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• Stiffness reduction method developed for LTB assessment of tapered beams. • Proposed method eliminates the need to use member design equations. • Comprehensive verification of the stiffness reduction method against shell FE results. • The proposed approach compared against Eurocode 3. • Illustration of the accuracy of proposed method for laterally braced tapered beams. A stiffness reduction method for the lateral-torsional buckling (LTB) assessment of welded web-tapered steel beams is presented in this study. The method is implemented by (i) modelling a tapered steel beam using elastic beam finite elements specifically developed to represent the elastic instability response of tapered steel members, (ii) reducing the Young's modulus E and shear modulus G of each element through a stiffness reduction function considering the bending moments and cross-section properties at the middle of each element and (iii) performing an elastic Linear Buckling Analysis of the beam with reduced stiffness, referred to as LBA-SR herein. Since the adverse influence of the development of plasticity and imperfections on the ultimate member strengths are fully accounted for through stiffness reduction, the presented method does not require any further global instability assessment using member design equations; thus, the proposed method is both direct and practical. Verification of the method is shown for a wide range of web-tapered steel beams using results from nonlinear shell finite element modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipelines in geological disaster regions typically suffer the risk of local buckling failure because of slender structure and complex load. This paper is meant to reveal the local buckling behavior of buried pipelines with a large diameter and high strength, which are under different conditions, including pure bending and bending combined with internal pressure. Finite element analysis was built according to previous data to study local buckling behavior of pressurized and unpressurized pipes under bending conditions and their differences in local buckling failure modes. In parametric analysis, a series of parameters, including pipe geometrical dimension, pipe material properties and internal pressure, were selected to study their influences on the critical bending moment, critical compressive stress and critical compressive strain of pipes. Especially the hardening exponent of pipe material was introduced to the parameter analysis by using the Ramberg- Osgood constitutive model. Results showed that geometrical dimensions, material and internal pressure can exert similar effects on the critical bending moment and critical compressive stress, which have different, even reverse effects on the critical compressive strain. Based on these analyses, more accurate design models of critical bending moment and critical compressive stress have been proposed for high-strength pipelines under bending conditions, which provide theoretical methods for highstrength pipeline engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a novel buckling-restrained brace (BRB) using multiple round steel core bars to increase the feasible strength of BRBs utilizing steel bars with roll-threaded screw ends. The buckling restraining members of the proposed BRB consists of multiple primary tubes and a secondary tube. The primary tube directly restrains the buckling of each core bar, and the secondary tube restrains the buckling of the primary tube through spacers. This paper first describes the configuration of the proposed BRB and the design method of buckling restrainers, in which the spacer spacing is assumed to be the buckling length of the primary tube. Subsequently, cyclic loading tests of three specimens with different spacer spacing are presented to demonstrate the mechanical behavior of the proposed BRB, such as the hysteresis behavior, axial force, and bending moment of the primary tubes. The test results indicated that fulfilling the requirement of spacer spacing is essential for achieving stable behavior of the primary tubes and steel core bars. Finally, finite element analyses of buckling-restrained units of the proposed BRB with different combinations of primary tubes and spacer spacing are presented to verify the design method. The results of the parametric analyses indicated that the proposed design formula can provide a conservative evaluation of the stability of the primary tube. • A buckling-restrained brace using multiple round steel core bars was proposed. • The buckling restrainer consists of primary and secondary tubes. • Cyclic loading tests validated the performance of the proposed BRB. • FEA of buckling-restrained units verified the design of primary tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lateral buckling analysis of cold-formed thin walled beams subjected to pure bending moments has been performed. The critical buckling loads are estimated based an optimization criteria. The estimated critical buckling stresses are compared with the published results, they show excellent agreement. The effect of the beam length, radius and thickness of the flanges and the length of the extended open flanges, on the critical buckling stresses have been studied for several combinations of the geometric parameters of the beam. Among the three beams, the critical buckling moments for the beam with the extended open flanges are found to be the maximum. However, considering the material and manufacturing costs, beams with rounded cross section are efficient in resisting the buckling loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current slenderness limits are significantly different in international design codes for cold-formed Circular Hollow Sections (CHS) under pure bending. This paper aims to use the Finite Element (FE) method to understand the behaviour of cold-formed CHS under pure bending and to propose new design rules. The model is calibrated by comparing its predicted load-deflection curves with previously published experimental data. In total, 21 specimens were modelled with diameter-to-thickness ratios ranging from 13 to 122. The current slenderness limits in the present international steel specifications were examined using the FE model and their suitability for cold-formed CHS is discussed. The effect of section slenderness on rotation capacity has been examined where the predicted variation of rotation capacity against section slenderness has been compared to the experimental results. A new equation for the amount of initial geometrical imperfection as a function of section slenderness has been developed and proposed for design purposes. The ovalisation deformation ratio and the critical strain at local buckling were determined and compared for compact, non-compact and slender sections. The progressive bending deformations of CHS at 10 critical steps have been presented and compared for the three cross sectional types, in particular at the maximum moment and bending rotation. In general, a good agreement has been obtained between the predicted strengths and ductilities using the current FE models and those of the experimental data of cold-formed CHS. • Using finite element method to determine the slenderness limit of cold-formed steel tubes and compared to the previous experimental results. • The effect of geometrical imperfections on the deformation cold-formed CHS has been examined. • The rotation capacity has been presented for CHS. • The ovalisation of compact, non-compact and slender section has been analysed. • The buckling mechanism has been analysed by using strain analysis, the critical strain at maximum moment has been determined and compared to the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]