This dissertation addresses the ultimate strength analysis of nonlinear beam-columns under axial compression, the sensitivity of the ultimate strength, structural optimization and reliability analysis using ultimate strength analysis, and Reliability-Based Design Optimization (RBDO) of the nonlinear beam-columns. The ultimate strength analysis is based on nonlinear beam theory with material and geometric nonlinearities. Nonlinear constitutive law is developed for elastic-perfectly-plastic beam cross-section consisting of base plate and T-bar stiffener. The analysis method is validated using commercial nonlinear finite element analysis. A new direct solving method is developed, which combines the original governing equations with their derivatives with respect to deformation matric and solves for the ultimate strength directly. Structural optimization and reliability analysis use a gradient-based algorithm and need accurate sensitivities of the ultimate strength to design variables. Semi-analytic sensitivity of the ultimate strength is calculated from a linear set of analytical sensitivity equations which use the Jacobian matrix of the direct solving method. The derivatives of the structural residual equations in the sensitivity equation set are calculated using complex step method. The semi-analytic sensitivity is more robust and efficient as compared to finite difference sensitivity. The design variables are the cross-sectional geometric parameters. Random variables include material properties, geometric parameters, initial deflection and nondeterministic load. Failure probabilities calculated by ultimate strength reliability analysis are validated by Monte Carlo Simulation. Double-loop RBDO minimizes structural weight with reliability index constraint. The sensitivity of reliability index with respect to design variables is calculated from the gradient of limit state function at the solution of reliability analysis. By using the ultimate strength direct solving method, semi-analytic sensitivity and gradient-based optimization algorithm, the RBDO method is found to be robust and efficient for nonlinear beam-columns. The ultimate strength direct solving method, semi-analytic sensitivity, structural optimization, reliability analysis, and RBDO method can be applied to more complicated engineering structures including stiffened panels and aerospace/ocean structures. / Ph. D.

Notched stringer segments spliced with metal connector plates (MCPs) and pallets with spliced stringer(s) were tested in static bending in order to determine the relative effectiveness of different stringer splicing methods and under what conditions the process is or is not effective. The species tested were oak, southern yellow pine, yellow-poplar, and two combined species - oak and yellow-poplar, and oak and southern yellow pine. The metal connector plates used were 3 x 4-inch, 3 x 6-inch truss plates, and a 3 x 4-inch plug plate. The splice methods tested were a vertical splice (VS), a 45° angle splice (AS), and a vertical splice with -inch gap between segments (VSG). The results of bending tests of these specimens were compared to non-spliced whole stringers and pallets containing whole stringers. Multiple comparison, statistical methods were used to analyze all test data. An analysis of the failure locations and types of specimens was also used to analyze test results. Vertical spliced stringers with 3 x 4 and 3 x 6 inch truss plates were the best designs of those tested. Spliced stringers were an average of 112% and 74% bending strength and stiffness of new non-spliced stringer. These plates were an average of 26% stronger and 13% stiffer than the 3 x 4 inch plug plate splice stringer. There was no difference between the performance stringers spliced with 3 x 6 and 3 x 4 inch truss plate. An angle splice design and the addition of 1.25 x 6 inch truss plate on the tension side of spliced stringer did not appear to improve the strength and stiffness. A gap between segments significantly reduces splice strength and stiffness by an average of 35% and 16% respectively. When mixing stringer segment species, the performance is determined by the weaker segment. The average strength and stiffness of pallets containing spliced stringers were similar to that of pallets with whole stringers, however the variation in performance was greater when notched stringer pallets contain splices. / Master of Science

