bipolarly prestressed closely spaced built-up member
closely spaced built-up member
centre of gravity of the cross-section of one chord of the closely spaced built-up member to the z-axis;
maximum deflection;
minimum inertia radius of one chord;
radius of inertia with respect to the z-axis from one chord of the closely spaced built-up member;
distance in the clear between the chords;
maximum distance in the clear between the chords in the middle of the member span, equivalent to the spacer thickness;
spacer thickness;
cross-sectional area of one chord of the closely spaced built-up member;
Young’s modulus;
moment of inertia relative to the y axis of one chord of the closely spaced built-up member;
moment of inertia of a composite section;
equivalent moment of inertia to the
total member length;
extreme section length with straight member;
prestressing zone length; prestressing range;
distance between friction grip bolts;
distance from the member edge to the first of the bolts joining the chords;
Engesser critical load capacity;
modified Engesser critical load capacity;
Euler critical buckling load;
modified Euler critical buckling load;
shear stiffness;
The closely spaced built-up members (CSBUM) are used in engineering structures, such as columns, bracings, chords or diagonal braces of flat and spatial structures, among others: girders, space structures, domes, masts, towers and high-voltage line support structures. They are in the form of at least two component members, called chords, joined together in the welding process or with mechanical fasteners, e.g. rivets, bolts, one-sided bolts: spacerless (Fig. 1 a, b, g, h), with spacers (Fig. 1 c, d, i, j) or battens (Fig. 1 e, f, k, l).
Among the most commonly used composite CSBUMs sections there are channel sections (Fig. 1a-f) and cross-sections of two angle sections (Fig. 1g-l).
Examples of composite closely spaced built-up member (CSBUM) sections built of a pair of: (a)–(f) channel sections, (g)–(l) angle sections
Since the early 20th century, CSBUMs made of two angle sections or channel sections have been the standard cross-section of light trusses, welded trusses of medium load, riveted trusses and truss crane beams [1, 2, 3]. Similarly, in flat, single- and double-curved space structures built since the 1950 with pyramidal-lateral assembly systems, e.g. Space-Deck (1954) [4, 5] Pyramitec (1960) [4, 5, 6, 7], Zachód (1970) [5, 8, 9, 10, 11] or Mostostal (1979) [5], twin members of the compressed upper chord were obtained as a result of back-to-back joining of adjacent pyramids and/or flat frames.
There is an extensive literature on load bearing capacity and stability of the multiple-chord members, including CSBUMs. It should be noted that failure to consider or underestimate shearing force impact on the load bearing capacity of multiple-chord members have caused construction failures and disasters many times in history [12]. Starting from Engesser [13] and Harringx [14] through Bleich [15], Timoshenko and Gere [16], to contemporary Kowal [17] and Bažant [18], many researchers proposed different calculation models to determine the critical load bearing capacity of a compressed member sensitive to shearing. Aslani and Goel [19] showed that the assumption of Timoshenko and Gere [16] is correct for multiple-chord members with widely spaced chords, while for the CSBUMs, it is too conservative. The separation coefficient modified by Aslani and Goel [19] gave more accurate results of ratio of slenderness, with a better approximation to Bleich [15] than in the approach of Timoshenko and Gere [16], and the proposed formula for the effective global ratio of slenderness of multiple-chord member with welded joints and/or fully-coupled connections has been introduced to later editions of the standard [20]. Temple and El-Mahdy [21, 22] proposed a conservative simplification of the formula for the ratio of slenderness of multiple-chord members with rigid battens and CSBUMs. Kowal [17] proposed the model of non-linear local interaction and global critical load bearing capacity, taking into account the amplification of local transverse displacement and derived an equation that solves the critical strength of a two-chord member joined by rigid battens.
