There is a need in exploring structural health monitoring technologies for the composite structures particularly aged Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) for the current and future implementation of COPVs for space missions. In this study, the research was conducted in collaboration with NASA Kennedy Space Center and also NASA Marshall Space and Flight Center engineers. COPVs have been used to store inert gases like helium (for propulsion) and nitrogen (for life support) under varying degrees of pressure onboard the orbiter since the beginning of the Space Shuttle Program. After the Columbia accident, the COPVs were re-examined and different studies (e.g. Laser profilometry inspection, NDE utilizing Raman Spectroscopy) have been conducted and can be found in the literature. To explore some of the unique in-house developed hardware and algorithms for monitoring COPVs, this project is carried out with the following general objectives: 1) Investigate the obtaining indices/features related to the performance and/or condition of pressure vessels 2) Explore different sensing technologies and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems 3) Explore different types of data analysis methodologies to detect damage with particular emphasis on statistical analysis, cross-correlation analysis and Auto Regressive model with eXogeneous input (ARX) models 4) Compare differences in various types of pressure vessels First an introduction to theoretical pressure vessels, which are used to compare to actual test specimens, is presented. Next, a background review of the test specimens including their applications and importance is discussed. Subsequently, a review of related SHM applications to this study is presented. The theoretical background of the data analysis methodologies used to detect damage in this study are provided and these methodologies are applied in the laboratory using Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) to determine the effectiveness of these techniques. Next another study on the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Tank that is carried out in collaboration with NASA KSC and NASA MSFC is presented with preliminary results. Finally the results and interpretations of both studies are summarized and discussed.

The objective of this research is to create a computationally efficient seismic analysis framework for cold-formed steel (CFS) framed-buildings supported by hysteretic nonlinear models for CFS members and screw-fastened connections. Design of CFS structures subjected to lateral seismic forces traditionally relies on the strength of subassemblies subjected to lateral loading of systems, such as strapped/sheathed shear walls and diaphragms, to provide adequate protection against collapse. Enabling performance-based seismic design of CFS buildings requires computationally efficient and accurate modeling tools that predict the nonlinear cyclic behavior of CFS buildings, the individual CFS components and connections. Such models should capture the energy dissipation and damage due to buckling and cross-sectional deformations in thin-walled CFS components subjected to cyclic loads such as those induced by earthquakes. Likewise, models for screw-fastened CFS connections should capture the energy dissipation and damage due to tilting, bearing, or screw shear when subjected to cyclic loading. In this dissertation, an analysis framework for CFS structures that captures the nonlinear cyclic behavior of critical components including axial members, flexural members, and screw fastened connections is presented. A modeling approach to simulate thin-walled behavior in CFS members is introduced where parameters were developed using results from an experimental program that investigated the cyclic behavior and energy dissipation in CFS axial members and flexural members. Energy dissipation and cyclic behavior of CFS members were characterized for members experiencing global, distortional and local buckling. Cyclic behavior and energy dissipation in thin steel plates and members was further investigated through finite element analysis in ABAQUS to provide a strategy for modeling steel columns cyclic behavior including local buckling. Model parameters were developed as generalized functions of the hysteretic energy dissipated and slenderness. The capabilities of the analysis framework are demonstrated through simulations of CFS wood sheathed shear wall cyclic responses validated with experimental results from full scale shear wall tests. / Ph. D.

No / Rectangular concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) may be subjected to local bearing forces transmitted from brace members while being used as a chord of a truss, and thus development of finite element analysis (FEA) and simple design calculation method for rectangular CFSTs under local bearing forces are very important to ensure the safety and reliable design of such a truss with rectangular CFST chords in engineering practices. A three-dimensional FEA model was developed using ABAQUS software package to predict the performance of thin-walled rectangular CFST under local bearing forces. The preciseness of the predicted results was evaluated by comparison with experimental results reported in the available literature. The comparison and analysis show that the predicted failure pattern, load versus deformation curves and bearing capacity of rectangular CFST under local bearing forces obtained from FEA modelling were generally in good agreement with the experimental observations. After the validation, the FEA model was adopted for the mechanism analysis of typical rectangular CFSTs under local bearing forces. Finally, based on the parametric analysis, simple design equations were proposed to be used to calculate the bearing capacity of rectangular CFST under local bearing forces. / National Natural Science Foundation of China (51421064) and the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (2013020125). The financial support is gratefully acknowledged.

