The first order variation of critical loads of thin-walled columns with bisymmetric open cross-sectiondue to some variations of the stiffness and location of bracing elements is derived. The con-siderations are based on the classical linear theory of thin-walled beams with non-deformablecross-section introduced by Vlasov [1]. Both lateral braces and braces that restraint warping andtorsion of the cross-section have been taken into account. In the numerical examples dealing withI-column, the functions describing the influence of location of the braces with unit stiffness on thecritical load of torsional and flexural buckling are derived. The linear approximation of the exactrelation of the critical load due to the variation of the stiffness and location of braces is determined.

The analysis of buckling, post-buckling behaviour and load carrying capacity of prismatic composite pole structures is conducted. The asymptotic expansion established by Byskov-Hutchinson is used in the second order approximation. The thin-walled tubular columns are simply supported at the ends and subject to the uniform compression. Several types of cross-sections with and without intermediate stiffeners are considered. The present paper is the continuation of a previous paper by the authors (1999) where the modal interaction of thin-walled composite beamcolumns was investigated.

The internal forces in stiffeningwalls are usually determining by numerical methods. Extreme values of forces and displacements can be achieved without significant problems. The numerical model is always labour-intensive; therefore, it is not used for single-family or multi-family buildings with a simple wall layout. To calculate efficiently internal forces in such walls uses an analytical model. Eurocode 6 (prEN 1996-1-1: 2019) does not provide specific guidelines for determining geometrical characteristics and procedures for calculating the values of internal forces in the stiffening walls. The use of numerical methods and other reliable methods was allowed. The paper presents the adaptation of the total stiffness method to determine internal forces in a building with a simple wall system. The method was based on dividing the masonry wall with openings into pillars, lintels, bottom sprandels and flanged walls. The analytical results were compared with linear-elastic FEM calculations. It has been demonstrated that flexural stiffness, shear stiffness and localization of rotation centre (RC) had a crucial impact on masonry structure.

In this paper, existing knowledge on the behaviour of soil-steel composite structures (SSCSs) has been reviewed. In particular, the response of buried corrugated steel plates (CSPs) to static, semistatic, and dynamic loads has been covered. Furthermore, the performance of SSCS under extreme loading, i.e., loading until failure, has been studied. To investigate the behaviour of the type of composite structures considered, numerous full-scale tests and numerical simulations have been conducted for both arched and box shapes of the shell. In addition, researchers have examined different span lengths and cover depths. Furthermore, to enhance the load-bearing capacity of the composite structures, various stiffening elements have been applied and tested. The reviewshows that the mechanical features of SSCSs are mainly based on the interaction of the shell with the soil backfill. The structures, as a composite system, become appropriately stiff when completely backfilled. For this reason, the construction phase corresponds to the highest values of shell displacement and stress. Moreover, the method of laying and compacting the backfill, as well as the thickness of the cover, has a significant impact on the behaviour of the structure at the stage of operation in both the quantitative and qualitative sense. Finally, a limited number of studies are conducted on the ultimate bearing capacity of large-span SSCS and various reinforcing methods. Considerably more works will need to be done on this topic. It applies to both full scale tests and numerical analysis.

To realize a structure which can be conveniently tuned to multiple and wideband frequency ranges, a geometrical-stiffening membrane acoustic metamaterial (MAM) with individually tunable multiple frequencies is presented. The MAM is realized by a stacked arrangement of two membrane-magnet elements, each of which has a membrane with a small piece of steel attached in the centre. It can be tuned individually by adjusting the position of its compact magnet. The normal incidence sound transmission loss of the MAM is investigated in detail by measurements in an impedance tube. The test sample results demonstrate that this structure can easily achieve a transmission loss with two peaks which can be shifted individually in a wide low-frequency range. A theoretical consideration is analysed, the analysis shows that the magnetic effect related to this distance leads to a nonlinear attractive force and, consequently, nonlinear geometrical stiffening in each membrane-magnet element, which allows the peaks to be shifted. A reasonable design can make the structure have a good application prospect for low-frequency noise insulation where there is a need to adjust the transmission loss according to the spectrum of the noise source.

In the present paper, an analysis uf lower bound estimation of the load carrying capacity of structures with intermediate stiffeners is undertaken. Thin-walled structures with intermediate stiffeners in the elastic range, being under axial compression and a bending moment, are examined on the basis of the Byskov and Hutchinson's method [4] and the co-operation between all the walls of the considered structures is shown. The structures are assumed to be simply supported at the ends. The study is based on the numerical method 01· the transition matrix using Godunov's orthogonalization [2]. Instead of the finite strip method, the exact transition matrix method is used in this case. In the presented method for lower bound estimation uf the load carrying capacity of structures, it is postulated that the reduced local critical load should be determined taking into account the global pre-critical bending within the first order non-linear approximation to the theory of the interactive buckling of the structure. The results are compared to those obtained from the design code and the data reported by other authors. The present paper is a continuation of papers [9], [ 11], [ 19], where the interactive buckling of thin-walled beam-columns with central intermediate stiffeners in the first and the second order approximation was considered. The most important advantage of this method is that it enables us to describe a complete range of behaviour ot· thin-walled structures from all global (flexural. flexural-torsional, lateral, distortional and their combinations) to local stability. In the solution obtained, the effects of interaction of modes, the transformation of buckling modes with an increase in load, the shear lag phenomenon and also the effect of cross-sectional distortions arc included.

