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To investigate the flexural performance of high-titanium heavy-slag concrete composite beams under loading, this study examined the impact of various factors on deflection development and crack propagation as well as the applicability of empirical formulas for monolithic concrete beams. Seven concrete beams were fabricated with variables such as the reinforcement ratio, prefabrication height, and material composition, and were subjected to two-point concentrated loading. By comparing deflection values and crack widths during loading and analyzing the correlations with empirical formulas from standards, theoretical formulas with significant deviations were modified and compared. The study indicated that the cracking moment and deflection correlated with the reinforcement ratio, material structure combination, and composite height. The empirical formulas for the maximum crack width and deflection of flexural members were applicable to high-titanium heavy-slag concrete composite beams, although some discrepancies existed compared with the experimental values. After modifications, these discrepancies were reduced. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the deformation characteristics and fracture behavior of high-titanium heavy-slag concrete composite beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study experimentally investigates the bonding strength of aged and other forms of new concrete. Its primary objective is to assess several methodologies for achieving effective bonding behavior. Additionally, the present study examines the impact of varying stiffness and shrinkage rates at the boundary between concrete layers poured at different times. The experiment on bonding strength included examining the effects of several factors, such as surface preparation, bonding agent type, age difference, and the type of concrete used in the new layer. The flexural test results show that the ultimate load decreases by 16.2%, and 13.3% for composite beams with new concrete of Self-Comparing Concrete (SCC), and steel fibers, respectively, compared to the reference beam. However, the ultimate load increases by 6.5% and 9% for composite beams with new concrete of Sika and High-Strength Concrete (HSC), respectively, compared to the reference beam. So, using new concrete with Sika or HSC is the best choice. The composite beam with shear connectors has the highest ultimate load in the test, whereas the beam with SCC as a new layer has the lowest value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite steel‐timber beams – initial ideas for structural design Since the introduction of the Green Deal and the EU Taxonomy Regulation, pressure in construction market has increased to design load‐bearing structures in addition with a view to greater sustainability. Composite beams in steel‐timber construction can contribute to this. However, reliable calculation rules for steel‐timber composite beams do not yet exist. Working Group 6 of TC11 in the European Convention for Constructional Steelwork (ECCS) deals with hybrid steel‐timber structures and this article presents initial ideas for calculation approaches for steel‐timber composite beams. The problems are tackled that, in contrast to concrete, the material timber has a significant tensile strength and the different types of shear connectors between steel and timber can also show a variety of load‐slip curves. Finally, a first comparison between the presented calculation method and a large‐scale test is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, experimental natural frequencies and mid-span deflections were used to assess the tested composite floors against vibration serviceability limit states adopted by different standards such as AS3623. It was found that existing design criteria have predicted inconsistent results. Further, the finite element (FE) model was created, updated, and validated against the experimental modal parameters. The validated numerical model examined how various design parameters, such as material properties, cross-section geometry, and achieved a degree of composite action, have influenced the vibration properties such as natural frequencies and mode shapes. It was shown that as the added mass became more dominant than the stiffness enhancement, the fundamental natural frequency of the floor system dropped. This was evident from the results of the plywood slab thickness and the added permanent load parameters. On the other hand, the fundamental natural frequency increased with thicker and deeper joist sections since they made the floor system stiffer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the behaviors of different types of prestressed concrete beams utilizing fully encased cold‐ or hot‐formed steel joists. Twelve types divided into two sets of composite beams are assessed. Set 1 is composed of six beams utilizing cold‐formed steel (CFS) joists distinguished by the cross‐sectional steel‐to‐concrete ratios of 1%, 2%, and 3%, and the presence or absence of web openings. Set 2 has the similar composition but utilizes hot‐formed steel joists. Four‐point and three‐point bending tests were conducted at the mid‐span of the composite concrete beams. Key properties, such as strength, stiffness, flexural load capacity, ductility, energy absorption capacity, and failure modes, were used in the analysis. It was found that the specimens with CFS I‐beam joists provided better performance compared to those with hot‐formed steel joists. Also, the existence of web openings in the encased CFS beams enhances the ductility and energy absorption of the composite concrete beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to enhance the ultimate capacity and stiffness of steel–concrete composite beams through external strengthening with prestressed carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) plates and post-tensioned CFRP tendons. A 3D finite element model was developed using ANSYS and validated using experiments. The impact of various parameters on the capacity of the beam was investigated, including