Zhen Yang , Liang Gao , Mi Xiao , Wei Luo , Xiongbing Fang , Jie Gao
{"title":"The ODE-driven isogeometric level set method with the parameterization for structural dynamic topology optimization problems","authors":"Zhen Yang , Liang Gao , Mi Xiao , Wei Luo , Xiongbing Fang , Jie Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Structural dynamic performance is a critical factor in the optimization to determine the overall distribution of materials. Recently, the isogeometric analysis has drawn significant attention due to its ability to improve numerical precision and stability for structural dynamics. In the current work, the intention is to propose a novel isogeometric level set method with the parameterization for structural dynamic topology optimization problems, mainly including the maximization of eigenfrequency, the minimization of frequency responses and the minimization of dynamic compliance. Firstly, the Level Set Function (LSF) is parametrized with Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) basis functions to decouple the time and space variables, such that the Hamilton-Jacobi Partial Differential Equations (H-J PDEs) can be converted to a number of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs). Secondly, the same NURBS basis functions are applied to construct the finite space for unknown structural responses in structural dynamic analysis to maintain the consistency and improve numerical stability. Thirdly, the evolution strategy along the z-direction is considered here to update the level set function with parameterization, which can effectively eliminate the strong dependency of the level set method on the initial designs, particularly the initial distribution of holes. Finally, three different mathematical formulations for eigenfrequency, frequency response and dynamic compliance are developed, in which the related sensitivity analysis is derived in detail. Several numerical examples in 2D and 3D are developed to study the effectiveness of the proposed ODE-driven isogeometric level set method.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121025"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Machine learning-based framework for rapid assessment of seismic resilience and sustainability metrics for regional RC bridges","authors":"Zhijian Qiu , Xiao Li , Zilan Zhong , Yewei Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The seismic resilience and environmental impact of reinforced concrete (RC) bridges during earthquakes are crucial for maintaining the functionality and sustainability of transportation networks in earthquake-prone regions. This study presents a machine learning (ML)-based framework that integrates performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE) principles and ML models to rapidly assess seismic resilience and post-earthquake losses, including repair time, repair costs, and sustainability metrics quantified by carbon footprint, for regional RC bridges. Based on twelve bridge key attributes, including column height and diameter, 1000 finite element (FE) bridge models are systematically developed through the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) method and subjected to 100 ground motions to compute probabilistic seismic demand models, system-level fragility, seismic resilience, and post-earthquake losses. Through hyperparameter tuning and <em>k</em>-fold cross-validation, six ML models are optimized with the artificial neural network (ANN) achieving superior accuracy in predicting seismic resilience. Subsequently, the developed ANN framework is applied to representative regional RC bridges, facilitating rapid and reliable predictions of seismic resilience and post-earthquake losses across varying bridge attributes. Overall, the developed framework serves as an efficient and practical tool for decision-makers, providing valuable insights to enhance seismic resilience and sustainability metrics while optimizing post-earthquake recovery strategies for critical infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121046"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yingrui Wu , Fei Kang , Jing Chen , Ming Yu , Kaiyuan Zheng
{"title":"A hybrid data-mechanism-driven cloud model for spatiotemporal deformation-informed safety assessment of high arch dams","authors":"Yingrui Wu , Fei Kang , Jing Chen , Ming Yu , Kaiyuan Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The safety of high arch dams has emerged as a critical concern in hydraulic engineering, owing to their widespread application. Traditional dam safety assessment methods often fail to adequately consider the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of dam deformations and their dynamic variations, thereby hindering a comprehensive and accurate reflection of the dam’s actual operational status. To address these limitations and comprehensively evaluate the overall safety of high arch dams, this study introduces a data-mechanism hybrid driven safety assessment cloud model. The dynamic time warping (DTW) approach, combined with hierarchical clustering techniques, is employed to perform spatiotemporal clustering of dam deformation sequences, thus enabling precise identification of deformation patterns within each partition. Subsequently, a FEM-HTT hybrid prediction model is developed by integrating finite element method (FEM) with the Hydrostatic-Thermal-Time (HTT) monitoring theory, which facilitates accurate and reliable deformation predictions. Finally, the dam’s overall operational status is evaluated using multi-layer data fusion and cloud model theory. The proposed method is applied to the safety assessment of a super high arch dam, and the results demonstrate that the method effectively evaluates the dam’s operational state, providing a theoretical foundation for its comprehensive safety evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121019"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tao Jiang , Zi-min Xie , Jia-jian Wang , Dong-sheng Li , Chun-xu Qu
