The Cuckoo search algorithm is a recent addition to metaheuristic techniques. It simulates the breeding behaviour of certain cuckoo species into a numerical optimization technique. Cuckoo birds lay their eggs in the nests of other host birds so that their chicks when hatched can be nurtured by the host birds. The optimum design algorithm presented for moment resisting steel frames is based on t...

As a new alternative design, plate-reinforced composite (PRC) coupling beam achieves enhanced strength and ductility by embedding a vertical steel plate into a conventionally reinforced concrete (RC) coupling beam. Based on a nonlinear finite element model developed in the authors' previous study, a parametric study presented in this paper has been carried out to investigate the influence of se...

The orientation of steel fibers in magnetically driven concrete and magnetically driven mortar was experimentally studied in this paper using a magnetic method. In the magnetically driven concrete, a steel slag was used to replace the coarse aggregate. In the magnetically driven mortar, steel slag and iron sand were used to replace the fine aggregate. A device was established to provide the mag...

The relationship between dissolved oxygen (DO) and corrosion behavior of X80 steel in acidic soil simulated solution was studied by potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning Kelvin probe technique (SKP) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results showed that the presence of DO accelerated the cathodic process of corrosion for X80 steel in the acidic so...

The steel frame reinforced with steel shear wall is a lateral load resisting system and has higher strength and shear performance than the concrete shear wall system. Especially, using corrugated steel plates in these shear wall systems improves out-of-plane stiffness and flexibility in the deformation along the corrugation. In this paper, a cyclic loading test of this steel frame reinforced wi...

This paper presents the results of an experimental study into the behavior of concrete-filled steel tube columns confined by fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP). Eleven columns were tested to investigate the effects of the FRP layer number, the thickness of the steel tube and concrete strength on their load capacity and axial deformation capacity. The experimental results indicated that the FRP wrap...

Compared to hot-rolled steel structures, cold-formed steel structures are susceptible to extreme winds because of the light weight of the building and its components. Many modern cold-formed steel structures have sustained significant structural damage ranging from loss of cladding to complete collapse in recent cyclones. This article first provides some real damage cases for light steel struct...

Steel-making and continuous/mould casting are the key processes of modern iron and steel enterprises. The continuous and mould casting schedule of mixed whole/half charging plan is the bottleneck for the steel-making and continuous/mould casting process. However, it is very difficult to find a solution against the characteristics and complicated environment. This paper proposed a heuristic batc...

A review of the current situation and development of fire safety design for steel structures in China is given in this paper. Several codes and specifications used for fire safety design in China are introduced, and the present design methods are summarized. Then some research achievements on the behavior of steel structures at elevated temperature are presented. The achievements include materi...

Article history: Received 29.05.2012. Received in revised form 27.07.2012 Accepted 03.09.2012. The influence of sub-temperature quenching temperature on the tensile strength, hardness and toughness of 60Si2Mn steel has been studied, and the ferrite content, austenite grain size and martensite morphology of the microstructure of this steel after sub-temperature quenching analyzed. The results sh...