Practical analysis and design of a flexible energy-dissipating structure

Z. H. Zhou, J. W. He, Y. P. Liu, S. L. Chan

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceedingConference article published in proceeding or bookAcademic researchpeer-review

Abstract

Flexible barriers are widely adopted as protection systems against natural hazards, such as rockfalls, landslides and debris flows. They consist of cable nets, steel ropes, brake elements and steel posts to transfer loads to foundations. A key feature is that these structures are light yet they can absorb high energy through the large elasto-plastic deformations and sliding node action. Structurally the flexible barrier system exhibits highly nonlinear behavior. In this paper, a new nonlinear cable element is developed to model brake element while a new sliding element is formulated for simulation of ring nets. Thus, an integrated design method for flexible barrier is developed with deflections and stresses on all elements computed in an incremental-iterative nonlinear analysis. Results by the proposed method are compared with the output by other computational methods and tests and will be reported in this paper. Simultaneously, considerable improvement in reliability and accuracy when compared with over-simplified hand calculation method can be achieved.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 9th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, ICASS 2018
EditorsSiu Lai Chan, Tak-Ming Chan, Songye Zhu
PublisherHong Kong Institution of Steel Construction
ISBN (Electronic)9889914093, 9789889914097
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2018
Event9th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, ICASS 2018 - Hong Kong, China
Duration: 5 Dec 20187 Dec 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 9th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, ICASS 2018

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures, ICASS 2018
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHong Kong
Period5/12/187/12/18

Keywords

  • Advanced analysis
  • Brake element
  • Debris flow
  • Flexible barrier
  • Sliding node element

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Metals and Alloys
  • Civil and Structural Engineering

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