Elementos estruturais como as placas finas fazem parte de um grande número de aplicações nas mais diversas áreas da engenharia e são de grande importância para a engenharia naval e aeronáutica, na construção de cascos de embarcações e estruturas offshore, e na construção de fuselagens de aviões. Por constituírem-se em um elemento estrutural esbelto, estão sujeitas a um comportamento mecânico diferenciado denominado de flambagem, proveniente de um carregamento de compressão uniaxial. O fenômeno da flambagem pode ser dividido em flambagem elástica e elasto-plástica, sendo dependente de aspectos dimensionais, construtivos e/ou operacionais. A inclusão de perfurações em placas provoca uma redistribuição de suas tensões internas, afetando não apenas a sua resistência, mas também as suas características de flambagem. Neste trabalho, desenvolveu-se a análise do comportamento mecânico de placas finas perfuradas de aço, simplesmente apoiadas em suas bordas, e submetidas à compressão. Serão analisados dois graus de liberdade: H/L e H0/L0. Para H/L, serão analisadas placas com H/L = 1,00 e H/L = 0,50, sendo que H e L representam, respectivamente, a largura e o comprimento da placa. Para H0/L0, serão analisadas infinitas possibilidades, sendo que H0 e L0 representam, respectivamente, a largura e o comprimento da perfuração. As placas utilizadas possuem espessura (h) de 10,00 mm e perfuração centralizada. Quanto às perfurações, estas serão dos tipos: oblonga longitudinal, oblonga transversal, elíptica, retangular, losangular, hexagonal longitudinal e hexagonal transversal. Ainda em relação às perfurações, serão consideradas as seguintes frações ϕ = 0,08; 0,10; 0,15; 0,20 e 0,25, sendo que (ϕ) corresponde ao volume da perfuração. Para a determinação das cargas crítica e última de flambagem, foi utilizada a simulação numérica com o auxílio do software Ansys®, que é baseado no método dos elementos finitos. A aplicação do método Design Construtal, possibilitou a determinação das geometrias ótimas para todos os tipos de perfurações, todos os valores de (ϕ) e para todas as relações de H/L. Os resultados obtidos mostram que há influência do tipo, da forma e do tamanho da perfuração na definição das curvas limites à flambagem e das curvas à flambagem elasto-plástica. Foi possível definir, para cada tipo de perfuração e para todos os valores de (ϕ), os pontos de transição entre a flambagem elástica e à elasto-plástica, assim como os pontos que definem os valores máximos para o fator TLNMáx (tensão limite normalizadora). / Structural elements such as thin plates are part of a large number of applications in various areas of engineering and are of great importance for marine and aerospace engineering, construction and offshore structures hulls, and the construction of airplane fuselages. Being a slender structural element, they are subject to a different mechanical behavior known as buckling, caused by a compressive loading. The phenomenon of buckling can be divided in elastic and elasto-plastic buckling, being dependent dimensional, construction and / or operational aspects. The inclusion of perforations in plates causes a redistribution of its internal stress, affecting not only their resistance but also their buckling characteristics. In this work it was performed the analysis of the mechanical behavior of thin perforated steel plates, simply supported on its edges, and subjected to compression. In the analysis it was considered two degrees of freedom: H/L and H0/L0. For H/L will be analyzed plates with H/L = 1.00 and H/L = 0.50, wherein H and L represent respectively the width and length of the plate. There are endless possibilities for the relation H0/L0. The studied plates have a thickness (h) of 10.00 mm and centralized perforation. The following types of perforation will be used: longitudinal oblong, transverse oblong, elliptical, rectangular, diamond, longitudinal hexagonal and transverse hexagonal. Also in relation to perforations, it will be considered the following fractions (ϕ = 0.08; 0.10; 0.15; 0.20 and 0.25), wherein (ϕ) corresponds to the volume ratio of the perforation. For determining the critical and ultimate buckling loads it was utilized numerical simulation with the assistance of Ansys® software, which is based on the finite element method. The application of the Constructal Design method of this study made it possible to determine the optimal geometries for all types of perforations, for all values of (ϕ) and all the relations H/L. The results show that there is an influence of the perforation type, shape and size, in defining the limit curves of the buckling and the curves of the elasto-plastic buckling. It was also possible to define, for each type of perforation and for all (ϕ) values, the transition points between elastic and elasto-plastic buckling; as well as the points that define the maximum values for the TLNMáx factor (normalized limit stress).

