A new design problem in the formulation of a special moment resisting connection device for preventing local buckling

In the present paper an improved formulation devoted to the optimal design problem of a special moment resisting connection device for steel frames is proposed. This innovative device is called a Limited Resistance Plastic Device (LRPD) and it has been recently proposed and patented by some of the authors. It is thought to be preferably located at the extremes of the beam, connecting the beam end cross section with the relevant column. The typical device is a steel element characterized by symmetry with respect to three orthogonal barycentric planes and constituted by a sequence of three portions with abrupt cross section changes. The main novelty of the present proposal is related to the d…

Optimal Design of New Steel Connections

The Limited Resistance Rigid Perfectly Plastic Hinge (LRPH) are special steel connections mainly usable to join beam elements of plane or spatial steel frames. The fundamental characteristics of these devices are the mutual independence of their own resistance and stiffness features as well as the respect of assigned constraints related to the elastic and limit behaviour of the joined elements. Within the frame structural scheme, the device plays the role of a rigid perfectly plastic hinge, constituted by a suitably sized sandwich section. The efficient use of the LRPH in the relevant frame depends on the appropriate design of the device geometry. In the present paper, a new approach devote…

A Multicriteria optimal design for FE discretized structures

Probabilistic Evaluation of the Adaptation Time for Structures under Seismic Loads

Abstract In this paper, a probabilistic approach for the evaluation of the adaptation time for elastic perfectly plastic frames is proposed. The considered load history acting on the structure is defined as a suitable combination of quasi-statical loads and seismic actions. The proposed approach utilizes the Monte Carlo method in order to generate a suitable large number of seismic acceleration histories and for each one the related load combination is defined. Furthermore, for each load combination the related adaptation time is determined, if any, as the optimal one for which the structure is able to shakedown under the unamplified applied actions. A known generalized Ceradini's theorem i…

Optimal design of steel frames accounting for buckling

A formulation of a special design problem devoted to elastic perfectly plastic steel frame structures subjected to different combinations of static and dynamic loads is presented. In particular, a minimum volume design problem formulation is presented and the structure is designed to be able to elastically behave for the assigned fixed loads, to elastically shakedown in presence of serviceability load conditions and to prevent the instantaneous collapse for suitably chosen combinations of fixed and ultimate seismic loadings as well as of fixed and wind actions. The actions that the structure must suffer are evaluated by making reference to the actual Italian seismic code. The dynamic respon…

Bòvedas tabicadas: experimental and numerical analysis

A class of thin vaults, the so-called “bovedas tabicadas”, which represent one of the most common Spanish traditional building techniques at the end of XIX century are studied here, treating the relevant analysis problem through a numerical, as well as an experimental, approach. At first the problem is studied by searching for the behaviour of the material effecting suitable experiments. Once the constitutive behaviour of the materials and the structural elements are experimentally characterized, a semi inverse method for the identification of the optimum mechanical parameters to assign to an equivalent homogeneous ideal material through analysis reproducing the executed experimental tests …

Multicriterion design of frames with constraints on buckling

The present paper is devoted to the optimal design of frame structures subjected to static and dynamic loading assuming the material behaviour as elastic perfectly plastic. The relevant optimal design problem is formulated as a minimum volume search problem. The minimum volume structure is determined under suitable constraints on the design variables as well as accounting for different resistance limits: the elastic shakedown limit and the instantaneous collapse limit, considering for each limit condition suitably chosen amplified load combinations. The effects of the dynamic actions are studied on the grounds of the dynamic features of the structure taking into account the structural perio…

Experimental characterization of dacron 360 woven constitutive behavior

In the present paper some experimental analyses of Dacron© 360 woven aimed to characterize its constitutive behavior are presented. This woven, widely adopted in sail manufacturing, is obtained by weaving polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn and it shows some peculiar features due to the manufacturing process. The experimental tests, in terms of tensile tests and cyclic tests, clearly show the orthotropy features of the material, its high strength and deformability. Finally, the examination with optical microscope of the tested specimens allows to evidence how the warp and weft yarns interact.

