A review on modular construction for high-rise buildings

Modular steel construction (MSC) comprises off-site manufactured volumetric modules and on-site assembly, leading to reduced construction periods, improved quality, and reduced waste of resources. This environmentally friendly solution has been extensively used for low-rise buildings as an alternative to traditional on-site construction. The popularity of MSC has now spread to mid-to-high rise applications in seismic regions to meet the increasing urban construction demand, owing to its significant technical advantages. The influence of earthquake becomes critical as the height of the building increases. Hence, this paper presents a state-of-the-art review of the seismic performance of mid-to-high MSC and articulates the key technical issues. The module classification is presented as a brief introduction of MSC, followed by discussion of the structural system. Afterwards, the seismic performance of the lateral force resisting system and recent innovations on the connection system are reviewed in detail, on which the seismic performance of MSC highly depend. The global seismic response analysis methodology, characteristics, failure mode as well as the current design criteria are evaluated, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the seismic performance of MSC. Finally, the recently developed isolation systems for MSC are introduced. As a currently developing area, there is great potential for innovation in mid-to-high rise MSC. Despite progressively increasing research exploring the seismic performance of MSC, a comprehensive understanding of this topic has not been achieved, hindering the further prevalence of mid-to-high rise MSC in areas with potential seismic hazards. Given this situation, several key research areas are suggested thereupon at last, aiming to promote the further extended application of MSC in seismic regions.

Seismic performance of mid-to-high rise modular steel construction - A critical review

A study of literature in modular integrated construction - Critical review and future directions

Exploration of the multidirectional stability and response of prefabricated volumetric modular steel structures

This paper reported an experimental and numerical study of a novel brace-type hybrid damper composed of steel slit plates enhanced by the friction mechanism. A test programme including six proof-of-concept specimens was carried out. The test results showed that the specimens exhibited multiple yielding stages, and the hysteretic response curves of the specimens were dependent on geometric configurations of the steel slit plates and the clamping force of bolts. The expected energy dissipation sequence accompanied by excellent ductility of the novel hybrid damper specimens was confirmed. The ploughing effect phenomenon between the friction interfaces as evidenced by the wear of the steel plates and increasing friction force was confirmed, which contributed to enhanced friction energy dissipation of the dampers under cyclic loadings. Then, a numerical investigation was conducted to take insights into the resisting mechanism of the specimens. The adequacy of the finite element modelling techniques was justified by a good correlation between test responses and numerical simulations. The test and numerical studies demonstrated that the energy dissipation sequence as a result of the hybrid energy dissipation mechanism contributed to improving the energy dissipation capacity and ductility of the steel slit plates. To facilitate the practical design of the novel hybrid dampers, a theoretical prediction model enabling quantification of critical mechanical quantities of the novel hybrid damper was developed, and the sufficiency of the design model was justified by comparison among the test responses, numerical results, and design predictions. 

Experimental and numerical study of a brace-type hybrid damper with steel slit plates enhanced by friction mechanism

Mechanical properties of hot-rolled and cold-formed steels after exposure to elevated temperature: A review

Performance and optimum design of replaceable steel strips in an innovative metallic damper

Mechanical and seismic behaviors of bottom-flange-bolted upper-flange-welded through-diaphragm connections

Hysteretic behavior of post fire structural steels under cyclic loading

Pure torsion loading conditions were not frequently occurred in practical engineering, but the torsional researches were important since it's the basis of mechanical property researches under complex loading. Then a 3D finite element model with precise material constitutive models was established, and the effectiveness was verified with test data. Parametric studies with varying factors as steel yield strength, concrete strength and sectional height-width ratio, were performed. Internal stress state and the interaction effect between encased steel tube and the core concrete were analyzed. Results indicated that due to the confinement effect between steel tube and core concrete, the torsional strength of CFT columns was greatly improved comparing to plain concrete columns. The steel ratio would greatly influence the torque share between the steel tube and the core concrete. Then the torsional strength calculation formulas for core concrete and the whole CFT column were proposed. The proposed formula could be simpler and easier to use with guaranteed accuracy. Related design codes were more conservative than the proposed formula, but the proposed formula presented more satisfactory agreement with experimental results.

Yujie Yu

Papers

Mechanical properties of hot-rolled and cold-formed steels after exposure to elevated temperature: A review

Performance and optimum design of replaceable steel strips in an innovative metallic damper

Mechanical and seismic behaviors of bottom-flange-bolted upper-flange-welded through-diaphragm connections

Hysteretic behavior of post fire structural steels under cyclic loading

Mechanical behaviors of concrete-filled rectangular steel tubular under pure torsion