The paper presents results of the laboratory tests made for the prototype resilient under sleeper pads in the Warsaw University of Technology laboratory unit. These pads are dedicated to reduce vibrations transmitted to the vicinity of the railroad and to improve the resistance of the railroad structure. The laboratory testing program was carried out for elastomeric materials (polyurethane and rubber based) due to the PN-EN 16730 standard. The obtained values of the key parameters were used in order to determine the insertion loss vibration level by applying analytical method. The paper presents the influence of selected parameters i.e. static and dynamic moduli on the reduction of vibration and structure-borne sound level.

Investigation on the behaviour of hybrid beams is presented. Hybrid beam stands for an element with hybrid cross sections. This means sections that consist of steel and concrete parts, connected together with composite dowels, and both are considered for shear flow analysis. In practice, a more general solution may be used for bridges in the form of a beam in which the span sections are hybrid and the support sections are concrete. For the first time in the world, it was decided to introduce a girder in bridge construction, in which a concrete web with a thickness of only 20 cm was formed, directly connected to the steel web, so that a hybrid cross-section is created in accordance with the new European design regulations currently being developed (1994-1-102). The solution is new itself and requires also a new approach for internal forces determination. In this paper a parametric analysis of different hybrid beams with span range from 20 to 40 m and with different reinforcment ratio is performed to get knowledge on the influence of (1) concrete cracking and (2) rheology of concrete on the redistribution of internal forces. Results are analysed and conclusions are presented. As a final step, a general method for computer aided modelling of hybrid beams ( hybrid beam concept) is proposed, which is based on the uncracked analysis. Such an analysis is designer-friendly and while appropriate benchmarked (as in this paper) can spare a lot of time needed for detailed iterative cracked analysis.

The analysis of web-corrugated and trapezoidal profiled web girders focuses on the description of buckling resistance, possibly the ultimate resistance neglecting the post-buckling resistance reserve of girders. The problem is still the post-buckling resistance reserve and its possible application in practice. For this purpose this paper presents the analysis of tests on shear resistance of the corrugated web of SIN girders with the support stiffeners in the pre- and post-buckling zones. There are also presented values of the post-buckling resistance zone and the mutual relationships between pre- and post-buckling resistance zones. Values of these zones are related to optimization of the web-corrugated girders, which consists in enlarging the zone of pre-critical resistance and balancing between shear resistance and bending resistance. The experimental tests were performed on 20 girders with the following web depth: 500, 1000, 1250, and 1500 mm, composed of three pre-assembled units. The girders with a simply supported beam system and a simply supported beam with a single cantilever were made of pre-assembled units joined by means of high strength preloaded bolts. The numerical analysis by FEM was conducted for the models with web depth from h_w = 500 to 1500 mm at the full range of web thickness 2,0; 2,5, and 3 mm. The tests showed that stiffness of the support stiffeners in the web-corrugated girders had an impact on the size of pre- and post-buckling resistance zones, which consequently reduced the zone of post-buckling resistance. Because the initiated loss of stability of the corrugated-web girders is an irreversible and rapid process, and the resulting displacements in the non-linear area are permanent, the application of the post-buckling resistance zone in practice can be troublesome. From the standpoint of the structural reliability, however, the post-buckling zone provides a yield delay, i.e. it may be regarded as a safety margin. Therefore, its most possible reduction is required.

The article draws attention to certain aspects of calculating the width of cracks and stresses in composite elements under bending, in which the slab is located in the tension zone. If semi-rigid joints are used in the element, in which the beam is attached to the column by bolts, two types of areas should be distinct in which the reinforcement stresses will be calculated in a different way. The method of calculating stresses in reinforcement will depend on the type of a used joint or on the distance of the considered cross-section from the semi-rigid joint. In order to distinguish the method of calculating stresses in the paper, two areas were introduced: specifically area B and area D. Area B will be the area where the principle of flat sections can be applied, and stresses in the reinforcement are determined using the classical theory by adding the component responsible for the tension stiffening phenomenon. Area D is the area in the vicinity of the semi-rigid joint, where the principle of flat sections cannot be applied. To calculate stresses, consider the balance of joints using the available models of the semi-rigid joint, in particular the spring model. The paper presents the formulas for calculating stresses in the D area for two types semi-rigid joints: joint with a flush end-plate with 2 rows of bolts are used and joint with an extended end-plate with 3 rows of bolts are used.