The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Steel design and reliability using Eurocode 3

Steel design and reliability using Eurocode 3
Steel design and reliability using Eurocode 3
The twin aims of this research were to improve the presentation of codified design information and to investigate the methods used to calibrate the partial safety factors applied to resistance functions (yR factors) so as to improve both the economy and the reliability of the predictions.

A restructured version of EC3 (known as F-EC3) was developed by rearranging the design clauses on the basis of design tasks. This system enables the code to become more user-friendly. Hypertext versions of both EC3 and F-EC3 have been created on PC-based Microsoft Windows compatible software. The implications of hypertext on structural codes are investigated.

The procedure used for calibrating the yR-factors contained within EC3 (the Annex Z method) was reviewed and an alternative techniques involving less assumption proposed. A comprehensive set of measurements recording the material strength and the geometric properties of steel were obtained and collated. The large data set (over 7000 tests) was sufficient to evaluate the type of probability distribution characterising the variability of the basic material and geometric properties of structural steel. The resulting data were combined with experimental test results to determine the reliability of plate girder design and restrained beam design. The theoretical shear buckling resistance of plate girders (predicted by the simple post-critical and tension field methods) was compared with experimental test results to determine reliability. The analysis demonstrated that plate girder design falls well short of the target reliability and an adjustment to the design methods is required in order to ensure safe design. A series of 4-point bending tests on laterally restrained beams were conducted to establish the accuracy of the Mp1.Rd resistance function. This study quantifies the degree of conversation inherent in the Mp1.Rd design method and provides convincing evidence of the need to reduce the yR-factor applied to this resistance function. A modification is proposed to the design formulae which improves accuracy and permits the full moment capacity of restrained beams to be utilised.
Byfield, Michael P.
35515781-c39d-4fe0-86c8-608c87287964
Byfield, Michael P.
35515781-c39d-4fe0-86c8-608c87287964
Bettison, Michael
637b8e78-88c4-4bbd-83b4-9979c5239414

Byfield, Michael P. (1996) Steel design and reliability using Eurocode 3. University of Nottingham, Department of Civil Engineering, Doctoral Thesis, 249pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

The twin aims of this research were to improve the presentation of codified design information and to investigate the methods used to calibrate the partial safety factors applied to resistance functions (yR factors) so as to improve both the economy and the reliability of the predictions.

A restructured version of EC3 (known as F-EC3) was developed by rearranging the design clauses on the basis of design tasks. This system enables the code to become more user-friendly. Hypertext versions of both EC3 and F-EC3 have been created on PC-based Microsoft Windows compatible software. The implications of hypertext on structural codes are investigated.

The procedure used for calibrating the yR-factors contained within EC3 (the Annex Z method) was reviewed and an alternative techniques involving less assumption proposed. A comprehensive set of measurements recording the material strength and the geometric properties of steel were obtained and collated. The large data set (over 7000 tests) was sufficient to evaluate the type of probability distribution characterising the variability of the basic material and geometric properties of structural steel. The resulting data were combined with experimental test results to determine the reliability of plate girder design and restrained beam design. The theoretical shear buckling resistance of plate girders (predicted by the simple post-critical and tension field methods) was compared with experimental test results to determine reliability. The analysis demonstrated that plate girder design falls well short of the target reliability and an adjustment to the design methods is required in order to ensure safe design. A series of 4-point bending tests on laterally restrained beams were conducted to establish the accuracy of the Mp1.Rd resistance function. This study quantifies the degree of conversation inherent in the Mp1.Rd design method and provides convincing evidence of the need to reduce the yR-factor applied to this resistance function. A modification is proposed to the design formulae which improves accuracy and permits the full moment capacity of restrained beams to be utilised.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: May 1996
Organisations: Civil Engineering & the Environment

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 74956
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/74956
PURE UUID: abc061f3-a041-44ed-9077-9b8916a5a531
ORCID for Michael P. Byfield: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9724-9472

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 10 Dec 2021 16:55

Export record

Contributors

Author: Michael P. Byfield ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Michael Bettison

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×