Seismic shakedown design of frames based on a probabilistic approach

The present study concerns the optimal design of elastic perfectly plastic structures subjected to a combination of fixed and seismic loads. In particular, plane frames are considered and suitable measures of the beam element cross sections are chosen as design variables. The optimal design is required to behave in a purely elastic manner when subjected just to the fixed load and to have the capability to eventually shakedown when simultaneously subjected to fixed and seismic loads. Due to the natural uncertainness related to the definition of the seismic load history, a new probabilistic approach is proposed, consisting into two subsequent search steps. At first a suitably chosen large num…

Optimal Design of Trusses According to a Plastic Shakedown Criterion

The optimal design of elastic-perfectly plastic truss structures subjected to quasi-statically loads variable within a given load domain is studied. The actions are given as the combination of fixed load and perfect cyclic load. Suitably chosen load multipliers are given. A minimum volume formulation of the design problem with assigned limit load multiplier is developed and it is provided on the grounds of a statical approach as well as of a kinematical approach. The incremental collapse (ratchetting) of the optimal structure is prevented, as long as the loads are not greater than some prescribed values, by special constraints suitably introduced in the search problem. The Kuhn-Tucker equat…

Shakedown Boundary of Limited Ductility Structures Accounting for Buckling

A formulation devoted to the determination of the borderline between the elastic/plastic shakedown domains and the incremental/instantaneous collapse zones of the Bree diagram for elastic perfectly plastic structures is proposed. In particular, reference will be made to truss structures and the actions will be given as a combination of mechanical fixed loads and mechanical perfect cyclic loads. The borderline between the above cited domains is determined by solving a search problem consisting into a sequence of maximum fixed load multiplier problems for assigned values of the cyclic load multiplier. In order to take into account suitable limits related to the structure ductility features, s…

Modellazione numerica del comportamento meccanico delle volte catalane

Il presente lavoro riguarda la modellazione numerica del comportamento costitutivo delle cosiddette volte in foglio (le bóvedas tabicadas) che rappresentano una delle tecniche edilizie tradizionali catalane più diffusamente impiegate da alcuni tra i più grandi architetti spagnoli (primo fra tutti Gaudí) alla fine del XIX secolo [1-3]. Tali volte risultano fondamentalmente costituite da strati alternati di spessore in generale pressoché uguale di mattoni e di malta. Questa particolare caratteristica viene studiata in questo lavoro nel quale si vuole confrontare la modellazione del comportamento costitutivo considerando il materiale come ideale omogeneo con quella ottenuta modellando il mater…

Shakedown design of trusses accounting for buckling

Shakedown design of trusses accounting for buckling.

A bilateral convergent bounding technique for plastic deformations

For the class of elastic perfectly plastic discrete structures, subjected to a dynamic loading history, a bilateral bounding technique for plastic deformations has been studied. The computation of the bound is founded on the concept that to obtain it, any history of fictitious plastic deformations can be used, if only admissible. Such history is obtained by solving a sequence of linear programming problems (LPPs) with a multiple step compared to the step of the sequence of the quadratic programming problems (QPPs) adopting in the classic elasto-plastic analysis. The constraints of the LPPs coincide with the constraints of the QPPs, while the objective function is a linear combination of var…

On the Post-Elastic Behavior of LRPH Connections

The paper concerns the study of the post-elastic behavior of a recently proposed innovative device, named Limited Resistance Rigid Perfectly Plastic Hinge (LRPH). In particular, LRPH is a steel device of finite length realizing a moment connection between beam elements of a steel frame; it is designed in order to possess two main and independent requirements: its bending moment resistance must be suitably lower than the one of the connected beam element and its overall bending stiffness must be equal to that of the connected beam element characterized by the same length. In order to make the proposed device reliable, LRPH must be capable of realizing a full plastic hinge for the assigned be…

Optimal design of circular plates according to different criteria

Optimal design of circular plates according to different criteria.

Optimal design of structures equipped with different seismic protecting devices

Comparison between unrestricted dynamic shakedown design and a new probabilistic approach for structures under seismic loadings

The paper concerns a study related to the comparison between two different approaches utilized for the formulation of an optimal shakedown design problem for elastic plastic frame structures subjected to a combination of fixed and seismic loading. The first formulation utilizes the unrestricted dynamic shakedown theory, while the second one is based on a new probabilistic approach. The comparison is effected in terms of mathematical formulations, in terms of adopted loading models and in terms of numerical results. The performed applications are related to plane steel frames.

