• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.211-226
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• 2004

A relatively simple multiple-vertical-line-element macro model has been incorporated into a standard computer code DRAIN-2D. It was used in blind predictions of seismic response of cantilever RC walls subjected to a series of consequent earthquakes on a shaking table. The model was able to predict predominantly flexural response with relative success. It was able to predict the stiffness and the strength of the pre-cracked specimen and time-history response of the highly nonlinear wall as well as to simulate the shift of the neutral axis and corresponding varying axial force in the cantilever wall. However, failing to identify the rupture of some brittle reinforcement in the third test, the model was not able to predict post-critical, near collapse behaviour during the subsequent response to two stronger earthquakes. The analysed macro model seems to be appropriate for global analyses of complex building structures with RC structural walls subjected to moderate/strong earthquakes. However, it cannot, by definition, be used in refined research analyses monitoring local behaviour in the post critical region.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.759-774
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• 2015

This study simulates the flexural behavior of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) beams reinforced with steel and glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars. For this, micromechanics-based modeling was first carried out on the basis of single fiber pullout models considering inclination angle. Two different tension-softening curves (TSCs) with the assumptions of 2-dimensional (2-D) and 3-dimensional (3-D) random fiber orientations were obtained from the micromechanics-based modeling, and linear elastic compressive and tensile models before the occurrence of cracks were obtained from the mechanical tests and rule of mixture. Finite element analysis incorporating smeared crack model was used due to the multiple cracking behaviors of structural UHPFRC beams, and the characteristic length of two times the element width (or two times the average crack spacing at the peak load) was suggested as a result of parametric study. Analytical results showed that the assumption of 2-D random fiber orientation is appropriate to a non-reinforced UHPFRC beam, whereas the assumption of 3-D random fiber orientation is suitable for UHPFRC beams reinforced with steel and GFRP rebars due to disorder of fiber alignment from the internal reinforcements. The micromechanics-based finite element analysis also well predicted the serviceability deflections of UHPFRC beams with GFRP rebars and hybrid reinforcements.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.2_3
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• pp.79-90
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• 2006

This paper describes the results of an investigation into high mass-low velocity impact behaviour of reinforced concrete beams. Tests have been conducted on fifteen 2.7 m or 1.5 m span beams under drop-weight loads. A high-speed video camera has been used at rates of up to 4,500 frames per second in order to record the crack formation, propagation, particle spallation and scabbing. In some tests the strain in the reinforcement has been recorded using "Durham" strain gauged bars, a technique developed by Scott and Marchand (2000) in which the strain gauges are embedded in the bars, so that the strains in the reinforcement can be recorded without affecting the bond between the concrete and the reinforcement. The impact force acting on the beams has been measured using a load cell placed within the impactor. A high-speed data logging system has been used to record the impact load, strains, accelerations, etc., so that time histories can be obtained. This research has led to the development of computational techniques based on combined continuum/discontinuum methods (finite/discrete element methods) to permit the simulation of impact loaded reinforced concrete beams. The implementation has been within the software package ELFEN (2004). Beams, similar to those tested, have been analysed using ELFEN a good agreement has been obtained for both the load-time histories and the crack patterns.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.2_3
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• pp.123-144
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• 2006

Reinforced concrete corbels are structural elements widely used in practical engineering. The complex response of these elements is described in design codes in a simplified manner. These formulations are not sufficient to show the real behavior, which, however, is an essential prerequisite for the manufacturing of numerous elements. Therefore, a deterministic and probabilistic study has been performed, which is described in this contribution. Real complex structures have been modeled by means of the finite element method supported primarily by experimental works. The main objective of this study was the detection of uncertainties effects and safety margins not captured by traditional codes. This aim could be fulfilled by statistical considerations applied to the investigated structures. The probabilistic study is based on advanced Monte Carlo simulation techniques and sophisticated nonlinear finite element formulations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.171-177
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• 2017

Water pressure test operation is used before the grouting to determine the rate of penetrability, the necessity and estimations related to grouting, by the penetration of water into the borehole. One of the parameters which have the highest effect is pressure of water penetration since the application of excessive pressure causes the hydraulic fracture to occur in the rock mass, and on the other hand, it must not be so small that prevents from seeing mechanical weaknesses and the rate of permeability. Mathematical modeling is used for the first time in this study to determine the optimum pressure. Thus, the joints that exist in the rock mass are simulated using cylindrical shell model. The joint surroundings are also modeled through Pasternak environment. To obtain equations governing the joints and the surroundings, energy method is used accompanied by Hamilton principle and an analytical solution method is used to obtain the maximum pressure. In order to validate the modeling, the pressure values obtained by the model were used in the sites of Seymareh and Aghbolagh dams and the relative error rates were measured considering the differences between calculated and actual pressures. Modeling in the sections of Seymareh dam showed 4.75, 3.93, 4.8 percent error rates and in the sections of Aghbolagh dam it rendered the values of 22.43, 5.22, 2.6 percent. The results indicate that this modeling can be used to estimate the amount of pressure for hydraulic fracture in water pressure test, to predict it and to prevent it.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.211-216
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• 2017

