• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.127-143
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• 2015

Steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) is an anisotropic material due to the random orientation of the fibres within the cement matrix. Fibres under different inclination angles provide different strength contribution of a given crack width. For that the pull-out response of inclined fibres is of great importance to understand SFRC behaviour, particularly in the case of fibres with hooked ends, which are the most widely used. The paper focuses on the numerical modelling of the pull-out response of this kind of fibres from high-strength cementitious matrix in order to study the effects of different inclination angles of the fibres to the load-displacement pull-out curves. The pull-out of the fibres is studied by means of accurate three-dimensional finite element models, which take into account the nonlinearities that are present in the physical model, such as the nonlinear bonding between the fibre and the matrix in the early stages of the loading, the unilateral contact between the fibre and the matrix, the friction at the contact areas, the plastification of the steel fibre and the plastification and cracking of the cementitious matrix. The bonding properties of the fibre-matrix interface considered in the numerical model are based on experimental results of pull-out tests on straight fibres.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.91-102
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• 2015

In this paper, the load-deflection analysis of the Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) strengthened Reinforced Concrete (RC) slab using Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) is investigated. Six reinforced concrete slabs having dimension $1800{\times}400{\times}120mm$ with similar steel bar of 2T10 and strengthened using different length and width of CFRP were tested and compared with similar samples without CFRP. The experimental load-deflection results were normalized and then uploaded in MATLAB software. Loading, CFRP length and width were as neurons in input layer and mid-span deflection was as neuron in output layer. The network was generated using feed-forward network and a internal nonlinear condition space model to memorize the input data while training process. From 122 load-deflection data, 111 data utilized for network generation and 11 data for the network testing. The results of model on the testing stage showed that the generated RNN predicted the load-deflection analysis of the slabs in acceptable technique with a correlation of determination of 0.99. The ratio between predicted deflection by RNN and experimental output was in the range of 0.99 to 1.11.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.145-160
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• 2016

Marble is a metamorphic rock used widely in construction which increases amount of marble powder obtained from it. Marble powder is a waste product obtained from marble during its processing. Marble waste is high in calcium oxide content which is cementing property but it creates many environmental hazards too if left in environment or in water. In this research, partial replacement of cement and sand by waste marble powder (WMP) has been investigated. Seven concrete mixtures were prepared for this investigation by partially replacing cement, sand with WMP at proportions of 0%, 10% and 15% by weight separately and in combined form. To determine compressive strength, flexural strength and split tensile strength of concrete made with waste marble powder, the samples at the curing ages of 7, 28 and 90 days was recorded. Different tests of durability were applied on samples like ultrasonic pulse wave test, absorption and sorptivity. For further investigation all the results were compared and noticed that WMP has shown good results and enhancing mechanical properties of concrete mix on partially replacing with sand and cement in set proportions. Moreover, it will solve the problem of environmental health hazard.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.89-105
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• 2016

The post - fire investigation is conducted on a fire-affected reinforced concrete shear wall building to ascertain the level of its strength degradation due to the fire incident. Fire incident took place in a three-storey building made of reinforced concrete shear wall and roof with operating floors made of steel beams and chequered plates. The usage of the building is to handle explosives. Elevated temperature during the fire is estimated to be $350^{\circ}C$ based on visual inspection. Destructive (core extraction) and non-destructive (rebound hammer and ultrasonic pulse velocity) tests are conducted to evaluate the concrete strength. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) are used for analyzing micro structural changes of the concrete due to fire. Tests are conducted for concrete walls and roof slab on both burnt and unburnt locations. The analysis of test results reveals no significant degradation of the building after the fire which signifies that the structure can be used with full expectancy of performance for the remaining service life. This document can be used as a reference for future forensic investigations of similar fire affected concrete structures.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.107-121
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• 2016

This concrete is one of the most versatile construction material widely used for almost a century now. It was considered to be very durable material and required a little or no maintenance since long time. The assumption is very true, except when it is subjected to highly aggressive environments. The deterioration of concrete structures day by day due to aggressive environment is compelling engineers to assess the loss in advance so that proper preventive measure can be taken to achieve required durability to concrete structures. The compounds present in cement concrete are attacked by many salt solutions and acids. These chemicals are encountered by almost all concrete structures. The present study has been undertaken to investigate the effect of attack of chlorides and sulphates with varying severity on compressive strength of ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) concrete after immersion in salt solution for 28 days. The results indicate that the durability of GGBFS concrete increases with the increase in percentage replacement of cement by GGBFS for 20% and then gradually decreases with increases in percentage of GGBFS with cement (as in the study for 40% and 60%). Also there is increase in strength of GGBFS concrete with increase in age. Thus the durability of concrete improves when GGBFS is added as partial replacement of cement. In this study the strength of GGBFS concrete is less affected by chemicals as compared to conventional concrete when exposed to aggressive environment.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.313-330
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• 2017

