Engineering Structures最新文献

{"title":"A semi-empirical formula for rigid projectile penetration into large-particle rubble concrete","authors":"Xiaolong Chen ,&nbsp;Li Chen ,&nbsp;Huu-Tai Thai ,&nbsp;Qin Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper proposes a semi-empirical formula to predict the penetration depth of rigid projectile into large-particle rubble concrete (LRC). Full-scale experiments and mesoscale simulations were conducted to evaluate the effects of rubble diameter, strength, and volume fraction on the penetration depth into the target. The findings from the experimental results and numerical simulations were then employed to develop the semi-empirical formula based on a dual-parameter correction approach (DPCA), which was introduced to integrate both strength and size effects. The proposed formula was validated with experimental results and those predicted by available formulas. The validation indicated that the present formula could accurately predict the penetration depth of a wide range of diameters of the rigid projectile from 30 mm to over 250 mm, which is well beyond the limit of current formulas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122257"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146184999","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":"Improved stiffness and strength requirements for point lateral bracing in beams","authors":"Kee Dong Kim ,&nbsp;Jeonghwa Lee ,&nbsp;Kyoung Yong Park ,&nbsp;Young-Goo Choi","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Point lateral braces are essential for economical steel beam design by preventing out-of-plane deformations during construction. While previous studies have focused mainly on a single midspan brace, the behavior of beams with multiple braces under lateral–torsional buckling remains unclear. This study develops a unified framework for assessing the stiffness and strength requirements for beams with multiple braces. A modified stiffness coefficient, <em>N</em>_<em>i</em>, is proposed to more accurately define ideal brace stiffness varying brace numbers, load positions, and moment gradients, leading to a generalized stiffness requirement applicable to both single and multiple braces. The results indicate that, contrary to AISC provisions—which tend to overdesign as brace numbers increases—additional braces reduce both the required stiffness and bracing force, enabling more efficient designs. The buckling load equivalence model (BEM), originally formulated for columns, is adapted for beam bracing and, when combined with initial imperfections and threshold deflections, yields conservative and reliable predictions regardless of brace quantity. The proposed method offers a more rational approach to brace design compared with current AISC criteria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122268"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185002","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":"Web crippling behaviour of pultruded GFRP profiles with different shapes of cross-sections","authors":"Pandeng Zheng,&nbsp;Pan Zhang,&nbsp;Tao Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Web crippling is a critical failure mode of pultruded glass fiber-reinforced polymer (PGFRP) profiles under transverse concentrated loads. Due to the anisotropic and brittle nature of PGFRP profiles, their web crippling behaviour is significantly different from steel profiles. This paper first presents a systematic experimental study involving local bearing tests on PGFRP profiles with three representative shapes of cross-sections (i.e., channel section, box section and I-section). The test specimens were purchased from four different suppliers, and their material properties are comprehensively characterized for analysis and comparison of the web crippling test results. Other test variables included the loading configuration and the bearing length. The digital image correlation (DIC) technique was adopted to monitor the variation of strains over the web of the specimens for investigating of the mechanism of load transfer and failure, and the DIC results allowed the effective bearing length of PGFRP profiles with three different shapes of cross-sections to be experimentally obtained for the first time. The effects of key parameters on the web crippling behaviour of PGFRP profiles and the mechanism behind are thoroughly discussed based on the test results, which are then compared with the predictions from design formulas in the existing studies to assess their applicability. Based on the experimental results, new design formulas were developed for different loading and failure configurations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122296"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185242","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":"Physics-informed stacking ensemble machine learning for fatigue life prediction of stud connectors in steel-concrete composite structures","authors":"Benkun Tan ,&nbsp;Fanghuai Chen ,&nbsp;Da Wang ,&nbsp;Jialin Shi ,&nbsp;Chengong Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122182","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122182","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Within this work, a physics-informed (PI) Stacking ensemble machine learning framework is proposed for the fatigue life prediction and key parameter identification of stud connectors in steel–concrete composite structures. The proposed PI-based framework achieves high accuracy and strong generalization capability in predicting the fatigue life of stud connectors under various material properties, loading conditions, and geometric configurations, outperforming traditional physics-based formulations and conventional machine learning models. In addition, global sensitivity analysis using the Morris and Sobol methods is conducted to accurately identify the dominant variables influencing stud fatigue behavior. The shear stress range, tensile and compressive strengths, and the PI feature derived from linear elastic fracture mechanics are recognized as the most critical parameters controlling fatigue performance. Furthermore, SHapley Additive exPlanations are employed to enhance interpretability and clarify