Lue
The interest in cross-sections of cold-formed members, especially thin-walled, has begun to grow since the end of the 20th century. Stone and La Boube [32] conducted experimental tests of back-to-back channel sections to verify provisions of the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members. Ting and Lau [33] theoretically analyzed using the Effective Width Method and the Direct Strength Method and experimentally tested the compressed columns with two lipped channel placed back-to-back with batten cross-sections and joined by self-driving screw showing good agreement with results obtained. Anbarasu, Kanagarasu and Sukumar [34] supplemented the studies of Ting and Lau [33] with the FEM solution. Zhang and Young [35] presented the results of the experiment and the numerical FEM solution with non-linear analysis for compressed members with a cross-section of pair of spacerless sections Σ. Tamai
There are known methods of strengthening compressed members of metal structures by increasing the surface area and/or radius of inertia of the cross-section by joining (welding, gluing, mechanical joining) of additional components, such as sheets or sections to obtain a multiple-chord cross-section. Słowiński and Wuwer [37, 38] increased the cross-section of compressed CSBUM by tightening with onesided BOM bolts of two channel sections to obtain a symmetrical three-chord member. Deniziak and Winkelmann [39, 40] analyzed a compressed member with a thin-walled channel section, doubled on a certain section and forming a monosymmetric CSBUM.
According to the standard [41], the compressed CSBUMs should be dimensioned in a similar way to uniform built-up compression members according to 6.4. Simplification of calculations and treatment of a composite member, spacerless or uniform with spacers, as a result of omitting shear stiffness (
The bipolar displacement prestressing presented in the paper is an innovative method. In the literature on the subject, axially compressed, built-up members, including CSBUMs, shaped in the proposed way, have not been found.
Because in the CSBUMs with compressive axial force it is possible to increase the critical load bearing capacity by introducing bipolar displacement prestressing [42], the correct description of the bipolarly prestressed closely spaced built-up member (BPCSBUM) geometry is necessary to conduct static and strength analyzes.
Bipolar prestressing is a controlled, permanent, symmetrical displacement of the CSBUM chord, relative to each other (Fig. 2), as a result of which self-balanced prestresses are introduced into the model. An innovative design of the BPCSBUM is obtained, characterized by a straight-line axis and non-linear course of the chord (Fig. 2c, 3). Bipolar prestressing is introduced in CSBUMs with a cross-section where, as a result of flexural buckling, consistent with the first shape, the greatest displacement between joints would potentially occur.
Bipolar prestressing diagram of prestressed CSBUM with symmetrical boundary conditions [42]
(a) part A, (b) part B, (c) bipolarly prestressed closely spaced built-up member (BPCSBUM)
1 – chord of the CSBUM, 2 – spacer, 3 – spacer connector, 4 – friction grip bolt
Exemplary diagrams of BPCSBUMs
Figure 2 presents a schematic diagram of the bipolar prestressing of a CSBUM of symmetric boundary conditions to the transverse axis. This process was divided into two A and B parts. In part A (Fig. 1a) a spacer was inserted in the form of a bolt-fastened plate in the middle of the member. In part B (Fig. 1b) the section, in which the spacer is present, is protected against translational and rotational displacements in all directions. And then, chords were joined with friction grip bolts in two cross-sections, located symmetrically to the centre of the member.
Figure 3 presents examples of BPCSBUM diagrams with different lengths of the prestressing zone and two-sided pinned or rigid support.
As a result of bipolar energy introduced into CSBUM with symmetrical support, a spindle-shaped BPCSBUM is obtained.
There are separated extreme straight lines, located symmetrically to the center, with the length
The transverse dimensions of the CSBUM chord cross-section (flange width –
It was assumed, in the BPCSBUM shaping, that two following parameters could be controlled: the thickness of the spacer
The spindle shape of BPCSBUM in the prestressing zone determines its geometrical properties. Figure 4 shows an example of geometry of BPCSBUM with two-sided pinned support. Functions describing the distance
Geometry of an example BPCSBUM with two-sided pinned support (a) view, (b) cross-sections
In cross-sections, where friction grip bolts are used to join chords, rigid connections were placed due to the lack of free rotation of a single chord (Fig. 5).
