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Steel Construction Published the List of Highly Influential Articles of 2020
2026 Vol. 41, No. 9
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2026, 41(9): 1-13.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26082345
Abstract
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Abstract:
Metal-faced sandwich panels， as high-performance building envelope components， have been widely used in various applications. To investigate their in-service performance under extreme climatic conditions， this study was conducted based on the engineering background of the Antarctic Qinling Station， formerly known as the Ross Sea Hub Station. By combining experimental testing and finite element simulation， the lateral resistance， wind resistance， fire resistance， and thermal performance of stainless-steel-faced polyurethane sandwich panels were systematically evaluated under extremely low temperatures and strong wind conditions. The results showed that the sandwich panel walls exhibited considerable inter-story deformation capacity， with no severe damage observed at an inter-story drift angle of 1/100. The roof panels resisted a wind uplift exceeding 10 kPa， while the wall panels resisted a wind pressure exceeding 5 kPa， demonstrating good load-bearing and deformation performance. Additionally， the polyurethane core achieved a B1 fire rating， and the wall panels showed excellent fire resistance. Furthermore， the sandwich panels exhibited outstanding thermal insulation performance with a low heat transfer coefficient， and the joint detailing effectively eliminated thermal bridging at the connections.
Metal-faced sandwich panels， as high-performance building envelope components， have been widely used in various applications. To investigate their in-service performance under extreme climatic conditions， this study was conducted based on the engineering background of the Antarctic Qinling Station， formerly known as the Ross Sea Hub Station. By combining experimental testing and finite element simulation， the lateral resistance， wind resistance， fire resistance， and thermal performance of stainless-steel-faced polyurethane sandwich panels were systematically evaluated under extremely low temperatures and strong wind conditions. The results showed that the sandwich panel walls exhibited considerable inter-story deformation capacity， with no severe damage observed at an inter-story drift angle of 1/100. The roof panels resisted a wind uplift exceeding 10 kPa， while the wall panels resisted a wind pressure exceeding 5 kPa， demonstrating good load-bearing and deformation performance. Additionally， the polyurethane core achieved a B1 fire rating， and the wall panels showed excellent fire resistance. Furthermore， the sandwich panels exhibited outstanding thermal insulation performance with a low heat transfer coefficient， and the joint detailing effectively eliminated thermal bridging at the connections.
2026, 41(9): 14-20.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26090345
Abstract:
Steel structures have become a critical structural form in China’s engineering construction sector， owing to their lightweight and high-strength properties， excellent seismic performance， environmental friendliness， and suitability for industrialized construction. This paper systematically reviews the current development status of China’s steel structure industry， analyzing its production scale， enterprise composition， regional distribution， and steel consumption characteristics. It also investigates the compositional features and key influencing factors of carbon emissions from steel structure manufacturing and proposes technical pathways for carbon emission reduction. On this basis， the connotations and implementation pathways for the high-quality development of the steel structure industry are explored from multiple dimensions. This study indicates that the steel structure industry has transitioned from a phase of rapid growth to one of high-quality development. Through technological innovation in green and low-carbon practices and industrial transformation and upgrading， the strategic goals of the Steel Structure 2035 Action Plan are expected to be achieved.
Steel structures have become a critical structural form in China’s engineering construction sector， owing to their lightweight and high-strength properties， excellent seismic performance， environmental friendliness， and suitability for industrialized construction. This paper systematically reviews the current development status of China’s steel structure industry， analyzing its production scale， enterprise composition， regional distribution， and steel consumption characteristics. It also investigates the compositional features and key influencing factors of carbon emissions from steel structure manufacturing and proposes technical pathways for carbon emission reduction. On this basis， the connotations and implementation pathways for the high-quality development of the steel structure industry are explored from multiple dimensions. This study indicates that the steel structure industry has transitioned from a phase of rapid growth to one of high-quality development. Through technological innovation in green and low-carbon practices and industrial transformation and upgrading， the strategic goals of the Steel Structure 2035 Action Plan are expected to be achieved.