the nonlinear relationships between model inputs and predicted fatigue life. Finally, a graphical user interface is developed based on the trained PI- based model, enabling rapid, visual, and user-friendly fatigue life prediction. In practical applications, the proposed framework can be efficiently applied to fatigue life evaluation of stud connectors, providing a powerful tool for design optimization, maintenance planning, and safety assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122182"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185395","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":"Fatigue performance of stud connectors in steel-ECC composite structures after salt freeze-thaw cycles: Experimental study and degradation model","authors":"Fangwen Wu,&nbsp;Zirun Li,&nbsp;Lanqing He,&nbsp;Ao Chen,&nbsp;Haipeng Lei,&nbsp;Jincheng Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122320","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper aimed to investigate the fatigue performance of stud connectors in steel-engineered cementitious composite (ECC) composite structures after salt freeze-thaw cycles (SFTCs). The fatigue tests of eight push-out specimens were conducted and the influence parameters include the fatigue loading amplitude, number of SFTCs and ECC strength grade. Furthermore, the damage mechanisms of specimens after the combined effects of SFTCs and fatigue loading were revealed. The test results showed that the increasing the number of SFTCs and fatigue loading amplitude significantly reduced the fatigue life of specimens, while the plastic slip accumulation and shear stiffness loss rates increased. Compared with the unsalted freeze-thaw specimens, the fatigue life of specimens with strength grade of 50 MPa (ECC50) and 80 MPa (ECC80) subjected to 200 SFTCs decreased by 58 % and 34 %, respectively. Besides, the fatigue life of ECC80 specimens was consistently higher than that of ECC50 specimens, with a minimum fatigue life difference of 6.4 %. Subsequently, the <em>S-N</em> curves with survival probability of 50 % and 95 % were established based on the fatigue test results. Finally, the degradation models were proposed based on the degradation behavior of plastic slip and shear stiffness, with predictive errors typically within 15 %. The findings of this study provide the theoretical foundations for the durability design and fatigue life evaluation of steel-ECC composite structures in cold and saline regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122320"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146185393","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":"The influence of the pavement deterioration on the dynamic structural response and fatigue life assessment of highway bridges","authors":"Marilene Lobato Cardoso ,&nbsp;Ana Célia Soares da Silva ,&nbsp;Guilherme Santana Alencar ,&nbsp;José Guilherme Santos da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing weight and volume of traffic on highway bridges have accelerated structural deterioration, with fatigue induced by dynamic loads being a critical challenge. This work proposes a methodology to assess the fatigue life of highway steel-concrete composite bridges, integrating the dynamic effects of traffic and progressive pavement degradation. The analysis was performed with a vehicle-bridge interaction (VBI) tool that combines dynamic response and fatigue assessment using Hot-spot Stress Method (HSM). The traffic was modelled with five lorries based on the EN 1991–2:2023 (Fatigue Load Model 4), adapted with actual dynamic properties and load levels based on real data from Brazilian highways. Pavement roughness was simulated as a stochastic process with progressive deterioration, and renewal interventions were considered at different thresholds. Fatigue life assessment focused on a critical web-gap detail of a typical simply supported steel-concrete composite highway bridge. The results show that traffic with a higher proportion of heavy vehicles accelerates deterioration and significantly reduces fatigue life. Pavement quality is a determining factor; a comparison of maintenance scenarios showed that delaying the renewal until severe deterioration can reduce the predicted fatigue life of the detail by more than 79.1 %.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122196"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036872","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":"Study on effective modelling of rigid catenary and the influence of parameters on the dynamic forces acting on the pantograph","authors":"Prajeet Rajaganesan ,&nbsp;Robert Arcos ,&nbsp;Arnau Clot","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rigid catenary is an important component in transmitting electricity to the trains operating in underground tunnels. Stability of the contact force is one of the key indicators of reliable power transmission, which is directly influenced by the vibration response of the catenary. The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of two features on the free vibration and forced vibration simulated responses of the rigid catenary: the pre-sag, representing the vertical deformation of the catenary due to its self-weight, and the staggering, which is the deformation of the catenary in the lateral direction, designed to distribute wear uniformly across the pantograph strip. Free and forced response studies are adopting realistic ranges of span lengths and support stiffnesses. Free wave propagation analysis is conducted using a wave finite element model, accounting for one periodic cell of the rigid catenary system, in which the deflection of the central span in a rigid catenary section, modelled using finite elements, is included to account for the pre-sag. The forced response studies consist of moving load and moving pantograph analyses in the basis of the same rigid catenary model used to find the pre-sag induced deflection adopted in the wave propagation study. Analysis of the results reveals important differences between the free wave propagation study and the moving load analyses, as in the latter, the significant influence of the pre-sag is visible, especially at high speeds of the moving load. A case study