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.
Multiple Design Curves for Beam Lateral Buckling
This paper develops a consistent set of multiple curves for the design of steel beams against lateral buckling. Multiple curves have already been used for the design of steel compression members against flexural buckling, and are included in a number of design codes. However, it appears that there has been no corresponding systematic development for beam lateral buckling.
Statistical Study of Experiments on Welded Beams
Statistical buckling experiments of 34 welded beams for each group of two different lengths are carried out under a concentrated load applied vertically at the midspan of the compressive flange of simply-supported beams. The influences of the variations of the various imperfection parameters on scattered test points of the lateral buckling are examined. The obtained test results are compared with the writers' previous test results of the rolled beams. The main imperfection parameter that highly influences the variation of the ultimate strength of the welded beams is the variable value of the actual full plastic moments, as already mentioned for the rolled beams. The welded beams, however, have a lower ultimate strength in the mean value and large coefficient of variation as compared with the rolled beams. The large variations in the compressive residual stresses and the initial lateral crookednesses in the welded beams may cause the large strength variation in the welded beams.