2026, 41(9): 21-32.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26082545
Abstract:
Facing the severe challenges that extremely complex environments （e.g.， deep-sea， deep-underground， and polar regions） pose to the service performance of steel structures， this paper systematically reviews the development status in China and abroad in terms of policy systems， scientific research， and standards and specifications. A medium- and long-term development framework centered on the integration of “materials—design—operation and maintenance” is proposed， with long-term targets defined as the establishment of a steel material spectrum， the development of resilient design methods， and the realization of life-cycle intelligent operation and maintenance. Four development pathways are proposed： demand-driven engineering demonstration， standard and institutional support， digital and intelligent transformation， and intelligent monitoring network construction. Looking forward， priority technologies are proposed， including multi-scale alloy design， high-performance steel structural systems for extremely complex environments， multi-physics coupled simulation and comprehensive testing platforms for complex environments， intelligent sensing of steel performance degradation， and structure-adaptive operation and maintenance strategies. Technology validation and standardization are promoted through nine typical engineering demonstrations in deep-sea， deep-space， deep-underground， and polar regions， thereby supporting the construction of major national projects and enhancing international competitiveness.
Facing the severe challenges that extremely complex environments （e.g.， deep-sea， deep-underground， and polar regions） pose to the service performance of steel structures， this paper systematically reviews the development status in China and abroad in terms of policy systems， scientific research， and standards and specifications. A medium- and long-term development framework centered on the integration of “materials—design—operation and maintenance” is proposed， with long-term targets defined as the establishment of a steel material spectrum， the development of resilient design methods， and the realization of life-cycle intelligent operation and maintenance. Four development pathways are proposed： demand-driven engineering demonstration， standard and institutional support， digital and intelligent transformation， and intelligent monitoring network construction. Looking forward， priority technologies are proposed， including multi-scale alloy design， high-performance steel structural systems for extremely complex environments， multi-physics coupled simulation and comprehensive testing platforms for complex environments， intelligent sensing of steel performance degradation， and structure-adaptive operation and maintenance strategies. Technology validation and standardization are promoted through nine typical engineering demonstrations in deep-sea， deep-space， deep-underground， and polar regions， thereby supporting the construction of major national projects and enhancing international competitiveness.
2026, 41(9): 33-41.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26090846
Abstract:
Concrete-filled steel tubular （CFST） frame-core tube structures， which combine the excellent compressive performance of CFST members with the substantial lateral stiffness of the core tube system， have been widely used in modern high-rise buildings. This paper presents a systematic review of research progress on the seismic performance of this structural system. First， the key influencing factors and enhancement measures for the seismic performance of core tube components are summarized from four aspects： reinforced concrete shear walls， steel plate shear walls， steel-concrete composite shear walls， and double-steel-plate concrete composite shear walls. Second， the seismic performance of various types of coupling beams—including reinforced concrete coupling beams， steel coupling beams， and composite coupling beams—along with their associated coupled shear walls， is reviewed. Third， the state-of-the-art studies on the overall seismic performance of CFST frame-core tube structures are outlined at three levels： model testing and simulation， full-scale structural seismic analysis， and seismic fragility assessment. Furthermore， the major limitations in existing studies are identified. Finally， critical issues that warrant further in-depth investigation are discussed. The analysis indicates that current seismic studies on frame-core tube structures are predominantly based on elastoplastic analysis， and seismic design mainly relies on energy dissipation through coupling beams， whereas shear walls and frame beams/columns exhibit low energy dissipation capacity and are not designed as primary energy-dissipating members. To satisfy the requirement of "strong wall piers， weak coupling beams"， the oversized sections adopted for shear walls and frame columns compromise building space utilization efficiency. Future efforts should focus on developing plastic analysis models for structural seismic performance， enhancing the energy dissipation capacity of critical components， and achieving structural "slimming" by strengthening the collaborative energy-dissipation mechanisms among key load-carrying members.