done using non-moving harmonic loading revealed three reasons as to why this inconsistency in the results exists: accumulation of errors due to wave propagation through multiple periodic cells, the effect of wave reflections from the section ends, and non-vertical load application with respect to the local coordinate system of the finite elements of the catenary with pre-sag. The moving pantograph study involving normative recommended three-DOF pantograph model indicates clear sensitivity of the contact forces towards pre-sag, especially at larger span lengths, showing higher standard deviation values and increased maximum contact forces. In contrast, the effect of staggering when considering a pantograph model that follows the normative recommendations is found to be insignificant throughout all the case studies presented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122199"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036870","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":"Rapid finite element model updating for online dynamic analysis via progressive frequency proper orthogonal decomposition","authors":"Chanwoo Lee,&nbsp;Namsu Jeon,&nbsp;Hyung-Jo Jung","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes a frequency-domain finite element model updating (FEMU) framework that integrates a progressive proper orthogonal decomposition (PrPOD)-based reduced-order model (ROM) with particle swarm optimization (PSO). By eliminating repeated full-model simulations, the proposed approach enables efficient and accurate model updating and dynamic response analysis. The PrPOD strategy incrementally increases the number of POD modes during optimization, guided by adaptive inertia weights and multi-criteria convergence checks. The framework is validated through numerical experiments on a five-story frame model using analytic frequency response functions (FRFs) and a high-fidelity nuclear containment model under seismic excitation. Additionally, experimental validation is conducted using measured data from a laboratory-scale five-story frame, focusing on both parameter estimation and accurate reproduction of experimental impulse responses. The results confirm the proposed method’s accuracy, efficiency, and robustness, especially under challenging conditions such as closely spaced modes, sensor noise, and sparse measurements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122228"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036951","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":"Experimental investigation and theoretical analysis of hybrid notch-screw shear connectors used in timber-UHPC composite structures","authors":"Xiaoyue Zhang ,&nbsp;Wanru Huang ,&nbsp;Zhigang Zhang ,&nbsp;Gang Xiong ,&nbsp;Fengjiang Qin","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The composite structure comprising glued laminated timber (GLT) and Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), known as (GUCC), offers a sustainable construction solution by reducing deadweight, enhancing durability, and increasing span capacity compared to the traditional glulam-concrete composite structures. This paper presents an experimental investigation into the shear behaviour of hybrid notch-screw (HNS) shear connectors used in GUCC. Eight sets of push-out specimens, varying in screw numbers, notch length, notch depth, and timber length in front of the notch, were prepared and subjected to direct shear testing under monotonic loading conditions. The experimental investigation findings revealed that the primary failure modes in HNS connectors were UHPC shear failure and a combination of glulam shear and compression failure. The length and depth of the notch were found to significantly influence the shear capacity and slip modulus of the specimens incorporating a combination of a notch and two screws. Increasing the number of screws in the connection produces effects similar to extending the connection length. Specifically, when two screws are embedded in a single UHPC notch, the ultimate bearing capacity and initial stiffness are enhanced by 23.3 % and 50.83 %, respectively, compared to the configuration with a single embedded screw. Furthermore, theoretical analytical formulas were proposed to predict the shear capacity and the slip modulus of the HNS connectors in GUCC structures. The research outcomes furnish valuable design guidance for GUCC structures using HNS connectors, contributing to the advancement of sustainable construction practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122189"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146036949","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":"Critical temperature of axially compressed square concrete-filled steel tubular columns exposed to standard fire","authors":"Cong-Ying Chen,&nbsp;Wei Li","doi":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.engstruct.2026.122222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The critical temperature approach offers significant simplification in fire safety design by obviating the need for explicit resistance calculations. However, current codes for concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) members rely solely on load-carrying capacity due to the non-uniform temperature distribution across the composite cross-section. This study develops a finite element (FE) model to analyse the fire resistance of square CFST columns under axial compression. The model is validated using a database of 131 fire tests. The temperature field and failure mechanism of square CFST columns exposed to standard fire are explored. Representative temperatures are discussed to define the critical temperature. A simplified equation for critical temperature is then proposed based on FE simulation. Results show that the new equation accurately predicts critical temperatures for concentrically compressed square CFST columns, providing a practical and efficient alternative for design applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11763,"journal":{"name":"Engineering Structures","volume":"353 ","pages":"Article 122222"},"PeriodicalIF":6.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146075591","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}