November 12-13, 2020

[Link]
 < CHAIRMEN >

Prof. Gang Shi Prof. Frans Bijlaard Prof. Milan Veljkovic

Tsinghua University Delft University of Technology Delft University of Technology

1
 < ABOUT HPSSRC >

The international research council named High Performance Steel Structures Research
Council (HPSSRC) was founded in 2018, initiated by Prof. Gang Shi, Prof. Frans Bijlaard
and Prof. Milan Veljkovic. HPSSRC focuses on the researches related to high performance
steel structures. “High performance steel” (HPS) herein includes high strength steel, stainless
steel, weathering steel, fire-resistant steel, high-toughness steel, low-yield-point steel,
memory alloy steel, additive manufacturing steel and other types/grades of steel used in
construction different from low grade carbon steel.

Currently, the council focuses on the structures made of HPS and their joints using bolted and
welded connections. Topics of fabrication, execution and reuse of members and structures are
included for sustainability assessments of HPS structures. The council primarily focuses on
the research and developments related to construction sector.

The main objective of the council is to systematize existing knowledge and encourage new
research activity using HPS, by organizing workshops to facilitate discussions between
researchers, and by preparing e-books and short reports to disseminate research results for
ease of use of HPS in practical applications.

It brings together experts in research and education from all over the world to promote
cooperation and communication in the field of high performance steel structures.

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 < COMMITTEE MEMBERS >

Prof. Gang Shi, Tsinghua University, China

Prof. Frans S. K. Bijlaard, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands
Prof. Milan Veljkovic, Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands
Prof. Ian Richardson, TU-Delft Metal Research, the Netherlands
Prof. Jilt Sietsma, TU-Delft Metal Research, the Netherlands
Dr. Ana Girao, The British Constructional Steelwork Association Limited, UK
Ms. Nancy Baddoo, SCI, UK
Dr. Richard Pijpers, TNO, the Netherlands
Prof. Johan Maljaars, TNO, the Netherlands
Dr. Sjors van Es, TNO, the Netherlands
Prof. Yiyi Chen, Tongji University, China
Dr. Xuhong Qiang, Tongji University, China
Dr. Xu Jiang, Tongji University, China
Prof. Ailin Zhang, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, China
Prof. Jiping Hao, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, China
Prof. Feng Fan, Harbin Institute of Technology, China
Prof. Yang Ding, Tianjin University, China
Prof. Zhan Wang, South China University of Technology, China
Prof. Ganping Shu, Southeast University, China
Prof. Lu Yang, Beijing University of Technology, China
Dr. Weihui Zhong, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, China
Prof. Leroy Gardner, Imperial College, UK
Prof. Ben Young, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong China
Prof. K. F. Chung, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong China
Dr. Tak-Ming Chan, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong China
Prof. J. Y. Richard Liew, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Prof. Brian Uy, University of Sydney, Australia
Prof. X. L. Zhao, Monash University, Australia
Prof. Sing Ping Chiew, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
Prof. Luis Simoes da Silva, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Prof. František Wald, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
Prof. Raffaele Landolfo, University of Naples Federico II, Italy

4
 < COMMITTEE MEMBERS >
(continued)
Prof. Dan Dubina, University Politehnica of Timisoara, Romania
Prof. M. Feldman, RWTH Aachen, Germany
Prof. Richard Stroetmann, University of Dresden, Germany
Prof. Thomas Ummenhofer, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
Prof. Ulrike Kuhlmann, Stuttgart University, Germany
Prof. Timo Björk, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland
Prof. Mikko Malaska, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
Prof. Primoz Moze, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Prof. Hartmut Pasternak, Lehrstuhl für Stahl-und Holzbau, BTU, Cottbus, Germany
Prof. Eiki Yamaguchi, Kyushu Institute of Technology Tobata, Kitakyushu, Japan
Prof. Cheol-Ho Lee, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Prof. Hak-Eun Lee, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Prof. Lee Chi King, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia
Prof. Dimitrios Lignos, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland
Prof. Charalampos Baniotopoulos, University of Birmingham, UK
Dr. Jakub Dolejš, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
Assis. Prof. dr. Kristo Mela, Tampere University of Technology, Finland

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 < TECHNICAL PROGRAM >
[Link]

NOTICE
1. All the presentations will be RECORDED by Zoom, for internal use only.
2. Speakers are recommended to submit a PPT file (possibly with a written contribution up to 10
pages) before NOVEMBER 10.

November 12, Thursday

Time(CET) No. Speaker Title & Authors Subject & Page
8:45-9:00 Gang, Frans, Milan WELCOME AND OPENING
Advances in the Use of High Performance Steel Structures in Composite
Member and Joint
9:00-9:30 Keynote01 Brian Uy Steel-Concrete Applications
11
Brian Uy, Dongxu Li & Jia Wang
A New Design Model for Welded Joints - Experimental and Numerical
Richard Member and Joint
9:30-10:00 Keynote02 Investigations of Welds at High-Strength Steels
Stroetmann 12
Richard Stroetmann, Thoralf Kästner
10:00-10:15 BREAK FOR Q&A
Apply the High Strength Steels to Enhance the Robustness of Building
Seismic Behavior
10:15-10:45 Keynote03 Dan Dubina Frames in Seismic Areas. The Dual Steel Concept
19
Dan Dubina
Ductile Fracture Locus Identification of High Strength Steel Identified Fracture and Fatigue
10:45-11:15 Keynote04 Haohui Xin from Micromechanically Motivated Failure Index: MCEPS Behavior
Haohui Xin, Milan Veljkovic 28
11:15-11:30 BREAK FOR Q&A

6
 Experimental Investigations on Fatigue Life Extension of Existing Steel Fracture and Fatigue
Mohammad Al-
11:30-11:45 Abstract01 Bridges Using Post-Weld Treatment Methods Behavior
Emrani
Hassan Al-Karawi, Mohammad Al-Emrani 31
Brittle Fracture Assessment for High-Strength Steels at Low Ambient Fracture and Fatigue
11:45-12:00 Abstract02 X. Qian Temperatures Behavior
X. Qian 32
Ductile Fracture Simulation of Cold-Formed High Strength Steel Using Fracture and Fatigue
12:00-12:15 Abstract03 R. Yan GTN Damage Model Behavior
R. Yan, H. Xin, M. Veljkovic 33
12:15-12:45 BREAK FOR Q&A AND LUNCH
Welded Connections in Innovative High Strength Steel Constructions Member and Joint
12:45-13:00 Abstract04 Jennifer Spiegler
Jennifer Spiegler, Ulrike Kuhlmann 13
Stub Column Behaviour and Design of High Strength Circular Concrete
Member and Joint
13:00-13:15 Abstract05 Tak-Ming Chan Filled Steel Tubes
14
Junbo Chen, Tak-Ming Chan
Testing, Simulation and Design of HSS Tubular Members Member and Joint
13:15-13:30 Abstract06 Xin Meng
Xin Meng, Leroy Gardner 15
Experimental study of X-joints made of HSS Member and Joint
13:30-13:45 Abstract07 Hagar EI Bamby
Hagar EI Bamby, Rui Yan, Kristo Mela, Milan Veljkovic 16
13:45-14:00 BREAK FOR Q&A
Tests and Numerical Simulations of HSS Stiffened Curved Panels Member and Joint
14:00-14:15 Abstract08 P. Može
Sara Piculin, Primož Može 17
On the Rotation Capacity of High Strength Steel Beams Member and Joint
14:15-14:30 Abstract09 Helen Bartsch
Helen Bartsch, Felix Eyben, Gesa Pauli, Simon Schaffrath, Markus Feldmann 18
Seismic Performance of High-Strength Steel Fabricated Framed-Tube
Seismic Behavior
14:30-14:45 Abstract10 Ming Lian Structures with Replaceable Shear Links
20
Ming Lian, Mingzhou Su, Binlin Guan, Hao Zhang, Qianqian Cheng
14:45-15:00 Q&A

