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Applied Sciences
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Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering
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Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2021) | Viewed by 15173

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vincenzo Minutolo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Via Roma, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Interests: mechanics; structural analysis; structural engineering; structural dynamics; mechanics of materials; solid mechanics; computational mechanics; finite element; boundary element method; functionally graded materials; biomechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent developments in the ability to solve complex equations of structural mechanics and to treat large amounts of data have led to the possibility of quantitatively addressing many complex descriptions of phenomena in the field of structural engineering. The Special Issue of MDPI’s Applied Sciences that we propose aims to collect significant contributions in the field of computational structural analysis and experimental evaluation of structural safety. We solicit innovative approaches from both the preparation of modeling and solution strategies, in complex areas characterized by structural behaviors that are not easy to evaluate. These include topological or material optimization problems, with the possibility of including heterogeneous, nonlinear, or inelastic constitutive models, structural analysis in the field of nonlinear geometry, instability of equilibrium, and large deformations. Further to the experimental analysis of the structures, there is also the possibility of using sensor systems based on different technologies. For example, among others, we can mention those carried out with optical fibers, which can carry out continuous measurement in space and over time. Such requirements give rise, therefore, to the need for treating a large amount of data that must be processed using ad hoc techniques, specifically developed to process large databases. This constitutes a new challenge in the formulation of structural analysis procedures within the modern big data processing techniques and continuous structural health monitoring.

In this context, the proposed Special Issue aims to collate works that are focused on providing a basis for the synthesis of the above-mentioned issues and a starting point for comparison between the scholars involved in the described themes. Therefore, colleagues engaged in the most advanced research in the field of computational mechanics and experimental analysis of structures are invited to propose their works to contribute to the discussion and fruitful comparison on the top topics of structural engineering and mechanics. We look forward to your contribution to this Special Issue.

Prof. Vincenzo Minutolo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Computational structural mechanics
  • Structural engineering
  • Stability
  • Fiber optics
  • Damage mechanics
  • Continuum mechanics
  • Mechanics
  • Computational solid mechanics
  • Experimental structure analysis
  • Computational engineering
  • Micromechanics
  • Multiscale modeling
  • Homogenization
  • Multiscale analysis
  • Boundary element method
  • Functionally graded material, FGM
  • Biomechanics
  • Tensegrity
  • Nanomechanics
  • Multiscale computational mechanics
  • Meshless methods
  • Optimization