Iterative Optimal Design of Special Moment Resisting Devices for Steel Frames

Abstract The present paper proposes an iterative procedure devoted to reaching the optimal design of an innovative, recently proposed, moment resisting device. This special device, called Limited Resistance Plastic Device (LRPD), can be utilized, as an example, to equip a steel frame when it is required that the frame must be designed to substitute a masonry panel, i.e., it must be characterized by a structural behaviour as close as possible to the one of the replaced masonry wall. This purpose can be reached by designing the relevant frame imposing appropriate constraints on the elastic stiffness and on the limit resistance. The result can be obtained just by ensuring that the elastic stif…

Analisi numerica e sperimentale sul comportamento meccanico delle volte catalane

Targeted steel frames by means of innovative moment resisting connections

Abstract The present paper proposes the use of stepped cross section devices on steel frames aiming at reproducing a pre-established target push-over curve. To this aim a Limited Resistance Plastic Device (LRPD) to be inserted along selected structural members is proposed. The following two main specific features for LRPD are required: any elastic flexural stiffness variation of the original selected member must be avoided; an ultimate plastic bending moment value equal to an assigned percentage of the original limit resistance value must be ensured. Steel frames equipped with LRPD are modeled by means of an extension of a recently proposed Fibre Smart Displacement Based (FSDB) beam element…

Case Study of the Structural Behavior of a Catalan Bricks Masonry Vault

Catalan vaults are a peculiar type of low thickness vaulted brick masonry structure. Knowledge of load-deflection response and load bearing capacity are important aspects to consider with the aim of preserving these structural members as part of the cultural heritage. In order to investigate these aspects, complete knowledge of the constituent materials and geometry (dimension, thickness, constructive section) is necessary in such a way as to predict the load-deflection response and the effective load-carrying capacity; the latter can be determined utilizing simplified models (limit analysis) or by means of a numerical analysis (finite element method). With this aim, the structural behaviou…

P-Delta effect in structural optimization

The present paper is devoted to the optimal design of structures constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material. In particular, reference will be made to the minimum volume design of multi-storey steel frames taking into account the P-Delta effect. For the sake of generality, the structure is thought as discretized into compatible finite elements and subjected to fixed and quasi-statically acting (wind) loads as well as to dynamic (seismic) loads. The effects of the dynamic actions are studied by utilizing a classical modal technique. The relevant optimal design problem is formulated on the grounds of a statical approach and different resistance limits are considered: in particular, it i…

Evaluation of the bending behaviour of laminated glass beams via electronic speckle pattern interferometry

The paper is devoted to the experimental analysis of the kinematical and mechanical behaviour of laminated glass beam structures. In particular, the utilized laminated glass specimens are composed of two glass layers bonded by a polymer layer constituted by Ethylene-vinyl acetate whose thickness has been nominally considered as constant for all the specimens. The experimental behaviour of the analyzed specimens is deduced by applying Electronic Speckle- Pattern Interferometry technique; actually, among optical methods this technique (handled by phase-stepping technique) is very effective to obtain a full-field displacement map and to numerically achieve the longitudinal strain. In particula…

On the optimal design of base isolation devices

The paper deals with the optimal design of a base isolation system for a given structure subjected to seismic loads. In particular, an appropriate minimum displacement seismic protection device optimal design formulation is proposed for an assigned elastic perfectly plastic steel frame constrained to behave in conditions of elastic shakedown. The chosen base isolation device is constituted by elastomeric isolators. Suitable combinations of fixed and seismic loads are considered. According to the unrestricted shakedown theory, the seismic input is given as any load history appertaining to a suitably defined seismic load admissibility domain. The relevant dynamic structural response is obtain…

Discrete variable design of frames subjected to seismic actions accounting for element slenderness

An optimal design problem formulation of elastic plastic frames under different combinations of fixed and seismic loads is presented. The optimal structure must behave elastically for the fixed loads, shakedown for serviceability conditions and prevent instantaneous collapse for fixed and high seismic loads. P-Delta effects and element buckling are considered. An appropriate modal technique is utilized. The design variables can have components in a continuous field or, alternatively, in chosen discrete sets or, yet, both kind of variables can be present. The design problem is formulated on the ground of a statical approach. The applications are related to steel frames.