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 November 13, Friday
Time(CET) No. Speaker Title & Authors Subject & Page
8:45-9:00 Gang, Frans, Milan SUMMARY OF THE FIRST DAY
Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Chord Sidewall Buckling
Stability Behavior
9:00-9:30 Keynote05 Cheol-Ho Lee and Related Behavior of RHS X-Joints including High Strength Steel
24
Cheol-Ho Lee
Fracture and Fatigue
Damage Criterion Approach to High Strength Steel Tubular Truss Joints
9:30-10:00 Keynote06 Tim Wilkinson Behavior
Meera Mohan, Tim Wilkinson
29
10:00-10:15 BREAK FOR Q&A
Benefits of Automated Welding to the Fatigue Performance of Tubular Fracture and Fatigue
10:15-10:45 Keynote07 P. Schaumann Joints Behavior
Peter Schaumann, Karsten Schürmann 30
3D Printing with Steel Additive Manufacturing for Connections and
3D Printing
10:45-11:15 Keynote08 J. Lange Structures
34
J. Lange
11:15-11:30 BREAK FOR Q&A
Residual Stress Tests of 960MPa HS Steel Weded Sections and
Stability Behavior
11:30-11:45 Abstract11 Gang Shi Modelling
25
Gang Shi, Huiyong Ban
Lateral-torsional Buckling of High Strength Steel Beams Stability Behavior
11:45-12:00 Abstract12 Trayana Tankova
Trayana Tankova, Filipe Rodrigues, Luís Simões da Silva 26
Global Stability Behaviour of Q460GJ Welded Sections under Bending
Stability Behavior
12:00-12:15 Abstract13 Shao-Bo Kang and Compression
27
Bo Yang, Shao-Bo Kang
12:15-12:45 BREAK FOR Q&A AND LUNCH
High Strength Steel-Based Self-Centering Friction Spring Dampers for
Seismic Behavior
12:45-13:00 Abstract14 Wei Wang Seismic Resilience
21
Wei Wang, Ruibin Zhang and Yashuo Zhao
Seismic Behavior of High Strength Steel Beam-to-Column Joints Seismic Behavior
13:00-13:15 Abstract15 Fangxin Hu
Fangxin Hu, Zhan Wang 22

8
 Seismic Performances of High Strength Steel Flange-Plate Beam-to-
Seismic Behavior
13:15-13:30 Abstract16 Xuesen Chen Column Joints
23
Xuesen Chen and Gang Shi
13:30-13:45 BREAK FOR Q&A
Economic Benefit of Using High Strength Steel Sections in Steel
Economy
13:45-14:00 Abstract17 Loris Saufnay Structures
38
Loris Saufnay, Jean-François Demonceau & Jean-Pierre Jaspart
Structural Design of Stainless Steel Structures Realized with Wire-and-
3D Printing
14:00-14:15 Abstract18 Vittoria Laghi Arc Additive Manufacturing
35-36
Vittoria Laghi, Michele Palermo, Tomaso Trombetti
Fatigue Behavior and Mechanical Characterization of Low Carbon
Austenitic Stainless Steel Components Produced by Wire + Arc Additive
José Luis Galán 3D Printing
14:15-14:30 Abstract19 Manufacturing
Argumedo 37
José Luis Galán Argumedo, Konstantinos Goulas, Lennert van der Linden,
Peter DeVries, Rob Nijsse
14:30-14:45 BREAK FOR Q&A
14:45-15:00 Gang, Frans, Milan SUMMARY OF THE SECOND DAY

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 < SUBJECTS >

Page 11-18 Member and Joint

Keynote 01-02
Abstract 04-09
Page 19-23 Seismic Behavior
Keynote 03
Abstract 10, 14-16
Page 24-27 Stability Behavior
Keynote 05
Abstract 11-13
Page 28-33 Fracture and Fatigue Behavior
Keynote 04, 06-07
Abstract 01-03
Page 34-37 3D Printing
Keynote 08
Abstract 18-19
Page 38 Economy
Abstract 17

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 Keynote01

Advances in the Use of High Performance Steel Structures in Composite

Steel-Concrete Applications

Brian Uy, Dongxu Li, Jia Wang

University of Sydney, Australia
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

This paper will highlight a significant program of research that has been undertaken at the University
of Sydney over the last five years, namely in the area of the application of Ultra High Strength Steels
and Stainless Steels in composite construction applications. Aspects relating to strength, stability and
ductility and the important areas of behaviour and design of composite beams, columns and joints will
be presented as part of this presentation.

Member and Joint

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 Keynote02

A New Design Model for Welded Joints - Experimental and Numerical

Investigations of Welds at High-Strength Steels

Richard Stroetmann, Thoralf Kästner

Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

The use of high-strength steels offers economic and ecological advantages. However, in welded
constructions some of these advantages are partly compensated by conservative design rules and a
more extensive execution. A disadvantage in the system for determining the load-bearing capacity of
welds according to Eurocode 3 parts 1-8 and 1-12 is that the dependencies on the base and filler
material, the welding process (cooling time t8/5), the type of stress (tension, compression, shear and
their combinations) and the joint type are summarized in a correlation factor βw.
Within the scope of the AiF-FOSTA research project P1020, basic principles for a substantial
improvement of the design and execution rules for welded joints on high-strength steels were
developed. For a new design model for welded joints a flat tensile test was designed to determine the
strength and ductility of welds in a simple manner under the given execution parameters. Furthermore,
extensive experimental and numerical investigations were carried out on typical joints and the design

Member and Joint

model was calibrated. Despite the greater differentiation in the design and the possibilities created for
the execution, the calculation effort remains low.
The influence of the peak temperature and the cooling rate on the microstructure and mechanical
properties of the heat-affected zone was investigated using dilatometer tests. The different behavior of
quenched and tempered steels and thermomechanical rolled steels with their alloying concepts and
hardening mechanisms became clear. The results provide the basis for the evaluation of the heat-
affected zone with regard to its softening or hardening at different process parameters.
In the planned contribution the experimental and numerical investigations of the research project
P1020 and the methodology used for this purpose will be presented. The results will be illustrated and
differences to existing design models will be explained. Furthermore, recommendations for the
practical execution of welded joints on high-strength steels will be formulated.