No presente trabalho, desenvolve-se um programa computacional para análise de instabilidade de perfis de parede fina por meio do método dos elementos finitos (MEF), com discretização em elementos de casca. Para tal finalidade, utiliza-se uma formulação não-linear geométrica do MEF, com descrição lagrangeana total do equilíbrio, tendo posições nodais e vetores generalizados como variáveis fundamentais da formulação, possibilitando a adoção de lei constitutiva tridimensional completa. Dada a adoção de vetores generalizados ao invés de giros, surge o problema de não unicidade desses vetores nas regiões de encontro entre elementos não coplanares. Para contornar esse problema, desenvolvem-se algumas estratégias de acoplamento que são eficientes e que não comprometem o condicionamento do sistema resultante. Em seguida, introduz-se no programa uma estratégia, baseada na análise linear de instabilidade, que consiste na obtenção de autovalores e autovetores correspondendo, respectivamente, a cargas críticas e modos de instabilidade associados. É realizada uma extensão dessa estratégia para a incorporação da análise não-linear de instabilidade, possibilitando a determinação de pontos críticos ao longo da trajetória de equilíbrio de um ponto da estrutura. Desenvolve-se, também, uma interface gráfica para o programa, para a qual se implementam algoritmos para geração de malha de elementos finitos triangulares e quadrilaterais e se possibilita a aplicação de condições de contorno de forma simples. Por fim, apresentam-se exemplos para validar o código computacional desenvolvido e para explorar as potencialidades do mesmo. A partir desses exemplos, conclui-se que a estratégia proposta e a ferramenta computacional desenvolvida funcionam adequadamente, oferecendo como principal vantagem respostas em geral livres de travamento volumétrico quando comparadas aos resultados provenientes da formulação convencional do MEF, encontrados na literatura. / In the present work, a computational program is developed to perform instability analysis in thin-walled profiles employing the finite element method (FEM), using shell elements. For this purpose, a non-linear geometric formulation of FEM is adopted, with Total Lagrangean description of the equilibrium, having nodal positions and unconstrained vectors as fundamental variables of the formulation, instead of displacements and rotations, making possible the adoption of complete three-dimensional constitutive law. Given the adoption of generalized vectors instead of rotations, the problem arises of the vectors\' non-uniqueness in the regions of connection between non-coplanar shell elements. To overcome this problem, some coupling strategies are developed that are efficient and do not result in ill conditioning of the resulting system of equilibrium equations. Then, a strategy based on buckling analysis is considered in the program, which consists of obtaining eigenvalues and eigenvectors related, respectively, to critical loads and instability modes. An extension of this strategy is developed to consider the nonlinear analysis of instability, making possible to determine critical points along the equilibrium path of a point in the structure. A graphical interface is also developed for the program, for which algorithms are implemented for triangular and quadrilateral finite elements mesh generations and easy boundary conditions assignments. Finally, some examples are presented to validate the developments and to explore the potentialities of the computational tool obtained in the work. From the results, it is possible to conclude that the program works properly, offering as main advantage volumetric responses, in general, free of locking when compared to results using the conventional FEM formulation, as found in the literature.

In this thesis, hybrid stress finite element is formulated for the analysis of the isotropic, thin walled, open section beams with variable cross sections. The beam element has two nodes each having seven degrees of freedom. Assumption of stress field is sufficient to determine the element stiffness matrix. Axial, flexural and torsional effects are taken into account in the analysis. The methodology can be applied both to the tapered and the uniform beams. Throughout this study, firstly element cross-sectional properties are computed using the flow analogy of the inter-connected elements which may have different thicknesses. Then another computer program calculates the displacements and stresses at the nodes along the beam. The results obtained are compared to the results taken from literature and commercial FEM program Nastran.

