Equivalent spring model and efficient numerical strategy for simulating mechanical performance of seam-clip connections in aluminum alloy high-vertical standing seam metal cladding systems

Abstract

The equivalent spring model has been validated as effective in simulating the mechanical performance of seam-clip connections in typical steel high-vertical standing seam metal cladding systems (SSMCSs). To enhance its applicability, this study further refines the equivalent spring model by developing thickness-related stiffness calibration models and an efficient numerical strategy for seam-clip connections in the aluminum alloy SSMCSs. Tensile tests are initially conducted to analyze the material properties of specimens with three commonly used thicknesses. Subsequently, the mechanical performance of the aluminum alloy seam-clip connections with different thicknesses is systematically studied, followed by the development of thickness-related stiffness calibration models. The tensile test results reveal notable nonlinearities and variability in the mechanical performance. To simulate this mechanical performance equivalently in the finite element (FE) model using data from tensile tests, an efficient numerical strategy is developed. This strategy involves methods for implementing simplified connections to establish the equivalent spring model and techniques for efficiently creating these simplified connections. It is found that both connectors and spring connections with calibrated parameters from tensile tests can effectively replicate the mechanical performance of seam-clip connections. To further validate the effectiveness of the equivalent spring model and the efficient numerical simulation strategy, a comparison of structural responses of the double-span sheet module (DSSM) obtained from tests and FE analysis is performed. The results reveal that all simulated structural responses on the DSSM with three common sheet widths align well with the corresponding experimental results. This highlights the feasibility and efficacy of the equivalent spring model and efficient numerical strategy in simulating the mechanical performance of seam-clip connections and delving deeper into the structural responses of the aluminum alloy high-vertical SSMCSs.