Approved projects

CNPq - Nº. 22/2024 - MCTI/FNDCT CNPq 

Knowledge Brazil Program - Support for Network Projects with Brazilian Researchers Abroad 

Value: R$ 358.000,00

FAPEMIG - Nº. 001/2023 - Universal call

Investigation of the structural behavior of steel and concrete hollow composite beams with external prestressing.

Value: R$ 99.905,00

CNPq - Nº. 010/2023 - Universal call

Structural behavior of high-strength steel and concrete composite hollow beams with external prestressing.

Project : Structural behaviour of high-strength steel-concrete alveolar beams prestressed with external tendons

Grant number: 404719/2023-6

Abstract: The use of the prestressing technique, already established in concrete structures, associated with steel-concrete composite alveolar beams makes it possible to overcome larger spans, meeting operational and architectural requirements. Furthermore, it is an interesting technique for reinforcing and recovering existing structures. With the increase in the resistance capacity of the structure provided by the use of prestressing, it is possible to reduce the dimensions of the steel profiles, thus obtaining material savings. On the other hand, employing high-strength steels, those with a yield strength equal to or greater than 460 MPa, is justified for economic and sustainable reasons. Less material is needed to perform the same functions as common steels. Other advantages are related to corrosion resistance, durability, and lower maintenance requirements. The present project aims to investigate the structural behavior of simply supported high-strength steel-concrete composite alveolar beams with external tendons under positive bending moment. For this task, a finite element model based on tests of steel-concrete composite beams with external tendons since there are no tests specifically on high-strength steel-concrete composite alveolar beams with external tendons, will be developed. A parametric study will be conducted to assess the influence of the following variables: cable positioning, initial prestressing force, geometry of the alveolar beams, steel strength, and span length. The study will also examine the crack pattern in concrete slabs under service loads. The results of the ultimate bending moment from the numerical models will be compared with adapted analytical procedures. Finally, an analytical procedure will be presented to predict the load-carrying capacity of high-strength steel-concrete composite alveolar beams with external tendons. This research will contribute to the development and industrialization of the civil construction industry.

Value: R$ 64.340,00

CNPq - Nº. 064/2022 - AWS

Project : Artificial intelligence for analysis of composite steel-concrete structures

Grant number: 421785/2022-5

Abstract: The development of optimized structural systems that use more resistant, more durable, and ecologically more viable materials is urgent, given the reduced availability of natural resources and, consequently, the increase in the final cost of infrastructure works. In this context, the development of composite structural floors of steel and concrete, which are made up of High-Strength Steel (HSS) micro-alloyed with niobium and Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), is an innovative solution that revolutionizes the engineering solutions used in infrastructure projects in Brazil. Thus, there is a need to develop experimental and mainly numerical analyzes for a better understanding of the structural behavior of this structural system. For this, parametric studies will be developed via numerical extrapolation, where variations in the geometry of the structural elements and the mechanical characteristics of the materials involved will be analyzed. This parametric study will be developed via numerical analysis software and will be carried out using machines with high processing power. Thus, the possibility of using cloud computing platforms becomes a fundamental tool. Furthermore, with the development of parametric simulations, an extensive volume of data on the behavior of the proposed structural solution will be obtained. Thus, based on these data, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) can be developed, trained, validated, and applied, providing practical formulations e software that are easy to use in the technical environment. Therefore, the development of this project will provide advances and the development of optimized structural solutions for application in Brazilian infrastructure works, which is in line with Line 3: Production Technologies Area (Industry; Agribusiness; Communications; Infrastructure; and Services) of CNPq/AWS 64/2022. 

Value: R$ 490.000,00

CNPq - Nº. 023/2022 - InovaNiobio

Project : Alveolar high-strength steel (Fe-Nb) profiles in high-performance steel-concrete composite structures for infrastructure buildings

Grant number: 408498/2022-6

Abstract: The composite steel and concrete elements are obtained by associating a steel profile with a structural concrete element that work together. The use of alveolar profiles makes it possible to reduce the structure weight and increase its flexural strength, contributing to the industrialization of civil construction. High Strength Steel (HSS) and Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) give structural advantages to composite structures, such as increased strength, and economic and sustainable advantages, since it reduces material consumption and, consequently, the emission of CO2. In this context, niobium (Nb) micro alloyed HSSs boost such advantages. Nb application improves strength, enhancing toughness, impact, high temperature, and corrosion behavior. Nb micro alloyed AAR are steels whose properties were modified by adding a small amount of Nb (less than 0.10%). The economic benefits of using small additions of Nb improve the mechanical properties. Tests show that Nb micro-alloyed steels (0.05%) generate a 39% increase in yield strength, 23% in tensile strength, and 55% in toughness. Like the HSS, the UHPC allows for an increase in strength, durability, and a reduction in material consumption. Thus, the studies will be developed experimentally and numerically (Abaqus), where composite beams will be evaluated, showing the advantages of using HSS and UHPC compared to traditional materials. Therefore, the objective is to investigate composite elements constituted by Nb micro alloyed HSS profiles and UHPC concrete elements applied in commercial and residential buildings, bridges, and viaducts. Therefore, it is believed that the project brings innovation in civil construction from structural, economic, and sustainable points of view.

Value: R$ 1.338.000,00

CNPq - Nº. 18/2021 - CNPq/MCTI/FNDCT

Project : Assessment of alveolar steel-concrete composite slabs with FRC and FRRAC

Grant number: 403900/2021-2

Abstract: The project focuses on conventional composite floors formed by I profiles with sequential web openings (alveolar profiles) with different types of slabs in conventional concrete, fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) and fiber reinforced concrete recycled aggregates (FRCRA). The use of precast hollow core and composite slabs increases execution speed. On other hand, the use of alveolar profiles allows for a reduction in the structure's own weight, an increase in the bending resistance and your use is quite recent and innovative. Thus, the association of these two elements (alveolar profiles and slabs) provides a great potential for the industrialization of civil construction, bringing economic and sustainable advantages, especially with the use of recycled aggregates. The study of steel-concrete composite alveolar beams is scarcer, especially when it comes to profiles with sinusoidal web openings associated with FRC and FRCRA slabs. The constitutive model of FRC and FRCRA will be obtained by tensile strength, compression and fiber pullout tests. The latter is used to obtain FRC residual stresses with a portable experimental apparatus. Thus, the project aims to investigate the behavior of steel-concrete composite alveolar beams with FRC and FRCRA, emphasizing the flexural resistance, analyzing possible buckling phenomena via Abaqus. For analyses with physical nonlinearities, phenomenological models or models from the homogenization of the microstructure with a multi-scale approach may be used. Therefore, via an extensive parametric analysis, the influence of physical and geometric parameters will be determined, considering the composite alveolar beams submitted to positive and negative bending moments. So, it will be possible to develop practical procedures to predict the resistance capacity of this structural system by the use of artificial neural networks (ANN), thus contributing to the development and innovation of civil construction

Value: R$ 95.432,00

CNPq - Nº. 009/2020 - Universal call

Analysis of steel-concrete floors with hollow beams in negative moment regions

Value: R$ 39.600,00