the level of post-tensioning in the CFRP tendons, tendon profile, degree of shear connection, and beam load level when adding strengthening CFRP tendons. Results indicate that reinforcing composite beams with bonded CFRP plates using post-tensioning tendons with trapezoidal and parabolic profiles can increase maximum load capacity by 37% and 60%, respectively, while maintaining high stiffness. This study also indicates that the optimal strengthening conditions for the composite beam are when the beam is loaded up to 70% of its capacity and has a composite action degree of 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the mechanism of sleeved stud connectors, 15 push-out specimens were designed, and static loading tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance. The shear performance differences between the novel sleeved studs and conventional welded studs were compared. Referring to the experimental results, an Abaqus nonlinear finite element model was established to study the shear mechanism of sleeved stud connectors. Parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of stud height, sleeve filling material, and sleeve diameter on the mechanical performance of the connectors. The experimental and finite element analysis results indicated that the ultimate shear bearing capacity and shear stiffness of the sleeved stud connectors were higher than those of ordinary welded studs, and the maximum slip was relatively small. Compared to conventional welded studs, the ultimate bearing capacity of sleeved studs increased by 4% to 8%, and the shear stiffness increased by 25% to 35%. Since the shear behavior of sleeved studs mainly occurred at the base of the studs, the influence of stud height on shear performance was relatively small. However, sleeve and stud diameter have a great influence on bearing capacity and stiffness. As the Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) near the base of the stud effectively enhanced the shear carrying capacity of the sleeved stud connectors, the shear carrying capacity and shear stiffness increased with the increase in the sleeve diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the structural performance of a new type of lightweight composite cold-formed steel and timber (CFST) flooring system has been investigated by conducting four-point bending tests on 13 specimens. A bare cold-formed steel system without timber sheathing was also tested to provide a benchmark response to which the strength and stiffness of the composite system were compared. This paper presents key findings on the flooring system's structural behavior and performance parameters, such as ultimate bending capacity, load-deflection response, load-slip response, and failure modes, by categorizing 13 specimens into four subgroups based on shear connector types and spacings. In the proposed composite CFST flooring system, 45-mm thick structural plywood panels were connected to the 2.4-mm thick cold-formed steel C-section joist using self-drilling screws, coach screws, and nuts and bolts. The performance of different types of shear connectors on the composite action is experimentally investigated and compared with the theoretical plastic section. Furthermore, the load-carrying capacity, effective bending stiffness, and deflection of composite CFST beams were computed theoretically using elastic theory and compared to experimental results, which showed good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Guangdong Architecture Civil Engineering is the property of Guangdong Architecture Civil Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Composite structures inspired by the suture line in the beak of woodpeckers, which is composed of stiff material (mimicking keratin) and compliant material (mimicking collagen), are proposed in this article. The flexural mechanical properties as well as the deformation and failure modes are investigated combining experiments and simulations, which are also compared with conventional laminated structures. First, three-point bending test is performed to characterize mechanical properties such as flexibility, stiffness, strength, and energy dissipation. Experimental results confirm that the suture structure affects the flexural properties significantly. Then, a finite element (FE) model is established to present the strain and stress fields inside the composite beams. The strain distribution demonstrates a shear mechanism in suture structures to dissipate energy, while the stress distribution reveals that the soft layers act as shock absorbers to release stress transmitted through the structure. At last, the failure mode and toughening mechanism of the composite structures is discussed. The mechanism responsible for the mechanical performance of biological structures can be generalized to design architectures with customized mechanical performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn the present article, geometrically nonlinear analyses of curved laminated composite beams are carried out using Mixed Finite Element Method (MFEM). Timoshenko beam theory is used to consider shear influence which significantly effects the structural behavior of composite layers. Energy-based functional is generally needed to perform geometric nonlinear analyzes of layered composites. However, obtaining energy-based functional in geometric nonlinear theory is quite challenging due to the difficulty of solving mathematically nonlinear differential equations. In this study, this situation is overcome and a functional suitable for performing geometric nonlinear analyzes of layered composite materials is obtained. Incremental formulation procedure is utilized as a solution method for nonlinear finite element analyzes. This is an innovative application of the non-linear mixed finite element method and has the ability to perform geometric nonlinear analysis of curved laminated composite beams with perfect precision. By obtaining the functional in local coordinates, it is possible to solve special problems in various fields such as construction, machinery, aerospace and biomechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shear performance of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP)–ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) composite beams with FRP shear keys (FSK) was investigated through a four-point loading test and refined finite element (FE) analysis. In total, five test specimens having different concrete strength, concrete slab width and height as well as FSK spacings were experimentally tested. The test specimens were simulated using a refined FE model in ABAQUS. The concrete damaged plasticity model (CDPM) and the Puck failure criterion were adopted to simulate the progressive damage of concrete and FRP profiles, respectively. The mechanical behavior of the interface was captured using a bilinear cohesive zone model (CZM). The comparison between the FE analysis and experimental results demonstrated a good agreement. Based on the validated model, a parametric analysis was conducted on the shear performance of FRP–UHPC composite beams with FSK, focusing on parameters such as concrete slab strength, height and width, FRP web shear strength, shear modulus, height and thickness, and FSK spacing. The results indicate that the maximum local slip beam is less than 4 mm, which verifies that FSK has good interfacial shear resistance. Increasing the strength and section size of the concrete slab can improve the flexural stiffness and the shear capacity of composite beams. The use of UHPC for concrete slabs can also effectively inhibit interface slip. Increasing the shear strength and thickness of FRP web can result in improved load-carrying capacity and reduced deformation of composite beams. This can also lead to a shift in the failure mode from shear failure to bending failure. The reduction of FSK spacing can effectively enhance the shear performance of the interface, thereby improving the composite action and increasing the bearing capacity and deformation resistance of composite beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Shear connectors are essential elements in composite structures of steel and concrete as they ensure the interaction between materials and the transfer of forces. In this research, seven models of shear connectors made from bent CA-50 steel bars were tested. The models varied in bar diameter, reinforcement ratio, and inclination relative to the metal profile’s flange. The results showed that the connector with a 12.5 mm diameter (model A1) exhibited the best performance in terms of strength and ductility. Connectors with a 10.0 mm diameter (models B1 and B2) also showed satisfactory results. The inclination of the connectors did not significantly influence the strength of the models. However, a higher tendency for uplift strain was exhibited in the inclined connectors.

Structural engineers, in particular, face the ongoing challenge of ensuring the durability and safety of critical infrastructure components, such as composite beams in bridges and buildings. With aging infrastructure and increasing demands for sustainability and longevity, innovative solutions are essential. The safety and longevity of structures, such as composite beams in buildings and bridges, are paramount concerns. As our infrastructure ages and environmental sustainability becomes increasingly important, innovation in materials and methods is crucial. In this context, we explore a transformative solution the development of advanced crack-filling materials. These materials hold the promise of revolutionizing civil engineering by addressing structural challenges and extending the lifespan of critical infrastructure components. This exploration will delve into the significance of infrastructure, the challenges faced by structural engineers, and the potential impact of advanced crack-filling materials on the field. In this paper we are highlighting the development of a crack filling material for the composite section using Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Car-bon fibers (CFs). The use of these two nano materials will subsequently be able to reduce the cracks and heal the composite section wherever necessary. The flexural strength of the beams is significantly increased 15% by the addition of MWCNTs and 67% by the addition of MWCNTs and CFs. The cracked MWCNTs beam coated with MWCNTs, epoxy, CFs gained strength and failed at 1100 N. This is because the coating helped to distribute the load across the crack and prevented the crack from propagating further. The cracked carbon fibers beams coated with MWCNTs, Epoxy and CFs gained strength and failed at 1760 N. This is because the MWCNTs + CFs helped to bridge the crack and transfer the load across the crack. Cement mortar with MWCNTs + CFs after coating increased by 400% This suggests that the coating is effective at restoring the strength of the cracked beams.

To investigate the flexural performance of high-titanium heavy-slag concrete composite beams under loading, this study examined the impact of various factors on deflection development and crack propagation as well as the applicability of empirical formulas for monolithic concrete beams. Seven concrete beams were fabricated with variables such as the reinforcement ratio, prefabrication height, and material composition, and were subjected to two-point concentrated loading. By comparing deflection values and crack widths during loading and analyzing the correlations with empirical formulas from standards, theoretical formulas with significant deviations were modified and compared. The study indicated that the cracking moment and deflection correlated with the reinforcement ratio, material structure combination, and composite height. The empirical formulas for the maximum crack width and deflection of flexural members were applicable to high-titanium heavy-slag concrete composite beams, although some discrepancies existed compared with the experimental values. After modifications, these discrepancies were reduced. This research provides a comprehensive analysis of the deformation characteristics and fracture behavior of high-titanium heavy-slag concrete composite beams.

