Oct 2026· Journal of Structural Engineering· 0 citations· 17 references
Abstract
Conventional contact-based inspection techniques face significant challenges in accurately modeling the complex 3D geometry of locally buckled steel members, which hinder reliable assessment of their residual load-carrying capacity. To overcome these limitations, this study proposes a method for analyzing the bearing capacity of locally buckled steel members using geometric reconstruction models, enabling precise evaluation of their load-carrying capacity. The research methodology encompasses three primary aspects: (1) model preprocessing; (2) load-bearing capacity analysis of specimens; and (3) experimental validation. Model preprocessing involves three key tasks: point cloud model reconstruction and optimization; evaluation of the effect of external factors on model accuracy; and parametric modeling with verification of geometric accuracy. The load-bearing capacity of damaged specimens was analyzed by predicting the residual capacity of the corresponding parametric models using finite element software. Finally, axial compression tests on equal-leg single-angle steel specimens were conducted to validate the accuracy of the finite element analysis results, thereby demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method. Key findings include: (1) the overlap ratio has the most significant influence on model accuracy; at an overlap level of 18, the comprehensive mean absolute error is below 0.005, and model-specimen similarity between the angle steel parametric model and the angle steel specimen reaches 0.99 (no significant difference at 95% confidence level); (2) among the extracted key feature data, the elastic stiffness, peak load, and peak displacement all exhibit relative errors less than 10%, while peak strain in deformation zones shows larger deviations; and (3) among the 44 statistically key characteristic data points, 41 exhibit relative errors less than 10%, confirming the method’s high reliability for practical engineering applications.
Design guidance for 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) is constrained by lack of a reliable method to estimate compressive capacity from conventional cast-cube results, particularly for hollow, shell-dominated elements typical of printed walls. This study addresses that gap using representative double-shell hollow cubes with controlled surface slopes (0°, 10°, 20°) to isolate shell load paths and texture-induced eccentricity. Under axial loading, the 0° specimens attained approximately 50% of the cast-cube strength, reflecting cavity-driven load redistribution and interlayer weakness. Introducing slopes further reduced capacity: at 28 days, 10° and 20° cases achieved roughly 37% and 33% of the cast control, respectively. Finite-element analyses corroborated a mechanism of load-path eccentricity, tensile hoop stress, and interface-localized damage near peaks. Based on the experimental matrix, we propose an empirical mapping from cast-cube strength to 3DPC capacity within the tested slope range; the relation provides intentionally conservative lower-bound estimates, underpredicting measured strengths by
∼
12
%
–19% at 14–28 days within the test domain. The findings clarify how hollow cores and surface slopes govern load paths and failure localization in printed shells and provide a practical estimator to support early-stage sizing, material screening, and conservative preliminary design of walls with hollow cores and textured surfaces without requiring full-scale tests under typical conditions.
T. Daungwilailuk· Journal of materials in civi...· 0 citations
This study investigates the influence of constitutive model parameters on both the global and local response of reinforced concrete beams. Advanced numerical simulations require appropriate material models to represent the specimen behaviour, so this research compares simplified engineering procedures with the concrete damage plas - ticity (CDP) model. A single representative specimen was analysed using a high-resolution digital image correlation (DIC) system to provide dense experimental data for precise calibration. The investigation focuses on identifying the specific tension stiffening description that best reflects the fracture kinematics recorded by the optical system. Results indicate that the strain-dependent approach (specifically the Massicotte model) offers superior consistency with experimental crack patterns and load-deflection curves. In contrast, models based on fracture energy exhibited unphysical blurring of damage zones and poorer crack localization. The study concludes that broad validation extending beyond global load-deflection curves, utilizing local displacement fields from DIC, is essential for an objective assessment of numerical model quality and the optimization of concrete structure design.
Dawid Karasiewicz, Julia Graczyk, Michał Demby et al.· Advances in Science and Tech...· 0 citations
Accurate assessment of the shear buckling behavior of steel beams is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of steel structures. This study proposes an integrated geometric and mechanical digital twin (DT) framework for the assessment and prediction of shear buckling behavior in steel beams. Steel beams tested to shear buckling failure are taken as the physical entities, whereas the corresponding high-fidelity finite element (FE) models reconstructed from 3D laser-scanned point cloud data are regarded as the virtual entities. A geometric DT is first established to explicitly capture the as-measured initial geometric imperfections of the web. Based on sensitivity analysis and particle swarm optimization, the measured mid-span deflection, web out-of-plane displacement, and strain responses collected from the physical entity are fused with the virtual entity to establish a mechanical DT, thereby reducing mechanical uncertainties and improving physical-virtual consistency. The developed DT is finally used for shear buckling assessment and prediction. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework is both feasible and effective, significantly enhancing the accuracy and robustness of structural performance assessment.