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 Abstract04

Welded Connections in Innovative High Strength Steel Constructions

Jennifer Spiegler, Ulrike Kuhlmann

Institute of Structural Design, University of Stuttgart, Germany
E-mail: [Link]@[Link], [Link]@[Link]

In Europe, the majority of steel structures steel is realized in S235 and S355 steel grades. In addition
to the common steels, high performance steels up to steel grade S700 (and more) are available with
good weldability and a high ductility which allow slender and aesthetic structures. However, for the
particular situation of joining High Strength Steel (HSS) elements the present design rules, e.g. in
EN1993-1-8 are in many cases inadequate because the recent rules were developed for standard steels
and then transferred to High Strength Steels. In the frame of several research projects including a high
number of tests for fillet welds a realistic and coherent design model for the determination of the load
carrying capacity of welded connections made of HSS has been developed and meanwhile is accepted
for the future version of Eurocode 3.
For butt welds made of HSS an adjustment of the present design rules has not yet been carried out.
The current design rules according to EN1993-1-8 require a verification of the adjacent sections of the
member only. However, depending also on the shape of the butt weld, the welding technology and the

Member and Joint

weld procedure the failure may occur in the area of the weld and not at the adjacent member section.
Therefore, the actual load carrying capacity may be lower than the calculated one resulting in the risk
of premature failure. A German research project has been finished with the objective to investigate butt
welds made of HSS under various influence parameters in order to avoid a premature failure and to
develop a modified design resistance function for butt welds on HSS. In order to guarantee and promote
an economic, future-oriented and resource-saving application, it is necessary to develop efficient
design methods and processing guidelines also for butt welds. On the basis of the investigations of the
research project, a new design resistance function could be developed that meets exactly these
requirements.

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 Abstract05

Stub Column Behaviour and Design of High Strength Circular

Concrete Filled Steel Tubes

Junbo Chen, Tak-Ming Chan

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
E-mail: [Link]@[Link], [Link]@[Link]

This paper presents a comprehensive experimental investigation into the stub column behaviour of
high strength circular concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns. A test database composed of 232
results was firstly compiled to review the state-of-the-art of high strength circular CFST columns.
Subsequently, a total of 36 stub column specimens were tested. The steel tubes have a diameter over
150 mm and with various diameter-to-thickness ratio D/t are considered. The steel tubes were
fabricated from Q460, Q690 and Q960 quenched and tempered steel plates, and three concrete grades
with target concrete cylinder strengths of 30, 50 and 90 MPa were used to fill the steel tubes. Detailed
test results, in terms of failure modes and axial load versus axial strain responses of the stub columns,
are fully presented and discussed. The experimental results were employed in conjunction with the
collected data to evaluate the applicability of current codified design methods in American standard,
Eurocode, Australian/New Zealand standard, Chinese code and Japanese recommendation to the

Member and Joint

design of high strength circular CFST stub columns. The effectiveness and consistency of the
estimations from each code is thoroughly discussed.
Key Words: High strength steel; High strength concrete; CFST; Short columns.

14
 Abstract06

Testing, Simulation and Design of HSS Tubular Members

Xin Meng, Leroy Gardner

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
E-mail: xin.meng15@[Link]

As the yield strength increases, the influence of residual stresses and geometric imperfections tends to
reduce, and more favourable buckling behaviour is therefore anticipated from high strength steel
tubular members. However, this effect is not systematically accounted for in current international
design standards. The structural behaviour and design of hot-rolled and cold-formed high strength steel
circular, square and rectangular hollow section (CHS, SHS and RHS) columns are addressed in this
presentation. A series of experiments was firstly conducted – twelve cold-formed S700 CHS columns
and twelve S690 and S770 SHS column specimens were tested under axial compression with pin-
ended boundary conditions. Finite element (FE) models were developed to replicate the experimental
results and to carry out parametric studies to expand the column buckling data pool over a wider range
of geometries and steel grades. Shortcomings in the existing buckling design rules in the European,
North American and Chinese codes, particularly in the higher yield strength domain, were highlighted
through comparisons with the test and FE results. To address these shortcomings, a modified Eurocode

Member and Joint

3 (EC3) approach was proposed; the new approach features a reduced plateau length and an
imperfection factor that is a continuous function of yield strength, reflecting the reducing relative
influence of residual stresses and global imperfections with increasing steel grades. Improved
consistency in resistance predictions over the existing design provisions is demonstrated across a wide
range of steel grades and relative slenderness values. Finally, the reliability of the design proposal was
statistically verified in accordance with EN 1990.

15
 Abstract07

Experimental study of X-joints made of HSS

Hagar EI Bamby1, Rui Yan1, Kristo Mela2, Milan Veljkovic1

1. Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
2. Tampere University, Finland
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

Higher strength steels hollow sections with yield strength higher than 460 MPa are becoming
increasingly competitive in long-span structures. Reduction of self-weight accomplished with the
smaller wall thickness of the hollow section, is leading to fabrication, transportation and execution
benefits. The use of HSS has a positive effect on CO2 equivalent emission reduction related to the used
mass of material for a functional unit. Such characteristic, aligned with a plan towards a modern,
resource-efficient and competitive economy, is important for the future development of the
construction sector. However, a lack of experimental evidence for the design of hollow section joints
is identified as one of the main reasons to propose material factors in the revised version of EN1993-
1-8. The material factors are perceived as a rather pessimistic value. In the revised version material
reduction factors (Cf=0,8) for the design of joints made of steel with a yield strength larger than 460
and up to S700 is given.

Member and Joint

In this paper, the behaviour of the X-joints made of S355, S500 and S700 are investigated and the
proposed material reduction factors are discussed. Seven full-scale welded X-joints in tension with
rectangular hollow sections were tested in Stevin Lab II, TUD. Additionally, dog-bone coupon
specimens were tested in order to obtain the engineering stress-strain relationship of the material.
Based on the results of coupon tests, finite element model (FEM) is used to model X-joint experiments.
Furthermore, results of a short parametric study are presented in which effect of three parameters: the
yield strength, the parameter β (brace width over chord width ratio) and the thickness of the profiles
are considered in predicting characteristic resistance of X-joints. Finally, conclusions are drawn on the
validity of the material reduction factors.

16
 Abstract08

Tests and Numerical Simulations of HSS Stiffened Curved Panels

Sara Piculin, Primož Može

Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
E-mail: [Link]@[Link], [Link]@[Link]

The use of curved steel panels in bridge design has been increasing in the last twenty years but the
design recommendations and the general knowledge in this field remain scarce. To address this issue,
nine large-scale tests were performed on longitudinally and transversally stiffened plates made of high
strength steel (S500, S700). They were subjected to compressive stresses up to collapse. The specimens
comprised of curved (7) and flat (2) plates that differed in material grade and geometric parameters,
such as panel thickness, aspect ratio, size and shape of stiffeners. The curved edges of the specimen
were fixed; longitudinal edges were simply supported. The initial geometry of the specimens was
measured by a structured light portable 3D scanner. Moreover, a numerical model built in the general-
purpose code ABAQUS is presented and verified against the test results regarding initial stiffness,
ultimate resistance and failure mode. Numerical simulations, based on the test panel geometry, the
measured initial geometric imperfections and elasto-plastic material characteristics from tensile tests,
demonstrate very good agreement with experimental results.