Concrete-filled steel tubular （CFST） frame-core tube structures， which combine the excellent compressive performance of CFST members with the substantial lateral stiffness of the core tube system， have been widely used in modern high-rise buildings. This paper presents a systematic review of research progress on the seismic performance of this structural system. First， the key influencing factors and enhancement measures for the seismic performance of core tube components are summarized from four aspects： reinforced concrete shear walls， steel plate shear walls， steel-concrete composite shear walls， and double-steel-plate concrete composite shear walls. Second， the seismic performance of various types of coupling beams—including reinforced concrete coupling beams， steel coupling beams， and composite coupling beams—along with their associated coupled shear walls， is reviewed. Third， the state-of-the-art studies on the overall seismic performance of CFST frame-core tube structures are outlined at three levels： model testing and simulation， full-scale structural seismic analysis， and seismic fragility assessment. Furthermore， the major limitations in existing studies are identified. Finally， critical issues that warrant further in-depth investigation are discussed. The analysis indicates that current seismic studies on frame-core tube structures are predominantly based on elastoplastic analysis， and seismic design mainly relies on energy dissipation through coupling beams， whereas shear walls and frame beams/columns exhibit low energy dissipation capacity and are not designed as primary energy-dissipating members. To satisfy the requirement of "strong wall piers， weak coupling beams"， the oversized sections adopted for shear walls and frame columns compromise building space utilization efficiency. Future efforts should focus on developing plastic analysis models for structural seismic performance， enhancing the energy dissipation capacity of critical components， and achieving structural "slimming" by strengthening the collaborative energy-dissipation mechanisms among key load-carrying members.
2026, 41(9): 42-56.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26071145
Abstract:
Wire-fed metal additive manufacturing has demonstrated considerable potential for the fabrication of structural components in civil engineering because of its high deposition efficiency， high material utilization， and limited constraints on component dimensions. Demonstrative applications have been reported in a variety of engineering scenarios， including bridges， braces， structural joints， and lightweight steel structures. During wire-fed metal additive manufacturing， path planning is a critical factor affecting the surface forming quality， heat-input distribution， and mechanical properties of fabricated components. It involves several key stages， including deposition-geometry control， geometric modelling， slicing， toolpath generation， and process-parameter regulation. To systematically elucidate the fundamental principles of wire-fed metal additive manufacturing and its recent advances in engineering structures， this paper reviews existing research on path-planning methods， summarizes the latest structural engineering applications， and provides recommendations for future research and practical implementation.
Wire-fed metal additive manufacturing has demonstrated considerable potential for the fabrication of structural components in civil engineering because of its high deposition efficiency， high material utilization， and limited constraints on component dimensions. Demonstrative applications have been reported in a variety of engineering scenarios， including bridges， braces， structural joints， and lightweight steel structures. During wire-fed metal additive manufacturing， path planning is a critical factor affecting the surface forming quality， heat-input distribution， and mechanical properties of fabricated components. It involves several key stages， including deposition-geometry control， geometric modelling， slicing， toolpath generation， and process-parameter regulation. To systematically elucidate the fundamental principles of wire-fed metal additive manufacturing and its recent advances in engineering structures， this paper reviews existing research on path-planning methods， summarizes the latest structural engineering applications， and provides recommendations for future research and practical implementation.
2026, 41(9): 57-70.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26083045
Abstract:
With advances in building science and engineering technology， a variety of novel spatial structures have emerged and been applied in engineering practice. Structural testing is essential for verifying the rationality and safety of novel structural systems and for promoting the development of structural theory. Static tests of spatial structures typically involve numerous loading points， large loading areas， and complex loading cases. The appropriate selection of loading devices and methods is therefore critical to ensuring accurate and reliable test results. This paper systematically reviews basic loading methods， including gravity loading， mechanical loading， hydraulic jack loading， pneumatic loading， and cable-pulley force transmission loading. It also discusses electro-hydraulic closed-loop loading and multi-channel coordinated control technologies， and introduces emerging technologies such as the automatic synchronous loading system for spatial lattices， the reconfigurable loading device for spatial joints， and the prefabricated modular reaction and loading platform. These loading methods and technologies are compared in terms of their operating principles， device configurations， typical applications， and applicable scope. Finally， future trends in static loading technologies for spatial structures are discussed to provide a reference for loading scheme design and device selection in static tests of various spatial structures.
