• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.263-277
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• 2014

This study investigated four electric field configurations of two-dimensional accelerate lithium migration technique (ALMT), including line-to-line, plane-to-line, contour-to-line and plane-to-plane, and analyzed the ion migration behavior and efficiency. It was found that the free ion distribution diagram and voltage distribution diagram were similar, and ions migrated in the power line direction. The electrode modules were used for the mortar specimen with w/c ratio of 0.5. The effectively processed areas accounted for 14.1%, 39.0%, 49.4% and 51.4% of total area respectively on Day 28. Larger electrode area was more advantageous to ion migration. In addition, it was proved that the two-dimensional electric field could be divided into different equifield line active regions, and regarded as affected by one-dimensional electric field, and the ion migration results in various equifield line active regions were predicted by using the duration analysis method based on the theoretical model of ion migration obtained from one-dimensional test.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.475-490
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• 2008

The paper explores the potential of applicability of Genetic programming approach (GP), adopted in this investigation, to model the combined effects of five independent variables to predict the mini-slump, the plate cohesion meter, the induced bleeding test, the J-fiber penetration value, and the compressive strength at 7 and 28 days of self-compacting slurry infiltrated fiber concrete (SIFCON). The variables investigated were the proportions of limestone powder (LSP) and sand, the dosage rates of superplasticiser (SP) and viscosity modifying agent (VMA), and water-to-binder ratio (W/B). Twenty eight mixtures were made with 10-50% LSP as replacement of cement, 0.02-0.06% VMA by mass of cement, 0.6-1.2% SP and 50-150% sand (% mass of binder) and 0.42-0.48 W/B. The proposed genetic models of the self-compacting SIFCON offer useful modelling approach regarding the mix optimisation in predicting the fluidity, the cohesion, the bleeding, the penetration, and the compressive strength.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.567-577
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• 2017

This study presents investigation of the behavior of moderately thick reinforced concrete slabs having hollow cores with different parameters. The experimental part of this investigation includes testing eight specimens of solid and hollow-core slab models having (2.05 m) length, (0.6 m) width and (25 cm) thickness under two monotonic line loads. Load versus deflection was recorded during test at mid span and under load. Numerically, the finite element method is used to study the behavior of these reinforced concrete slabs by using ANSYS computer program. The specimens of slab models are modeled by using (SOLID65) element to represent concrete slabs and (LINK180) element to represent the steel bars as discrete axial members between concrete nodes. The finite element analysis has showed good agreement with the experimental results with difference of (4.71%-8.68%) in ultimate loads. A parametric study have been carried out by using ANSYS program to investigate the effects of concrete compressive strength, size and shape of core, type of applied load and effect of removing top steel reinforcement.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.431-442
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• 2013

This study attempted to find a proper method applicable to simulating practical equifield lines of two-dimensional Accelerate Lithium Migration Technique (ALMT), and evaluate the feasibility of using the theoretical ion migration model of one-dimensional ALMT to predict the ion migration behavior of two-dimensional ALMT. The result showed that the electrolyte or carbon plate can be used as matrix to draw equifield line graph similar to that by using mortar as matrix. Using electrolyte electrode module for simulation has advantages of simple production, easy measurement, rapidness, and economy. The electrolyte module can be used to simulate the equifield line distribution diagram in practical two-dimensional electrode configuration firstly. Then, several equifield line zones were marked, and several subzones under one-dimensional ALMT were separated from various equifield line zones. The theoretical free content distribution of alkali in concrete under two-dimensional electric field effect could be obtained from duration analysis.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.175-194
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• 2008

Increasingly numerical (finite element) modeling of concrete hinges on our ability to develop a representative volume element with all its heterogeneity properly discretized. Yet, despite all the sophistication of the ensuing numerical models, the initial discretization has been for the most part simplistic. Whenever the heterogeneity of the concrete is to be accounted for, a mesh is often manually crafted through the arbitrary inclusion of the particles (aggregates and/or voids) in an ad-hoc manner. This paper develops a mathematical strategy to precisely address this limitation. Algorithms for the random generation and placement of elliptical (2D) or ellipsoid (3D) inclusions, with possibly radiating cracks, in a virtual concrete model are presented. Collision detection algorithms are extensively used.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2017