Member and Joint

All specimens showed a linear elastic response up to a high load level. After local buckling failure,
bending deformations were observed for flat panels due to the additional bending moment arising from
load eccentricity. Higher section modulus prevented bending failure of curved specimens, for which
local collapse mechanism prevailed in all cases in combination with torsional buckling of longitudinal
stiffeners. For stockier panels, the ultimate load was mainly driven by the combination of local
buckling and yielding of the material. For panels with higher slenderness, collapse behaviour was
governed by elastic buckling and post-critical strength reserve.
Furthermore, a verification procedure for curved stiffened panels is proposed that gives a good
estimation of the maximum loads obtained from experimental and numerical tests. The procedure is in
line with the design methodology of EN 1993-1-5, accounting also for panel curvature.

17
 Abstract09

On the Rotation Capacity of High Strength Steel Beams

Helen Bartsch, Felix Eyben, Gesa Pauli, Simon Schaffrath, Markus Feldmann
RWTH Aachen University
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

To design efficient and highly utilised sections, the plastic/plastic design is a powerful approach. In
terms of plastic design, Eurocode 3 requires only Class 1 cross-sections and steel grades up to S460,
which are conventional strength steels (CSS). High strength steels (HSS) with yield strengths up to
700 MPa are not considered suitable for plastic design due to their lower ductility. However, the
exclusion of HSS seems unnecessary considering recent test results. Experimental investigations were
carried out on 20 homogeneous and hybrid high-strength double-symmetric I-section girders with
different slenderness properties of flange and web and different spans. It was found that the rotation
requirement of R = 3, which is currently implicitly required by EC3 regulations, can indeed be achieved
by high strength steel beams depending on their cross-sectional properties. The experimental tests were
also numerically recalculated. Material properties of the models were defined by flow curves, which
were first calibrated on the basis of small-scale tensile tests and then slightly adapted to the results of
the full-scale tests. The failure of ductile material in terms of crack initiation and development is taken

Member and Joint

into account by including a damage mechanics model. It can be shown that experimental and numerical
results show a very good agreement. In addition, a numerical parametric study was carried out, which
includes more than 800 simulations with different slenderness values of flange and web, steel grade,
loading situations, lateral support characteristics as well as different characteristic material properties.
The rotation capacity values of the different beams were compared with the rotational requirements of
typical systems. As a result, design recommendations for the plastic design of HSS girders are given.

18
 Keynote03

Apply the High Strength Steels to Enhance the Robustness of Building

Frames in Seismic Areas. The Dual Steel Concept

Dan Dubina
Politehnica University/ Romanian Academy Timisoara Branch, Romania
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

In terms of structural mechanics, a robust structure is the one characterized by high redundancy. That
can be achieved by appropriate design, providing a proper conception and , aiming to ensure a good
balance between stiffness, overstrength and ductility of structure components, in order to secure
multiple routes for force transfer, to allow the stress redistribution when the plastic zones are developed,
and supply sufficient strength of the members having the mission prevent the collapse.
Modern seismic design codes have already implemented these principles. A dissipative structure, in
case of a severe earthquake, possess in the dissipate zones ductile components designed to undergo
plastic deformation, and has the capacity to transfer stresses in the adjacent zones, while the structure
stands-up (e.g. collapse prevention), due to the overstrengthened components, designed to remain
predominantly elastic during earthquake. That is the capacity design principle. The members designed
to remain elastic during earthquake, such as columns, are responsible for robustness of the structure

Seismic Behavior
and prevention the collapse, being characterized by a high strength demand. The ductile components,
e.g. plastic members, realized by Mild Carbon Steel (MCS) have the mission to dissipate the seismic
energy, acting like “structural fuses”. By a correct application of Capacity Design principle, an
effective seismic resistant framing solution can be obtained by combining HSS- S460 to S690 (700),
and MCS (S235 to S355).
That is this is the Dual Steel Concept.
When braced frames of removable MCS dissipative members are used, such as the Dissipative Links
in EBF , Buckling Restrained Braces in CBF or Shear Walls in MRF systems, the elastic HSS part of
the structure has a beneficial restoring effect after earthquake enabling to replace the “fuses” and
recover the initial shape.. Such a type of structural solution enables for an easy repair of the given after
earthquake, which can gain its operationality in shorter time.
That is seismic resilient solution.
Dual-Steel concept can be considered for beam-to column connections, too, if apply the same
philosophy related to the role of ductile and brittle components. However, of a higher seismic demand,
when plastic incursions might develop in the HSS members, the properties of material have to be
carefully controlled, and advanced analyses have to be conducted using properly cyclically calibrated
material properties. Moderns steels of grades S 460 up to S690, still possess some usable ductility, they
can be used, A Performance Based Design can by applied to calibrate designed structural parameters
to satisfy the seismic demand,
This is a review paper, which summarized the results obtained in several National and RFCS research
projects, focused on this topic, by the team of Department of Steel Structures and Structural Mechanics
from the Politehnica University of Timisoara.

19
 Abstract10

Seismic Performance of High-Strength Steel Fabricated Framed-Tube

Structures with Replaceable Shear Links

Ming Lian1,2, Mingzhou Su1,2, Binlin Guan1, Hao Zhang1, Qianqian Cheng1
1. School of Civil Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture & Technology, Xi’an 710055, China
2. Key Lab of Structural Engineering and Earthquake Resistance, Ministry of Education (XAUAT), Xi’an 710055, China
E-mail: lianming@[Link]

In steel framed-tube structures (SFTSs), deep spandrel beams that have large cross sections with
flexural plastic hinges at beam-ends cannot be adequately developed, which is the reason why SFTSs
present lower ductility and energy dissipation capacities. To address this issue, high-strength steel
(HSS) fabricated SFTSs with replaceable shear links (HSS-SFTS-RSLs) have been proposed. In HSS-
SFTS-RSLs, shear links are made of conventional steel and are placed in the middle of the deep
spandrel beams to act as ductile fuses to dissipate seismic energy. The seismic performance and
performance-based seismic design method of HSS-SFTS-RSLs are studied due to experimental tests,
numerical simulation, and theoretical analysis. The results show that the HSS-SFTS-RSLs have good
ductility and energy dissipation capacities due to the reliable deformation capacities of replaceable
shear links. The performance of the HSS-SFTS-RSLs is comparable to that of the original structures
after replacing shear links, and the expected post-earthquake recoverability and resilience of the

Seismic Behavior
structures can be achieved. Employing a shear link slightly reduce the load-carrying capacities of the
structures, but almost have no influences to the lateral stiffness and shear leg effects. Using HSS in
spandrel beams and columns can obviously decrease the stress values so that the non-dissipative
elements can remain in elastic stage during earthquakes. The expected failure modes and performance
objectives of the HSS-SFTS-RSLs can be achieved using the proposed design method, and the
excellent seismic performance of the structures is presented.