With advances in building science and engineering technology， a variety of novel spatial structures have emerged and been applied in engineering practice. Structural testing is essential for verifying the rationality and safety of novel structural systems and for promoting the development of structural theory. Static tests of spatial structures typically involve numerous loading points， large loading areas， and complex loading cases. The appropriate selection of loading devices and methods is therefore critical to ensuring accurate and reliable test results. This paper systematically reviews basic loading methods， including gravity loading， mechanical loading， hydraulic jack loading， pneumatic loading， and cable-pulley force transmission loading. It also discusses electro-hydraulic closed-loop loading and multi-channel coordinated control technologies， and introduces emerging technologies such as the automatic synchronous loading system for spatial lattices， the reconfigurable loading device for spatial joints， and the prefabricated modular reaction and loading platform. These loading methods and technologies are compared in terms of their operating principles， device configurations， typical applications， and applicable scope. Finally， future trends in static loading technologies for spatial structures are discussed to provide a reference for loading scheme design and device selection in static tests of various spatial structures.
2026, 41(9): 71-78.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26071645
Abstract:
Aiming at industrialized intelligent construction， a long-span fully assembled high-strength H-section steel suspen-dome structure and its associated bolted joints connecting hollow spheres to H-section steel members were proposed， enabling on-site modular rapid assembly and detachability. To address the bolt assembly tolerance issues in the practical application of the fully assembled structure， a joint tolerance control method based on the provision of slotted holes was proposed. By arranging slotted holes in the L-shaped connectors and cover plates， the assembly deviation between the connecting plates and end plates can be accommodated. Finite element models of the joint were established to analyze the influence of slotted holes on the mechanical properties of the joint splicing zone. A random defect generation model based on simple random sampling without replacement was developed to investigate the stability and seismic performance of the fully assembled structure under different defect distribution levels. The defect reduction coefficient of stability capacity and the dynamic response amplification coefficient were defined to quantitatively evaluate the effect of assembly tolerance on structural performance. The results indicate that the introduction of slotted holes affects the initial stiffness and bearing capacity of the joint by less than 3%， mainly influencing the slip stage length on the moment-rotation curve of the joint. The tolerance control method affects the stability capacity of the fully assembled structure within 2.15%， and the maximum influence on dynamic responses is 3.53%， with the overall influence not exceeding 3.6%， thus validating the effectiveness of the proposed tolerance control method.
Aiming at industrialized intelligent construction， a long-span fully assembled high-strength H-section steel suspen-dome structure and its associated bolted joints connecting hollow spheres to H-section steel members were proposed， enabling on-site modular rapid assembly and detachability. To address the bolt assembly tolerance issues in the practical application of the fully assembled structure， a joint tolerance control method based on the provision of slotted holes was proposed. By arranging slotted holes in the L-shaped connectors and cover plates， the assembly deviation between the connecting plates and end plates can be accommodated. Finite element models of the joint were established to analyze the influence of slotted holes on the mechanical properties of the joint splicing zone. A random defect generation model based on simple random sampling without replacement was developed to investigate the stability and seismic performance of the fully assembled structure under different defect distribution levels. The defect reduction coefficient of stability capacity and the dynamic response amplification coefficient were defined to quantitatively evaluate the effect of assembly tolerance on structural performance. The results indicate that the introduction of slotted holes affects the initial stiffness and bearing capacity of the joint by less than 3%， mainly influencing the slip stage length on the moment-rotation curve of the joint. The tolerance control method affects the stability capacity of the fully assembled structure within 2.15%， and the maximum influence on dynamic responses is 3.53%， with the overall influence not exceeding 3.6%， thus validating the effectiveness of the proposed tolerance control method.
2026, 41(9): 79-85.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26081445
Abstract:
This paper presents a brief review of the latest design provisions for tapered members in portal frames used in the United States and China. AISC Design Guide 25， published in 2011， completely abandoned the design approach developed during 1966-1981 that had been adopted in earlier AISC specifications. It established an entirely new approach. In China， the earlier specification CECS 102：2002 was replaced by the national standard GB 51022-2015. The stability design approach in the Chinese standard is more consistent with the actual behavior of portal frames. The rotational restraint provided by fly braces to the compressive flange of the rafter is given by explicit formulas. Accordingly， the torsional buckling check about a fixed axis of rotation becomes the governing stability check for portal frame rafters. In addition， under combined axial force and bending moment， the internal forces and stresses are calculated at the same cross-section， which appears more rational.
