number of intermediate beams spanning between frames are optimized using Box's Complex method and the optimum solution verified by an exhaustive search procedure. Member sizes for the frame and floor system are determined by a fully-stressed design criterion, for the AISC code, within the limits of a discrete set of member properties. The optimum design for several frames with various widths and heights is determined and the influence of the above variables, and the effect of cost parameters on the optimum solution is illustrated and the results discussed. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Elastic structures exhibit instabilities which arise through the occurrence of finite displacements even when constitutive properties remain linear. A non-linear analysis which recognizes rotations in the strain displacement relationship is formulated for analyzing three-dimensional framed structures. A finite element method is used whereby the rotations within each element are restricted in size by use of a local element reference frame attached to the element. Two such coordinate systems are developed. Then an incremental solution technique based on an instantaneous linearization of a Taylor series expansion of the forces about the displacement configuration at the beginning of each increment is developed. The snap-through buckling of shallow frames, arches and domes is studied with a view to documenting the effect on the equilibrium paths of the type of moving coordinate frame, the number of elements, and the size of the increment step. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Two theories for the stability analysis of a spaceframe structure are presented: the first uses only Livesley stability functions, the second includes in addition the effects due to chord rotation and flexural end shortening of a member. The critical condition is defined by the load which makes the tangent stiffness matrix of the structure become singular. Three methods for obtaining the critical load are presented: determinant plot, Southwell plot, and load-deflection curves. The analysis is carried out for the plexiglass model of an actual conical spaceframe, made of glulam timber, and built for the storage of potash. The overall critical load for this structure is found to be in satisfactory agreement with the experimental results obtained in previous model tests. Some additional effects, such as geometric imperfections in the joint coordinates and different member end-fixity conditions are investigated. The concept of effective length for a member is introduced to present the results obtained by varying the height/span ratio of the structure. Finally some design suggestions are given for structures of this type. The analyses were made using spaceframe programs based on the stiffness method, modified to include stability effects. An IBM 360/67 computer was used for the calculations. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Science in Engineering

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Science in Engineering