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This paper reviews previous research and current practice in timber connection design in Australia with reference to methods of deriving design information from test data for nails and screws. The two key documents for timber connection design in Australia are AS 1720.1 design of timber structures and AS 1649 test methods and evaluation of timber connections. These documents have a long history of development, with major changes in design methodologies – from deterministic working stress design to probabilistic limit state design. The supply chain for timber connections has changed with a reduction in the utilisation of timber species and an increase in new fasteners developed for specific purposes. A new approach to the design of timber connections has been proposed to cope with the changing situation. The review is of historic interest but also to ensure that the proposed new approach is consistent with past developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a statistical analysis of the actual mean material properties for typical grades of concrete and reinforcement available in Australia. The analysis was performed using a database of 3,447 concrete cylinder test results and 15,201 reinforcement tensile test results. The test results were taken over a period from 2009 to 2021. The paper provides a summary of the mean values and respective coefficient of variation values for the different grades of concrete and reinforcement that make up the database. Distinctive manufacturing trends and variability between suppliers were observed for reinforcement samples and appropriate recommendations have been proposed. Researchers or designers can adopt these values to undertake probabilistic assessments of RC structures. The paper also provides recommendations for mean material properties for the purpose of undertaking non-linear analysis of RC structures. The database of test results also includes early age strength data for concrete, which have been used to provide recommendations for predicting the early age strength of various standard grades of concrete available in Australia. The paper also presents an assessment of the theoretical characteristic values from the database for the various grades of reinforcement and concrete and how they compare to respective specified code requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displacement-based methods, such as a non-linear static pushover analysis (e.g. the capacity spectrum method), have many advantages compared to traditional force-based design methods. However, implementing a non-linear analysis and design method in accordance with the Australian Standard for concrete structures (AS 3600) introduces many difficult technical issues into the design, of which the standard provides little guidance. The aim of this study is to provide a framework and general guidance for designers who wish to perform non-linear displacement-based analysis methods for RC wall buildings. The paper will present how these methods can be used in accordance with the Australian Standard for earthquake actions (AS 1170.4) to assess seismic compliance and then provide recommendations for the requirements stipulated by AS 3600, which includes an experimentally validated tension stiffening model, nonlinear stress-strain material curves, mean material properties and material strain limits. The paper is concluded with a case study example of how a displacement-based seismic assessment can be performed using a typical case study building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to improve the Australian conformance practice for construction products. This paper presents an overview of the current operating environment of Australia and discusses the different ways in which a product may not be fit for its intended use. Issues discussed in this paper include methods for identifying problematic products, multi-level conformity assessment system and how to make the Australian system perform better. Various institutions have made independent proposals to improve different aspects of the system. These efforts will be much more effective if coordinated into a national system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-stressed unbonded retrofit (PUR) CFRP strengthening of steel structures is becoming a common method of strengthening metallic structures. This paper presents a comprehensive study on the use of the PUR CFRP-strengthening method for strengthening a steel bridge in Melbourne, Australia. Finite element analysis is performed in this study to model the entire bridge and the strengthened element, and the model is validated using actual on-site measurements which showed the stress developments of two girders before and after strengthening when a fully loaded truck passed over the bridge. A parametric study is performed to investigate the stress development of steel girders strengthened with the PUR system under different girder-deck levels of rigidity. The results showed a perfect match between the finite element modelling and actual measurements, and the effectiveness of the PUR system under critical conditions such as different girder-deck stiffness connection levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulnerability models for housing during extreme wind events are a critical part of modern catastrophe modelling used to inform insurance pricing, policy-making, emergency management, etc. Historically, the most robust vulnerability model development has taken place in the US. However, since structural systems in the US differ significantly, it is important that Australia-specific models are available and fully described in the literature. Development in Australia has continuously progressed since early works of the 1970s, although much of the research exists in unpublished format. Models from unpublished studies have been used broadly in academia, insurance and by policymakers, in many cases without a clear understanding of underlying assumptions and limitations. The aim of this paper is to provide a review and clarification of these models and introduce the Vulnerability and Adaption to Wind Simulation (VAWS) model, which takes an engineering-based approach. An overview of VAWS program logic and engineering