Search

Lattice towers are extensively built in Europe and worldwide to serve power transmission purposes. Their members mainly consist of single angle profiles, while built‐up sections, such as star‐battened ones, are usually preferred for the strengthening of individual members or in case of very high compression loads. Recent upwards developments of the power grid requests also lead to the need to use high strength steels (HSS) for the design and construction of higher and heavier loaded steel lattice transmission towers. Within the present paper, investigations conducted on the bearing capacity of a star‐battened member made of two S460 L250×250×28 angles are presented, even if the conclusions may be extended to any angle size and steel grade. Firstly, a critical review of the current European normative documents (EN 50341, EN1993‐1‐3, prEN1993‐3) is made and the buckling resistance of the above‐mentioned member is evaluated. Secondly, the results of an experimental compression test performed on the studied member are presented; these results are complemented by a full non‐linear finite element numerical simulation. All the obtained results are finally compared and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic design of steel systems recently experienced profound changes and progress; in Europe, the research on this topic is very prolific in terms of importance and number of results achieved, even pushed by the recent process of the updating of Eurocode 8. The paper analyzes and discusses the scientific literature on the subject produced approximately over the last twenty years, focusing on both recent research and findings on traditional steel systems and innovative structural types and solutions. The review of the state of the art suggested that most of the authors are now concerned about the numerous criticisms widely encountered in the design of traditional systems according to current Eurocode 8, as well as the difficulty of the application of the relevant detailing rules. The scientific community is also aware of the need to include specific codified design procedures for innovative and promising structural types. Further investigations are needed to deepen the design of moderate-ductile systems and to extend the seismic European prequalification of beam-to-column joints to further typologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Railway Science & Engineering is the property of Journal of Railway Science & Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Matériaux et Techniques is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The ecological and digital transformations of the steel industry intensify already existing skill shortages and create specific skill demands that are currently not being met. One of the main problems in this sector lies in the lack of sufficient information on which skills companies need and which skills trainings are suitable for today's challenges. In addition, more information is needed to provide more and better information for policy-making processes for getting the sector's workforce well-equipped for digitalisation and decarbonisation. This paper uses the framework of skills intelligence in the steel sector, reflecting on theoretical developments and the application of concrete tools in the European projects BEYOND 4.0 and ESSA. The main research questions guiding this work are: To what extent is the concept of skills intelligence useful in the steel sector, and how can it be applied in the steel sector in Europe? This paper provides empirical data based on qualitative and quantitative research carried out in the mentioned projects. The main contribution of this paper is the development of concrete reflections on the concept of skills intelligence based on tools in the steel sector. This work operationalises the skills intelligence approach at sectoral level, namely for the steel industry, and shows how this sector approach can be implemented at the European, national and regional levels. The main findings suggest that skills intelligence in the steel sector is not limited to the preparation and presentation of data but creates a governance structure to mitigate skills imbalances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current bridge codes in the US, Europe, and China specify vehicular collision loads for the design of piers. However, the performance of piers designed according to current codes in the three countries or regions is unknown yet. This paper presents a performance evaluation of concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) piers subjected to vehicle collision. Before the evaluation, bridge specimens with a single CFST pier were designed in accordance with current bridge and structural codes in the three countries or regions, respectively. Then, a detailed finite-element (FE) model for simulating a truck collision with a CFST pier was developed and validated. By comparison with seven simplified FE models, the detailed FE model was further confirmed to be employed for the evaluation. In the evaluation, the effects of current codes in the three countries or regions, whether or not the vehicular collision load is considered, two pier heights (i.e., 6 and 12 m), two truck weights (i.e., 20 and 40 tons), and three impact speeds (i.e., 60, 100, and 140 km/h) on the performance of CFST piers were investigated. The evaluation results indicated that when a CFST pier in seismic zones is designed to resist vehicle collision according to current codes in the US and China, it only needs to meet the requirements of seismic design without additional consideration of the vehicular collision load. Moreover, a preliminary application condition should be added for the vehicular collision load specified by the current bridge code in Europe, that is, when the truck weight is more than 20 tons and/or the pier height is lower than 12 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast reinforced concrete panels are commonly used as wall claddings in precast buildings. The cladding panels are generally evaluated as non-structural members and are joined to structural systems via mechanical, welding, and bolted dry connections. Several failures were observed in the last seismic events in Southern Europe, which demonstrate the deficiencies of the cladding connections in terms of strength and ductility. A comprehensive research activity named SAFECLADDING was conducted in Europe to provide knowledge for proper seismic design of precast structures with cladding panels. In this context, energy dissipative steel cushions were developed and