Piero Colajanni

Nonlinear Analysis of Beams Reinforced in Shear with Stirrups and Steel Fibers

The modified compression field theory (MCFT) and the disturbed stress field model (DSFM) are often used to predict the nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete structures. This study presents several extensions of the MCFT and DSFM to the case of high-strength steel fiber-reinforced concrete beams subjected to transverse loads. Experimental four-point bending tests were conducted on 12 concrete beams with a different percentage of fibers and/or stirrups. To validate the updates introduced in the analytical models, numerical analysis was performed using nonlinear finite element software. Modeling of the post-peak softening branch of the tensile and compressive constitutive curves of fibrous concrete was included in the MCFT-based analytic procedures to capture the structural behavior of the specimens. The numerical results indicate that the model is effective in predicting the structural response of both members reinforced with steel fibers only and beams with stirrups and steel fibers as transverse reinforcement. The experimental and numerical results highlighted the capacity of steel fibers to partially substitute the stirrups as shear reinforcement in beams. Coupled transverse reinforcement, provided by both stirrups and steel fibers, can optimize cost and structural performance considerations.

Stochastic linearization critically re-examined

Abstract The stochastic linearization technique, widely used for the analysis of nonlinear dynamic systems subjected to random excitations, is revisited. It is shown that the standard procedure universally adopted for determining the so-called effective stiffness of the equivalent linear system is erroneous in all previous publications. Two error-free stochastic linearization techniques are elucidated, namely those based on (1) the force linearization and (2) energy linearization.

Simple Plastic Model for Shear Critical SFRC Beams

A simple physical model, for prediction of ultimate shear strength of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) beams is developed on the basis of a plastic approach originally proposed for reinforced concrete beams without stirrups. It is founded on the hypothesis that cracks can be transformed into yield lines, and thus is know as crack sliding model (CSM). First, the CSM is improved to take into account the shear strength increase for deep beams, due to the arch effect. Then, the effectiveness factors for fibrous concrete under biaxial stresses are evaluated, taking into account the postcracking tensile strength of SFRC and its ability to control slippage along shear cracks. With the aim of providing a handy and fast tool for design of SFRC beams without stirrups, a simplified design model is also derived. Finally, the proposed models are validated by the results of a large set of experimental tests taken from literature.

Seismic response of braced frames with and without friction dampers

Abstract The dynamic response of friction damped bracing systems and ordinary cross-bracing systems inserted into surrounding frames without lateral stiffness is analysed in order to compare the typical behaviour of the two different bracing systems. The cyclic force-displacement relationship in the two cases is accurately modelled on the basis of experimental and related numerical models which are available in the literature, and the structural dimensionless parameters defining the shapes of the cycles are stressed. Systems having the same average period of vibration in the elastic phase of the response are assumed to be comparable with one another, which leads to a relationship linking the structural parameters of the two kinds of system. Extending the ductility concept to the friction devices, by a step-by-step integration of the equation of motion for the two systems the dimensionless structural responses are derived with variations in the strength level factor. Computing the average values of the maximum responses to five accelerograms artificially generated to be compatible with the normalized elastic spectrum proposed by Eurocode 8, the behaviour factor versus period curves are also deduced with variations in the available ductility. These curves show the different reliability levels provided by the two kinds of bracing systems considered and they are useful for practical applications. Two meaningful numerical examples, carried out by assuming an input accelerogram corresponding to an actual seismic record (EI Centro earthquake, 1940) confirm these design suggestions.

Experimental test results vs. analytical prediction of welded joint strength in hybrid steel trussed concrete beams (HSTCBs)

The aim of the paper is to provide practical guidelines for the design of welded joints of steel truss for encased composite steel–concrete beams. The results of experimental tests are presented and interpreted. The steel truss is made of a steel plate acting as the bottom chord, made of S355 structural steel, coupled with steel rebars which form the upper chord, and steel inclined web rebars (V-reverse) welded to the two chord elements, both of them made of steel B450C. Butt welded joints of web bar to bottom steel plate and fillet welding joints of inclined web bars to top chord bars were tested, as they are different from the ones which are normally used due to the coupling of different steel types and complex geometry. For the prediction of strength of fillet welding joints, two analytical expressions are derived: the first is based on a local failure criterion and the second on a limit domain of the welding section. Comparison with experimental data proves the equivalence and reliability of the proposed indications. Guidelines for choosing the effective dimensions of the fillet weld able to ensure a required strength are provided. For validation of the suggested guidelines, a high precision digital scanner is used to determine the geometrical characteristics of the fillet weld.

A New Look at the Stochastic Linearization Technique for Hyperbolic Tangent Oscillator

Abstract Stochastic linearization technique is reconsidered for oscillator with restoring force in form of hyperbolic tangent. We show that a subtle error was made in the previously known procedure for derivation of the linearized system parameters. Two new error-free procedures, namely, those based on minimization of mean square difference between (a) restoring force or (b) potential energy of the original non-linear system and their linear counterparts, are suggested. The results of numerical analysis are shown.

A subtle error in conventional stochastic linearization techniques

Abstract The stochastic linearization technique as applied to the SDOF system is re-examined. Two standard procedures associated with the stochastic linearization, widely adopted in the literature, are shown to be erroneous. Two new procedures to correct the errors made in previous works are introduced. To gain more insight, the procedures are applied to the quintic oscillator. Comparative numerical analysis is performed.

Stress-Strain Law for Confined Concrete with Hardening or Softening Behavior

This paper provides a new general stress-strain law for concrete confined by steel, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP), or fiber reinforced cementitious matrix (FRCM), obtained by a suitable modification of the well-known Sargin’s curve for steel confined concrete. The proposed law is able to reproduce stress-strain curve of any shape, having both hardening or softening behavior, by using a single closed-form simple algebraic expression with constant coefficients. The coefficients are defined on the basis of the stress and the tangent modulus of the confined concrete in three characteristic points of the curve, thus being related to physical meaningful parameters. It will be shown that if the values of the parameters of the law are deduced from experimental tests, the model is able to accurately reproduce the experimental curve. If they are evaluated on the basis of an analysis-oriented model, the proposed model provides a handy equivalent design model.

Shear strength degradation due to flexural ductility demand in circular RC columns

An analytical model was developed to estimate the shear-strength degradation and the residual capacity of circular reinforced concrete (RC) columns subjected to seismic action. The proposed model is an upgrade of a previously proposed model for axial force