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    Two Stochastic Methods to Model Initial Geometrical Imperfections of Steel Frame Structures
    (MDPI, 2024-01-12) Jindra, Daniel; Kala, Zdeněk; Kala, Jiří
    The stochastic modeling of geometrically imperfect steel frame structures requires statistical inputs for imperfection parameters, often with specific mutual correlations. The stochastic input values of geometrical imperfections are derived from European Standard EN 1090-2:2018 tolerance criteria. Two advanced stochastic methods, #RSS (random storey sway) and #RSP (random storey position), are developed based on these criteria. This paper presents a verification study, using random sampling simulations, for these two stochastic methods (#RSS and #RSP) to directly model the initial global geometrical imperfections of steel frame structures. The proposed methods have been verified for structures with equidistant storey heights and for those comprising up to 24 storeys, making them applicable to a wide range standard steel frame structures. It has been found that the performance of the #RSS method is satisfactory. An advantage of #RSS is that the random parameters are statistically independent. On the other hand, the #RSP method requires the definition of these mutual correlations in order to satisfy the criterion that 95 percent of random realizations of initial imperfections fall within the tolerance limits of the corresponding European Standard. The #RSP method, however, might have certain advantages for structures with a larger number of storeys (above 24), as closely discussed in this study. Additionally, this study provides useful provisions for the advanced numerical analyses of multi-storey steel frames of various geometries.
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    Strain Energy and Entropy Based Scaling of Buckling Modes
    (MDPI, 2023-12-06) Kala, Zdeněk
    A new utilization of entropy in the context of buckling is presented. The novel concept of connecting the strain energy and entropy for a pin-ended strut is derived. The entropy of the buckling mode is extracted through a surrogate model by decomposing the strain energy into entropy and virtual temperature. This concept rationalizes the ranking of buckling modes based on their strain energy under the assumption of given entropy. By assigning identical entropy to all buckling modes, they can be ranked according to their deformation energy. Conversely, with identical strain energy assigned to all the modes, ranking according to entropy is possible. Decreasing entropy was found to represent the scaling factors of the buckling modes that coincide with the measurement of the initial out-of-straightness imperfections in IPE160 beams. Applied to steel plane frames, scaled buckling modes can be used to model initial imperfections. It is demonstrated that the entropy (scale factor) for a given energy roughly decreases with the inverse square of the mode index. For practical engineering, this study presents the possibility of using scaled buckling modes of steel plane frames to model initial geometric imperfections. Entropy proves to be a valuable complement to strain energy in structural mechanics.
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    Comparison of crack growth rates of IPE beams made from stainless steel in three-point bending
    (Elsevier, 2023-11-24) Juhászová, Tereza; Miarka, Petr; Seitl, Stanislav
    The main focus of research dealing with a fatigue of steel components is mostly performed by mechanical testing with focus set on small-scale components. On the other hand, from a civil engineering viewpoint, the steel load-bearing structures or their elements have much larger dimension, when comparing them to laboratory specimens. Therefore, the fatigue testing took place on IPE 80 specimens made from two different stainless steels AISI 304 and AISI 316, loaded in three-point bending with data collection of crack mouth opening displacement placed in mid-span using clip-on extensometer. This presented study focuses on the comparison of crack propagation rate in linear region of well-known Paris’ law. For the assessment of material constants from Paris’ equation C and m, two steel grades of stainless steel, AISI 304 and AISI 316 were experimentally obtained. To evaluate the experimental data, a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model, representing IPE 80 geometry, in a finite element method (FEM) software Ansys Mechanical APDL was created. The generated numerical results were used to evaluate stress intensity factor values, which serves as a main input to crack propagation Paris’ law.
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    Data-Driven Condition Assessment and Life Cycle Analysis Methods for Dynamically and Fatigue-Loaded Railway Infrastructure Components
    (MDPI, 2023-11-13) Granzner, Maximilian; Strauss, Alfred; Reiterer, M.; Cao, Maosen; Novák, Drahomír
    Railway noise barrier constructions are subjected to high aerodynamic loads during the train passages, and the knowledge of their actual structural condition is relevant to assure safety for railway users and to create a basis for forecasting. This paper deals with deterministic and probabilistic approaches for the condition assessment and prediction of the remaining lifetime of railway noise barriers that are embedded in a safety concept that takes into account the damage consequence classes. These approaches are combined into a holistic assessment concept, in other words, a progressive four-stage model in which the information content increases with each model stage and thus successively increases the accuracy of the determined structural conditions at the time of observation and the forecast of the remaining service life of the structure. The analytical methods used in the first stage of the developed holistic framework are based on common static calculations used in engineering practice and, together with expert knowledge and large-scale fatigue test results of noise barrier constructions, form the basis for the subsequent stages. In the second stage of the data-driven condition assessment and life cycle analysis approach, linking routines are implemented that combine the condition assessments from the visual inspections with the additional information from temporary or permanent monitoring systems with the analytical methods. With the application of numerical finite element methods for the development of a digital twin of the noise barrier in the third stage and the probabilistic approaches in the fourth stage, a maximum determination accuracy of the noise barrier condition at the time of observation and prediction accuracy of the remaining service life is achieved. The data-driven condition assessment and life cycle analysis approach enables infrastructure operators to plan their future investments more economically regarding the maintenance, retrofitting, or new construction of railway noise barriers. Ultimately, the aim is to integrate the presented four-stage holistic assessment concept into the specific maintenance and repair planning of infrastructure operators for aerodynamically loaded railway noise barrier constructions.
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    Modelling Initial Geometric Imperfections of Steel Plane Frames using Entropy and Eigenmodes
    (North Atlantic University Union (NAUN), 2023-07-24) Kala, Zdeněk
    The article introduces an innovative approach to modelling initial geometric imperfections in steel plane frames. Initial imperfections are introduced using the analysis of normalised deformations of elastic buckling modes. The scale of these modes is assessed by applying Shannon entropy and potential energy analysis. The presented case study demonstrates a decreasing scale of the elastic buckling modes. The entropy computed from the deformation reveals a new perspective on buckling modes and provides a more profound understanding of steel frame behaviour. The case study results indicate that anti-symmetric buckling modes exhibit higher entropy than symmetric buckling modes. This entropy-based analysis enables the differentiation between symmetric and anti-symmetric buckling modes, which is particularly valuable when the critical buckling loads of sway and non-sway buckling modes are closely aligned or overlap.