Elementos estruturais como as placas finas fazem parte de um grande número de aplicações nas mais diversas áreas da engenharia e são de grande importância para a engenharia naval e aeronáutica, na construção de cascos de embarcações e estruturas offshore, e na construção de fuselagens de aviões. Por constituírem-se em um elemento estrutural esbelto, estão sujeitas a um comportamento mecânico diferenciado denominado de flambagem, proveniente de um carregamento de compressão uniaxial. O fenômeno da flambagem pode ser dividido em flambagem elástica e elasto-plástica, sendo dependente de aspectos dimensionais, construtivos e/ou operacionais. A inclusão de perfurações em placas provoca uma redistribuição de suas tensões internas, afetando não apenas a sua resistência, mas também as suas características de flambagem. Neste trabalho, desenvolveu-se a análise do comportamento mecânico de placas finas perfuradas de aço, simplesmente apoiadas em suas bordas, e submetidas à compressão. Serão analisados dois graus de liberdade: H/L e H0/L0. Para H/L, serão analisadas placas com H/L = 1,00 e H/L = 0,50, sendo que H e L representam, respectivamente, a largura e o comprimento da placa. Para H0/L0, serão analisadas infinitas possibilidades, sendo que H0 e L0 representam, respectivamente, a largura e o comprimento da perfuração. As placas utilizadas possuem espessura (h) de 10,00 mm e perfuração centralizada. Quanto às perfurações, estas serão dos tipos: oblonga longitudinal, oblonga transversal, elíptica, retangular, losangular, hexagonal longitudinal e hexagonal transversal. Ainda em relação às perfurações, serão consideradas as seguintes frações ϕ = 0,08; 0,10; 0,15; 0,20 e 0,25, sendo que (ϕ) corresponde ao volume da perfuração. Para a determinação das cargas crítica e última de flambagem, foi utilizada a simulação numérica com o auxílio do software Ansys®, que é baseado no método dos elementos finitos. A aplicação do método Design Construtal, possibilitou a determinação das geometrias ótimas para todos os tipos de perfurações, todos os valores de (ϕ) e para todas as relações de H/L. Os resultados obtidos mostram que há influência do tipo, da forma e do tamanho da perfuração na definição das curvas limites à flambagem e das curvas à flambagem elasto-plástica. Foi possível definir, para cada tipo de perfuração e para todos os valores de (ϕ), os pontos de transição entre a flambagem elástica e à elasto-plástica, assim como os pontos que definem os valores máximos para o fator TLNMáx (tensão limite normalizadora). / Structural elements such as thin plates are part of a large number of applications in various areas of engineering and are of great importance for marine and aerospace engineering, construction and offshore structures hulls, and the construction of airplane fuselages. Being a slender structural element, they are subject to a different mechanical behavior known as buckling, caused by a compressive loading. The phenomenon of buckling can be divided in elastic and elasto-plastic buckling, being dependent dimensional, construction and / or operational aspects. The inclusion of perforations in plates causes a redistribution of its internal stress, affecting not only their resistance but also their buckling characteristics. In this work it was performed the analysis of the mechanical behavior of thin perforated steel plates, simply supported on its edges, and subjected to compression. In the analysis it was considered two degrees of freedom: H/L and H0/L0. For H/L will be analyzed plates with H/L = 1.00 and H/L = 0.50, wherein H and L represent respectively the width and length of the plate. There are endless possibilities for the relation H0/L0. The studied plates have a thickness (h) of 10.00 mm and centralized perforation. The following types of perforation will be used: longitudinal oblong, transverse oblong, elliptical, rectangular, diamond, longitudinal hexagonal and transverse hexagonal. Also in relation to perforations, it will be considered the following fractions (ϕ = 0.08; 0.10; 0.15; 0.20 and 0.25), wherein (ϕ) corresponds to the volume ratio of the perforation. For determining the critical and ultimate buckling loads it was utilized numerical simulation with the assistance of Ansys® software, which is based on the finite element method. The application of the Constructal Design method of this study made it possible to determine the optimal geometries for all types of perforations, for all values of (ϕ) and all the relations H/L. The results show that there is an influence of the perforation type, shape and size, in defining the limit curves of the buckling and the curves of the elasto-plastic buckling. It was also possible to define, for each type of perforation and for all (ϕ) values, the transition points between elastic and elasto-plastic buckling; as well as the points that define the maximum values for the TLNMáx factor (normalized limit stress).