Shakedown design of structures under dynamic loading

The optimal (minimum volume) design of elastic plastic structures under static and dynamic loads is studied. The minimum volume design is reached accounting for different resistance limits: it is required that the optimal structure simultaneously satisfies the elastic shakedown limit and the instantaneous collapse limit, or alternatively the elastic and the plastic shakedown limits, adopting for each limit condition a suitably chosen load combination and some appropriate load amplifiers. The load combinations are characterized by the presence of fixed loads, quasi-statical cyclic loads and dynamic (seismic) loads. Reference is made to the Italian Code related to structural analysis and desi…

Analisi numerica e sperimentale sul comportamento meccanico delle volte catalane

TRADITION AND MODERNITY OF CATALAN VAULTS: HISTORICAL AND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Il lavoro analizza da diversi punti di vista un particolare tipo di strutture voltate noto come volte catalane (bóveda tabicada) e la tecnica costruttiva correlata. Le volte catalane sono volte realizzate da strati alterni di mattoni e malta, caratterizzate da un esiguo spessore in relazione alle altre dimensioni. Il primo passo presentato nel lavoro è quello di investigare tutti gli aspetti storici al fine di inquadrare sia la tipologia che la tecnica costruttiva correlata all'interno della storia dell'architettura e di individuare le ragioni di un così grande successo lungo i secoli. Successivamente, è stata effettuata una campagna di indagini sperimentali, che completa una precedente, su…

Bounds on plastic deformations for structures in plastic shakedown

Optimal design of structures under dynamic loading

An efficient framework for the elasto-plastic reliability assessment of uncertain wind excited systems

Abstract In this paper a method to efficiently evaluate the reliability of elastic-perfectly plastic structures is proposed. The method is based on combining dynamic shakedown theory with Subset Simulation. In particular, focus is on describing the shakedown behavior of uncertain elasto-plastic systems driven by stochastic wind loads. The ability of the structure to shakedown is assumed as a limit state separating plastic collapse from a safe, if not elastic, state of the structure. The limit state is therefore evaluated in terms of a probabilistic load multiplier estimated through solving a series of linear programming problems posed in terms of the responses of the underlying linear elast…

Evaluation of continuous filament mat influence on the bending behaviour of GFRP pultruded material via Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry

Abstract Pultrusion is a process allowing the production of unidirectional (roving) fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) structural elements with constant cross section. Recently, also civil engineers focused their attention on pultruded composite materials as alternative to traditional ones (e.g., concrete, steel). Furthermore, to improve the transverse strength and stiffness with respect to the fibres direction, continuous filament mat (CFM) is often placed within the stacking sequence. The CFM influence on the global mechanical behaviour is not considered by appropriate actual international standards. In this paper, the influence of the CFM layers on the mechanical behaviour of glass fibres pu…

Minimum volume design of structures with constraints on ductility and stability

Abstract A minimum volume design problem of elastic perfectly plastic frame structures subjected to different combinations of fixed and seismic loads is presented, in which the design variables are considered as appertaining alternatively to a continuous assigned range as well as to appropriate discrete sets. The structure is designed so as to behave elastically for the applied fixed loads, to shakedown in presence of serviceability seismic conditions and to prevent the instantaneous collapse for suitably chosen combinations of fixed and high seismic loadings. In order to avoid further undesired collapse modes, the P-Delta effects are considered and the structure is also constrained to prev…

Minimum displacement design of base isolation devices

On the analysis of Catalan thin vaults

This paper is concerned with the identification, modelling and analysis of thin layered vaults, typical in the Catalan constructions of the XIX century. These special structures, also known as bovedas tabicadas, are characterized by very low thickness with respect to the medium surface dimensions and by the presence of different superimposed layers of bricks tied with mortar, are studied in order to individuate a coherent mechanical model for describing the material behaviour, to recognize the structural response utilizing as comparison adequate experimental results, and to extend the obtained results for the analysis of new vaults or for the restoration design of existing vaults. Firstly, …

Smart Beam Element Approach for LRPH Device

LRPH (Limited Resistance Rigid Perfectly Plastic Hinge) device is a special steel device mainly usable to join beam elements of plane or spatial steel frames covered by patent n. 102017000088597 at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and identified in the International Patent System with the number PCT/IB2018/055766. In the framework of moment (rigid) connection, the main fundamental innovation of LRPH consists in the mutual independence of its own resistance and stiffness features. The device is constituted by a sequence of three steel elements of limited length bounded by two parallel steel plates joined up with the connected structure elements. The cross-sections of the three st…

Speckle Interferometry Analysis of Full-bending Behavior of GFRP Pultruded Material

Abstract The use of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer materials (GFRP) has increased in the last years even among civil structural engineering due to their high specific strength, lightweight and excellent corrosion resistance. With application of the pultrusion method, the manufacture of large-scale profiles with various cross-section forms became potentially possible with relatively low costs. Usually two different technological approaches are available to realize the element: in the first one a mat-roving-mat sequence is adopted, in the second one only roving is present. Continuous filament mat (CFM, fibers distributed randomly in all directions) is often used to build up laminate thickness…