Yuanjie Ding, Youlin Xu, Lian-Heng Cai et al.· International Journal of Str...· 0 citations
Advanced analysis has been shown to improve material efficiency in statically indeterminate steel-framed structures compared with member-based linear elastic design methods. However, limited research has investigated its applicability to geometrically nonlinear steel structures where residual stresses are induced by the bending process. In this study, the material optimization potential of advanced analysis has been quantified for two arch-based structures by comparing the volume of steel required to satisfy the criteria of both the system and member-based analysis methods in accordance with AS 4100:2020. The two structures were analyzed using the finite element analysis software Strand7 (R3.1.6) and subjected to combined gravity and wind loading in alignment with the serviceability and ultimate limit states specified in AS 1170.0:2002. System behavior was analyzed through the Arc-length plastic zone method. The results indicate that in one of the arch-based structures, advanced analysis can improve material utilization by 8.1%. Provided that future research both validates the use of the reduced stiffness method for treatment of initial geometric imperfections and verifies system reliability factors for structures with curved geometries, advanced analysis presents a practical design method for this structure. Comparison of the two case studies found that advanced analysis has the potential to improve material efficiency only when linear elastic failure is governed by ultimate limit state criteria. It is therefore evident that the material optimization findings of this research cannot be generalized to all arch-based structures, as they are contingent upon the geometry of the model analyzed, the loading scenarios considered, and the deflection limits adopted.
Eva Gurtata, F. Tahmasebinia· Applied Sciences· 0 citations
Traditional methods of reinforcing structures typically waste a large amount of material; however, there have
been very few studies investigating the use of advanced materials and topology optimization for developing
hollow triangular reinforcement bars that will perform under various load conditions. The focus of this study is
to bridge this gap in research by performing finite element analysis (FEA) and topology optimization to
determine the structural behaviour of three different types of triangulated reinforcement bars (i.e., Fe500, CFRP,
GFRP and titanium) fabricated using advanced materials. For this study, numerical modelling was carried out
using a tensile load of 10 kN, and four different types of reinforced concrete beam models were developed; all
beams in this study were subjected to four separate points. To ensure they would all meet the displacement limit
of 0.5 mm and be within good factors of safety (FS > 2.0), validation had to be completed against the applicable
criteria. The results indicated that topology optimization allowed for approximately a 20–22% reduction in the
amount of material used to reinforce the concrete beams. The maximum tensile stresses created by the solid bars
were calculated as follows: Fe500 = 128.8 MPa, CFRP = 118.8 MPa, GFRP = 96.07 MPa and titanium = 135.9
MPa. Under combined loading, the maximum stresses produced by the optimized hollow triangulated bars also
were calculated; they were as follows: Fe500 = 670.83 MPa, CFRP = 601.78 MPa, GFRP = 381.04 MPa and
titanium = 531.08 MPa. In addition, the optimized design provided an annual cost savings of 20%, with
estimated annual savings reaching ₹9,60,000 per 1000 m of titanium reinforcement.
Himanshu Singh, Arun Kumar Agarwal· International Journal of Dru...· 0 citations
Complex thin-walled structures are prone to elastic deflection and machining deformation under cutting forces due to their low structural stiffness, complex curved geometries, and significant local thickness variations, thereby deteriorating dimensional accuracy and surface integrity. To address the difficulty of conventional finite element analysis in accurately characterizing local stiffness variations over complex surfaces, this study proposes a surface stiffness modeling and analysis method for complex thin-walled components using a turbofan engine blade as the research object. First, a three-prone finite element model of the blade is established in Abaqus, including material property definition, section assignment, and mesh generation. Nodal information and surface normal vectors of the predefined target surface are then extracted. Concentrated loads are sequentially applied along the nodal normal directions under predefined boundary constraints, and static analyses are performed to obtain nodal displacement responses. Based on the relationship between the applied normal load and the corresponding normal displacement, the local stiffness of each discrete surface point is calculated to construct a surface stiffness distribution model of the blade. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively characterize stiffness variations across different regions of the blade surface and identify low-stiffness weak areas, providing a basis for machining deformation prediction, process parameter optimization, and support scheme design.
Niansong Zhang, Yongjie Yin, Long Wu et al.· 2026 IEEE International Conf...· 0 citations
Related blog posts
MIT News · Artificial Intelligence· news.mit.eduAug 17, 2026
A USAF cadet and a Lincoln Laboratory researcher found AI chatbots can help nontechnical service members produce viable software applications for their unique problems.