Heutzutage werden bereits klein- bis mittelformatige Fassadenplatten aus Textilbeton mit Flächen bis zu 6 m² im Bauwesen verwendet. Dabei werden die ca. 25 mm dicken Elemente mit netzartigen technischen Textilien aus AR-Glas bewehrt. In einem kürzlich abgeschlossenen Forschungsprojekt wurde eine großformatige Fassadenplatte aus Textilbeton mit einer Elementfläche von 12,2 m² entwickelt, die eine Plattendicke von nur 30 mm aufweist. Die Platte wurde mit zwei rückseitigen monolithisch verbundenen Betonstegen ausgesteift. Durch die Beschichtung der Textilien mit Epoxidharz konnten formstabile und formbare Bewehrungsstrukturen entwickelt werden, die Textilspannungen von bis zu 1400 N/mm² aufweisen. In einem Pilotprojekt wurden die Ergebnisse des Forschungsprojektes angewendet und ihre Praxistauglichkeit nachgewiesen. Der Artikel beschreibt das architektonische Konzept, gibt Hinweise zur konstruktiven Durchbildung und beschreibt Herstellverfahren der textilen Bewehrung und Fassadenplatte.

The purpose of this thesis is to propose several corotational beam formulations for both 2D and 3D nonlinear dynamic analyse of flexible structures. The main novelty of these formulations is that the cubic interpolation functions are used to derive not only the internal force vector and the tangent stiffness matrix but also the inertial force vector and the dynamic matrix. By neglecting the quadratic terms of the local transversal displacements, closed-form expressions for the inertial terms are obtained for 2D problems. Based on an extensive comparative study of the parameterizations of the finite rotations and the time stepping method, and by adopting an approximation of the local rotations, two consistent and effective beam formulations for 3D dynamics are developed. In contrast with the first formulation, the second one takes into account the warping deformations and the shear center eccentricity. The accuracy of these formulations is demonstrated through several numerical examples.

[pt] Estruturas com elementos de seção aberta e paredes delgadas são amplamente utilizados em estruturas metálicas. Estes elementos têm, em geral, baixa rigidez a torção. Para seções monosimétricas e assimétricas, quando o centro de cisalhamento não coincide com o centro de gravidade, pode ocorrer acoplamento entre flexão e torção. Devido à baixa rigidez à torção, podem ocorrer grandes rotações das seções transversais da viga. Assim, uma análise do comportamento de tais elementos estruturais, levando em consideração a não linearidade geométrica, é desejável. Com este objetivo, equações diferenciais parciais de movimento que descrevem o acoplamento flexão-flexão-torção são utilizadas, em conjunto com o método de Galerkin, para se obter um conjunto de equações discretizadas de movimentos, que é resolvido pelo método Runge-Kutta. A partir das equações linearizadas, obtêm-se as frequências naturais, cargas críticas axiais e a relação entre carga axial e frequência para vigas com diferentes condições de contorno. A seguir, estudam-se as oscilações não lineares e bifurcações de uma viga engastada-livre submetida a cargas laterais harmônicas. Uma análise paramétrica detalhada, usando várias ferramentas de dinâmica não linear, investiga o comportamento dinâmico não linear e não planar da viga nas três primeiras regiões de ressonância e a influência da não linearidade, posição do carregamento, restrições à torção e parâmetros de controle do carregamento na estabilidade dinâmica da estrutura. / [en] Structural elements with open and thin-walled section are widely used in metal structures. These elements have, in general, low torsional stiffness. For monosymmetric and asymmetric sections, when the shear center does not coincide with the center of gravity coupling between bending and torsion may occur. Due to the low torsional stiffness, large twist beam cross sections may arise. Thus, an analysis of the behavior of such structural elements, taking into account the geometric nonlinearity, is desirable. For this purpose, partial differential equations describing the flexural-flexural-torsional coupling are used in conjunction with the Galerkin method to obtain a set of discretized equations of motion, which is solved by the Runge-Kutta method. From the linearized equations, we obtain the natural frequencies, axial critical loads, and the axial load and frequency relationship for beams with different boundary conditions. Next, we study the nonlinear oscillations and bifurcations of a clamped-free beam subjected to harmonic lateral loads. A detailed parametric analysis, using various nonlinear dynamics tools, investigates the nonlinear dynamic behavior and nonplanar motions of the beam for the first three regions of resonance and the influence of the non-linearity, loading position, torsional restraints and load control parameters on the dynamic stability of the structure.

