Seminar - Tayakorn Chandrangsu - Advanced analysis and design of support scaffold systems

Wednesday 26 May 2010, 4.00 pm - 5.00 pm
Civil Engineering Lecture Theatre 3

Tayakorn Chandrangsu
School of Civil Engineering
University of Sydney

Abstract:
Support scaffold systems are used to provide temporary support in the construction of bridges, buildings, and similar structures. They are used as platforms while building formwork for reinforced concrete, and usually heavily loaded under the weight of wet poured concrete. This seminar presents an overview of comprehensive studies into the direct design of steel support scaffold systems by advanced geometric and material nonlinear analysis. The research program includes the collection and statistical evaluation of on-site data of member out-of-straightness (member crookedness), storey out-of-plumb, and loading eccentricity, as well as eighteen full-scale load tests of 3x3 bay subassemblies and a comprehensive series of tests on Cuplok joints in various configurations. Advanced finite element models are proposed and calibrated using the full-scale subassembly tests, thus providing statistical data for the modelling error. Having procured the statistical data from on-site survey and experimental tests for the main random variables (i.e. geometric imperfections, loading eccentricity and joint stiffness) affecting the strength of support scaffold systems, Monte-Carlo simulations using advanced analysis are carried out to obtain the statistical distributions of system strength for a range of geometric configurations of support scaffold systems. The first-order second-moment and first-order reliability methods are employed in determining the system resistance factor for support scaffold systems, leading to the formulation of a design method for support scaffold systems based on advanced analysis.