This thesis presents the results of 67 ABAQUS elasto-plastic Riks ultimate strength analyses of cross-stiffened panels. These panels cover a wide range of typical geometries. Uniaxial compression is applied to the panels, and in some cases combined with lateral pressure. For eight of the panels full-scale experimental results are available, and these verified the accuracy of the ABAQUS results. The 67 ABAQUS results were then compared to the ultimate strength predictions from the computer program ULSAP. In all but 10 cases the ULSAP predicted strength is within 30% of the ABAQUS value, and in all but 4 cases the predicted failure mode also agrees with that of ABAQUS. In one case the ULSAP predicted ultimate strength is 51% below the experimental value, and so this case is studied in detail. The discrepancy is found to be caused by the method which ULSAP uses for panels that experience overall collapse initiated by beam-column-type failure. The beam-column method program ULTBEAM is used to predict the ultimate strength of the 61 panels that ULSAP predicts to fail due to overall collapse of the stiffeners and plating which may or may not be triggered by yielding of the plate-stiffener combination at the midspan (Mode III or III-1). ULTBEAM is found to give more accurate results than ULSAP for Mode III or III-1 failure. Future work is recommended to incorporate ULTBEAM into ULSAP to predict the ultimate strength of panels that fail in Mode III or III-1. / Master of Science

Composite IsoTruss™ structures incorporate intersecting longitudinal and helical members. At the intersections, the fiber tows can be interwoven to achieve mechanical interlocking for increased joint integrity. Interlocking introduces gaps and curvilinear fiber paths similar to the crossovers in filament-wound structures, potentially facilitating local delamination within the members, thus reducing the strength and/or damage tolerance of the structure. Optimizing the interlocking pattern at the joints along with efficient consolidation minimizes these effects. Joint specimens were fabricated using a specially designed machine. Specific tow intersection patterns at the joint were: 1) Completely encapsulating the longitudinal member with the tows of the helical member; and 2) Interweaving the tows of the helical member with the tows of the longitudinal member. Consolidation was accomplished using: 1) a braided sleeve; 2) a coiled sleeve; 3) a sparse spiral Kevlar® wrap; 4) a polyester shrink tape sleeve; 5) twisting the entire bundle of longitudinal fiber tows; and 6) cinching the joints using aramid fiber. Ultimate compression strength and stiffness is directly related to the straightness of the tows in the longitudinal members at the intersections. An encapsulated joint reduces member strength by only 4.6%; whereas, an interwoven joint reduces member strength by 30.5%. The fiber paths of the longitudinal member in encapsulated joints are straighter than in interwoven joints, resulting in an average strength difference of 26.2%. Physical properties, strength, and stiffness show that consolidation quality directly affects performance. Consolidation using sleeves provides high quality consolidation, high strength, and high stiffness. Encapsulated joints consolidated using sleeves have an average ultimate strength and Young's modulus 34% and 21% higher, respectively, than encapsulated joints consolidated using other methods. Interwoven joints consolidated using sleeves have an average ultimate strength and Young's modulus 28% and 19% higher, respectively, than interwoven joints consolidated using other methods. Consolidating specimens using a braided sleeve yields the highest quality based on consistency, strength, and stiffness. Consolidating specimens by twisting the longitudinal member yields the lowest strength and stiffness. These conclusions will be applied to IsoTrussâ„¢ grid structure design and manufacturing technology.

A roller coaster manufacturer became aware that improperly heat treated track couplings were sent to a construction site for assembly. Concerns were that suspect couplings might not meet the engineering specifications and could be vulnerable to sudden failure. A testing company in Oak Ridge, TN that specializes in in-situ and laboratory mechanical testing was contacted by the manufacturer for help in this endeavor. The construction company elected to enlist a local testing firm to perform field tests on the components instead of the company in Oak Ridge. The test methods used are incapable of providing quantitative results that could be measured to the engineering specifications, making it unlikely to identify anything but the worst material conditions. This study is an example that the need for accurate analysis is very important. The manufacturer reported that 60 couplings were replaced, but it is presently unknown how many should have been replaced.