Static model of the CSBUM chord in the prestressing zone
Thus, bipolar prestressing of the member was performed in the middle section of the length
Taking into account the designations from Fig. 4 and the maximum displacement of chords in the middle of the span equal to
for
for
The distance between the chords in the clear is variable on the member length. On the extreme sections with the length
Functions determining the distance between the chords in the clear were developed based on the curves describing the initial deflection curve (1) and (2) of the member chords in the prestressing zone:
for
for
The moments of inertia
The moment of inertia
After taking into account (3)–(5), the moments of inertia
However, for the prestressing zone in the
and
In addition, to maintain the buckling direction, it is necessary to maintain the proportion of moments of inertia of the BPCSBUM:
The moment of inertia of the section
Given that:
equivalent moment of inertia
The eccentricity
For the extreme sections – for
In the prestressing zone, the eccentricity
for
for
At the end of the 19th century, Engesser [12,13,16] was the first to consider shear stiffness when analysing the built-up compressed member. He estimated the critical load bearing capacity
To estimate the critical load capacity of the BPCSBUM, a modification of the Engesser’s formula (19) was proposed allowing for a far-reaching simplification of the problem at the expense of a small loss of estimation accuracy. Introduction of the critical force
The shear stiffness
where:
The modified Engesser’s formula (19) will therefore take the form:
The issue of stability of the BPCSBUM was solved by the FEM using the commercial ABAQUS/CAE software[43–45]. The steel asymmetrical members made of a pair of channel sections were subjected to simulation.
A spatial and shell model was made. The S4R Shell Finite Element, available in the software library, was applied. It is an element with linear shape functions and reduced numerical integration. Simulations for the standard and BPCSBUM were performed with the assumption of the finished element dimension not greater than 10×10 [mm]. An example of finite element grid was shown in Fig. 6.
An example of finite element grid
A model of an ideally elastic-plastic isotropic material was adopted. The material was defined by the Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio and density. The standard values specified for steel in [41] were assumed, and thus: Young’s modulus
The contact was defined between chords and a spacer and between each of the chords.
The contact between chords and a spacer was defined in the form of general contact with properties of normal behavior as “hard” contact with the possibility of separation after contact. General contact interactions allow to define contact between many regions of the model with a single interaction. The general contact algorithm uses the finite-sliding, surface-to-surface contact formulation and a penalty method to enforce active contact constraints.
The contact between chords was defined in the form of surface-to-surface contact with properties of normal behavior as “hard” contact and tangential behavior using penalty method with friction coefficient 0.1.
The bolt in the middle of the member span joining the chords with the spacer was modelled as a beam-type connector with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the bolt.
Analysis of the BPCSBUM was divided into three calculation steps:
Initial,
Prestressing,
Buckle.
In the
The calculation step
Calculation step
An example of a BPCSBUM – calculation steps: (a) Initial, (b) Prestressing, (c) Buckling analysis
The study covered the standard CSBUM made of the rolled channel sections UPE120 and UPE160 (Tab. 1) joined in direct contact in four places with M16 bolts spaced at
Calculation example (a) standard CSBUM (b) BPCSBUM
Geometric characteristics of UPE120 and UPE160
Section | |||||
[cm2] | [cm4] | [cm4] | [cm] | [cm] | |
UPE120 | 16.8 | 392 | 60.7 | 1.90 | 2.02 |
UPE160 | 23.7 | 965 | 114 | 2.19 | 2.20 |
A length was assumed for all members
The critical load capacity of the standard closely spaced built-up member, estimated with the Engesser’s formula, (19) respectively for: UPE 120: UPE 160:
Table 2 presents the description of the geometries considered in the BPCSBUM example, developed on the basis of the formulas presented in section 3.
Figures 9 and 10 show the result of FEM simulation for BPCSBUM with the geometry analyzed in the example. All of the tested members lost their stability assuming the first form of buckling in the form of a sinusoidal half-wave.