Copyright of Journal of Engineering (17264073) is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fatigue in steel–concrete composite beams can result from cyclic loading, causing stress fluctuations that may lead to cumulative damage and eventual failure over an extended period. In this paper, the experimental findings from fatigue loading tests on composite beams with various arrangements are presented. Fatigue tests were performed up to 1,000,000 cycles using four-point loading, encompassing various ranges of shear stress at a consistent amplitude. Additionally, the effects of external post-tensioning and the strength of the shear connection were investigated. Static tests were run until failure to assess the enduring strength of the specimens subjected to fatigue. The cyclic mid-span deflections, slippages, and strains were measured during the testing. Based on the experimental findings, it was found that the damage region that the shear studs caused in the concrete slab, which resulted in a reduction in stiffness within the shear connection, grew as the loading cycles increased, leading to an increase in residual deflections and plastic slippages. Controlling the longitudinal fatigue cracks in the concrete slab was largely dependent on the strength of the shear connection between the steel beams and concrete slabs. Moreover, the applied fatigue loading range affected the propagation and distribution of fatigue cracks in the concrete slab. The strains in different parts of the composite specimens were significantly reduced by applying the external post-tensioning. With no signs of distress at the anchors, the tendons displayed excellent fatigue performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is known that steel–concrete composite systems are very efficient. However, such steel–concrete composite systems can be optimised using cold-formed steel elements and innovative shear connections. In other words, by considering demountability and reusability, the negative impact of the built environment on the whole ecosystem can ultimately be reduced. This paper, therefore, presents a numerical study of an innovative solution for a composite floor system consisting of built-up cold-formed sections and concrete slabs. Through parametric numerical analysis, parameters such as the diameter and quality of bolts, the concrete class, the type of concrete slab, and the steel quality of sections and bolts were varied. The numerical analysis results show that the system with a solid concrete slab had a higher shear resistance and ductility than the system with a concrete slab made with profiled sheeting and showed different failure modes. The presented results form the basis for push-out tests for the proposed shear connection types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's construction industry, the use of composite beams is becoming more and more important, particularly for longspan bridges that must withstand repeated loads from moving automobiles. This work investigates the behavior of composite beams through experimentation. Six push-out steel-concrete specimens are made and tested with various levels of static and repetitive loading applied. The specimens are made of rolled steel sections that are joined to concrete decks on both sides by stud shear connectors. Two approaches—one static and the other repeating—applied a push-out load to two sets of samples. One has a stud shear connector measuring 16 mm, and the other measures 25 mm. Three specimens were made for each group. To determine the final load, one specimen from each group underwent a static push-out test in the first stage. In the subsequent phase, repeated loads of 0-80% and 25-80% of the maximum static load were applied to the remaining ones. The analysis process measured the variation in slip between the concrete decks and the steel section over several load cycles. It was found that the recorded slip values at the ultimate load increased about four times just before the failure. The recorded values of the residual slip at the end of each load cycle decreased with the increase in load cycle numbers. Also, it was found that the values of the residual slip depend on the values of the lower and upper limits of the load level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization and incorporation of glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GFRP) in structural applications and architectural constructions are progressively gaining prominence. Therefore, this paper experimentally and numerically investigates the use of GFRP I-beams in conjunction with concrete slabs to form composite beams. The experimental design incorporated 2600 mm long GFRP I-beams which were connected compositely to concrete slabs with a 500 mm width and 80 mm thickness. The concrete slabs are categorized into two groups: concrete slabs cast using normal-strength concrete (NSC), and concrete slabs prepared using high-strength concrete (HSC). Various parameters like the type of concrete (normal and high-strength concrete), type of stiffeners bonded to the composite section (bolt–epoxy or bolt only), and inclusion of corrugated metal sheets were investigated. To obtain the full shear connection between the GFRP I-sections and concrete slabs, two rows of shear connectors in the form of bolts were utilized. These shear connectors were erected to the top flange of the GFRP I-sections to compositely connect between the GFRP I-beams and the concrete slabs as well as the corrugated metal sheets. The strengthening of the shear webs of GFRP I-beams with GFRP T-section stiffeners resulted in an enhancement in the flexural and shear strength. The failure loads in the case of the bolt–epoxy connection for the stiffeners were 8.2% and 10.0% higher than those in the case of bolt only when the concrete compressive strengths were 20.1 MPa and 52.3 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the effect of the concrete compressive strength was vital where the failure loads increased by 79.9% and 77.1% when HSC was used instead of NSC for the cases of bolt–epoxy and bolt only, respectively. The epoxy adhesive used in conjunction with mechanical connectors, specifically bolts, resulted in sufficient composite action and delayed shear failure within the web of the GFRP beam. For the specimens with bolt–epoxy connection, strain levels in the concrete slabs were consistently higher than in the other specimens with bolts alone at the same loading level. The concrete slabs integrated with HSC registered strain levels that were 20.0% and 21.8% greater for bolt–epoxy and bolt-only connections, respectively, when compared to those using normal-strength concrete (NSC). This discrepancy can likely