20
 Abstract14

High Strength Steel-Based Self-Centering Friction Spring Dampers for

Seismic Resilience

Wei Wang, Ruibin Zhang and Yashuo Zhao

State Key Laboratory of Disaster Reduction in Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
E-mail: weiwang@[Link], zhangruibin@[Link]

This paper presents a comprehensive study on self-centering dampers equipped with High Strength
Steel-based friction springs. The basic mechanical behavior of individual friction springs is first
understood via analytical descriptions which are verified by a preliminary experimental study. The
working principle, fabrication process, and mechanical performance of the proposed dampers are
subsequently described, where the design details related to seismic applications are highlighted. This
is followed by physical tests on three damper specimens, where the influence of the treatment of the
taper surfaces of the friction springs on the overall damper behavior is examined, and the reliability of
the dampers under repeated rounds of cyclic loading is evaluated. The damper specimens show reliable
flag-shaped load-deformation hysteretic curves with excellent self-centering capability. Satisfactory
energy dissipation with an equivalent viscous damping (EVD) of up to 20% is shown, and the EVD is
stabilized throughout the entire loading process. The dampers are capable of withstanding multiple
rounds of cyclic loading with stable hysteretic behavior, indicating that they are fully reusable after

Seismic Behavior
multiple strong earthquakes. A larger friction coefficient on the taper surfaces leads to increased yield
load and energy dissipation. Following the experimental study, some practical design
recommendations are provided. Based on the available analytical model, an additional parametric
study is performed to highlight the influences of pre-compression and friction condition of the friction
springs on the damper behavior.
Key Words: High strength Steel; Friction spring; Self-centering Damper; Seismic resilience;
Experimental study

21
 Abstract15

Seismic Behavior of High Strength Steel Beam-to-Column Joints

Fangxin Hu1,2, Zhan Wang1,2

1. School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
E-mail: hufx@[Link]

High strength steels have offered solutions to design lighter and safer structures in modern buildings,
and are more and more popular in steel construction. Although these steels have much higher strength
and larger elastic deformation than conventional steels, their inelastic behavior has not been well
understood, especially under earthquakes. A test program including 6 full-scale specimens was carried
out to investigate the seismic behavior of conventional unreinforced beam-to-column joints but with
unconventional 690MPa high strength steels applied in both beams and columns, or columns only. The
studied parameters include different types of beam-to-column flange welding and different panel zone
strength. The failure mode, hysteresis responses, backbone curves, and energy-dissipation capacity of
these full-scale tests were reported, analyzed, and discussed. Test results showed that high strength
steel joints were able to sustain elastic drift ratio of 3% to 4%, but with lower plastic deformation
capacities. The maximum plastic drift ratio that could be developed in complete cycles, ranged from
1% to 4%, mainly depending on the panel zone strength. Inelastic shear distortion in the panel zone

Seismic Behavior
contributed substantially to the plastic deformation capacity of the joint. However, the weakest high
strength steel panel zone with a thickness of 8mm, exhibited shear fracture at the end of the test. The
result evidenced the balanced design for panel zone in steel frames. The specimens with moderate or
strong panel zones failed with fracture near to the weld access hole in high strength steel beams. In
addition, welding details should take into account the expected steel and weld material strength to
guarantee adequate welding quality and to avoid premature brittle failure.

22
 Abstract16

Seismic Performances of High Strength Steel Flange-Plate

Beam-to-Column Joints

Xuesen Chen1, Gang Shi2

1. Beijing Engineering Research Centre of High-rise and Large-span Prestressed Steel Structures, Beijing University of Technology,
Beijing 100124, China
2. Key Laboratory of Civil Engineering Safety and Durability of China Education Ministry, Beijing Engineering Research Center of
Steel and Concrete Composite Structures, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
E-mail: chenxuesen@[Link], shigang@[Link]

The seismic performance of high strength steel frames would be significantly influenced by the
behavior of beam-to-column joints, and the flange-plate beam-to-column joints are expected to be
effective to reinforce the welded flange-bolted web joints with ignorable additional requirement for
construction space and are potential to be applied in seismic design of high strength steel frames. A
total of 8 specimens of flange-plate beam-to-column joints with middle columns in steel frames were
designed according to the Chinese code, changing four different combinations of Q345 or Q460 steel
beams and Q345, Q460 or Q890 steel columns and tested subjected to cyclic loads considering axial
compressions in the columns. The failure modes, the resistance, the stiffness and the ductility of the
specimens were analyzed, and the influences of the panel zone thickness, flange-plate length, attached

Seismic Behavior
fillets in web connection and the fillet distributions around the flange plate were evaluated. Finite
element analysis was conducted to further investigate the mechanical performances of high strength
steel flange-plate joints. According to the test results, continuity plates with sufficient thickness in high
strength steel flange-plate joints were necessary to avoid unexpected failure modes, and the quality of
the complete joint penetration welds were still critical. The panel zone shear rotation would make a
considerable contribution to the total story drift, and the shear forces in the flange plates may not be
ignored in design. Based on the experimental and numerical analysis results, design guidelines were
proposed for flange-plate beam-to-column joints in steel frames with high strength steel frames
included.
Key Words: High strength steel; flange-plate joint; beam-to-column joint; experimental study; design
method.

23
 Keynote05

Experimental and Analytical Investigation of Chord Sidewall Buckling and

Related Behavior of RHS X-Joints including High Strength Steel

Cheol Ho Lee
Dept. of Architecture and Architectural Engineering, Seoul National University, Korea
E-mail: ceholee@[Link]

In this keynote speech, a comprehensive experimental and analytical investigation into chord sidewall
buckling and related behavior of RHS X-Joints with high width ratio is presented. The effects of steel
grades, key geometric parameters, initial geometric imperfections, and sidesway instability on the
chord sidewall buckling are examined such that improved design recommendations related to chord
sidewall buckling could be proposed. The outline of the speech is as follows. First, based on up-to-
date experimental evidences, it is pointed out that the borderline brace-to-chord width ratio, beyond
which the limit state of chord sidewall buckling should be considered in design, needs to be derived
on a mechanical basis and it is shown that Eurocode formula for chord sidewall buckling is too
conservative, especially for slender chord sidewall and needs improvement. Second, through test-
validated high-fidelity numerical analysis, the effects of initial local and global imperfections on the
sidesway instability and strength of the full-width RHS X-joints are explored. It is shown that the
combined effect of the local and global imperfections can reduce peak joint resistance by about 20%

Stability Behavior
to 30%. Third, the borderline brace-to-chord width ratio is mechanistically derived and proposed as a
function of the plate slenderness of chord face wall and chord sidewall and the yield strength of chord
material. The derived width ratio is shown to well demarcate the brace-to-chord width ratio, beyond
which the joint behavior starts to become unstable. Fourth, an improved chord sidewall buckling
formula is proposed through introducing the concept of effective column length factor and modifying
the brace angle effect in current EC3 formula. Finally, incorporating all the findings, a complete set of
design recommendations for RHS X-joints under axial compression is proposed including high
strength steel up to S700.
Key Words: High strength steel; RHS X-joints; Chord sidewall buckling; Borderline width ratio;
Geometric imperfection.