{"title":"A novel strain-based deformation monitoring method for subsea free-spanning pipelines","authors":"Tao Jiang , Zi-min Xie , Jia-jian Wang , Dong-sheng Li , Chun-xu Qu","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120998","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120998","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Subsea pipelines play a vital role in oil and gas transportation. However, ocean current-induced scour inevitably leads to the formation of long free spans, which results in large deformation and potential structural damage. Although many methods have been proposed for pipeline deformation monitoring, these methods have limitations in terms of accuracy and availability for subsea pipelines with large deformation. To address these challenges, this paper proposes the analogy stiffness upgrading (ASU) method, which is a novel framework that integrates the inverse finite element method (iFEM) with corotational theory to enable accurate reconstruction of large deformations. The core innovation of the ASU method lies in the introduction of an analogy stiffness matrix and an analogy force vector, which serve as the key bridging elements between iFEM and the co-rotational formulation. These quantities are constructed from the strain–displacement matrix and measured strains, and then embedded into an iterative global equilibrium process based on local-to-global coordinate transformations. This formulation effectively eliminates rigid body motion and captures geometric nonlinearities. The performance of this method is comprehensively verified through extensive numerical simulations under various deformation scenarios. The results demonstrate that the ASU method can accurately reconstruct large deformations in submarine pipelines, thus highlighting its potential for practical applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 120998"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparative analysis of dynamic response behavior between welded stud and demountable bolt connectors in steel-UHPC composites","authors":"Zhenyu Huang, Yu Zhou, Yingwu Zhou, Gan Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121043","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121043","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the dynamic response behavior of steel-UHPC composite through an impact test focusing on the behavior of shear connectors under impact loads. Using drop hammer impact tests, the study evaluates the dynamic responses and failure mechanisms of welded studs and demountable bolted connectors. The experiments are conducted on various specimen groups, each differentiated by connector type and subjected to different mass and height of impact to simulate varied impact scenarios. Test results indicate that under impact loading, the failure for all specimens, except those using high-strength studs (which experienced weld failure), is shear failure of the connectors. This is consistent with the failure observed in static push-out tests. Compared to welded studs, demountable bolts exhibit higher ultimate slip and better ductility. The study quantified the energy distribution and transformation relationship between stud and UHPC, and the mapping relationship between their failure modes under impact loads. Notably, the study shows that demountable bolted connectors with nut embedded in UHPC can provide superior performance by limiting the extent of local damage and preserving the integrity of the interface between steel and UHPC. The results contribute valuable insights into the dynamic design and optimization of composite elements, offering guidelines for enhancing structural resilience against dynamic loads, and contributing to safer engineering applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121043"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144739623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhengtao Qiu , Mingke Deng , Xin Yao , Yangxi Zhang , Ruizhe Li
{"title":"Shear behavior of RC composite beams with HDC permanent formwork: Experimental study and PINN-based prediction","authors":"Zhengtao Qiu , Mingke Deng , Xin Yao , Yangxi Zhang , Ruizhe Li","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120955","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.120955","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To realize the industrialization of construction and fill the gap in the shear performance research of reinforced concrete (RC) composite beams with high-ductility concrete (HDC) permanent formwork, this paper investigated the shear behaviors of ones. Eight beams, comprising one control beam and seven RC composite beams with HDC permanent formwork, underwent four-point flexural loading. The variable parameters were the type of formwork, space of the transverse bar, and shear-span ratio. The influences of these factors on the failure mode, load-deflection response, energy absorption capacity, and strain were discussed in this paper. The results indicated that the HDC permanent formwork can significantly enhanced the load-bearing capacity, ultimate deformation, and energy absorption capacity of the RC composite beams with HDC permanent formwork. Compared to the control beams, the improvements in load-bearing capacity, ultimate deflection, and energy absorption capacity are in the ranges of 2.1 %-15.3 %, 15.2 %-48.5 %, and 32.1 %-83.3 %, respectively. Installing carbon textile grids in the HDC permanent formwork can further enhance the load-bearing capacity and ultimate deformation of the RC composite beams with HDC permanent formwork. The effectiveness of the HDC permanent formwork to the shear-resistant capacity, deformability, and energy absorption capacity of the RC composite beams with HDC permanent formwork was more obvious at the high shear-to-span ratio and space of the transverse bar. Finally, based on the Guo et al. model, a Physics Informed Neural Network (PINN) model was set up, trained, verified, tested, and interpreted to predict the shear-resistance capacity of RC composite beams with HDC permanent formwork. The <em>MSE</em>, <em>MAE</em>, and <em>R</em><sup>2</sup> of the testing dataset were 193.24, 9.72, and 0.98, respectively. This proved that the established PINN model was more accurate and reliable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 120955"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multi-objective seismic design optimization of self-centering bridges with novel mechanical hinges","authors":"Xueqi Zhong , Haoyuan Gao , Jianzhong Li , Xu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Self-centering rocking bridge piers possess significant potential for improving post-earthquake resilience and reducing the post-earthquake repairs for bridges. However, due to the multi-parameter nature of such piers, challenges remain in