Elementos estruturais como as placas finas fazem parte de um grande número de aplicações nas mais diversas áreas da engenharia e são de grande importância para a engenharia naval e aeronáutica, na construção de cascos de embarcações e estruturas offshore, e na construção de fuselagens de aviões. Por constituírem-se em um elemento estrutural esbelto, estão sujeitas a um comportamento mecânico diferenciado denominado de flambagem, proveniente de um carregamento de compressão uniaxial. O fenômeno da flambagem pode ser dividido em flambagem elástica e elasto-plástica, sendo dependente de aspectos dimensionais, construtivos e/ou operacionais. A inclusão de perfurações em placas provoca uma redistribuição de suas tensões internas, afetando não apenas a sua resistência, mas também as suas características de flambagem. Neste trabalho, desenvolveu-se a análise do comportamento mecânico de placas finas perfuradas de aço, simplesmente apoiadas em suas bordas, e submetidas à compressão. Serão analisados dois graus de liberdade: H/L e H0/L0. Para H/L, serão analisadas placas com H/L = 1,00 e H/L = 0,50, sendo que H e L representam, respectivamente, a largura e o comprimento da placa. Para H0/L0, serão analisadas infinitas possibilidades, sendo que H0 e L0 representam, respectivamente, a largura e o comprimento da perfuração. As placas utilizadas possuem espessura (h) de 10,00 mm e perfuração centralizada. Quanto às perfurações, estas serão dos tipos: oblonga longitudinal, oblonga transversal, elíptica, retangular, losangular, hexagonal longitudinal e hexagonal transversal. Ainda em relação às perfurações, serão consideradas as seguintes frações ϕ = 0,08; 0,10; 0,15; 0,20 e 0,25, sendo que (ϕ) corresponde ao volume da perfuração. Para a determinação das cargas crítica e última de flambagem, foi utilizada a simulação numérica com o auxílio do software Ansys®, que é baseado no método dos elementos finitos. A aplicação do método Design Construtal, possibilitou a determinação das geometrias ótimas para todos os tipos de perfurações, todos os valores de (ϕ) e para todas as relações de H/L. Os resultados obtidos mostram que há influência do tipo, da forma e do tamanho da perfuração na definição das curvas limites à flambagem e das curvas à flambagem elasto-plástica. Foi possível definir, para cada tipo de perfuração e para todos os valores de (ϕ), os pontos de transição entre a flambagem elástica e à elasto-plástica, assim como os pontos que definem os valores máximos para o fator TLNMáx (tensão limite normalizadora). / Structural elements such as thin plates are part of a large number of applications in various areas of engineering and are of great importance for marine and aerospace engineering, construction and offshore structures hulls, and the construction of airplane fuselages. Being a slender structural element, they are subject to a different mechanical behavior known as buckling, caused by a compressive loading. The phenomenon of buckling can be divided in elastic and elasto-plastic buckling, being dependent dimensional, construction and / or operational aspects. The inclusion of perforations in plates causes a redistribution of its internal stress, affecting not only their resistance but also their buckling characteristics. In this work it was performed the analysis of the mechanical behavior of thin perforated steel plates, simply supported on its edges, and subjected to compression. In the analysis it was considered two degrees of freedom: H/L and H0/L0. For H/L will be analyzed plates with H/L = 1.00 and H/L = 0.50, wherein H and L represent respectively the width and length of the plate. There are endless possibilities for the relation H0/L0. The studied plates have a thickness (h) of 10.00 mm and centralized perforation. The following types of perforation will be used: longitudinal oblong, transverse oblong, elliptical, rectangular, diamond, longitudinal hexagonal and transverse hexagonal. Also in relation to perforations, it will be considered the following fractions (ϕ = 0.08; 0.10; 0.15; 0.20 and 0.25), wherein (ϕ) corresponds to the volume ratio of the perforation. For determining the critical and ultimate buckling loads it was utilized numerical simulation with the assistance of Ansys® software, which is based on the finite element method. The application of the Constructal Design method of this study made it possible to determine the optimal geometries for all types of perforations, for all values of (ϕ) and all the relations H/L. The results show that there is an influence of the perforation type, shape and size, in defining the limit curves of the buckling and the curves of the elasto-plastic buckling. It was also possible to define, for each type of perforation and for all (ϕ) values, the transition points between elastic and elasto-plastic buckling; as well as the points that define the maximum values for the TLNMáx factor (normalized limit stress).

