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Structural Behavior of Steel Tube and Coupler Scaffolds with Stability Strengthening Details

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Abstract

The multi-span steel tube and coupler scaffold is one of the main temporary structural forms in building and bridge construction. Given the insufficient research on their bearing capacity and design method, steel tube and coupler scaffolds have frequently collapsed in recent years and have caused serious casualties and economic losses. Through six prototype tests and a numerical analysis, this study investigated the effect of stability strengthening measures, such as vertical X-bracing, horizontal X-bracing, surrounding non-loading area, and lateral wall-tied constraints, on the ultimate bearing capacity and failure mode of multi-span steel tube and coupler scaffolds under a uniformly distributed line load of upper horizontal tubes. Using the finite element numerical analysis verified by the test data, the influence of height-width ratio, structure height, story height, spacing of vertical tubes, X-bracing layout, lateral wall-tied constraints, and surrounding non-loading area on the ultimate bearing capacity of multi-span steel tube and coupler scaffolds was analyzed. Design methods for multi-span steel tube and coupler scaffolds under a uniformly distributed line load of upper horizontal tubes were proposed based on the results of the prototype test and finite element numerical analysis. The reasonability of the design method was verified by the test data and finite element analysis results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China

    Hongbo Liu, Yi Meng, Li Jia & Zhihua Chen

  2. China Academy of Building Research, Beijing, 100013, China

    Qun Liu

  3. Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200000, China

    Suilin Wen

Authors
  1. Hongbo Liu
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  2. Yi Meng
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  3. Li Jia
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  4. Zhihua Chen
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  5. Qun Liu
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  6. Suilin Wen
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Correspondence to Hongbo Liu.

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Liu, H., Meng, Y., Jia, L. et al. Structural Behavior of Steel Tube and Coupler Scaffolds with Stability Strengthening Details. Int J Steel Struct 18, 79–95 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0307-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13296-018-0307-4

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