24
 Abstract11

Residual Stress Tests of 960MPa HS Steel Weded Sections and Modelling

Gang Shi, Huiyong Ban

Key Laboratory of Civil Engineering Safety and Durability of China Education Ministry,
Department of Civil Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
E-mail: shigang@[Link]

High-strength (HS) steel has been widely utilised in practice due to its benefits in terms of increased
material strength, reduced amount of steel usage and therefore lower requirement of foundation.
Accordingly, extensive research on fundamental behaviour of structures fabricated with the HS steel
has been carried out hitherto, in which welding-induced residual stress features. Previous research
findings indicate that ratio of residual stress magnitude to steel yield strength decreases markedly for
the HS steel members compared with conventional mild (CM) steel ones, and it makes unfavourable
effects on buckling behaviour less severe. However, tests available in literature mainly incorporate HS
steels with grades ranging from 460 MPa to 690 MPa. This paper describes an experimental
programme on residual stress within 960 MPa HS steel welded I- and box sections. Based on
measurement results through sectioning method, effects of width-to-thickness ratio of component
plates, interaction effects between flange and web, as well as effects of steel grades by comparing with
previous test data, are clarified. It is indicated that distribution pattern of residual stresses within the

Stability Behavior
960 MPa HS steel welded sections is similar compared with that of other steel grades, whilst magnitude
of compressive residual stress varies little and thus its ratio to steel yield strength decreases further.
Furthermore, previous residual stress test results for different grades of structural steels are extensively
reviewed herein to expand the test database, based on which full range distribution models of residual
stress within welded sections are proposed and detailed expressions are given, involving various steel
grades ranging from 235 to 960 MPa. Magnitudes of both tensile and compressive residual stress
amplitudes in the models are quantitatively determined and their prediction equations are derived. The
research outcomes may provide an essential basis for further research on HS steel structures.

25
 Abstract12

Lateral-torsional Buckling of High Strength Steel Beams

Trayana Tankova, Filipe Rodrigues, Luís Simões da Silva

ISISE, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Coimbra, Portugal
E-mail: ttankova@[Link]

Currently, EN 1993-1-1 specifies stability design rules for columns, beams and beam-columns up to
S460, whereas additional guidance for higher steel grades for S500 up to S700, when available, is
given by EN 1993-1-12. Recent studies show that high strength steel members may be designed using
improved buckling curves, where the enhanced behavior is usually attributed to the improved material
properties but mainly due to the more favorable residual stress distribution. The lateral-torsional
buckling high strength steel beams has not been widely studied and in addition the current design rules
are independent on the steel grade, meaning that the code does not distinguish between beams in
conventional strength steel or high strength steel. In pursuit of an answer to the mentioned
shortcomings, the present research is based on experimental programme comprising 12 full-scale tests,
residual stress measurements, advanced numerical models and analytical derivations. The tests cover
different steel grades, welded and hot-rolled sections, variation in the cross-section class and height
over flange width ratios.

Stability Behavior
This communication provides an overview of the experimental programme, the test results on lateral-
torsional buckling of beams are discussed, advanced numerical model was calibrated to the
experimental results including the actual residual stress distribution and geometrical properties of the
members. The numerical model was explored to assess various assumptions for the member
imperfections. When compared to the Eurocode resistance, the test results showed a large margin for
improvement of the lateral—torsional buckling design rules.
Key Words: Latera-torsional buckling; High Strength Steel; Experimental tests; Eurocode 3; Stability

26
 Abstract13

Global Stability Behaviour of Q460GJ Welded Sections under Bending and

Compression

Bo Yang, Shao-Bo Kang

School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, China
E-mail: yang0206@[Link]

With increasing number of large-span and super-high building structures, high performance structural
steel, namely GJ structural steel in China, has earned more attention and is widely used in practice due
to its advantages like lower yield ratio, better weldability and higher economic efficiency. Compared
with normal strength steel members, high strength steel members have lower sensitivity to initial
geometric imperfections and residual stresses and appear to be more vulnerable to instability failure.
Compared with other types of structural steel, GJ steel has great advantage on thickness effect of yield
strength. With the increases of material plate thickness, the nominal yield stress of Q460GJ steel
decrease much less than the other two types of structural steels. The nominal yield stress of Q460GJ
steel is 10% greater than that of Q460 steel when material plate thickness is larger than 60 mm. When
material plate thickness is larger than 80 mm, Q460GJ has the same nominal yield stress with Q500
steel. This paper will discuss the experimental results regarding the global behavior of Q460GJ steel
members with welded sections, including the residual stress distributions, global stability of structural

Stability Behavior
members under compression and bending. Finally, different design methods in different design codes
have been compared and the appropriate design method has been proposed.

27
 Keynote04

Ductile Fracture Locus Identification of High Strength Steel Identified from

Micromechanically Motivated Failure Index: MCEPS

Haohui Xin1,2, Milan Veljkovic2

1. Department of Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
2. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

Large civil engineering structures are very often unique and there is no serial production of components.
The ductile of high strength steel (HSS) from different steel grades, producers, manufacturing
processes varies a lot. It is also expensive and time consuming to conduct all kinds of reliable
experiments to generate material test data for different stress conditions by different initial specimen
geometries or multiaxial loading in the civil engineering sector, such as welds, the heat-affected zone
(HAZ), bolts, headed studs and fillet corners of cold-formed tube.
Therefore a combination of mesoscale computational homogenization triggered by the physically-
based model and uncoupled phenomenological model is a promising direction to predict the ductile

Fracture and Fatigue Behavior

fracture of HSS only from the uniaxial stress-strain relationship. The mesoscale critical equivalent
plastic strain (MCEPS) is proposed as the failure index at the unit cell level to calibrate the fracture
locus of the uncoupled phenomenological model. The fracture locus of the HSS is calibrated by
comparing the FE results with experimental data using the homogenized MCEPS and maximum
MCEPS at the microvoid surface, respectively. The identified fracture locus is further validated against
five stress status, including butterfly shear specimen, butterfly tension specimen, the tensile specimen
with the symmetric round notch, tension specimen with a central hole in the middle, and the Sandia
fracture challenge specimens in 2014.

Crack Propagate
to Surface

Crack Initiation Crack Initiation

COD=3.21mm COD=3.58mm COD=3.77mm COD=4.05mm COD=10.42mm

FE Model
(Zoom Area) COD=3.64mm COD=3.96mm
COD=3.58mm COD=3.78mm
Back Surface Front Surface

Fracture Simulation of Sandia fracture challenge specimens of 2014

28
 Keynote06

Damage Criterion Approach to High Strength Steel Tubular Truss Joints

Meera Mohan, Tim Wilkinson

The University of Sydney, Australia
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

This paper outlines an experimental and finite element simulation into behaviour of high strength
tubular truss joints. The main intent was to examine the validity of extending joint strength predictions
based on lower strength 350 MPa yield to higher strength 450 MPa yield steel. The experiments and
reliability analysis indicated that for failure modes associated with buckling, instability, yielding and
deformation (side wall buckling, face plastification and brace capacity in compression) the existing
approach could be extended for higher strength tubes, but for failure modes associated with fracture or
ductility or vulnerable to brittle failure modes (brace tension and punching shear) a strength reduction
modifying factors was still required.
The finite element simulation incorporated a damage mechanics approach to calibrate experimental
results in both fracture and deformation modes of failure. Proposals incorporate reduced ductility in

Fracture and Fatigue Behavior

high grade steel with a modifier function that is not based on yield stress but instead recognises the
reduced ultimate strains, damage parameter for fracture and the ultimate stress of the material.