Crack on concrete surface allows more rapid penetration of chlorides. Crack width and depth are dominant parameters for chloride behavior, however their effects on chloride penetration are difficult to quantify. In the present work, the previous anisotropic (1-D) model on chloride diffusion in concrete with single crack is improved considering crack shape and roughness. In the previous model, parallel-piped shape was adopted for crack shape in steady-state condition. The previous model with single crack is improved considering wedge shape of crack profile and roughness. For verifying the proposed model, concrete samples for nuclear power plant are prepared and various crack widths are induced 0.0 to 1.2 mm. The chloride diffusion coefficients in steady-state condition are evaluated and compared with simulation results. The proposed model which can handle crack shape and roughness factor is evaluated to decrease chloride diffusion and can provide more reasonable results due to reduced area of crack profile. The roughness effect on diffusion is evaluated to be 10-20% of reduction in chloride diffusion.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.203-210
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• 2017

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the settlement of lightweight coarse aggregate of self-compacting lightweight concrete (SCLC) after placement of concrete on its final position. To investigate this issue, sixteen samples of concrete mixes were made. The water to cementitious materials ratios of the mixes were 0.35 and 0.4. In addition to the workability tests of self-compacting concrete (SCC) such as slump flow, V-funnel and L-box tests, a laboratory experiment was made to examine the segregation of lightweight coarse aggregate in concrete. Because of the difficulties of this test, the image processing technique of MATLAB software was used to check the segregation above too. Moreover, the fuzzy logic technique of MATLAB software was utilized to improve the clarity of the borders between the coarse aggregate and the paste of the mixtures. At the end, the results of segregation tests and software analyses are given and the accuracy of the software analyses is evaluated. It is worth noting that the minimum and maximum differences between the results of laboratory tests and software analyses were 1.2% and 9.19% respectively. It means, the results of image processing technique looks exact enough for estimating the segregation of lightweight coarse aggregate in SCLC.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.389-409
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• 2005

The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is evidently a powerful tool for the analysis of structural concrete having nonlinearity and brittle failure properties. However, the result of FEA of structural concrete is sensitive to two modeling factors: the shear transfer coefficient (STC) for an open concrete crack and force convergence tolerance value (CONVTOL). Very limited work has been done to find the optimal FE Modeling (FEM) methodologies for structural concrete members strengthened with externally bonded FRP sheets. A total of 22 experimental deep beams with or without FRP flexure or/and shear strengthening systems are analyzed by nonlinear FEA using ANAYS program. For each experimental beams, an FE model with a total of 16 cases of modeling factor combinations are developed and analyzed to find the optimal FEM methodology. Two elements the SHELL63 and SOLID46 representing the material properties of FRP laminate are investigated and compared. The results of this research suggest that the optimal combination of modeling factor is STC of 0.25 and CONVTOL of 0.2. A SOLID 46 element representing the FRP strengthening system leads to better results than a SHELL 63 element does.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.723-737
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• 2016

In this paper an approach was described for determination of direction of sliding block in rock slopes containing planar non-persistent open joints. For this study, several gypsum blocks containing planar non-persistent open joints with dimensions of $15{\times}15{\times}15cm$ were build. The rock bridges occupy 45, 90 and $135cm^2$ of total shear surface ($225cm^2$), and their configuration in shear plane were different. From each model, two similar blocks were prepared and were subjected to shearing under normal stresses of 3.33 and $7.77kg/cm^{-2}$. Based on the change in the configuration of rock-bridges, a factor called the Effective Joint Coefficient (EJC) was formulated, that is the ratio of the effective joint surface that is in front of the rock-bridge and the total shear surface. In general, the failure pattern is influenced by the EJC while shear strength is closely related to the failure pattern. It is observed that the propagation of wing tensile cracks or shear cracks depends on the EJC and the coalescence of wing cracks or shear cracks dominates the eventual failure pattern and determines the peak shear load of the rock specimens. So the EJC is a key factor to determine the sliding direction in rock slopes containing planar non-persistent open joints.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.483-496
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• 2010

This work deals with the determination of crack openings in 2D reinforced concrete structures using the Finite Element Method with a smeared rotating crack model or an embedded crack model. In the smeared crack model, the strong discontinuity associated with the crack is spread throughout the finite element. As is well known, the continuity of the displacement field assumed for these models is incompatible with the actual discontinuity. However, this type of model has been used extensively due to the relative computational simplicity it provides by treating cracks in a continuum framework, as well as the reportedly good predictions of reinforced concrete members' structural behavior. On the other hand, by enriching the displacement field within each finite element crossed by the crack path, the embedded crack model is able to describe the effects of actual discontinuities (cracks). This paper presents a comparative study of the abilities of these 2D models in predicting the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete structures. Structural responses are compared with experimental results from the literature, including crack patterns, crack openings and rebar stresses predicted by both models.