The trend of structural engineering in the recent years is toward the use of lighter and moreeconomical structural elements. In steel construction, peculiarly, thin-walled structural elements arebecoming more popular and have a growing importance. Improved techniques in a manufacturing ofthin-walled elements have led to increased competitiveness of such products in the buildingapplications. Some examples of such structural element can be found in everyday life in form ofcolumns, studs, roofing trusses, and light-weight frames. However, the use of slender profiles and acomplex cross sections shape lead to requirements to study instability phenomenon in a form of local,distortional, flexural, torsional and coupled instability. Such complex structural behavior is inevitablyaccompanied by demand to improve calculation methods and design provisions. In this thesis, aninnovative solution of structural element composed of thin-walled plates is proposed for theapplication on lattice support structure of wind turbine.Thin-walled cold-formed profiles are steel products usually made from cold rolled coils and folded inthe second step. In this way, only open profiles can be produced. The predominant problem of theopen cross-section is the excessive torsional effect caused by the non-coincidence between the shearcenter and mass center, and a poor torsional resistance. A better response is possible with closed crosssections, but such profiles could not be produced by the folding. The solution is to make semi-closedsection by assembling them into polygonal profiles with mechanical fasteners, as presented in thisthesis.Objective of this work is to study the proposed structural sections in design situation and toinvestigate possible design models. The expected structural behavior of the column is a mixturebetween the open and closed cross-section. These cases will be investigated through numerical study.In this thesis presented a comprehensive parametric study on the ultimate strength of proposed coldformedsteel columns using the Finite Element package ABAQUS. FE models were first developedfor columns by using automation that was made through MATLAB and Python script. The bucklingand non-linear FE study was done for the investigation of local (L), distortional (D) and global (G)possible buckling failures and ultimate resistance, respectively. Modelling issues such as boundaryconditions, meshing, initial imperfections, material models, and non-linear solution controls in FEAwere also addressed.The parametric study involved series of profiles of built-up polygonal cross-section types with variedthickness (t), number of corners (n), diameter (d), slenderness (slend), yield strength (fy), number ofpoints along corner radii (np), extension lip length (lext), gusset plate thickness (tg), member length (l),and density of fasteners (s/d ratio), loaded in compression and bending moment. The bending momentoccurs as the effect of forces acting on the connection. The purpose of this analysis is to study thecritical load, cross-sectional behavior, influence of the amplitude of initial imperfections on theultimate load, and influence of each parameter used in the analysis through Full Factorial Design.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A utilizaÃÃo de vigas laminadas de parede fina nas Engenharias AeronÃutica, Civil, MecÃnica e Naval tem crescido bastante nos Ãltimos anos, devido a suas elevadas relaÃÃes rigidez/peso e resistÃncia/peso. Esses elementos estruturais normalmente apresentam paredes finas devido à alta resistÃncia dos materiais compÃsitos. Outra caracterÃstica importante à que, mesmo sem apresentar grandes deformaÃÃes e sem que o limite elÃstico do material seja ultrapassado, estas vigas apresentam comportamento nÃo linear geomÃtrico devido à sua elevada esbeltez, acarretando em grandes deslocamentos e rotaÃÃes. Dependendo da laminaÃÃo utilizada, as vigas de materiais compÃsitos podem apresentar diversos acoplamentos entre esforÃos e deformaÃÃes, tornando a sua anÃlise bem mais complexa do que a anÃlise de vigas de material isotrÃpico. Neste trabalho, foram desenvolvidos dois elementos finitos de pÃrtico espacial para anÃlise nÃo linear geomÃtrica de vigas laminadas de parede fina. As propriedades seccionais da viga sÃo avaliadas atravÃs de teorias de vigas laminadas de parede fina apropriadas, em que desprezam-se os efeitos do empenamento e do cisalhamento transversal. Tais teorias de vigas laminadas conduzem a uma matriz constitutiva 4x4, onde diferentes nÃveis de acoplamento entre esforÃos e deformaÃÃes de viga sÃo considerados, por exemplo, pode-se obter uma matriz constitutiva diagonal ou cheia. A abordagem