With a special attention to the different stages of a typical loading path travelled in a fluid confined concrete test, this paper introduces a physically consistent model for the stress-strain curve of actively confined normal-strength concrete in the axial direction. The model comprises of the five elements of: (1) a criterion for the peak or failure strength, (2) an equation for the peak strain, (3) a backbone hydrostatic curve, (4) a transient hardening curve linking the point of departure from the hydrostatic curve to the failure point, and finally (5) a set of formulas for the post-peak region. Alongside, relevant details and shortcomings of existing models will be discussed in each part. Finally, the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed model have been verified in a set of simulations which compare well with the experimental results from the literature.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2018

Climate changes, such as increasing of $CO_2$ concentration and global warming, will impact on the carbonation service life of concrete structures. Moreover, slag blended concrete has a lower carbonation resistance than control concrete. This study presents a probabilistic numerical procedure for evaluating the impact of climate change on carbonation service life of slag blended concrete. This numerical procedure considers both corrosion initiation period and corrosion propagation period. First, in corrosion initiation period, by using an integrated hydration-carbonation model, the amount of carbonatable substances, porosity, and carbonation depth are calculated. The probability of corrosion initiation is determined through Monte Carlo method. Second, in corrosion propagation period, a probabilistic model is proposed to calculate the critical corrosion degree at surface cracking, the probability of surface cracking, and service life. Third, based on the service life in corrosion initiation period and corrosion propagation period, the whole service life is calculated. The analysis shows that for concrete structures with 50 years service life, after considering climate changes, the service life reduces about 7%.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1097-1112
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• 2016

Fire loading causes a critical collapse of RC (Reinforced Concrete) Structures since the embedded steels inside are relative week against high elevated temperature. Several numerical frameworks for fire resistance have been proposed, however they have limitations such as unstable convergence and long calculation period. In the work, 2-D nonlinear FE technique is proposed using Galerkin method for RC structures under fire loading. Closed-form element stiffness with a triangular element is adopted and verified with fire test on three RC slabs with different fire loading conditions. Several simulations are also performed considering fire loading conditions, water contents, and cover depth. The proposed numerical technique can handle time-dependent fire loading, convection, radiation, and material properties. The proposed technique can be improved through early-aged concrete behavior like moisture transport which varies with external temperature.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.367-376
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• 2018

This study reports the results of nondestructive monitoring of macro void developments in mortars manufactured with both ordinary Portland cement and sulfate resistant cement. Two types of curing were utilized; tap water curing and another curing environment that contains 5% $Na_2(SO_4)$ solution. Being the primary objective of this study, macro void developments of the mortar specimens were monitored by X-ray Medical Computerized Tomography. Compressive strength tests and water absorption tests were conducted on specimens that were kept in both curing environments for a duration of 560 days. Data analyses yielded consistent results among the three tests used in this experimental study. Macro void ratios of mortars decreased at the beginning of experiments for a certain period; afterwards, macro void ratios increased. The objective of this study was accomplished as anticipated since X-CT image analysis was able to nondestructively monitor macro void development process in cement mortars.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2020

Buckling and post-buckling behaviors of geometrically imperfect annular sector plates made from nanoparticle reinforced composites have been investigated. Two types of nanoparticles are considered including graphene oxide powders (GOPs) and silicone oxide (SiO₂). Nanoparticles are considered to have uniform and functionally graded distributions within the matrix and the material properties are derived using Halpin-Tsai procedure. Annular sector plate is formulated based upon thin shell theory considering geometric nonlinearity and imperfectness. After solving the governing equations via Galerkin's technique, it is showed that the post-buckling curves of annular sector plates rely on the geometric imperfection, nanoparticle type, amount of nanoparticles, sector inner/outer radius and sector open angle.