assumptions is presented in addition to a comparison of outputs for one cyclonic region house type with existing models and insurance claims data. For the housing style considered, results suggest that VAWS can provide a better estimate of vulnerability than existing Australian models and those from abroad, not specific to Australian construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the effectiveness of train speed restrictions on the performance of Insulated Rail Joint (IRJ) joint bars, for typical train speeds utilised on heavy haul rail networks (20-90 km/hr). The work presented in this paper was prompted by a series of premature IRJ failures on Iron Ore heavy haul lines, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, via cracking of the IRJ joint bars. This failure mode is characterised by partial, or complete failure of one or both of the IRJs connecting joint bars through fatigue crack initiation and propagation through the joint bar steel section. Train speed restriction is an approach commonly implemented by railway operators, as a risk mitigating control when travelling past failure prone IRJ locations. Field testing of in-service IRJs has been conducted. Strain gauge, sleeper displacement and wheel load measurements were obtained and analysed, via regression analysis, to investigate the influence of train speed on joint bar strains. This analysis clearly indicates that there is not a strong relationship between train speed, and joint bar strains, over the observed speed range of 20-90 km/hr. This result suggests that speed restrictions provide little or no benefit in reducing IRJ joint bar strains. While this result is consistent with theory presented in the literature, it is in contrast with typical operator practices. The data presented in this paper also indicate that there is a significant variability in both the strains developed in IRJ joint bars, and vertical sleeper displacements, between the installation locations monitored. For the two sites, the variability in peak bending strains was of the order of 40-45%. The analysis presented in this paper indicates that this variability is not related to differences in train speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-formed steel shear walls are commonly used in the housing industry. Generally, the wall stud connections play an important role in the seismic performance of these structures as they should be capable to dissipate the induced energy via the plastic deformation of the shear wall components. The riveted connection between the studs and the tracks is one of the most important components that dictates the behaviour and strength of such panels. In this paper, details of an experimental study on the behaviour and strength of two types of rivets which are applied in riveted wall stud connections under tension and compression monotonic loading are presented. Twenty-four full-scale specimens were taken into account. Two dominant failure modes are identified: rivet head failure and buckling failure of the section away from the connection in tension and compression tests, respectively. The results show that the second rivet type (type O) possesses a higher capacity in both tension and compression; and therefore is recommended to use by CFS designers. In addition, the design capacities of the connections were calculated based on some design codes and compared with the experimental results. It is shown that the codes are too conservative and can be improved considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anna Meares Velodrome (AMV) is Queensland’s first indoor velodrome, located on a sloping site alongside the Brisbane Super X BMX Track at Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane. The AMV was designed with the planning flexibility to not only host the track cycling competition for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth GamesTM, but to provide a legacy venue for track cycling and a range of other indoor sports and community uses. To provide the required planning flexibility with world-class spectator and user amenity, the AMV has a large column-free arena with an elliptical footprint. The arena roof clear spans up to 118 m between inclined perimeter supports, making it one of the largest clear-span roofs in Australia. The roof is gently curved in two directions, and the resulting saddle shape combined with the inclined perimeter walls creates a striking and memorable building, befitting the important role that the venue will play in 2018 and beyond. The building was successfully delivered quickly and to a tight budget, in large part due to the efficiency of the design of the steel roof and wall structure, and to the adoption of a ‘construction-led’ design approach. This approach ensured that the steel roof structure could be economically, safely and quickly fabricated and erected in parallel with the construction of the concrete substructure and bowl. The paper describes key aspects of the project, including some of the design innovations that played a crucial role in the successful delivery of the project and the realisation of the competition-winning architectural vision. These innovations included parametric design, geometric rationalisation, a ‘construction-led’ approach and structural design optimisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of a recent reconnaissance survey of the reinforced concrete (RC) construction industry in Australia. The survey involved the review of the structural documentation of a set of case study buildings constructed in Australia. The types of walls and observed methods of detailing are documented. Upper and lower bound values for typical wall attributes have been presented which researchers can utilise to design laboratory test specimens or perform parametric computer studies, to ensure their study accurately represents real-world conditions. A literature review of experimental testing of the lateral in-plane capacity of RC walls is included. The literature review identified 81 experimental studies, in which 501 RC wall test specimens have been tested worldwide. It is shown that very little experimental studies have been performed on RC walls that match what is being constructed in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]