Laboratory for Adaptive Tubular Structures

Introduction

Tubular structures are synonymous with modern architecture, primarily in line with nature, like bamboos. The familiar range of tubular shapes sections includes square, rectangular, circular, elliptical and polygonal tubular sections. Tubular structures can be found in many structural applications including buildings, bridges, wind turbines, off-shore platform. Due to the closed-form nature, concrete infill become a natural consequence to enhance strength and stiffness and a concrete-filled member which has an excellent load-bearing, ductility and energy dissipation capacity. Due to the above-mentioned inherent advantages, tubular structural members are also being adopted in the Modular integrated Construction (MiC) buildings.

This laboratory “Laboratory for Adaptive Tubular Structures” under the auspices of The Chinese National Engineering Research Centre for Steel Construction (Hong Kong Branch) will integrate the simulation-based engineering science and use of testing methods for the understanding of the structural behaviour and design of tubular composite structures under various loadings. It will also focus on the development of new connection technologies such as interlocking and demountability for reuse and sustainable construction environment. Key research projects include (i) developing adaptable and demountable blind bolt solutions; (ii) structural characterization of high strength steel polygonal sections; (iii) interlocking and tubular joints between high strength steel sections in MiC buildings & (iv) seismic and progressive collapse analysis of MiC buildings with tubular members.

Research Team of the Lab

• Laboratory-in-charge

Dr. CHAN, Tak-Ming

• Members

Dr SELVARAJ, Sivaganesh

Mr DEBNATH, Partha

Mr LIU, Junzhi

Miss CHEN, Shuxian

Mr LIU, Haixin

Mr HAN, Xiaozhou

Mr MA, Qi

Lab details

This laboratory integrates the simulation-based engineering science and use of testing methods for the understanding of the structural behaviour and design of tubular composite structures under various loadings (multi hazards). It will also focus on the development of new connection technologies such as adaptable blind bolt solutions for reuse and sustainable construction environment. Some key projects include:

(I) developing adaptable blind bolt solutions;

Figure 1. FE model of tightened extended hollo-bolt (Extracted from Partha and Chan 2021a)

 

References

• Debnath, P.P. and Chan, T.-M. (2021a). “Tensile behaviour of headed anchored Hollo-Bolts in concrete filled hollow steel tube connections”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 234, 111982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.111982
• Debnath, P.P. and Chan, T.-M. (2021b). “A comprehensive numerical approach for modelling blind-bolted CFST connections”, Structures, Vol. 33, 2208-2225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.istruc.2021.05.052

 

(II) characterizing high strength steel polygonal sections;

 

(a) Welded section	(b) Cold-formed section-1	(c) Cold-formed section-2

Figure 2a. Different fabrication routes for OctHSs (Extracted from Chen et al. 2021).

 

Reference

• Chen, J., Fang, H. and Chan, T.-M. (2021). “Design of fixed-ended octagonal shaped steel hollow sections in compression”, Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, Vol. 228, 111520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111520

Figure 2b. Experimental and numerical investigations (Extracted from Chen et al. 2021)

Figure 2c. Concrete-filled CFHSS Octagonal tubular stub column cross-section. (Extracted from Fang et al. 2021)

References

• Chen, J., Fang, H. and Chan, T.-M. (2021). “Design of fixed-ended octagonal shaped steel hollow sections in compression”, Engineering Structures, Elsevier Science, Vol. 228, 111520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111520
• Fang, H., Chan, T.-M and Young, B. (2021). “Structural performance of concrete-filled cold-formed high-strength steel octagonal tubular stub columns”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 239, 112360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112360

 

(III) simulating tubular joints between high strength steel sections;

Figure 3. Failure mode between test and FE results (Extracted from Cai et al. 2021)

 

References

• Cai, Y., Chan, T.-M. and Young, B. (2021). “Chord plastification in high strength steel circular hollow section X-joints: testing, modelling and strength predictions”, Engineering Structures, Vol. 243, 112692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2021.112692
• Lan, X., Chan, T.-M. and Young, B. (2021). “Experimental and numerical studies on stress concentration factors of high strength steel fabricated box X-joints”, Thin-Walled Structures, Elsevier Science, Vol. 164, 107858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2021.107858

Expected deliverables

• Design guides
• Journal publications.