Modern high-strength steels achieve their strength exclusively through the manufacturing process, as the chemical composition of these steels is very similar to the composition of standard-quality steels. Typically, hot-dip galvanizing is used to form a protective zinc layer on the steel parts of structures; nonetheless, the material is exposed to high temperatures during the process. With high-strength steels, this can lead to deterioration of the mechanical properties. This study aims to experimentally examine and evaluate the extent of deterioration of the mechanical properties of high-strength-steel members. The effect was studied on specimens made of three different types of steel with the yield strength ranging from 460 to 1250 MPa. For each type of steel, selected mechanical properties—yield strength, tensile strength, and hardness—were determined on specimens with and without hot-dip galvanization, and the obtained results were mutually compared. Our study shows a significant impact of the hot-dip galvanization process on the mechanical properties of some high-strength steels. With the studied types of steel, the yield strength decreased by up to 18%, the tensile strength by up to 13%, and the hardness by up to 55%.

The subject of the paper is a description of a simple test from the field of terminal ballistics and the handling of issues arising during its simulation using the numerical techniques of the finite element method. With regard to the possible excessive reshaping of the finite element mesh there is a danger that problems will arise such as the locking of elements or the appearance of negative volumes. It is often necessary to introduce numerical extensions so that the simulations can be carried out at all. When examining local damage to structures, such as the penetration of the outer shell or its perforation, it is almost essential to introduce the numerical erosion of elements into the simulations. However, when using numerical erosion, the dissipation of matter and energy from the computational model occurs in the mathematical background to the calculation. It is a phenomenon which can reveal itself in the final result when a discrepancy appears between the simulations and the experiments. This issue can be solved by transforming the eroded elements into smoothed particle hydrodynamics particles. These newly created particles can then assume the characteristics of the original elements and preserve the matter and energy of the numerical model.

The main focus of the paper is the analysis of the influence of residual stress on the ultimate limit state of a hot‐rolled member in compression. The member was modelled using thin‐walled elements of type SHELL 181 and meshed in the programme ANSYS. Geometrical and material non‐linear analysis was used. The influence of residual stress was studied using variance‐based sensitivity analysis. In order to obtain more general results, the non‐dimensional slenderness was selected as a study parameter. Comparison of the influence of the residual stress with the influence of other dominant imperfections is illustrated in the conclusion of the paper. All input random variables were considered according to results of experimental research.

This contribution aims to describe the process of the inverse identification of the parameters of a nonlinear material model from experimentally obtained data. This process takes place with the aid of approaches utilizing optimization procedures based on population methods which are currently implemented in the ANSYS Workbench environment. The input data for the described numerical procedure took the form of the points of a load-displacement curve which was measured during the performance of a three-point bending test on a concrete beam. This experiment was numerically simulated via the finite element method with the use of the Menétrey-Willam nonlinear material model. Great attention is paid to the description of the sensitivity analysis and the parameter correlation performed with the utilization of a programmed script that enables the correct understanding of the used material model. Emphasis is therefore placed on the analysis of individual parameters whose understanding and correct setting have a significant influence on the convergence of the nonlinear solution. The basic principle of the identification by optimization is the minimization of the difference between experimentally and numerically obtained load-displacement curves. However, the problem is how to formulate this difference as precise as possible because the right choice of objective function is crucial for achieving the optimum. One possible way is to use the root-mean-squared error that is often used for evaluation of accuracy of economy or weather mathematical models. The text also deals with the possibility of a reduction in the design vector according to the results of sensitivity analysis and shows how this reduction affects the accuracy of the sought parameters. The contribution provides another view on the utilization of optimization algorithms in the area of the design of safe and effective structures

Stainless-steel elements are increasingly used in a wide range of load-bearing structures due to their strength, minimal maintenance requirements, and aesthetic appearance. Their response differs from standard steels; therefore, it is necessary to choose a different procedure when creating a correct computational model. Seven groups of numerical models differing in the used formulation of elements integration, mesh density localization, nonlinear material model, and initial geometric imperfection were calibrated. The results of these advanced simulations were validated with published results obtained by an extensive experimental approach on circular hollow sections columns. With regard to the different slenderness of the cross-sections, the influence of the initial imperfection in the form of global and local loss of stability on the response was studied. Responses of all models were validated by comparing the averaged normalized ultimate loads and the averaged normalized deflections with experimentally obtained results.