Limited Resistance Rigid Perfectly Plastic Hinges for Steel Frames

The paper concerns the proposal of a new special device for steel frames that can be utilized as external constraint as well as internal one connecting the structure beam elements. The device is designed as a rigid perfectly plastic hinge characterized by suitably chosen stiffness and resistance. Its constituting material is steel. The elastic stiffness and the limit resistance, treated as independent of each other, are fixed with the aim of satisfying special features required to the structure. The proposed device is thought as a sandwich section with wing thickness appropriately variable. Its dimensions are designed so that it can exhibit the fixed independent stiffness and limit resistan…

Reliability-based design optimization of trusses under dynamic shakedown constraints

A reliability-based design optimization problem under dynamic shakedown constraints for elastic perfectly plastic truss structures subjected to stochastic wind actions is presented. The simultaneous presence of quasi-static (cyclic) thermal loads is also considered. As usual in the shakedown theory, the quasi-statical loads will be defined as variable within a deterministic domain, while the dynamic problem will be treated considering an extended Ceradini-Gavarini approach. Some sources of uncertainties are introduced in the structural system and in the load definition. The reliability-optimization problem is formulated as the minimization of the volume of the structure subjected to determi…

An Optimal Design Formulation according to some limited Ductility Behaviour

Optimization of continuous elastic perfectly plastic beams

Abstract The optimal design of elastic plastic beams subjected to loads quasi-statically variable within a given domain is studied. A minimum volume formulation and a maximum load multiplier formulation are developed, both expressed on the grounds of a statical as well as of a kinematical approach. The search problems are formulated according to three different limiting criteria acting simultaneously. For each criterion a corresponding selected safety factor is imposed. The Euler–Lagrange equations related to the above described problems are deduced. A special iterative technique devoted to the solution of the above referenced problems is proposed. Some numerical examples conclude the paper.

Shakedown design of frames with constraints on deformations

Optimum design of structures with limited ductility

Optimality conditions for shakedown design of trusses

This paper deals with optimal shakedown design of truss structures constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material. The design problem is formulated by means of a statical approach on the grounds of the shakedown lower bound theorem, and by means of a kinematical approach on the grounds of the shakedown upper bound theorem. In both cases two different types of design problem are formulated: one searches for the minimum volume design whose shakedown limit load is assigned; the other searches for the maximum shakedown limit load design whose volume is assigned. The Kuhn-Tucker equations of the four problems here above mentioned are found by utilizing a variational approach; these equations …

DACRON© 360 WOVEN: EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPUTATIONAL ASPECTS

In this paper a first experimental study on Dacron© 360 woven constitutive behavior is presented. This woven is widely adopted in sail manufacturing, it is obtained by weaving polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn and it shows some peculiar features due to its own manufacturing process. The experimental tests, in terms of tensile tests and cyclic tests, clearly show the orthotropy features of the material, its high strength and deformability. The examination with optical microscope of the tested specimen allows to evidence the interaction between warp and weft yarns. The obtained results represent a first step for the definition of a correct computational approach to such materials.

Flexural behavior of laminated glass beams with T cross-sections

Discrete Structure Shakedown Design Ices ’95, Hawai, July 30 – August 3, 1995

The minimum volume shakedown design problem was already approached by several authors with studies devoted to discrete structures (see e.g. [1]–[5]) and to continuous structures (see e.g. [6]). Except some very simple structural typologies, also the optimal shakedown design problem formulations for continuous structures need to be discretized in the application stage. In any case, the relevant optimal shakedown design problem for discrete (or discretized) structures is formulated in terms of design variables as well as behavioural variables, and consists in the search for the/a minimum volume design among all feasible designs (i.e. able to shakedown). Due to its strong non-linearity, the la…

Reliable measures of plastic deformations for elastic plastic structures in shakedown conditions

A new formulation for evaluating reliable measures of the plastic deformations occurring in the transient phase of a structure in shakedown conditions is proposed. The structure is thought as constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material and subjected to a combination of fixed and cyclic loads. The proposed formulation consists in the search for the optimal plastic strain field that minimize a suitable objective function defining a strain energy measure related to the plastic strains at the shakedown limit. The typical self-stress field can be obtained as the elastic structural response to an assigned plastic strain field respecting appropriate ductility limits for the material. Without…