Past studies on sands have shown that the shear strength measured in plane strain tests was higher than that measured in triaxial tests. It was observed that this difference changed with the friction angle &amp / #966 / cv at constant volume related to the mineralogical composition. In order to investigate the difference in strength measured in the wedge shear test, which approaches the plane strain condition, in the triaxial test, and in the shear box test, Anatolian sands were obtained from different locations in Turkey. Mineralogical analyses, identification tests, wedge shear tests (cylindrical wedge shear tests (cylwests) and prismatic wedge shear tests (priswests)), triaxial tests, and shear box tests were performed on these samples. In all shear tests, the shear strength measured was found to increase with the inclination &amp / #948 / of the shear plane to the bedding planes. Thus, cylwests (&amp / #948 / = 60o) iii yielded higher values of internal friction &amp / #966 / by about 3.6o than priswests (&amp / #948 / = 30o) under normal stresses between 17 kPa and 59 kPa. Values of &amp / #966 / measured in cylwests were about 1.08 times those measured in triaxial tests (&amp / #948 / &amp / #8776 / 65o), a figure close to the corresponding ratio of 1.13 found by past researchers between actual plane strain and triaxial test results. There was some indication that the difference between cylwest and triaxial test results increased with the &amp / #966 / cv value of the samples. With the smaller &amp / #948 / values (30o and 40o), priswests yielded nearly the same &amp / #966 / values as those obtained in triaxial tests under normal stresses between 20 kPa and 356 kPa. Shear box tests (&amp / #948 / =0o) yielded lower values of &amp / #966 / than cylwests (by about 7.9o), priswests (by about 4.4o), and triaxial tests (by about 4.2o) under normal stresses between 17 kPa and 48 kPa. It was shown that the shear strength measured in shear box tests showed an increase when &amp / #948 / was increased from 30o to 60o / this increase (about 4.2o) was of the order of the difference (about 3.6o) between priswest (&amp / #948 / = 30o) and cylwest (&amp / #948 / = 60o) results mentioned earlier. Shear box specimens with &amp / #948 / = 60o, prepared from the same batch of any sample as the corresponding cylwests, yielded &amp / #966 / values very close to those obtained in cylwests.

This thesis work is carried out in Cargotec Sweden AB, Bromma Conquip to study the behavior of load carrying welded joints in different weld metal strength mismatch conditions and various penetration ratios. Static and fatigue strength calculations have been made using FEA and experimentation. The joint in the Telescopic beam of the spreader STS45 has been analyzed. Telescopic beam is one of the critical and main parts in the spreader, which is directly subjected to the load of containers at various ports. Previous studies show that this joint limits the strength of the spreader, it has thus been analyzed. To check the effect of different strength mismatch conditions in the weld metal, static strength calculations have been carried out. The effect of different penetration ratios on static and fatigue strength has also been studied. A cruciform test specimen is designed according to the joint configuration and the capacity of testing machine. Criteria for the selection of consumables has also been developed and following standards: Eurocode 3, AWS D1.1 and BSK07, have been compared for static joint design. Sub modelling, effective notch stress and beam theory techniques have been used to study the effect of weld metal penetration and size of weld throat on the fatigue strength of the welded joint in the Telescopic beam. The study show that matching or slight under matching in the filler material along with full penetration increases the ultimate strength capacity as well as the ductility in the joint. Results of Eurocode 3, AWS D1.1 and BSK 07 are close to each other. Apart from strength mismatch and penetration ratios, it is observed that the weld geometry and joint preparation has also effect on the strength of the joint. Fatigue analysis of the weld in the Telescopic beam using 3D Finite element analysis show that effective notch concept is not applicable to this part of the spreader.

No description available.

The purpose of the work is to study the effect of fiber on the physical and mechanical characteristics of concrete and to develop recommendations for the production of dispersed reinforced structures. As a result of the research work, the principles of optimizing the structure of fiber concrete due to the influence of fiber length on the mechanical strength properties are proposed. Using graphical methods derived statistical dependence of the qualitative characteristics (prism strength, modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio) of fiber-reinforced concrete from prescription-technological parameters of the dispersed reinforcement, which improves the bearing capacity of concrete structures or to reduce the amount of steel reinforcement. / Цель работы - изучение влияния фибры на физико-механические характеристики бетона и разработка рекомендаций по изготовлению дисперсно-армированных конструкций. В результате проведенной исследовательской работы предложены принципы оптимизации структуры фибробетона за счет влияния длины волокон на механико-прочностные свойства. С помощью графических методов выведены статистические зависимости качественных характеристик (призменная прочность, модуль упругости, коэффициент Пуассона) фибробетонов от рецептурно-технологических параметров дисперсного армирования, что позволяет повышать несущую способность бетонных конструкций или уменьшать расход стальной арматуры.