The I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, MN had a catastrophic failure in the main span of the deck truss in 2007. This collapse has brought significant attention on the gusset plate connections in steel truss bridges throughout the U.S. Steel truss bridge gusset plate design has not received much focus in the past 40 years, and there is a lack of consensus within the design profession on the procedures to evaluate, design, and rate these critical elements. In the short term, based on the best available information on the gusset plate design, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued preliminary guidance. Although some experimental research has been conducted on the ultimate strength of gusset plates, much of this work has been directed toward the performance of tension members and their connections. There has been limited experimental work on the compression capacity and stability of gusset plates, but most of this work is relevant primarily to bracing connections common in building structures. This research focuses on comprehensive experimental and analytical studies on steel truss bridge gusset plate behavior. The studies include comparisons of advanced analytical models with the responses from large-scale experimental tests using discrete and innovative full-field measurements. The calibrated finite element analysis models are then utilized to study a variety of gusset plate configurations. Improved mechanistic idealizations that better capture the observed behavior in the experiments and analytical studies are proposed as the result of this work. The design checks recommended in this thesis present a comprehensive methodology for determining the ultimate gusset plate resistance. This research provides a large database of original results that will be useful for future similar studies. In addition, this research provides modeling procedures that permit the study of steel truss bridge connections and their adjacent framing members using truss bridge sub-assemblies. Based on the comprehensive analytical studies, simple and accurate design calculation procedures to assess the nominal ultimate strength of steel truss gusset plate connections are recommended for steel truss bridge gusset plate connections.

<p>A large rectangular industrial duct consists of plates stiffened with parallel wide flange sections. The plates along with stiffeners acts to resist the pressure loads and to carry other loads to the supports. The behaviours of the components of large industrial ducts are significantly different from the behaviours on which the current design methods are based on. Investigation presented herein deals with the design methods for spacing stiffeners, proportioning stiffeners and calculating shear resistance of side panel.</p> <p>Current method of spacing stiffeners is based on large deflection plate theory. A parametric study was conducted on dimensionless parameters identified in order to benefit from membrane action in partially yielding plate for spacing stiffeners. Design equations were established in terms of dimensionless pressure, plate slenderness and normalized out-of-plane deflection for three cases namely; 0%, 16.5% and 33% of through thickness yielding of the plate. Results show that approximately 50% increase in stiffener spacing when yielding of 16.5% of thickness is permitted.</p> <p>Under suction type pressure load, the unsupported compression flange and restrained tension flange lead to distortional buckling of the stiffeners. The current methods do not address distortional buckling adequately. A parametric study on dimensionless parameters governing the behaviour and strength of stiffened plat panels was conducted. The study indicated that the behaviour and strength of the stiffened panels could be a function of web slenderness and overall slenderness of the stiffener. The study also identified the slenderness limit of stiffener web for which the stiffener reaches the yield moment capacity. This study demonstrated the conservatism of current method. Finally a method was established to calculate the strength of stiffened plate panel subjected lateral pressure.</p> <p>Side panels adjacent to the supports transfer large amount of shear to the supports and, in addition, resist internal pressure. Currently the design of side panels for shear is based on the methods used for the web of fabricated plate girders. The behaviour and the characteristics between the web of plate girder and the thin side panels are significantly different. A parametric study was conducted on dimensionless parameters identified. It was concluded that the plate slenderness dominates the normalized shear strength of stockier side panels. The aspect ratio and plate slenderness influence the normalized shear strength of slender side panels. Design methods to calculate the shear strength of side panels were proposed.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)