This article presents generalized finite element formulation for plastic hinge modeling based on lumped plasticity in the classical Euler-Bernoulli beam. In this approach, the plastic hinges are modeled using a special enrichment function, which can describe the weak discontinuity of the solution at the location of the plastic hinge. Furthermore, it is also possible to insert a plastic hinge at an arbitrary location of the element without modifying its connectivity or adding more elements. Instead, the formations of the plastic hinges are achieved by hierarchically adding more degrees of freedom to existing elements. Due to these features, the proposed methodology can efficiently perform the first-order plastic hinge analysis of large-frame structures. A generalized finite element solution technique based on the static condensation scheme is also proposed in order to reduce the computational cost of a series of linear elastic problems, which is in general the most time-consuming portion of the first-order plastic hinge analysis. The effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method are verified by analyzing several representative numerical examples.

Purpose This paper aims to propose a generalized finite element technique that can accurately approximate the solution of the flexural-shear cantilever model of wall-frame structures proposed by Heidebrecht and Stafford Smith. Design/methodology/approach This approach adopts scaled monomials as enrichment functions, and they are highly effective in accurately capturing the solution of the problem, as it consists of smooth functions such as polynomials, hyperbolic and trigonometric functions. Several numerical experiments are performed on the static and modal analyses of the flexural-shear cantilever wall-frame structures using the proposed generalized finite element method (GFEM), and their accuracies are compared with those obtained using the standard finite element method. Findings The proposed GFEM is able to achieve theoretical convergence rates of the static and modal analyses, which are, in principle, identical to those of the standard FEM, for various polynomial orders of its shape functions such as quadratic, cubic and quartic orders. The proposed GFEM with quartic enrichment functions can provide more accurate solutions than the standard FEM, and thus can be effectively used at the initial design stage of high-rise wall-frame structures. Originality/value This work is the first paper where the GFEM is applied to the analysis of high-rise wall-frame structures, and the developed technique can be used as a good analysis tool at the initial design stage.

This study investigated the structural performance of the RC boundary beam-wall system subjected to axial loads that required lesser construction quantity and smaller floor height in comparison with the conventional RC transfer girder system. Four specimens of 1/2 scale were constructed, and their peak strengths under axial loads and failure characteristics were compared and analyzed. Test parameters included the ratio of the lower to the upper wall length, lower wall thickness, and stirrup details of the lower wall. In addition, three-dimensional nonlinear finite element analysis was performed to verify the effectiveness of the boundary beam-wall system. The peak strength of each specimen was similar to the nominal axial strength of the lower wall, indicating that the axial load was transferred smoothly from the upper to the lower wall. The contribution of the lower wall cross-section was high if the ratio of the lower to the upper wall length was small; the contribution was low if the out-of-plane eccentricity existed in the lower wall. The specimen with smaller stirrup distance and cross-ties in the lower wall showed higher initial stiffness and peak load than other specimens.

In this study, we propose a new truss deckplate system, which does not require temporary floor supports during construction, with ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) infilled top bars. The increased stiffness and strength of the proposed system were well retained as compared to those of the existing truss deckplate systems, thereby resulting in the reduction of maximum deflection at the span center. Four-point bending tests were performed on five specimens with a net span of 4.6 m to evaluate the structural performance of proposed system in the construction stage. In addition, the load-deflection curve was plotted for each specimen, and the effects of test parameters were analyzed. Further, a rigorous nonlinear three-dimensional finite element analysis was performed, and its results were compared with the test results. From the results, it was observed that the test specimens of the proposed system exhibited superior performance as compared to those of the existing one and also satisfied the serviceability requirement during construction provided by the Korea Building Code 2016.

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