Xudong Qian

Static strength of thick-walled CHS X-joints—Part I. New approach in strength definition

This paper presents a new approach in the definition of joint strength for thick-walled circular hollow section (CHS) X-joint subjected to brace axial loading. This is based on the plastic load approach for limit analysis of pressure vessel components proposed by Gerdeen. A consistent coefficient λ associated with the plastic load approach has been determined, and the corresponding joint strength for X-joint under brace axial loads is found to correlate closely with the results obtained using Lu’s deformation limit. The strength prediction for thick-walled CHS X-joint using the present approach is found to be in good agreement with design recommendations by ISO and CIDECT for joints with chord radius-to-thickness ratio γ>7. For X-joints with γ<7, significant difference in results is observed especially with the ISO recommendation for joints with brace–chord diameter ratio β≥0.7.

Mode Mixity for Circular Hollow Section X Joints With Weld Toe Cracks

This paper describes the mode mixity of stress-intensity factors for surface cracks at weld toes located at the saddle point in circular hollow section X joints. The remote loading applies a uniform tensile stress at the end of the brace along its axis. The three-dimensional finite element models employ mesh tieing between a topologically continuous, global mesh and a separate, local crack-front mesh. Analyses of a simple plate model that approximates key features of toe cracks at the brace-chord intersection verify the negligible effects of the recommended mesh-tieing scheme on stress intensity factors. The linear-elastic analyses compute the mixed-mode stress intensity factors along the crack front using an interaction-integral approach. The mixed-mode stress intensity factors indicate that the crack front experiences predominantly mode I loading, with KIII→0 near the deepest point on the front (ϕ=π∕2). The total crack driving force, described by the J integral, reaches a maximum value at the deepest point of the crack for the crack aspect ratio a∕c=0.25 considered here. The mode-mixity angle, ψ=tan−1(KII∕KI), at ϕ=π∕2 is compared for a range of practical X-joint configurations and crack-depth ratios. The present study demonstrates that the mode-mixity angle ψ increases with increasing brace-to-chord diameter ratio (β) and decreasing chord radius to wall thickness ratio (γ). Values of the nondimensional stress intensity factors (FI=KI∕σ¯brπa and FII=KII∕σ¯brπa), however, show an opposite trend, with higher crack driving forces for small β and large γ ratios. The variations in the brace-to-chord wall thickness ratio (τ) and the crack depth ratio (a∕t0) do not generate significant effects on the mode mixity.

Static strength of thick-walled CHS X-joints—Part II. Effect of chord stresses

Abstract This paper presents results from a parametric study on the effect of chord stresses on the static strength of thick-walled circular hollow section (CHS) X-joint subjected to brace axial loading. The effect of chord stresses in the numerical study is compared to the joint strength equations in ISO and CIDECT. The reference joint strength for thick-walled joint is based on the plastic load approach as reported in the companion paper. For a compression-loaded chord, both design specifications show conservative strength predictions as compared to the present study. For a tension-loaded chord, significant strength reduction is observed in the study which is not considered in the current design specifications. A new chord stress equation is proposed to incorporate the geometric dependency of the chord stress effect as observed in the study. The proposed equation is compared against the numerical results reported by van der Vegte and Makino.

Enhanced particle swarm optimization for size and shape optimization of truss structures

ABSTRACT This article presents an enhanced particle swarm optimization (EPSO) algorithm for size and shape optimization of truss structures. The proposed EPSO introduces a particle categorization mechanism into the particle swarm optimization (PSO) to eliminate unnecessary structural analyses during the optimization process and improve the computational efficiency of the PSO-based structural optimization. The numerical investigation, including three benchmark truss optimization problems, examines the efficiency of the EPSO. The results demonstrate that the particle categorization mechanism greatly reduces the computational requirements of the PSO-based approaches while maintaining the original search capability of the algorithms in solving optimization problems with computationally cheap objective function and expensive constraints.

A deformation limit based on failure assessment diagram for fatigue-cracked X-joints under in-plane bending

This study develops a deformation limit based on the failure assessment diagram (FAD) for fatigue-cracked circular hollow section (CHS) X-joints subjected to brace in-plane bending. The proposed approach calibrates against two reported experimental tests on CHS X-joints. The subsequent numerical study considers CHS X-joints with two different brace-to-chord intersection angles. The parametric study focuses on both the material toughness level and the geometric parameters. The proposed, dimensionless deformation limit covers a wide range of material fracture-toughness and geometric parameters. The option 1 and option 3 failure assessment curves provide consistent deformation limits compared to the toughness-based deformation limits proposed in a previous study. The lower bound deformation limit exhibits an approximately linear relationship with respect to the crack-depth ratio for X-joints with different brace-to-chord intersection angles. The extrapolated deformation level at a zero crack-depth ratio represents a conservative estimation on the deformation level for intact joints.

Welder-optimized CJP-equivalency welds for tubular connections

This paper will present the experimental and numerical investigation on the fatigue crack failure at the root of the enhanced partial joint penetration welds in the circular hollow section X-joint specimens subjected to constant-amplitude brace in-plane bending actions. The enhanced partial joint penetration welds, which include a portion of the brace wall as the inherent “back-plate” for the welds, reduce the workmanship requirement on the welding procedure and improve the quality control of the welded joint. This study compares the fatigue crack developments observed at both the weld toe and the weld root in three large-scale X-joint specimens with different post-weld surface treatments. Root cracking does not take place in as-welded tubular X-joint specimens, of which the fatigue life depends on the weld toe failure. In specimens with post-weld grinding treatments to enhance fatigue resistance of the material near the weld toe, however, the finite-length root face triggers the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks with an applied number of cycles more than that required to initiate a toe crack in the same tubular X-joint. Ultimate strength testing of specimens with large fatigue cracks, and post-test sectioning, reveals that fatigue failure weld-toe fatigue cracks remain more critical than the root cracks.

Damage detection in structures using frequency response functions ensemble with extended cosine based indicator

Although extensive investigations exist for structural damage detection, which often solely considers the stiffness reduction, or specific damage type like concrete spalling, this study aims to address a general novelty detection procedure for detecting the novelty, or so-called outlier from structural dynamic analysis with applying cosine based indicator in frequency response functions. This study also addresses a short review for the cosine indicator and modal assurance criterion, and their interrelation as well. The eight degree-of-freedom system is considered for the verification, and proves well performance in novelty detection.