be credited to the enhanced composite interaction between the concrete slabs and the GFRP I-beams. In addition, ABAQUS software (version 6.2) was used to develop FE models to analyze the tested composite beams and provide a parametric study using the verified models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the mechanism of sleeved stud connectors, 15 push-out specimens were designed, and static loading tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical performance. The shear performance differences between the novel sleeved studs and conventional welded studs were compared. Referring to the experimental results, an Abaqus nonlinear finite element model was established to study the shear mechanism of sleeved stud connectors. Parametric analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of stud height, sleeve filling material, and sleeve diameter on the mechanical performance of the connectors. The experimental and finite element analysis results indicated that the ultimate shear bearing capacity and shear stiffness of the sleeved stud connectors were higher than those of ordinary welded studs, and the maximum slip was relatively small. Compared to conventional welded studs, the ultimate bearing capacity of sleeved studs increased by 4% to 8%, and the shear stiffness increased by 25% to 35%. Since the shear behavior of sleeved studs mainly occurred at the base of the studs, the influence of stud height on shear performance was relatively small. However, sleeve and stud diameter have a great influence on bearing capacity and stiffness. As the Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) near the base of the stud effectively enhanced the shear carrying capacity of the sleeved stud connectors, the shear carrying capacity and shear stiffness increased with the increase in the sleeve diameter.

Current numerical research was devoted to investigating the effect of castellated steel beams without and with strengthening. The composite concrete asymmetrical double hot rolled steel channels bolted back to back to obtain a built-up I-shape form are used in this study. The top half part of the steel is smaller than the bottom half part, and the two parts were connected by bolting and welding. The ABAQUS/2019 program employed the same length and conditions of loading for four models: The first model is the reference without castellated and strengthening; the second model was castellated without strengthened; the third model was castellated and strengthened with reactive powder concrete encased in the steel web, and the fourth model was castellated and strengthened with reactive powder concrete and lacing steel rebar's welded diagonally on two sides of the steel web. According to the Numerical results, there was an increase in ultimate load capacity compared to the reference model of about 22.74%, 51.65%, and 77.98% in the second, third, and fourth models, respectively; also, there is a reduction in deflection of 55.52%, 58.74, and 60.55% in the second, third, and fourth models, respectively, compared to the level deflection at ultimate load for the reference model, with an increase in stiffness and ductility. In comparison to the I section, the fabrication of a castellated steel beam from the double channel is more cost-effective in terms of cutting steel loss at the ends of the castellated beam, this is due to the feature of rotation and reflection of the steel channel section during cutting and forming to castellated shape.

In the present study, the free vibration analysis of piezoelectric composite nanobeams is performed with various boundary conditions. Novel numerical techniques based on quadrature schemes with various test functions are applied with the generalized Caputo kind to solve the boundary value fractional problems. The accuracy and validity of the present analysis are demonstrated by comparing the present results with the previously published ones. Moreover, a parametric analysis is carried out to examine the effect of some material parameters, fractional order derivatives, and geometric dimensions on the vibration attitude of the nanobeam. This parametric study proven the ability of our techniques to provide a solution to most complex fractional differential equations. It is revealed that the fractional differential quadrature methods decrease the time and computational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the application of artificial intelligence-based methods to engineering problems has received consistent praise for their high predictive accuracy. This paper utilizes a BP neural network to predict the strength of steel–concrete composite beam shear connectors with high-strength friction-grip bolts (HSFGBs). These connectors are widely used in bridge and building construction due to their superior strength and stiffness compared to traditional beams. A validated finite element model was used to predict the strength of HSFGB shear connectors. A reliable database was created by analyzing 208 models with different characteristics for machine learning modeling. Previous studies have identified issues with result variation and overestimation or underestimation of shear connection strength. Among the machine learning methods evaluated, the backpropagation neural network model performed the best. It achieved a goodness of fit of over 93% in both the training and testing sets, with a low coefficient of variation of 6.50%. Concrete strength, bolt diameter, and bolt tensile strength were found to be important variables influencing the strength of shear connectors. Other variables showed a proportional or inverse relationship with compressive strength, except for concrete strength and bolt pretension. This study presents an accurate machine learning approach for predicting the strength of HSFGB shear connectors in steel–concrete composite beams. The study offers valuable insights into the effects of various variables on the performance of shear connection strength, providing support for structural design and analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although many works focus on increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, there are still a number of problems that need to be solved, such as reducing heat losses at the window-to-wall interface, especially since the requirements for saving energy used for heating/cooling rooms are constantly increasing. This paper analyses the impact of the material parameters of the external wall and the window installation in the insulation layer on the size of thermal bridges around the window. Purpose: The aim of the work is to demonstrate the benefits resulting from the correct installation of the window, the appropriate location