Optimization of structures with unrestricted dynamic shakedown constraints

The unrestricted dynamic shakedown theory is here utilized with the aim to formulate different optimal design problems for structures mainly subjected to seismic loads. In particular, reference is made to plane frame structures constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material subjected to load combinations characterized by the presence of simultaneous fixed and seismic actions. The design problems, formulated on the ground of a statical approach, are devoted to structures with and without seismic protection devices, with special emphasis to seismic isolators. For the proposed design problem formulations different constraints are utilized; actually, for structures without protection devices…

Experimental analysis of "bovedas tabicadas"

A particular type of vaulted structures, known as bóvedas tabicadas (Catalan vaults), made with alternate layers of bricks and mortar and characterized by a very low thickness in comparison to the other two dimensions, are studied. The research has been faced under the historical aspect as well as under the mechanical one, developing experimental and numerical analysis regarding real existing structures. In particular, the experimental analysis, performed by effecting compression and bending tests on samples taken from a real structure, has been devoted to the constitutive material identification and the characterization is made by considering the material as an ideal homogeneous; further e…

An Approximate Technique for Dynamic Elastic-Plastic Analysis

The possibility of obtaining an approximate sufficiently reliable response for elasticplastic discretized structures subjected to dynamic load (kinematical and/or mechanical), with alow computational effort, has been considered. A suitable technique to this effect comes from the form of the dynamic influence matrix of imposed plastic strains on self-stresses, which is shaped by adding up a sparse time-dependent matrix and a block diagonal time-independent matrix (which is the sum of two block diagonal matrices). Several cases of practical interest have been studied, among these cases a special one where all the degrees-of-freedom are dynamic. The technique is compared to other approximate t…

The indirect force method

Abstract It is known that the matrix force method shows some advantages over the displacement method for certain classes of problems, particularly in optimization and in the stress concentration analysis. Notwithstanding this, few efforts have been made to employ this method in engineering problems. In this paper, within the elastic analysis of frames and trusses, the indirect force method, utilizing beam-node type finite elements, is proposed. This method is based on the kinematical and mechanical study of nodes and of beams, the latter connected with the nodes by their first extremes according to a preliminary arrangement. In this formulation kinematical singularities are included, in the…

Discrete variables structural design of frames safe against buckling

On the structural optimization in presence of base isolating devices

The minimum volume design of plane frames constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material and subjected to appropriate combinations of fixed, cyclic and dynamic loads is studied. The influence on the design, in terms of cost (volume) and behavioural features, of seismic protecting devices is particularly focused. The considered protecting device is a lead rubber bearing base isolation system. Two optimal design problem formulations are proposed for the structure with or without the protecting device, both based on the so-called statical approach. The minimum volume frame is reached accounting for three different resistance limits: the purely elastic limit, the (elastic) shakedown limit an…

Alterazioni delle caratteristiche fisico-chimiche e meccaniche dei paletti di castagno in ambiente mediterraneo

Ludus absentiae et presentiae (tavole di progetto)

EFFECT OF SURFACE FINISH ON THE TENSILE BEHAVIOR OF DACRON© 360 WOVEN

Nel presente lavoro vengono presentate alcune indagini sperimentali mirate alla caratterizzazione dell’effetto del trattamento superficiale sul comportamento costitutivo di un tessuto in Dacron© 360. Tale tessuto, largamente utilizzato nella realizzazione di vele, è ottenuto dalla tessitura di fili di polietilene tereftalato (PET) e presenta alcune peculiarità dovute al processo manifatturiero. Le prove di trazione realizzate evidenziano le caratteristiche di ortotropia del materiale e l’effetto del trattamento superficiale che si manifesta principalmente in un comportamento più rigido nella direzione dell’ordito ed in quella inclinata e in un aumento della resistenza ultima in tutte le dir…

Influence of protecting devices on the optimal design of elastic plastic structures

The paper concerns the minimum volume design of structures constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material. The relevant optimal design problem is formulated on the grounds of a statical approach and two different resistance limits are considered: in particular, it is required that the optimal structure satisfies the elastic shakedown limit and the instantaneous collapse limit, imposing for each different condition a suitably chosen safety factor. For sake of generality, the structure is thought as discretized into compatible finite elements and subjected to loads quasi-statically acting as well as to dynamic (seismic) loads. The effects of the dynamic actions are studied on the grounds o…