corrotacional independente do elemento à utilizada para o tratamento de grandes deslocamentos e rotaÃÃes de corpo rÃgido no espaÃo. No Ãmbito local, sÃo utilizados dois elementos, um baseado na teoria linear e outro na descriÃÃo Lagrangeana Total. O tratamento matemÃtico das grandes rotaÃÃes no espaÃo à realizado por meio do tensor das rotaÃÃes (fÃrmula de Rodrigues), juntamente com o conceito do pseudovetor. As implementaÃÃes dos elementos finitos propostos neste trabalho sÃo realizadas no software de cÃdigo aberto FAST. A metodologia de trabalho segue o roteiro clÃssico de mÃtodos computacionais, incluindo formulaÃÃo, implementaÃÃo, verificaÃÃo e validaÃÃo dos resultados. A verificaÃÃo à realizada atravÃs dos modelos tridimensionais de elementos finitos de casca e sÃlido desenvolvidos no software comercial ABAQUS. A validaÃÃo à realizada por meio da comparaÃÃo com resultados de ensaios experimentais encontrados na literatura. No que diz respeito à avaliaÃÃo das propriedades seccionais, pode-se verificar uma Ãtima concordÃncia entre as teorias de vigas laminadas adotadas neste trabalho e os resultados numÃricos e de ensaios experimentais, para todas as laminaÃÃes e carregamentos considerados. No caso dos elementos de pÃrtico espacial, verificou-se uma Ãtima concordÃncia entre os resultados dos elementos finitos propostos neste trabalho e os resultados analÃticos e computacionais disponÃveis na literatura. Observa-se tambÃm que o elemento baseado na descriÃÃo Lagrangeana à mais eficiente do que o elemento baseado na teoria linear no que tange à capacidade de apresentar uma resposta satisfatÃria com uma malha menos refinada. / The use of thin walled laminate beams in Aeronautical, Civil, Mechanical and Naval Enginee- ring is increasing in the last years. This is due to their high stiffness/weight and strength/weight ratios. Composite beams and other structural elements tend to have thin walls due to the elevated strength of the material. Other important aspect is that, even without reaching large strains and without overcoming the elastic limit of the material, such beams present geometric nonlinear behavior due to high their slenderness, leading to large displacements and rotations. Depen- ding on the composite layup, the beams of composite materials can present several couplings between generalized stresses and strains, requiring a more complex analysis procedure when compared to isotropic beams. In this work, two three-dimensional space frame finite elements that can be used to analyze composite thin-walled beams subjected to geometric non-linearity were developed. The cross-section properties of the beams are evaluated through suitable thin walled beam theories, where the effects of the warping and transverse shear are neglected. Such theories yield a 4x4 constitutive matrix for the laminate and different levels of coupling between generalized stresses and strains can be considered. Depending of such couplings, the constitu- tive matrix can either be full or diagonal. The element independent corotational approach was used in order to consider large displacaments and rigid body rotations in space. In the local coordinate system, two elements are used, one based on the linear strain theory and the other on the Total Lagrangian formulation. The mathematical treatment of the large rotations in the space is performed by means of the rotation tensor (Rodriguesâs formula) in conjunction with the concept of the pseudovector. The computational implementations of the two finite elements proposed in this work were done in the open source software FAST ( Finite Element Analysis Tool ). The methodology used follows the classical steps used in computational methods, in- cluding formulation, implementation, verification and validation of results. Such verification is accomplished through shell and solid three-dimensional finite element models developed in the ABAQUS commercial software. The validation is performed by means of comparison with the experimental results found in literature. Regarding the evaluation of cross-sectional properties, one can observe a good agreement between the laminated beam theories adopted in this work and numerical and experimental results for all composite layups and load conditions conside- red. In the case of space frame elements, a good agreement is obtained between the results of finite elements proposed in this work and the analytical and computational results available in the literature. It is also observed that the element based on the Lagrangian formulation is more efficient than the element based on the linear theory regarding the ability to provide a satisfatory response with a less refined mesh