of the window in relation to the face of the external wall, as well as the correct selection of construction materials. Methodology: In order to show the improvement in the energy efficiency of buildings, an analysis of the heating/cooling energy consumption was carried out for the selected buildings. The thermal and humidity analyses were carried out using TRISCO program, while the economic analysis was performed using the Audytor OZC program. Results: It was found that the proposed system of window installation in the thermal insulation layer reduced the annual heating demand by at least 10% on average. Conclusions: It has been shown that the method of window installation and the type of the wall structural materials are interrelated and therefore should be considered simultaneously. Their proper selection allows for a reduction in the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling buildings, and thus a reduction of heating/cooling costs, as well as limiting greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript employs a highly efficient artificial intelligence (AI) technique for machine learning (ML) through artificial neural networks (ANNs) and introduces a novel numerical predictive model capable of accurately forecasting the shear capacity of concrete-encased steel (CES) beams. The research begins by conducting shear tests on nine CES beams with high-strength steel, which addresses a significant gap in the shear performance of high-strength steel in CES beams. Subsequently, a comprehensive database of CES beam shear tests is established to train and validate the ANN model. The database consists of 242 sets of test data, compiled from published literature, encompassing a wide range of geometrical and material properties. A sensitivity analysis of the proposed model is then performed using a Pearson chi-square test to determine the relative importance of each input parameter on shear strength. Furthermore, a thorough examination is conducted to assess the impact of each parameter. Finally, the proposed predictive model is compared against current design codes, including ANSI/AISC 360–16 (USA, North America), BS EN 1994-1-1:2004 (Europe), and JGJ 138–2016 (China, Asia). The comparison reveals that ML technology exhibits higher accuracy and robustness in predicting shear bearing capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steel corrosion of composite beams with corrugated steel webs (CBCSWs) is prone to occur in a chloride environment, and the load can change the rate of steel corrosion, thereby affecting the degradation of the mechanical properties of CBCSWs. In this paper, the flexural behavior of CBCSWs under the coupled effect of chloride ion erosion and sustained load was studied through an accelerated corrosion test and bending failure test. The results showed that, during the accelerated corrosion test, the deflection at the mid-span of the corroded CBCSWs increased more and faster than that of the uncorroded CBCSWs, and the stress of the externally prestressed tendons of the CBCSWs did not change significantly. During the loading failure process, the relative slip between the web and the concrete plates of the corroded CBCSWs had not been fully developed. The ultimate load and ultimate deflection of the corroded CBCSWs were decreased by 41.1% and 17.9%, respectively, compared to those of the CBCSWs before corrosion. The quasi-plane section assumption was still approximately applicable to the corroded CBCSWs. Compared with the uncorroded CBCSWs, the shear lag effect of the top plate of the corroded CBCSWs was more obvious. The externally prestressed tendons of the corroded CBCSWs could not give full play to their performance during the process of loading failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of steel‐concrete composite structures with a high installation grade is becoming increasingly popular in building and industrial construction. To reduce construction height building services are routed through web openings in the girders. However, these openings represent local points of interference where, in the case of composite girders, parts of the acting shear forces are transferred from the web of the steel profile into the concrete slab. This results in additional, local stresses in the remaining steel girder and in the concrete chord, which must be considered in the design of the floor girders and shear connectors. Web openings in composite girders are not addressed in the current European design standard for steel‐concrete composite construction (EC 4). Only with the introduction of the second generation of Eurocodes in the coming years this case will be normatively regulated. During the preparation of the standard further questions about the load‐bearing behaviour arose, as the existing design approaches usually only consider a selection of possible failure scenarios or neglect essential verification steps. A joint research project between the University of Kaiserslautern‐Landau and RWTH Aachen University aims to develop a suitable design concept for composite girders with web openings. Model and beam tests accompanied by numerical simulations will provide further information on the complex local and global load‐bearing behaviour of the composite girders. This paper presents the results of experimental investigations and numerical simulations on the influence of large web openings on the global load‐bearing behaviour of the shear connectors in the composite joint. Based on 60 pull‐out tests and numerical simulations, the load‐bearing behavior of head bolt anchors under combined shear and tensile loading was researched and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite structures with prefabricated concrete slabs and bolted shear studs can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of construction. In this research, non-shrinkage cement grout is proposed to be filled between high-strength fully threaded bolt shear connectors and a prefabricated slab. Six static push-out tests are performed with different bolt dimensions and different pretension forces on the bolts to study the behavior of bolted shear studs. Finite element models for bolted shear connectors using ABAQUS/Explicit solver are developed, and they matched well with experimental results. Moreover, a Parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of grout strength, bolt diameter, length-to-diameter ratio, bolt preloading, and bolt material type on the performance of shear connectors. Finally, the results of the parametric analysis are compared to the current design codes and previous researches and more precise equations for predicting the capacity and stiffness of bolted shear studs are proposed.