An Iterative Approach to Dynamic Elastic-Plastic Analysis

The step-by-step analysis of structures constituted by elastic-plastic finite elements, subjected to an assigned loading history, is here considered. The structure may possess dynamic and/or not dynamic degrees-of-freedom. As it is well-known, at each step of analysis the solution of a linear complementarity problem is required. An iterative method devoted to solving the relevant linear complementarity problem is presented. It is based on the recursive solution of a linear complementarity, problem in which the constraint matrix is block-diagonal and deduced from the matrix of the original linear complementarity problem. The convergence of the procedure is also proved. Some particular cases …

MULTICRITERIA OPTIMAL DESIGN OF CONTINUOUS CIRCULAR PLATES

The paper is devoted to a quite general version of the multicriteria optimal (minimum volume) design of axisymmetric circular plates. The constitutive material is considered as elastic perfectly plastic without any ductility limit and the actions are assumed as quasi-statically variable within a given load domain. In the design problem formulation different resistance criteria are considered, in order to investigate all the possible structural limit responses, and for each one a suitably chosen safety factor is chosen. The optimal design problem is formulated as the search for the minimum structure volume according with a statical approach. The features of the optimal structures will be stu…

LRPH device optimization for axial and shear stresses

The paper concerns an in-depth study of a special connection for steel structures and the formulation of the related optimal design problem. The connection is called Limited Resistance Rigid Perfectly Plastic Hinge (LRPH) and it represents an innovative device devoted to join steel beam elements of frame structures. The device consists in a sequence of steel cross sections constituted by two parallel flanges with suitably different thickness connected by as many webs with constant and equal thickness. The fundamental innovation of the device is the possibility of designing special connections with elastic stiffness and limit strength independent of each other. Such a special characteristic …

Computational procedures for plastic shakedown design of structures

The minimum volume design problem of elastic perfectly plastic finite element structures subjected to a combination of fixed and perfect cyclic loads is studied. The design problem is formulated in such a way that incremental collapse is certainly prevented. The search for the structural design with the required limit behaviour is effected following two different formulations, both developed on the grounds of a statical approach: the first one operates below the elastic shakedown limit and is able to provide a suboptimal design; the second one operates above the elastic shakedown limit and is able to provide the/an optimal design. The Kuhn–Tucker conditions of the two problems provide usefu…

Effect of surface finish on the mechanical behaviour of Dacron© 360 woven

Abstract In the present paper some experimental analyses of Dacron© 360 woven with and without surface treatment are presented to evaluate the effect of this treatment on the constitutive behaviour. This woven, widely adopted in sail manufacturing, is obtained by weaving polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarn and it shows some peculiar features due to the manufacturing process. The experimental tensile tests, clearly show the orthotropy behaviour of the material. The effect of the treatment results in a stiffer behaviour especially along the warp and bias direction and in an increment of ultimate strength in all directions.

Evaluation of the shakedown limit load multiplier for stochastic seismic actions

A new approach for the evaluation of the shakedown limit load multiplier for structures subjected to a combination of quasi-statically variable loads and seismic actions is presented. The common case of frame structures constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material is considered. The acting load history during the lifetime of the structure will be defined as a suitable combination of never ending quasi-statical loads, variable within an appropriate given domain, and stochastic seismic actions occurring for limited time interval. The proposed approach utilizes the Monte Carlo method in order to generate a suitable large number of seismic acceleration histories and the corresponding shake…

Welded section defence by LRPD devices

The present paper concerns a special application of some recently proposed structural devices, called LRPD, able to protect the welded sections of frame steel structures from undesired brittle collapse ensuring the good expected ductile behaviour. Standard I-shaped cross-sections are treated, and the proposed devices are suitably considered as moment resisting connections between beams and columns. At first the domain representing the brittle safe conditions is defined in the N,V,M space; then a sample plane frame subjected to seismic load conditions is studied and it is proved that, equipping the structure with the proposed devices suitably designed, the generalized stresses at the welded …

Bounds on plastic strains for elastic plastic structures in plastic shakedown conditions

The problem related to the computation of bounds on plastic deformations for structures in plastic shakedown condition (alternating plasticity) is studied. In particular, reference is made to structures discretized by finite elements constituted by elastic perfectly plastic material and subjected to a special combination of fixed and cyclic loads. The load history is known during the steady-state phase, but it is unknown during the previous transient phase; so, as a consequence, it is not possible to know the complete elastic plastic structural response. The interest is therefore focused on the computation of bounds on suitable measures of the plastic strain which characterizes just the fir…

