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"Steel structures"
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A Critical Review on Optimization of Cold-Formed Steel Members for Better Structural and Thermal Performances
The construction and building sectors are currently responsible globally for a significant share of the total energy consumption and energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. The use of Modern Methods of Construction can help reduce this, one example being the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) construction. CFS channel sections have inherent advantages, such as their high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent potential for recycling and reusing. CFS members can be rolled into different cross-sectional shapes and optimizing these shapes can further improve their load-bearing capacities, resulting in a more economical and efficient building solution. Conversely, the high thermal conductivity of steel can lead to thermal bridges, which can significantly reduce the building’s thermal performance and energy efficiency. Hence, it is also essential to consider the thermal energy performance of the CFS structures. This paper reviews the existing studies on the structural optimization of CFS sections and the thermal performance of such CFS structures. In total, over 160 articles were critically reviewed. The methodologies used in the existing literature for optimizing CFS members for both structural and thermal performances have been summarized and presented systematically. Research gaps from the existing body of knowledge have been identified, providing guidelines for future research.
Journal Article
Removable, Reconfigurable, and Sustainable Steel Structures: A State-of-the-Art Review of Clamp-Based Steel Connections
In this review paper, first of all, an analysis of the circular economy and its application to steel structures is carried out. It highlights the need to apply the philosophy of Design for Deconstruction or Design for Disassembly (DfD) from the conception of the structure so that it can be truly reconfigurable. Then, a brief review of the different types of connections for steel structures is conducted, comparing the level of research and development of each of them and the degree of reconfiguration that is possible to obtain. Subsequently, the article focuses on the type of connection using clamps, a key point of this work and on which, to date, there are no state-of-the-art studies. It describes the types of clamps, their principle of operation, the types of connections developed with them, and the results of the different investigations that allow for calculating these types of connections. A summary is also given of how these connection types work according to the geometrical characteristics of the clamp and the bolt so that this review work can serve as a driver for the widespread use of clamp-based connections by researchers and engineers in the design and manufacturing of demountable and reconfigurable steel structures. Finally, some conclusions are given, indicating the advantages and disadvantages of this connection system and future lines of research.
Journal Article
Empirical Investigation of the Structural Response of Super-Span Soil–Steel Arches During Backfilling
This paper presents field investigations of a corrugated steel soil–steel arch structure with a span of 25.7 m and a rise of 9.0 m—currently the largest single-span structure of its kind in Europe. The structure, serving as a wildlife crossing along the DK16 expressway in northeastern Poland, was constructed using deep corrugated steel plates (500 mm× 237 mm) made from S315MC steel, without additional reinforcements such as stiffening ribs or geosynthetics. The study focused on monitoring the structural behavior during the critical backfilling phase. Displacements and strains were recorded using 34 electro-resistant strain gauges and a geodetic laser system at successive backfill levels, with particular attention to the loading stage at the crown. The measured results were compared with predictions based on the Swedish Design Method (SDM). The SDM equations did not accurately predict internal forces during backfilling. At the crown level, bending moments and axial forces were overestimated by approximately 69% and 152%, respectively. At the final backfill level, the SDM underestimated bending moments by 55% and overestimated axial forces by 90%. These findings highlight limitations of current design standards and emphasize the need for revised analytical models and long-term monitoring of large-span soil–steel structures.
Journal Article
A combined inspection technique for debonding defects in CFRP-strengthened steel structures based on leaky Lamb wave and low-power vibrothermography
Debonding defects are inevitable during the fabrication or service of CFRP-strengthened steel structures, but there is a lack of sophisticated non-destructive testing techniques. Based on leaky Lamb wave (LLW) and low-power vibrothermography (LVT), a combined inspection technique is proposed for debonding defects of CFRP-strengthened steel structures. Firstly, LLW is used for qualitative detection of CFRP-strengthened steel structures by calculating the waveform energy as a detection index. Secondly, a sweep frequency-nonlinear response (SFNR) method based on the swept excitation, LLW, and nonlinear analysis is proposed to determine the optimal excitation frequency of LVT. Finally, LVT with optimal excitation frequency is used to quantitatively evaluate debonding defects. Experiments are performed to verify the effectiveness of the combined inspection technique. Results prove that the SFNR method significantly improves the LVT detectability of small-area defects. LVT thermal image sequences are processed using fast Fourier transform and Ostu segmentation, and the relative errors of defect quantification are in the range of 7.69–14.65%. In conclusion, the combined inspection technique provides an effective means to detect debonding defects in CFRP-strengthened steel structures during fabrication and in service.