A novel and efficient exact two-dimensional (2D) model is developed for predicting the flexural response of two-layered composite beams made of different materials based on the elasticity theory. The beam is considered as a specific case of plane stress problem laying in the longitudinal vertical plane passing through the centroid of the beam section. The proposed two-dimensional model considers the orthotropic properties of materials used in composite beams. The partial shear interaction between two material layers in the form of shear slip at their interface is also considered in this study. The deformable shear connectors between these layers are modeled using distributed shear springs along the beam length. The present 2D model's accuracy is validated by comparing its results with published results as well as numerical results generated by a thorough 2D finite element model using ABAQUS. Furthermore, the stretching effect over the direction of beam depth on the flexural response of two-layered composite beams is investigated by comparing the results produced by the one-dimensional (1D) HBT model and the proposed 2D elasticity model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strain-hardening cementitious composite (SHCC) is a modern engineered material offering exceptional ductility and durability. A potential application of SHCCs for crack control and to improve structural members' load-bearing capabilities is due to its superior properties. In this study, SHCCs were used to enhance the load-carrying capacity and the cracking behavior of precast RC beams. In the bottom tension region of RC beams, the SHCCs of different layer thicknesses (0%, 15%, 30%, and 45% of section height) were cast. Laboratory-scale beams were used in 4-point bending tests. SHCC-layered RC beams showed improved flexural performance compared to control RC beams. Among retrofitted beams, the one with an SHCC layer of 30% of the section height was found to be the most efficient pertaining to strength, ductility, and cracking control. In this study, the flexural response of composite beams was also predicted using an analytical approach. The average difference between predicted and measured moment capacities was less than 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a composite system consisting of two identical straight elastic beams under longitudinal vibration connected by an elastic interface capable of counteracting the relative vibration of the two beams with its shearing stiffness. We construct examples of isospectral composite beams, i.e., countable one-parameter families of beams having different shearing stiffness but exactly the same eigenvalues under a given set of boundary conditions. The construction is explicit and is based on the reduction to a one-dimensional Sturm–Liouville eigenvalue problem and the application of a Darboux's lemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the mechanical properties and damage resistance of prefabricated monolithic composite beams, this study introduces HPFRCC precast mold shells as a replacement for ordinary concrete in the construction of prefabricated monolithic composite beams. These HPFRCC precast mold shell prefabricated monolithic composite beam members are then subjected to experimental investigations to analyze their flexural properties. The results of the study indicate that the U–shaped HPFRCC precast mold shell exhibits excellent bonding with the post-cast concrete, with no significant peeling observed. Moreover, compared to ordinary cast-in-place monolithic RC beams, the HPFRCC/RC prefabricated monolithic composite beams demonstrate a 17.2% increase in peak load and a 24.55% increase in yield load. Similarly, the HPFRCC/RC prefabricated monolithic composite beams show an 8.1% increase in peak load and a 5.59% increase in yield load compared to ordinary RC composite beams. In comparison to both ordinary cast-in-place monolithic RC beams and ordinary RC composite beams, the cracks observed in the HPFRCC/RC prefabricated monolithic composite beams are denser and finer, with a smaller crack development rate and width. These findings suggest that the incorporation of HPFRCC materials improves the damage resistance of the beam members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the moment-curvature (M-φ) characteristics of a solid composite section (SCS) and cellular composite section (CCS) of a beam under a sagging moment. The strip method, based on the principles of fundamental mechanics that consider linear strain variation across composite sections, was used to determine M-φ. It was first developed for SCS for different parameters, i.e. the grade of concrete, un- confined and confinement strength of concrete, and effective width of a concrete slab, and then extended for CCS. CCS had a 50% depth enhancement over the steel section of SCS. Full interaction between the steel beam and the concrete slab up to the failure of the slab was assumed in the analysis. According to the M-φ analysis, CCS enhances the ultimate moment capacity and ultimate curvature for unconfined and confined concrete. Concrete confinement for CCS effectively boosted steel material utilization and resulted in higher curvature ductility before