Elastic/plastic shakedown load boundary determination accounting for limited ductility structures

The problem related to the determination of the borderline between elastic/plastic shakedown and incremental/instantaneous collapse domains in the Bree diagramfor elastic perfectly plastic structures subkected to a combination of fixed and perfect cyclic load is studied. The relevant boundary is determined taking into account suitable limits related to the structures ductility features. In particular, basing on a special bounding theorem, it is possible to introduce appropriate boundary constraints on chosen measure of the plastic strains occurring at the end of the transient phase of the structural response

Experimental and numerical analysis of flexural behaviour of GFRP pultruded material

Performance-Based Engineering of Wind-Excited Structures: A General Methodology

The current prescriptive design philosophy that relies simply on meeting requirements stipulated in standards is shifting towards a performance-based design (PBD) approach for achieving designs that rationally meet society’s need for a truly safe built environment. Extensive research has facilitated the successful adoption of PBD in earthquake engineering, but the same cannot be said for wind engineering. Therefore, the need exists to initiate a similar effort by defining a framework that fully embraces the concepts of PBD during the design of building systems to resist severe wind events. This paper illustrates the development of such a PBD framework. In particular, a method is proposed sp…

Optimal design of elastic plastic frames accounting for seismic protection devices

The optimal design of elastic perfectly plastic steel frames with or without suitable protection devices and subjected to static as well as seismic loadings is studied. Two minimum volume problem formulations are proposed, on the grounds of the so-called statical approach, accounting for three different resistance limits: the purely elastic limit, the (elastic) shakedown limit and the instantaneous collapse limit. The adopted load combinations are characterized by the presence of fixed loads, of quasi-static perfect cyclic loads and dynamic (seismic) loads. The linear elastic effects of the dynamic actions are studied by utilizing a modal technique. The proposed treatment is referred to the…

Optimal shakedown design of base isolated structures

The optimal design problem of finite element discretized elastic perfectly plastic structures is studied. In particular, a minimum volume formulation is developed, based on a statical approach, and two different resistance limits are considered: the elastic shakedown limit and the instantaneous collapse limit, imposing for each a suitably chosen safety factor. The structure is thought as subjected to quasi-static loads as well as to dynamic actions. The dynamic features of the relevant structure are determined taking also into account an appropriate base isolation system in order to reduce the seismic effects. According with the Italian code related to the structural analysis and design, th…

Optimal Bounds on Plastic Deformations for Bodies Constituted of Temperature-Dependent Elastic Hardening Material

Bounds are investigated on the plastic deformations in a continuous solid body produced during the transient phase by cyclic loading not exceeding the shakedown limit. The constitutive model employs internal variables to describe temperature-dependent elastic-plastic material response with hardening. A deformation bounding theorem is proved. Bounds turn out to depend on some fictitious self-stresses and mechanical internal variables evaluated in the whole structure. An optimization problem, aimed to make the bound most stringent, is formulated. The Euler-Lagrange equations related to this last problem are deduced and they show that the relevant optimal bound has a local character, i.e., it …

Progetto ottimale di strutture discrete con vincoli sulla deformazione plastica

Elastic plastic analysis iterative solution

The step-by-step analysis of finite element elastic plastic structures subjected to an assigned (quasi-static) loading history, is considered; it identifies with the well-known sequence of linear complementarity problems. An iterative technique devoted to solve the relevant linear complementarity problem is presented. It is based on the recursive solution of a suitable linear complementarity problem, deduced from the relevant one and easier than it. The procedure convergency is proved. Some noticing particular cases are examined. The physical meaning of the procedure is shown to be a plastic relaxation. The suitable numerical ranges for some check parameter values, to be utilized in the app…

Testing mechanical characteristics of chestnut stakes used in bed sills for stream restoration

Using of wood elements for constructing bed sills in Mediterranean streams, where the banks are not protected by tree vegetation, needs an evaluation of biological and mechanical characteristics for evaluating both the wood durability and the effectiveness of the stream restoration project. Very few studies have dealt both with the decay of mechanical characteristics of wood elements employed for stream restoration works and with the changes over time of physical and chemical wood characters. In this paper, for a wood and stone bed sill located in a stream having no shaded banks, the changes of physical and chemical characters detected after 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 months on chestnut …