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1521 KiB  
Article
In Search of Lightweight Deployable Tensegrity Columns
by Adam Zawadzki and Anna Al Sabouni-Zawadzka
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(23), 8676; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10238676 - 04 Dec 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3936
Abstract
In civil engineering, there is an occasional need to assure an additional support for a structure due to the loss of the load carrying capacity (e.g., as a result of natural disasters or aging) or for a lightweight structure to support temporary objects [...] Read more.
In civil engineering, there is an occasional need to assure an additional support for a structure due to the loss of the load carrying capacity (e.g., as a result of natural disasters or aging) or for a lightweight structure to support temporary objects (e.g., tents, big advertisement banners, temporary antenna masts). In the present study, the authors propose deployable tensegrity columns to be used in such cases. This paper is aimed at answering the question: Which tensegrity column would be the best for the specified application? Four tensegrity columns are analyzed in various deployment configurations to find the answer to this question. Computer simulations are performed in the finite element (FE) and multibody dynamics (MBD) software to provide quantitative and qualitative results. The applied methods are validated by comparing self-stress states at various steps of the analysis. The most important part of the article is the comparative table, which contains quantitative results obtained from the performed analyses, which can be used to indicate the structures that are most appropriate for certain applications. The results may also be used as a starting point for research in other fields of science like robotics or mechatronics. This paper is focused on obtaining full data for building scaled models for laboratory tests in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering)
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14 pages, 11917 KiB  
Article
Optimum Design of Sunken Reinforced Enclosures under Buckling Condition
by Mostafa Omidi Bidgoli, Kazem Reza Kashyzadeh, Seyed Saeid Rahimian Koloor, Michal Petrů and Nima Amiri
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(23), 8449; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10238449 - 26 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1664
Abstract
Increasing the lifetime and improving the performance of structures through redesign and optimization are important, especially in marine structures. In general, there are two main groups of marine structures: onshore and offshore structures. Most marine structures are offshore, and these are divided into [...] Read more.
Increasing the lifetime and improving the performance of structures through redesign and optimization are important, especially in marine structures. In general, there are two main groups of marine structures: onshore and offshore structures. Most marine structures are offshore, and these are divided into two categories: floating or sunken. One of the important parameters in the design of sunken structures is the critical load resulting from the buckling of walls, which can cause damage to the structure. In the present paper, three rectangular aluminum and steel compartments of different conditions and sizes were modeled using design analysis methods. Then, different finite element analyses were performed, and the compartments were optimized to reduce the weight of the structure. Finally, the buckling results of three types of rectangular reinforced compartments were calculated and were compared with each other. The results show that the stresses calculated using the analytical method are in good agreement with the results of the finite element analyses. In addition, the weight of the compartment is reduced by utilizing the reinforced conductors in accordance with the design principles and considering the minimum thickness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering)
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15 pages, 2256 KiB  
Article
Towards an App to Estimate Patient-Specific Perioperative Femur Fracture Risk
by L. Esposito, V. Minutolo, P. Gargiulo, H. Jonsson, Jr., M. K. Gislason and M. Fraldi
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(18), 6409; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10186409 - 14 Sep 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2645
Abstract
Total Hip Arthroplasty has been one of the most successful surgical procedure in terms of patient outcomes and satisfaction. However, due to increase in life expectancy and the related incidence of age-dependent bone diseases, a growing number of cases of intra-operative fractures lead [...] Read more.
Total Hip Arthroplasty has been one of the most successful surgical procedure in terms of patient outcomes and satisfaction. However, due to increase in life expectancy and the related incidence of age-dependent bone diseases, a growing number of cases of intra-operative fractures lead to revision surgery with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Surgeons choose the type of the implant, either cemented or cementless prosthesis, on the basis of the age, the quality of the bone and the general medical conditions of the patients. Generally, no quantitative measures are available to assess the intra-operative fracture risk. Consequently, the decision-making process is mainly based on surgical operators’ expertise and qualitative information obtained from imaging. Motivated by this scenario, we here propose a mechanical-supported strategy to assist surgeons in their decisions, by giving intelligible maps of the risk fracture which take into account the interplay between the actual mechanical strength distribution inside the bone tissue and its response to the forces exerted by the implant. In the presented study, we produce charts and patient-specific synthetic “traffic-light” indicators of fracture risk, by making use of ad hoc analytical solutions to predict the stress levels in the bone by means of Computed Tomography-based mechanical and geometrical parameters of the patient. We felt that if implemented in a friendly software or proposed as an app, the strategy could constitute a practical tool to help the medical decision-making process, in particular with respect to the choice of adopting cemented or cementless implant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering)
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12 pages, 3019 KiB  
Article
An Experimental and Statistical Study on Rebar Corrosion Considering the Temperature Effect Using Gaussian Process Regression
by Byeong Hun Woo, In Kyu Jeon, Seong Soo Kim, Jeong Bae Lee and Jae-Suk Ryou
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(17), 5937; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10175937 - 27 Aug 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2422
Abstract
Temperature is an important factor that affects corrosion potential in rebars. The temperature effect must be removed from the corrosion potential for precise measurement of corrosion rates. To separate the temperature effect from the corrosion potential, in this study rebar specimens were not [...] Read more.
Temperature is an important factor that affects corrosion potential in rebars. The temperature effect must be removed from the corrosion potential for precise measurement of corrosion rates. To separate the temperature effect from the corrosion potential, in this study rebar specimens were not embedded in concrete but, instead, were placed in an uncontrolled air environment. Gaussian process regression (GPR) was applied to the temperature and the non-corrosion potential data in order to remove the temperature effect from the corrosion potential. The results indicated that the corrosion potential was affected by the temperature. Furthermore, the GPR models of all the experimental cases showed high coefficients of determination (R2 > 0.90) and low root mean square errors (RMSE < 0.08), meaning that these models had high reliability. The fitted GPR models were used to successfully remove the temperature effect from the corrosion potential. This demonstrates that the GPR method can be appropriately used to assess the temperature effect on rebar corrosion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering)
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17 pages, 4772 KiB  
Article
NSHT: New Smart Hybrid Transducer for Structural and Geotechnical Applications
by Vincenzo Minutolo, Enis Cerri, Agnese Coscetta, Emilia Damiano, Martina De Cristofaro, Luciana Di Gennaro, Luca Esposito, Paolo Ferla, Maurizio Mirabile, Lucio Olivares and Renato Zona
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(13), 4498; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134498 - 29 Jun 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1874
Abstract
This work describes the application of a new transducer prototype for continuous monitoring in both the structural and geotechnical fields. The transducer is synthetically constituted by a wire of optical fiber embedded between two fiber tapes (fiberglass or carbon fiber) and glued by [...] Read more.
This work describes the application of a new transducer prototype for continuous monitoring in both the structural and geotechnical fields. The transducer is synthetically constituted by a wire of optical fiber embedded between two fiber tapes (fiberglass or carbon fiber) and glued by a matrix of polyester resin. The fiber optical wire ends have been connected to a control unit whose detection system is based on Brillouin optical time-domain frequency analysis. Three laboratory tests were carried out to evaluate the sensor’s reliability and accuracy. In each experiment, the transducer was applied to a sample of inclinometer casing sets in different configurations and with different constraint conditions. The experimental collected data were compared with theoretical models and with data obtained from the use of different measuring instruments to perform validation and calibration of the transducer at the same time. Several diagrams can compare the transducer and highlight its suitability for the monitoring and maintenance of structures. The characteristic of the transducer suggests its use as a mixed system for reinforcing and monitoring, especially in the lifetime maintenance of critical infrastructures such as transportation and service networks, and historical heritage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering)
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16 pages, 1986 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Residual Displacement and Ductility in Ratcheting and Shakedown of an Aluminum Beam
by Simone Palladino, Luca Esposito, Paolo Ferla, Elena Totaro, Renato Zona and Vincenzo Minutolo
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(10), 3610; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10103610 - 22 May 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1810
Abstract
Safety assessment of structures can be obtained employing limit design to overcome uncertainties concerning actual response due to inelastic constitutive behavior and more generally to non-linear structural response and loads’ random variability. The limit analysis is used for evaluating the safety of the [...] Read more.
Safety assessment of structures can be obtained employing limit design to overcome uncertainties concerning actual response due to inelastic constitutive behavior and more generally to non-linear structural response and loads’ random variability. The limit analysis is used for evaluating the safety of the structures, starting directly from load level without any knowledge of the load history. In the paper, the lower bound calculation is proposed where a new strain-based approach is used that allowed describing the residual stress and displacement in terms of permanent strain. The strategy uses the permanent strain as effective parameters of the procedure so that it is possible to assess the ductility requirements for the complete load program developed till collapse or shakedown. The procedure is compared to experimental results obtained on aluminum beams in shakedown. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational and Experimental Assessment in Structural Engineering)
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