designing the self-centering bridge piers and ensuring balanced performance across multiple piers. To addresses these gaps, this study proposes a general multi-objective seismic design optimization framework for self-centering rocking bridges. The framework includes input-output dataset preparation, XGBoost model training, Pareto front calculation, and optimal solution selection. The framework is illustrated on a self-centering bridge equipped with hemisphere-based rocking hinges (HRH), an innovative device previously developed by the authors. Results show that using a machine learning method (XGBoost herein) to develop surrogate model as a substitution for the finite element model improves optimization efficiency by at least 73 %, without compromising accuracy. The optimized bridge with HRHs achieves balanced performance among piers, with a 63.4 % decrease in shear difference and a 11.4 % reduction in displacement difference compared to the benchmark bridge.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121061"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bin Huang , Haoyu Liu , Qingrui Yue , Xiaogang Liu
{"title":"Effect of eccentricity and off-axis on tensile failure behavior of UD-CFRP plates: Experimental investigation, failure mechanism, and strength model","authors":"Bin Huang , Haoyu Liu , Qingrui Yue , Xiaogang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the tensile behavior of unidirectional CFRP plates under coupled eccentricity and off-axis, addressing a critical gap in understanding the effect of installation-induced imperfections on the tensile performance of CFRP plates. Experiments and finite element analysis (FEA) reveal that an eccentricity ratio of 0.4 reduces tensile capacity by up to 23.66 %, and increasing off-axis angles further degrade performance. Coupled loading leads to mixed-mode failure involving fiber-matrix interface shear, highlighting a significant tension-shear coupling effect. A predictive model is proposed, and strict tolerance limits are recommended: the eccentricity ratio should not exceed 0.06, and the off-axis angle should remain below 0.013 radians.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121022"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mizan Ahmed , Mohamed Emara , Vipulkumar Ishvarbhai Patel , Wensu Chen , Xihong Zhang , Ahmed Hamoda
{"title":"Experimental and numerical analysis of the flexural performance of concrete-filled steel tubular members with partial replacement of fine aggregates with sawdust","authors":"Mizan Ahmed , Mohamed Emara , Vipulkumar Ishvarbhai Patel , Wensu Chen , Xihong Zhang , Ahmed Hamoda","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the structural performance of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) beams through experimental and numerical approaches. The CFST beams are prepared with sawdust as a partial replacement for fine aggregates in concrete. A total of fourteen CFST beams are experimentally tested under four-point bending. The sawdust replacement percentages range from 0 % to 25 %. Mechanical properties of the steel tubes and concrete, including compressive and tensile strengths, are evaluated, and the failure modes, ultimate load capacities, initial stiffness, toughness, and ductility indices are analyzed. The results show that sawdust inclusion significantly influences the flexural strength and ductility of the CFST beams, with optimal performance observed at moderate sawdust replacement levels. In addition, finite element analysis is employed to validate the experimental findings. The numerical model closely approximates the load-deflection behavior and failure mechanisms. The study underscores the potential of using sawdust as a sustainable material in structural applications. The study contributes to resource efficiency while maintaining acceptable performance in flexural load scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121050"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721796","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caiwei Liu , Lizheng Liu , Pengfei Wang , Xinyu Wang , Wenyong Shang , Jijun Miao , Ben Mou
{"title":"A precise 3D numerical method of dynamic and static behaviors in corroded RC beams exposed to fire: Considering multi-damaged cracks","authors":"Caiwei Liu , Lizheng Liu , Pengfei Wang , Xinyu Wang , Wenyong Shang , Jijun Miao , Ben Mou","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2025.121060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents a precise 3D numerical simulation method for analyzing the behavior of corroded reinforced concrete (RC) beams exposed to fire. Multiple damage factors, including corrosion cracking, load-induced cracking, and spalling of the concrete cover were considered. Specifically, cohesive elements, the concrete damaged plasticity model, and birth-death elements are employed to effectively simulate corrosion cracking, load-induced cracking, and cover layer spalling in corroded RC beams, respectively. These damage mechanisms are incorporated into the heat transfer model to obtain accurate temperature field. Subsequently, the temperature severed as the predefined filed was introduced into the static loading model. Moreover, 3D springs were also employed into the model to represent the corrosion-induced bonding degradation between reinforcement and concrete. Following this, the effects of fire exposure time, corrosion level, and cover layer thickness on the thermal and static behavior of corroded RC beams was systematically investigated through analysis of temperature field and static loading results. Furthermore, modal analysis was conducted on corroded RC beams through numerical simulation. It was observed that the first-order natural frequency variation of corroded RC beams after fire exposure correlates closely with residual moment capacity. Based on this correlation, a novel prediction equation derived from dynamic analysis was proposed to evaluate residual moment capacity. It demonstrates a high-level accuracy within 10 % error compared to experimental values. In conclusion, this study provides a method for predicting the residual moment capacity of corroded RC beams after fire exposure based on the structure's vibrational natural frequency, without causing any damage to the structure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"343 ","pages":"Article 121060"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}