29
 Keynote07

Benefits of Automated Welding to the Fatigue Performance of

Tubular Joints

Peter Schaumann, Karsten Schürmann

Leibniz University Hannover, Institute for Steel Construction, ForWind Hannover, Germany
E-mail: schaumann@[Link]

The development within the offshore wind energy sector towards more powerful turbines combined
with increasing water depth for new wind parks is challenging both the designer as well as the
manufacturer of support structures. Besides XL-monopiles, the market developed an innovative and
economic jacket support structure which is based on automatically manufactured tubular joints
combined with standardized pipes. Besides the improvements for a serial manufacturing process the
automatically welded tubular joints show a great potential in terms of fatigue resistance e.g. due to a
smooth weld geometry without sharp notches.
However, these benefits are not considered yet within the fatigue design process of automatically
manufactured jacket substructures according to standards and guidelines due to the lack of suitable S-

Fracture and Fatigue Behavior

N curves. Therefore, this presentation presents at first the manufacturing process of a robot welded
tubular X-joint which has a scaled geometry of 1:3.3 according to actual offshore jacket dimensions.
During the automated gas metal arc welding process the tagged X-joint is adapted on a manipulator to
ensure welding in flat position at any time.
For these automatically welded tubular X-joints axial fatigue tests are carried out considering two
failure criteria. The first one is the technical crack which will be detected by using digital image
correlation systems. The second failure criteria is the through thickness crack which is detected by a
change of the inner pressure of the pipes. The results of the fatigue tests are presented and a suitable
S-N curve is determined.
The experimental fatigue tests are compared to numerical investigations applying the structural stress
approach as well as the notch stress approach considering the actual weld geometry. Furthermore, the
benefits of selectively applying the notch stress approach within the structural stress approach based
fatigue design of jacket structures will be outlined..

30
 Abstract01

Experimental Investigations on Fatigue Life Extension of Existing Steel

Bridges Using Post-Weld Treatment Methods

Hassan Al-Karawi, Mohammad Al-Emrani

Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
E-mail: [Link]-Emrani@[Link]

The performance of High-Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) treatment and Tungsten Inert Gas
(TIG) remelting in extending the remaining fatigue life of existing steel structures was investigated
experimentally. Fatigue testing was conducted on transversal non-load-carrying attachments treated
after a pre-fatigue phase with the two studied methods. Furthermore, more than 250 test results on
different treated welded details were collected, and evaluated. HFMI-treatment was found to give a
significant fatigue life extension even in the presence of mall cracks. Also TIG-remelting was found
to give considerable life extension when possible pre-existing cracks were completely eliminated after
remelting.
Complimentary studies showed that the investigated methods induce compressive residual stress,

Fracture and Fatigue Behavior

increase the smoothness of the weld toe and increase local hardness at weld toe. Moreover, TIG-
remelting changed the microstructure in both the fusion zone and the heat-affected zone. When applied
on welded details with pre-existing cracks, HFMI-treatment changed the crack orientation and induced
compressive plasticity at the crack tip resulted in crack closure. However, these effects were less
significant for deeper cracks.

31
 Abstract02

Brittle Fracture Assessment for High-Strength Steels at

Low Ambient Temperatures

X. Qian
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore
E-mail: qianxudong@[Link]

This paper presents the experimental investigations of fracture tests for two high-strength steel grades,
S550 and S690, under three different ambient temperatures of –30℃, –60℃ and –90℃. The
experimental investigation at each temperature consists of two sets of specimens, each with about 15
duplicated specimens to quantify the statistical distributions of the measured fracture toughness. These
fracture specimens contain typical, through-thickness cracks. The measured experimental fracture
toughness exhibits significant scatter, which drives the need for a statistical approach, instead of a
deterministic approach for the fracture assessment. The subsequent numerical investigation deploys a
Weibull-based model to estimate the microscopic crack driving force near the crack front, which is
uniquely related to the macroscopic fracture toughness parameter. This study examines the temperature

Fracture and Fatigue Behavior

dependence or independence of the key Weibull parameters. The calibrated Weibull stress model
demonstrates close agreement with the experimental data. This study further extends the calibrated
Weibull model to estimate the probability of fracture for specimens containing a surface crack. The
curved front along a surface crack entails spatial variation in both the crack driving force and the
plasticity constraints, which narrow the critical fracture process zone over a small segment along the
curved crack front. Through a proposed definition of the critical fracture process zone, the Weibull
stress model shows good agreement with the experimental results on the surface cracked specimens.
Key Words: High strength steel; brittle fracture; Weibull stress; low temperature; fracture toughness.

32
 Abstract03

Ductile Fracture Simulation of Cold-Formed High Strength Steel Using

GTN Damage Model

R. Yan1, H. Xin1, M. Veljkovic2

1. Department of Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
2. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

Use of cold-formed hollow sections made of higher strength steel (HSS) is of great interests to the
construction sector. The accurate prediction of the material properties and ductile fracture failure at
micro and macro scale becomes very important to improve the validity of predicting structural
behaviour of HSS cold-formed hollow sections.
In this study, the ductile failure of the cold-formed S700 material in the literature is studied by using
the Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman (GTN) damage model. Representative volume element (RVE)
models with the void volume fraction (VVF) between 0.1% and 30% are used to investigate the
pressure dependency of the deviatoric limit stress.

Fracture and Fatigue Behavior

Different loading conditions, regarding different stress triaxiality levels, are applied to unit cells with
random spherical pores. The inelastic response of the unit cells are analysed, and the parameters q1,
q2, and q3 in the GTN yield surface are fitted. An equation is proposed to determine parameter q1 with
respect to different VVF. The parameters critical VVF fc and final VVF ff are calibrated by the
coupon test from the literature.
Finally, the calibrated GTN model is validated against tests on coupon specimens with different
diameters of the hole in the centre. The finite element (FE) results show good agreement with the
experimental results, indicating that the identified GTN model could efficiently predict the behaviour
of the cold-formed HSS.

33
 Keynote08

3D Printing with Steel Additive Manufacturing for

Connections and Structures

J. Lange
Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany
E-mail: j_lange@[Link]

Automated steel construction production with robots becomes reality. The Institute for Steel
Construction and Materials Mechanics at Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany has two
welding robots. These robots are used to test various applications for Additive Manufacturing (AM).
For AM in steel construction, deposition welding with shielding gas is currently the preferred method.
This is known as Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM). The wire electrode is used as a
printing material. With this process, components can be produced in layers and build-up rates of up to
10 kg/h can be achieved. In various research projects, typical elements of steel construction such as
beam-column connections and bending-resistant head plates as well as load introduction stiffeners are
investigated. Topology optimized structures are used, which can be printed directly onto steel beams
with the WAAM. Topology optimization also allows the development and design of completely new
components, so that it is possible to look beyond the previous design limits - and must do so in order
to make the best possible use of the possibilities of 3D printing in steel construction. The first 3D-
printed bridge that was totally built on side will also be presented.

