Applications of Finite Element Analysis in Structural Engineering
Advances in the field of computer aided engineering during the last two decades have been quite extensive and have led to considerable benefits to many engineering industries. In the building industry, use of advanced finite element tools has not only allowed the introduction of innovative and efficient building products, but also the development of accurate design methods. High performance computing facilities and advanced finite element programs are now available for research and development activities in many universities in collaboration with industries. In this paper, four examples of successful applications of advanced computer tools are presented and discussed. The structural performance of steel cladding systems, innovative hollow flange beams, plasterboard lined cold-formed steel stud walls and an innovative cold-formed steel building system was accurately simulated by finite element models and thus considerably reduced the number of time consuming and expensive large scale experiments required. Both local and overall failures of various building components were investigated. New design rules, structurally improved and optimized building products and systems, and simplified behavioural and computer models were developed. This paper presents a summary of the four detailed investigations using advanced finite element tools, and selected results.
Unsteady MHD Heat Transfer in Couette Flow of Water at 4°C in a Rotating System with Ramped Temperature via Finite Element Method
Abstract An unsteady magnetohydromagnetic natural convection on the Couette flow of electrically conducting water at 4°C (Pr = 11.40) in a rotating system has been considered. A Finite Element Method (FEM) was employed to find the numerical solutions of the dimensionless governing coupled boundary layer partial differential equations. The primary velocity, secondary velocity and temperature of water at 4°C as well as shear stresses and rate of heat transfer have been obtained for both ramped temperature and isothermal plates. The results are independent of the mesh (grid) size and the present numerical solutions through the Finite Element Method (FEM) are in good agreement with the existing analytical solutions by the Laplace Transform Technique (LTT). These are shown in tabular and graphical forms.
Experimental study on bond behavior between high-strength grout and deformed steel bars
Abstract Engineers use high-strength grout to connect precast concrete members for its low shrinkage and good fluidity. This paper designed 87 central pull-out specimens using the control variable method to investigate the influence of factors on the rebar-grout bond property such as compressive strength, steel grade, bar diameter, transverse stirrups, and bond length. The test result showed that improving grout compressive strength (85.8 MPa–122.7 MPa) cannot improve the bond strength, which was different from the previous conclusions of concrete pull-out tests. Simplified formulas were presented for calculating the characteristic values of bond strength, residual strength, peak slip, and relative slip of load-holding platform based on parameter analysis. Then, a constitutive model was proposed to predict the full-range bond stress-slip curve of high-strength grout and steel bar specimens from bearing to failure. Finally, FEA models were established to evaluate the applicability and accuracy of the constitutive model.