evaluated through the extensive experimental and numerical studies. Steel cushions can provide robust interaction of the structural system with the cladding panels. This paper numerically evaluates the effects of cladding panels with steel cushions on the global seismic behaviour of the buildings. An existing representative industrial building is selected to perform intensive nonlinear dynamic analyses. Analyses performed on the bare and hybrid systems showed that the hybrid system has high performance in terms of story drifts, internal forces, and deformations with respect to the bare system. The overall drifts in longitudinal and transversal directions of the building are reduced by about 78 and 54%, respectively. Average residual drifts of cladding panels and steel cushions indicated that the applied steel cushion placement scheme has a promising re-centring capability during seismic action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper resumes the design of a steel lattice transmission tower carried out in the framework of the RFCS‐funded research project ANGELHY. The scope of ANGELHY is the establishment of analysis methods for lattice towers and the development of design rules for steel and hybrid angle sections, as well as built‐up members composed of angles. In Europe, the design of transmission towers for overhead electrical lines can be carried out according to EN 1993‐3‐1: 2006 or for electrical lines exceeding 1 kV according to EN 50341‐1: 2012. Both standards prescribe linear elastic global analyses for the design of steel lattice towers. In the current paper, the linear elastic design of the suspension transmission tower according to the German National Annex of EN 50341‐1:2012 is presented. In a first step, common typologies of lattice transmission towers used in Europe are described. In a second step, the chosen tower typology is explained in detail. The Danube tower represents the widest spread tower typology in Europe. Finally, the detailed design procedure of the tower according to EN 50341‐1:2012 is presented. The design is carried out with the software TOWER – Version 15.0 from Power Line Systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from steel production, several large industry decarbonization projects have emerged in Europe. The commercialization of low-emission steel technology, however, faces systemic barriers such as a lack of infrastructure and unclear demand for greener steel. As part of its new commitment to climate-neutrality, the European Commission has announced plans to more actively create and reshape markets for green basic materials. The approach is inspired by the recent success story of renewable energy, where market interventionist policy has successfully led to cost reductions and supported the diffusion of wind and photovoltaics. However, the applicability of this type of policy to decarbonize basic materials has so far not been investigated. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, efficiency and fairness of early commercialization policy support for the decarbonization transition of steel. We compare two approaches: demand side market creation and direct production subsidies through carbon contracts for difference. We find that the subsidy approach can more effectively enable the realization of primary green steel production. A complementary use of market creation policy instruments can reduce the production subsidy volumes needed and aid the global diffusion of new production methods. Although effective, we find that production subsidies will distribute the costs and benefits of the transition unequally. In order to improve effectiveness and fairness of the policy, parallel programmes such as electricity price guarantees and transitional assistance policies for disadvantaged regions are needed. Key policy insights Carbon contracts for difference are the most promising policy instrument to commercialize low-emission primary steel but are likely to lead to unequal distribution of transition costs. Market creation policies can support the global diffusion of low-emission primary steelmaking. Material efficiency and demand reduction can reduce the need for primary steel production by more than 50%. Regions without access to large amounts of renewable electricity are especially disadvantaged. Unclear EU ETS benchmarks currently create a perverse incentive that keeps firms from investing in breakthrough technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legislative pressures have led to the mature dominant chromium‐coated steel (ECCS) substrate and epoxy phenolic lacquer replacement in Europe. An investigation was carried out to examine the interaction between a steel surface engineered with a novel, developmental substrate coated using Cr (III)‐based electrolytes and the food stuff being canned. Samples of lacquered material were subjected to a typical retort process (121°C for 90 minutes) and examined using a variety of laboratory analytical techniques. The foodstuff being packaged has a significant impact on the substrate/lacquer adhesion with clear differences in failure mechanisms between foodstuffs. There is clear evidence of chemical species transfer through the next generation lacquer, and this can instigate corrosion at the surface where incomplete chromium coverage leads to exposed iron. In general, the novel developmental material exhibits lower adhesive properties and shows a greater sensitivity to the foodstuff, although this is largely attributed to the homogeneity of the coverage. The novel substrate proves to be a promising alternative to ECCS due to REACH legislation, but improvement is required to achieve equivalent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 1977 to 1984, an ambitious European industrial policy was implemented by the European Economic Community for the first and only time in its history. It dealt with the crisis of the steel sector. This paper strives to understand why member states chose this solution, despite the fact that some of them were hostile to the devolution of power to supranational institutions, as for example Britain or France. The most reluctant state was Germany, whose officials usually associated any attempts of EEC-wide industrial policy with dirigism. The paper, based on archives of three governments (Germany, France, the United Kingdom) and of the European Commission, argues that the European solution was best for member states, and in particular for Germany, in order to control their neighbours and avoid a costly subsidy race. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]