Geopolymer is a sustainable concrete, replaces traditional cement concrete using alternative sustainable construction materials as binders and alkaline solution as alkaline activator. This paper presents the strength characteristics of geopolymer concrete (GPC) developed with fly ash and GGBS as binders, combined Sodium silicate ($Na_2SiO_3$) and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution as alkaline activators. The parameters considered in this research work are proportions of fly ash and GGBS (70-30 and 50-50), curing conditions (Outdoor curing and oven curing at $600^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours), two grades of concrete (GPC20 and GPC50). The mechanical properties such as compressive strength, split tensile strength and flexural strength along with durability characteristics were determined. For studying the durability characteristics of geopolymer concrete 5% $H_2SO_4$ solutions was used and the specimens were immersed up to an exposure period of 56 days. The main parameters considered in this study were Acid Mass Loss Factor (AMLF), Acid Strength Loss Factor (ASLF) and products of degradation. The results conclude that GPC with sufficient strength can be developed even under Outdoor curing using fly ash and GGBS combination i.e., without the need for any heat curing.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.359-375
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• 2017

This paper presents a study of the properties and behavior of self-compacting concretes (SCC) in the hot climate. The effect of curing environment and the initial water curing period on the properties and behavior of SCC such as compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and sorptivity of the SCC specimens were investigated. Three Water/Binder (W/B) ratios (0.32, 0.38 and 0.44) have been used to obtain three ranges of compressive strength. Five curing methods have been applied on the SCC by varying the duration and the conservation condition of SCC. The results obtained on the compressive strength show that the period of initial water curing of seven days followed by maturation in the hot climate is better in comparison with the four other curing methods. The coefficient of sorptivity is influenced by W/B ratio and the curing methods. It is also shown that the sorptivity coefficient of SCC specimens is very sensitive to the curing condition. The SCC specimens cured in water present a low coefficient of sorptivity regardless of the ratio W/B. Furthermore, the results show that there is a good correlation between ultrasonic pulse velocity and the compressive strength.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.407-422
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• 2017

Evaluating seismic performance of urban structures for future earthquakes is one of the key prerequisites of rehabilitation programs. Irregular structures, as a specific case, are more susceptible to sustain earthquake damage than regular structures. The study here is to identify damage states of vertically irregular structures using the well-recognized Park-Ang damage index. For doing this, a regular 3-story reinforced concrete (RC) structure is first designed based on ACI-318 code, and a peak ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.3 g. Some known vertical irregularities such as setback, short column and soft story are then applied to the regular structure. All the four structures are subjected to seven different earthquakes accelerations and different amplitudes which are then analyzed using nonlinear dynamic procedure. The damage indices of the structures are then accounted for using the pointed out damage index. The results show that the structure with soft story irregularity sustains more damage in all the earthquake records than the other structures. The least damage belongs the regular structure showing that different earthquake with different accelerations and amplitudes have no significant effect on the regular structures.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.345-358
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• 2017

This paper describes the experimental investigation carried out to develop geopolymer concrete using rice husk ash (RHA) along with alccofine. The study reports the fresh and hardened properties of the geopolymer concrete (GPC) activated using alkaline solution. GPC were prepared using different RHA content (350, 375 and $400kg/m^3$), the molarity of the NaOH (8, 12 and 16M). The specimens were cured at $27^{\circ}C$ and $90^{\circ}C$. GPC was activated using NaOH, $Na_2SiO_3$, and alccofine. Prepared GPC samples were tested for compressive and splitting tensile strengths after 3, 7 and 28 days. RHA was suitable to produce geopolymer concrete. Results indicate that behavior of GPC prepared with RHA is similar to fly ash based GPC. Workability and strength can be improved by incorporating the alccofine. Further, alccofine and heat curing improve the early age properties of the GPC. Heat curing is responsible for the initial polymerization of GPC which leads to high workability and improved mechanical properties of the GPC. High strength can be achieved by using the high concentration alkaline solution in terms of molarity and at elevated heat curing. Further, RHA based geopolymer concrete has tremendous potential as a substitute for ordinary concrete.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.391-405
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• 2017

Cement acts as the most important component of concrete as it binds and holds the concrete together. But it is one of the major $CO_2$ emitters all over the world, during manufacturing (900 kg of $CO_2$ per 1000 kg). Some of the modern construction methods aim at reducing the amount of usage of cement and came out with numerous solutions for replacement of the same. One such supplement in current trend is the Steel dust or the Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD), which is a waste product from the electric arc furnace when the scrap metal is melted. When the concrete containing steel dust is exposed to atmosphere, the environmental oxygen and moisture play role to form rust and ultimately the member becomes harder. As Cement is the binder of conventional concrete, only certain percentage of the same could be replaced by the new material, steel dust. Tests were conducted for the 28 days cube strength of M45 grade (suitable for prestressing) concrete which has 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% steel dust instead cement. From the test, the optimum percentage replacement of steel dust was obtained, for which the beams and overhead poles were cast, prestressed and tested for the failure load and deflections. A conventional concrete beam and overhead pole were also cast, prestressed and tested to compare the results with those of the beam and pole that contained steel dust. The load vs. deflection plot and other results from the test is also discussed.