The result of FEM simulation on BPCSBUM built from a pair of UPE120 channel sections with the length of the prestressing zone
The result of FEM simulation on BPCSBUM built from a pair of UPE120 channel sections with the length of the prestressing zone
Description of the BPCSBUM geometry
|
|||||||||
|
[mm] | 2100 | 2400 | ||||||
|
[mm] | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
|
[cm4] | 258.50 | |||||||
|
[cm4] | 286.99 | 318.18 | 352.04 | 388.60 | 286.99 | 318.18 | 352.04 | 388.60 |
|
[cm4] | 268.48 | 279.39 | 291.24 | 304.04 | 269.90 | 282.37 | 295.92 | 310.54 |
|
|||||||||
|
[mm] | 2100 | 2400 | ||||||
|
[mm] | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
|
[cm4] | 457.42 | |||||||
|
[cm4] | 501.02 | 548.42 | 599.62 | 654.60 | 501.02 | 548.42 | 599.62 | 654.60 |
|
[cm4] | 472.68 | 489.27 | 507.19 | 526.43 | 474.86 | 493.82 | 514.30 | 536.29 |
Critical load capacity of BPCSBUM estimated by modified Engesser’s (28) and FEM formula is presented in Table 3. In addition, there are also:
Critical load capacity of BPCSBUM
ζ1 | ζ2 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
[mm] | [mm] | [kN] | [kN] | [%] | [%] |
|
|||||
2100 | 4 | 601.2 | 594.4 | 1.14 | 18.72 |
8 | 624.9 | 631.8 | -1.09 | 23.40 | |
12 | 650.6 | 671.1 | -3.06 | 28.48 | |
16 | 678.3 | 712.0 | -4.73 | 33.95 | |
2400 | 4 | 615.2 | 570.9 | 7.76 | 21.49 |
8 | 643.4 | 608.1 | 5.81 | 27.05 | |
12 | 673.9 | 647.7 | 4.05 | 33.08 | |
16 | 706.8 | 689.5 | 2.51 | 39.57 | |
|
|||||
2100 | 4 | 1060.3 | 1043.0 | 1.66 | 17.32 |
8 | 1096.5 | 1097.0 | -0.05 | 21.32 | |
12 | 1135.5 | 1154.2 | -1.62 | 25.64 | |
16 | 1177.3 | 1180.2 | -0.25 | 30.26 | |
2400 | 4 | 1083.1 | 1005.8 | 7.69 | 19.84 |
8 | 1125.9 | 1061.0 | 6.12 | 24.57 | |
12 | 1172.1 | 1119.1 | 4.74 | 29.69 | |
16 | 1221.7 | 1187.8 | 2.85 | 35.17 |
analytically obtained percentage comparison of the critical load capacities of BPCSBUM (
increased critical load capacity of BPCSBUM (
Differences between the obtained analytically critical load bearing capacity of BPCSBUM and FEM were within the following ranges:
-4.73% ÷ 7.76% for 2x UPE 120;
-1.62% ÷ 7.69% for 2x UPE160.
The results for the BPCSBUM analyzed in the example are shown in Figures 11 and 12. Good agreement between the results obtained with the modified Engesser’s (28) and FEM formula was shown.
Comparison of numerical (FEM) and analytical (mod) results for BPCSBUM: (a) 2xUPE120,
Comparison of numerical (FEM) and analytical (mod) results for BPCSBUM: (a) 2xUPE160,
Figure 13 was made based on the analytical results and shows the critical load bearing capacity gain of the BPCSBUM compared to the load bearing capacity of the standard back-to-back CSBUM joined with 4 bolts. The axes of the graph are described as follows:
Critical load bearing capacity of BPCSBUM built of: (a) 2xUPE120, (b) 2xUPE160
horizontal axis – thickness of spacer
vertical axis – a dimensionless coefficient, i.e. the proportion of the critical load bearing capacity of BPCSBUM
Graphs for the prestressing zone length were drawn up
(1) The studies presented in this paper relate to the BPCSBUM. The literature on CSBUMs is extensive, but there are no studies on BPCSBUM for which a correct description of geometry is indispensable to start static and strength analyzes.
(2) A high convergence of critical load bearing capacity of BPCSBUM estimated from the modified Engesser’s (23) and FEM formula was obtained. For considered prestressing zone length
(3) In connection with the possibility of applying bipolar prestressing by displacement to reinforce the structure of CSBUMs:
an equivalent moment of inertia
using the relationship (25), it is possible to predict an increase in the load bearing capacity of the CSBUM under bipolar prestressing.
(4) For the BPCSBUM considered in the example, the predicted load bearing capacity gain with a 4 mm spacer is nearly 20%. However, when using a 16 mm spacer, it is 30–40%. Therefore it is possible to
Further analytical, numerical and experimental tests are planned for the load bearing capacity and stability of the BPCSBUM, in particular with other chord sections, different spacer thickness and the prestressing zone lengths.