failure. The high concrete strength and wider effective flange width of the slab resulted in high ultimate moment capacity and ultimate curvature for SCS and CCS for unconfined and confined concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite steel-concrete beams are an economical and efficient solution for building and bridge applications. However, In the analysis of structures, only the instantaneous deformation is often taken into account, but long-term loads can cause more significant deformations for the same applied load. This work concerns the effects of time-dependent concrete behavior, such as creep and shrinkage, which include service and ultimate limit states. So the general aim of this research was to evaluate the long-term flexural behavior and functioning of steel-concrete composite beams through a systematic literature review. It was possible to do a qualitative analysis of the increase of deflection and slip through time and effects in dispositions of strains in long-term loading. After that discussion, it was possible to deduce that long-term behavior can vary a lot in the characteristics of the shortterm exceeding design code provisions. However, there is still a lack of data in experimental results for more detailed analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To solve the problems of single combination form and insufficient material utilization of glass fiber reinforced polymer（GFRP）-wood beams,three different combination forms of GFRP-wood beams,including the plate form,slot form and inverted T form GFRP-wood beams were proposed.Taking production process and combined form as parameter variables,six GFRP-wood beams were designed and tested.The results show that according to the test phenomena,the failure of the GFRP-wood beams can be divided into three types,including the tension fracture of the GFRP or wood,wrinkling instability of the wood and the longitudinal shear failure of the GFRP-wood beams.The ultimate load carrying capability of the GFRP-wood beam increases by 67.04% compared with the reference wood beam,and increases by 26.43% compared with the reference GFRP beam,respectively,indicating the combined effect is substantial.Among the three combination forms,the slot form GFRP-wood beams has the best mechanical property.However,the wood defects in the web zone can cause a reduction of the stiffness and strength of the GFRP-wood beams.The study result enriches the section form of GFRP-wood beams and production method,and improves the combined effect of the composite beams,which provides some reference for engineering application of similar beams.

Composite structures with prefabricated concrete slabs and bolted shear studs can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of construction. In this research, non-shrinkage cement grout is proposed to be filled between high-strength fully threaded bolt shear connectors and a prefabricated slab. Six static push-out tests are performed with different bolt dimensions and different pretension forces on the bolts to study the behavior of bolted shear studs. Finite element models for bolted shear connectors using ABAQUS/Explicit solver are developed, and they matched well with experimental results. Moreover, a Parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of grout strength, bolt diameter, length-to-diameter ratio, bolt preloading, and bolt material type on the performance of shear connectors. Finally, the results of the parametric analysis are compared to the current design codes and previous researches and more precise equations for predicting the capacity and stiffness of bolted shear studs are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the thermal buckling temperature and nonlinear free vibration of functionally graded fiber-reinforced composite laminated (FG-FRCL) beams. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations were derived from the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, accounting for the von Kármán geometrical nonlinearity. Such equations were then reduced to a single equation by neglecting the axial inertia. Thus, the Galerkin method was applied to discretize the governing nonlinear partial differential equation in the form of a nonlinear ordinary differential equation, which was then solved analytically according to the He's variational method. Three different boundary conditions were selected, namely simply, clamped and clamped-free supports. We also investigated the effect of power-index, lay-ups, and uniform temperature rise on the nonlinear natural frequency, phase trajectory and thermal buckling of FG-FRCL beams. The results showed that FG-FRCL beams featured the highest fundamental frequency, whereas composite laminated beams were characterized by the lowest fundamental frequency. Such nonlinear frequencies increase for an increased power index and a decreased temperature. Finally, it was found that FG-FRCL beams with [0/0/0] lay-ups featured the highest nonlinear natural frequency and the highest thermal buckling temperature, followed by [0/90/0] and [90/0/90] lay-ups, while a [90/90/90] lay-up featured the lowest nonlinear natural frequency and critical buckling temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]