Abstract
The light weight and high strength-to-mass ratio of thin-walled boxed sections have incited interest in their widespread use in the construction of domes. However, the installation of these sections in forming the dome geometry has induced initial twists and curving features, to which their mechanical response has rarely been explored. Therefore, the structural performance of a structure with thin-walled twisted box sections is numerically studied in this paper, employing ANSYS, the verification of which is carried out through a comparison with experimental results. Additional components examined include the longitudinal stiffening rib, diaphragm, and web. The effects of variations in the thicknesses of these member plates on the mechanical behaviors are investigated. In general, the ultimate capacity of the structure is improved by increasing the thickness of the longitudinal stiffening rib, diaphragm, and web, but the strengthening effect of the stiffener is limited by a certain thickness enhancement. The common failure mode of the initial model is found to be an overall elastic-plastic buckling. A reduction in the thickness of the stiffener or web creates a curving deformation zone in the lower arch at the ultimate capacity, whereas the diaphragm thickness has little effect on the failure mode of the model.
Highlights
With recent developments, thin-walled box-section structures have been extensively used in engineering components thanks to their impressive performance, such as a high stiffness-to-weight ratio and high torsional and bending rigidities [1,2,3]
Peres et al [19] proposed a mixed finite element method based on GBT to analyze the first-order behavior of naturally curved beams with the circular axis with deformable thin-walled cross-sections
This paper aims to study the structural performance of thin-walled twisted boxsection structures, focusing on the ultimate capacity of the structure
Summary
Thin-walled box-section structures have been extensively used in engineering components thanks to their impressive performance, such as a high stiffness-to-weight ratio and high torsional and bending rigidities [1,2,3]. Peres et al [19] proposed a mixed finite element method based on GBT to analyze the first-order behavior of naturally curved beams with the circular axis (without pre-twist) with deformable thin-walled cross-sections. Yu et al [25] presented an asymptotically correct theory for initially twisted thin-walled composite beams They implemented a variational asymptotic method, applicable to all types of thinwalled beams, including strips and closed or open sections. Arici and Granata [28] analyzed the straight and curved thin-walled structures on elastic foundations using the Hamiltonian structural analysis method and proposed a unified comprehensive theory for closed and open thin-walled cross-sections, as well as compact sections, by considering non-uniform torsion and distortion plus torsional moment deformation effects. Conclusions and major findings are proposed at the end of the paper
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