Journal Article
The Effect of Atmospheric Corrosion on Steel Structures: A State-of-the-Art and Case-Study
Atmospheric corrosion can seriously affect the performance of steel structures over long periods of time; thus, it is essential to evaluate the rate of corrosion and subsequent modification of dynamic properties of a structure over different time periods. Standards and codes represent the general guidelines and suggest general protection techniques to prevent structures from corrosion damage. The available models in the literature propose the thickness reduction method that accounts for the exposure time of structures in corrosive environments. The purpose of this study is to review the existing corrosion models in the literature and report as well as compare their effectiveness in low (C2 level), medium (C3 level) and high (C4 level) corrosivity class in accordance with the ISO standard. Furthermore, the influence of corrosion loss during the lifetime of a structure is studied through a realistic case study model using FEM (finite element method) in both linear and nonlinear regions. The results showed that the corrosion can considerably affect the dynamic characteristics of the structure. For instance, the vibration period rose up to 15% for the C4 class and 100-year lifespan. Additionally, the corroded structure presented higher acceleration and drift demand, and the base reaction forces were reduced up to 60% for the same class and time period.
Journal Article
Point cloud classification and part segmentation of steel structure elements
The classification and part segmentation of point clouds have gained significant attention in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), especially in the construction industry. However, addressing the dataset directly in AI models remains a challenge, as most existing methods are not well-suited for processing point cloud data. PointNet has emerged as an AI architecture algorithm. It transforms individual points independently to learn local and global features. This research aims to develop a comprehensive framework for classification and part segmentation for point clouds of steel structure elements. The framework enhances the accuracy of the PointNet algorithm, and it consists of three stages: (1) dataset creation; (2) model classification; and (3) part segmentation. First, the dataset creation procedure encompasses modeling steel columns, beams, and braces using Autodesk Revit software. For the classification dataset, a dataset comprising 580 columns and 920 beams is obtained. In the part segmentation dataset, five categories of steel braced frame elements are generated, yielding a total of 21,870 elements for braced frame structures. Several point cloud experiments have been applied, including adjusting the number of points in the point cloud, altering the batch size, and fine-tuning the number of epochs. These experimental settings were systematically investigated to identify the optimal combination that yields the highest (AI) model accuracy. PointNet model achieved 100% accuracy across all classification experiments, while part segmentation experiments reached up to 97.10% accuracy, with a mean intersection over union (MIOU) of 93.70%. The comprehensive analysis of the point cloud dataset is applied on an actual case study to demonstrate the practical features of the proposed research.
Journal Article
Travelling fire experiments in steel-framed structure: numerical investigations with CFD and FEM
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose a simplified representation of the fire load in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to represent the effect of large-scale travelling fire and to highlight the relevance of such an approach whilst coupling the CFD results with finite element method (FEM) to evaluate related steel temperatures, comparing the numerical outcomes with experimental measurements.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents the setup of the CFD simulations (FDS software), its corresponding assumptions and the calibration via two natural fire tests whilst focusing on gas temperatures and on steel temperatures measured on a central column. For the latter, two methods are presented: one based on EN 1993-1-2 and another linking CFD and FEM (SAFIR® software).
Findings
This paper suggests that such an approach can allow for an acceptable representation of the travelling fire both in terms of fire spread and steel temperatures. The inevitable limitations inherent to the simplifications made during the CFD simulations are also discussed. Regarding steel temperatures, the two methods lead to quite similar results, but with the ones obtained via CFD–FEM coupling are closer to those measured.
Originality/value
This work has revealed that the proposed simplified representation of the fire load appears to be appropriate to evaluate the temperature of steel structural elements within reasonable limits on computational time, making it potentially desirable for practical applications. This paper also presents the first comparisons of FDS–SAFIR® coupling with experimental results, highlighting promising outcomes.
Journal Article
A regression-based model for parametric cost estimation of industrial steel structures
Construction industry is considered one of the most versatile industries characterized by uncertainties and risk. Estimating the steel structure cost of industrial buildings is a challenging task compared with traditional buildings due to the uniqueness of this class of projects. This paper aims to introduce an effective and accurate parametric model for construction cost estimation of industrial steel structures. The paper proposes a regression-based model for estimating the cost of a critical construction component: the industrial steel structure where the is not enough historical data is available. The factors that affect the construction cost of industrial steel structures are initially identified based on the literature and interviews with local experts. The correlation between input factors and model’s output is then investigated. In addition, sensitivity analysis is performed to examine the relative importance of the regression model’s inputs. The model is validated using actual data on industrial steel structure costs in Saudi Arabia. The model adequately predicted the construction costs of actual projects with an accuracy of more than 88%. This indicates that the model is capable of accurately predicting the cost of such structures. The proposed model can be of great assistance to investors and decision-makers looking to invest in the industrial sector.
First published online 10 December 2024
Journal Article