This paper presents a brief review of the latest design provisions for tapered members in portal frames used in the United States and China. AISC Design Guide 25， published in 2011， completely abandoned the design approach developed during 1966-1981 that had been adopted in earlier AISC specifications. It established an entirely new approach. In China， the earlier specification CECS 102：2002 was replaced by the national standard GB 51022-2015. The stability design approach in the Chinese standard is more consistent with the actual behavior of portal frames. The rotational restraint provided by fly braces to the compressive flange of the rafter is given by explicit formulas. Accordingly， the torsional buckling check about a fixed axis of rotation becomes the governing stability check for portal frame rafters. In addition， under combined axial force and bending moment， the internal forces and stresses are calculated at the same cross-section， which appears more rational.
2026, 41(9): 86-99.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26080545
Abstract:
Thermal effects significantly influence the safety and durability of super-long and large-span structures. In recent years， substantial progress has been made in both theoretical research and engineering practice in this field. The temperature rise of steel components directly exposed to solar radiation is closely related to various factors， including solar radiation intensity and the solar radiation absorption coefficient. Accurately determining the initial temperature distribution across various parts of a super-long and large-span structure， based on the variation patterns of indoor and outdoor temperatures during both the construction and service stages， is fundamental to the effective analysis of thermal effects. Real-time monitoring of temperature and stress in large and complex structural engineering projects provides a reliable basis for verifying the accuracy of thermal effect calculation methods. Reliability index analyses of the partial factors and combination coefficients for thermal effects specified in Chinese design codes have promoted related research on combination coefficients and reliability indices for combined thermal and seismic actions. Drawing on the extensive experience in building structural design and research， this paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in both theoretical research and engineering practice concerning thermal effects in super-long and large-span structures， both in China and abroad. Finally， future research directions and development prospects in the field of thermal effects are discussed.
Thermal effects significantly influence the safety and durability of super-long and large-span structures. In recent years， substantial progress has been made in both theoretical research and engineering practice in this field. The temperature rise of steel components directly exposed to solar radiation is closely related to various factors， including solar radiation intensity and the solar radiation absorption coefficient. Accurately determining the initial temperature distribution across various parts of a super-long and large-span structure， based on the variation patterns of indoor and outdoor temperatures during both the construction and service stages， is fundamental to the effective analysis of thermal effects. Real-time monitoring of temperature and stress in large and complex structural engineering projects provides a reliable basis for verifying the accuracy of thermal effect calculation methods. Reliability index analyses of the partial factors and combination coefficients for thermal effects specified in Chinese design codes have promoted related research on combination coefficients and reliability indices for combined thermal and seismic actions. Drawing on the extensive experience in building structural design and research， this paper presents a comprehensive review of recent advances in both theoretical research and engineering practice concerning thermal effects in super-long and large-span structures， both in China and abroad. Finally， future research directions and development prospects in the field of thermal effects are discussed.
2026, 41(9): 100-112.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26090145
Abstract:
Localized plastic deformation followed by fracture is an important failure mode of steel structures， and its accurate prediction requires a full-range constitutive model together with a fracture model capable of accounting for complex stress states. Under static loading， methods for determining the true stress-true strain relationship over the full response of structural steels， from yielding and strain hardening up to fracture initiation， were systematically discussed. Before necking， the true stress-true strain relationship can be directly converted from the engineering stress-strain relationship. After necking， the Generalised Post-Necking （GPN） model was proposed， which ensures a continuously differentiable response at the onset of necking and allows the degree of reduction in the post-necking strain-hardening modulus with increasing plastic strain to be flexibly controlled. With only two parameters， it can describe the post-necking hardening behavior of various grades of steel. In addition， a direct method for determining the GPN model parameters was established. Under high strain rates， a pronounced strain-rate hardening effect was demonstrated over the full stress-strain response of structural steels， and this effect decreased as plastic strain developed. Accordingly， a Strain-Dependent Dynamic Increase Factor （SD-DIF） model was proposed. The model has a concise form and provides higher predictive accuracy than conventional models in which the strain-rate effect is decoupled from plastic strain. Regarding fracture initiation under complex stress states， stress triaxiality and the Lode angle parameter were adopted to characterize the stress state at a material point， and their effects on fracture strain were revealed. By incorporating the Lode angle effect into the Void Growth Model （VGM）， a Lode-angle Modified VGM （LMVGM） was developed， in which a three-parameter exponential formulation provides a unified description of the effects of stress triaxiality and the Lode angle parameter on fracture strain. Macroscopic tests and microstructural characterization under combined high strain rates and complex stress states revealed a pronounced coupled effect between strain rate and stress state， with both the magnitude and the trend of the strain-rate effect depending on the stress state. Based on this finding， a dynamic factor for fracture strain that simultaneously depends on strain rate， stress triaxiality， and the Lode angle parameter was introduced into the LMVGM， leading to a Coupled Dynamic LMVGM （CD-LMVGM）. The model can simultaneously capture the positive strain-rate effect under tension-dominated stress states and the negative strain-rate effect under shear-dominated stress states， while maintaining consistently high predictive accuracy for the fracture behavior of different materials.