3D Printing

34
 Abstract19

Structural Design of Stainless Steel Structures Realized with Wire-and-Arc

Additive Manufacturing

Vittoria Laghi, Michele Palermo, Tomaso Trombetti

Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna
E-mail: vittoria.laghi2@[Link]

With the advent of novel Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques, it becomes crucial to properly
address the issues related to the printing processes in the mechanical response of the printed outcomes.
Among different metal-based AM processes, Wire-and-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) results
to be the most suitable to realize large structural components and real-scale structures, with ideally
almost no geometrical constraints in terms of shape and size[1]. However, some non-negligible issues
related to the printing process should be properly addressed in structural design phase: (i) different
material properties with respects to the wrought material; (ii) anisotropic behavior of the printed part;
(iii) geometrical irregularities related to the WAAM process[2,3].
In order to overcome the above-mentioned issues, the research group from University of Bologna has
adapted the conventional design approach for traditionally-manufactured stainless steel structures to
those realized with WAAM. Experimental and numerical studies have been carried out on WAAM-
304L stainless steel elements, to accurately evaluate the key material properties of the base material

3D Printing
and possible influences of the geometrical irregularities for as-built pieces[4]. The marked anisotropy
of the mechanical response of WAAM-produced stainless steel was also confirmed by microstructural
investigations[5].
The experimental results were used to calibrate design values and partial safety factors through the
procedure explained in Annex D of Eurocode 0 (design assisted by testing) for new structural
materials[6]. Additional considerations were also drawn for Young’s modulus, traditionally considered
as a deterministic value[7]. The calibration results were in good agreement with the values suggested
for stainless steel structures as in EC3[8].
The long-term objective of this research is to provide a contribution to deliver ad-hoc guidelines for
the structural design of structures realized with WAAM-produced steel members.

35
 3D Printing
References
[1] C. Buchanan, L. Gardner, Metal 3D printing in construction: A review of methods, research, applications,
opportunities and challenges, Eng. Struct. 180 (2019) 332–348. [Link]
[2] B. Wu, Z. Pan, D. Ding, D. Cuiuri, H. Li, J. Xu, J. Norrish, A review of the wire arc additive manufacturing of metals:
properties, defects and quality improvement, J. Manuf. Process. (2018). [Link]
[3] K.S. Derekar, A review of wire arc additive manufacturing and advances in wire arc additive manufacturing of
aluminium, Mater. Sci. Technol. (United Kingdom). 34 (2018) 895–916.
[Link]
[4] V. Laghi, M. Palermo, G. Gasparini, V.A. Girelli, T. Trombetti, Experimental results for structural design of Wire-and-
Arc Additive Manufactured stainless steel members, J. Constr. Steel Res. 167 (2020) 105858.
[Link]
[5] V. Laghi, M. Palermo, L. Tonelli, G. Gasparini, L. Ceschini, T. Trombetti, Tensile properties and microstructural
features of 304L austenitic stainless steel produced by wire-and-arc additive manufacturing, Int. J. Adv. Manuf.
Technol. (2020) 3693–3705. [Link]
[6] European Committee for Standardization (CEN), EN 1990: Eurocode 0 - Basis of Structural Design, (2002).
[7] V. Laghi, M. Palermo, G. Gasparini, M. Veljkovic, T. Trombetti, Assessment of design mechanical parameters and
partial safety factors for Wire-and-Arc Additive Manufactured stainless steel, Eng. Struct. 225 (2020) 111314.
[Link]
[8] European Committee for Standardization (CEN), EN 1993 1-4: Eurocode 3 - Design of steel structures, part 1-4:
General rules, supplementary rules for stainless steel, (2015).

36
 Abstract20

Fatigue Behavior and Mechanical Characterization of Low Carbon

Austenitic Stainless Steel Components Produced by Wire + Arc Additive
Manufacturing

José Luis Galán Argumedo1,3, Konstantinos Goulas1,2,

Lennert van der Linden3, Peter deVries3, Rob Nijsse3
1. Faculty of Mechanics, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.
2. Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, Netherlands
3. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

Under the broad spectrum of options for manufacturing of metallic components, Wire + Arc Additive
Manufacturing, WAAM, offers the combination of high design freedom and productivity at a
comparably low cost. Based on the need to understand the fatigue behavior of mechanical components
manufactured under WAAM, a comprehensive series of mechanical tests were performed. Test
coupons were extracted from a heat-treated 316L austenitic stainless-steel wall to perform monotonic
and fully reversed strain-controlled fatigue tests in both longitudinal and build directions. A
constitutive model for the material is described based on the results of cyclic behavior in both
orthogonal directions. An inspection of the fracture surface of the tested coupons was realized to
validate the fracture initiation phenomenon with the assumptions made by different models of fatigue

3D Printing
life. It is found that the material shows marginally lower performance in terms of quasi-static
characteristics when compared to the one cited by the consumable manufacturer for all-weld material.
This remains nevertheless consistently higher than the allowed design values published by
commercially available standards. A notoriously low elastic modulus is observed, source of which
remains unidentified; the elastic modulus is measured between 54% and 58% of that of commercially
available hot-rolled stainless-steel alloys. Cyclic material performance corresponds with all-weld
predicted performance for ferritic-austenitic stainless-steels, where the first few cycles are
characterized by a slight material hardening, followed by a consistent softening throughout the cyclic
life of the material. Average fatigue performance is indistinguishable from mean design values
proposed for structural stainless steels under standardized testing conditions. At a 95% reliability and
75% confidence interval, the material performance is superior to the design curves proposed by ASME.

Fig. 1. (a) Design curved computed from test data scatter for CI75%R95% and ASME PBVC design curves under a
safety factor of 2 to account for data scatter (b) SWT curve for material’s mean and 95%R boundary.

37
 Abstract18

Economic Benefit of Using High Strength Steel Sections in Steel Structures

Loris Saufnay, Jean-François Demonceau, Jean-Pierre Jaspart

University of Liege, UEE Research Unit, Belgium
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]

The construction sector regularly evolves with a constant concern for quality, safety and, of course, for
economic efficiency. In particular, steelmakers are able to produce more resistant steels through more
efficient production processes proposing nowadays high strength steel (HSS) solutions for the
construction market but with a higher price per ton than mild steels.
However, the designer has difficulties to identify the domain of applications for which there is an
economic interest in using such HSS products. So, investigations were initiated at the University of
Liège with the objective of defining economic fields of application for high strength steels in structures.
In a general way, when the design of steel members is guided by cross-section resistance, the increase
of the yield strength may lead to a proportional weight reduction. Consequently, the use of such a steel
grade can lead to lighter structures requiring smaller foundations, lower transportation and construction
costs and so can result in a global economy on the project. However, the interest is not necessarily so
obvious for members in which instability phenomena occur (such as flexural buckling, lateral-torsional
buckling, …) as the resistance is no more directly proportional to the yield strength of steel. In addition,

Economy
deflection or vibration requirements (SLS conditions) can also reduce the interest in using HSS for
some structural members. This explains the difficulties met by the designer when he has to select the
most appropriate material to be used.
It is intended to present in the workshop the results of the first investigations aimed at studying the
field of interest in using high strength steel (up to S690) H-shape and I-shape sections for steel
structures from an economic point of view. Attempts to provide tools for practitioners for the selection
of the appropriate steel grade for different structural element typologies will also be presented.

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