Localized plastic deformation followed by fracture is an important failure mode of steel structures， and its accurate prediction requires a full-range constitutive model together with a fracture model capable of accounting for complex stress states. Under static loading， methods for determining the true stress-true strain relationship over the full response of structural steels， from yielding and strain hardening up to fracture initiation， were systematically discussed. Before necking， the true stress-true strain relationship can be directly converted from the engineering stress-strain relationship. After necking， the Generalised Post-Necking （GPN） model was proposed， which ensures a continuously differentiable response at the onset of necking and allows the degree of reduction in the post-necking strain-hardening modulus with increasing plastic strain to be flexibly controlled. With only two parameters， it can describe the post-necking hardening behavior of various grades of steel. In addition， a direct method for determining the GPN model parameters was established. Under high strain rates， a pronounced strain-rate hardening effect was demonstrated over the full stress-strain response of structural steels， and this effect decreased as plastic strain developed. Accordingly， a Strain-Dependent Dynamic Increase Factor （SD-DIF） model was proposed. The model has a concise form and provides higher predictive accuracy than conventional models in which the strain-rate effect is decoupled from plastic strain. Regarding fracture initiation under complex stress states， stress triaxiality and the Lode angle parameter were adopted to characterize the stress state at a material point， and their effects on fracture strain were revealed. By incorporating the Lode angle effect into the Void Growth Model （VGM）， a Lode-angle Modified VGM （LMVGM） was developed， in which a three-parameter exponential formulation provides a unified description of the effects of stress triaxiality and the Lode angle parameter on fracture strain. Macroscopic tests and microstructural characterization under combined high strain rates and complex stress states revealed a pronounced coupled effect between strain rate and stress state， with both the magnitude and the trend of the strain-rate effect depending on the stress state. Based on this finding， a dynamic factor for fracture strain that simultaneously depends on strain rate， stress triaxiality， and the Lode angle parameter was introduced into the LMVGM， leading to a Coupled Dynamic LMVGM （CD-LMVGM）. The model can simultaneously capture the positive strain-rate effect under tension-dominated stress states and the negative strain-rate effect under shear-dominated stress states， while maintaining consistently high predictive accuracy for the fracture behavior of different materials.
2026, 41(9): 113-120.
doi: 10.13206/j.gjgS26091145
Abstract:
Metal roofing has become a primary form of roof cladding system in modern industrial and civil buildings. Its wind resistance is a key technical issue that must be addressed in the design and construction of metal roofing systems. This paper summarizes and compares wind load calculation methods and wind resistance test methods for metal roofing systems specified in different countries and regions. Based on the case studies， recommendations for accurately calculating wind loads are proposed to ensure the wind safety of building metal roofing systems.
Metal roofing has become a primary form of roof cladding system in modern industrial and civil buildings. Its wind resistance is a key technical issue that must be addressed in the design and construction of metal roofing systems. This paper summarizes and compares wind load calculation methods and wind resistance test methods for metal roofing systems specified in different countries and regions. Based on the case studies， recommendations for accurately calculating wind loads are proposed to ensure the wind safety of building metal roofing systems.
