• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.643-658
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• 2024

To date, shell-solid and fibre element model analysis are the most commonly used methods to investigate the seismic performance of concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) bridge piers. However, most existing research does not consider the loss of bearing capacity caused by the fracture of the outer steel tube. To fill this knowledge gap, a refined finite element (FE) model considering the ductile damage of steel tubes and the behaviour of infilled concrete with cracks is established and verified against experimental results of unidirectional, bidirectional cyclic loading tests and pseudo-dynamic loading tests. In addition, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the seismic performance of CFST bridge piers with different concrete strength, steel strength, axial compression ratio, slenderness ratio and infilled concrete height using the proposed model. The validation shows that the proposed refined FE model can effectively simulate the residual displacement of CFST bridge piers subjected to highintensity earthquakes. The parametric analysis indicates that CFST piers hold sufficient strength reserves and sound deformation capacity and, thus, possess excellent application prospects for bridge construction in high-intensity areas.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.631-642
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• 2024

The present study concerns the corrosion mitigation of electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) in concrete structure. Concrete specimen was fabricated with 5.0% chloride in cast, while the other specimen was exposed to 4.0M NaCl solution for 1 year to accelerate corrosion of steel. Then, the ECE was applied to the concrete specimen with 1000 mA/m² of the current density for 2, 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. During the ECE, the corrosion current density and corrosion potential were regularly monitored. As a result, the ECE was very effective in mitigating the degree of corrosion on the steel surface. The corrosion current density was significantly reduced from thousands to decades mA/m², while the corrosion potential was mostly shifted to positive direction. Assuming that the corrosion starts at 1.0 mA/m² of the corrosion current density or/and -275 mV vs SCE of the corrosion potential, the ECE could not fully achieve the repassivation of the steel, although its degree was lowered more or less depending on the duration of the treatment and type of chloride contamination. A visual examination confirmed that an increase in the duration of the treatment could lower the rust formation, but never fully removed all rust stains.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.671-688
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• 2024

The modeling efficiency of concrete meso-models close to real concrete is one of the important issues that limit the accuracy of mechanical simulation. In order to improve the modeling efficiency and the closeness of the numerical aggregate shape to the real aggregate, this paper proposes a method for generating a two-dimensional concrete meso-model based on pixel matrix and skeleton theory. First, initial concrete model (a container for placing aggregate) is generated using pixel matrix. Then, the skeleton curve of the residual space that is the model after excluding the existing aggregate is obtained using a thinning algorithm. Finally, the final model is obtained by placing the aggregate according to the curve branching points. Compared with the traditional Monte Carlo placement method, the proposed method greatly reduces the number of overlaps between aggregates by up to 95%, and the placement efficiency does not significantly decrease with increasing aggregate content. The model developed is close to the actual concrete experiments in terms of aggregate gradation, aspect ratio, asymmetry, concavity and convexity, and old-new mortar ratio, cracking form, and stress-strain curve. In addition, the cracking loss process of concrete under uniaxial compression was explained at the mesoscale.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.659-670
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• 2024

The mechanical behaviour of layered concrete samples containing an internal crack was numerically studied by modelling the geo-mechanical specimens in the particle flow code in two dimensions (PFC2D). The numerical modelling software was calibrated with the experimental results of the Brazilian tensile strengths gained from the laboratory disc-type specimens. Then, the samples with the bedding layers and internal notch were numerically simulated with PFC2D under uniaxial compressive loading. In each specimen, the layers' thickness was 10 mm but the layer's inclination angle was changed to 0°, 30°, 60°, 90°, 120° and 150°. Of course, the layers'interfaces are considered to have very low strengths. The internal notch was kept at 3 cm in length however, its inclination angle was changed to 0°, 40°, 60° and 90°. Therefore, a total, of 24 numerical models were made to study the failure mechanism of the layered concrete samples. Considering these results, it has been concluded that the inclination angles of both internal crack and bedding layers affect the failure mechanism and uniaxial compressive strength of the concrete.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.123-135
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• 2024

Strain-hardening cement-based composites (SHCC) under cracked condition exhibits remarkable capillary absorption due to water ingress from multiple cracks. Surface treatment using water repellent agents is an effective way for improving water resistance of SHCC, but the water resistance may remarkably decrease when cracks penetrate impregnation depth. Another way is to add water repellent agents directly into the mixture, offering SHCC integral water repellency even if cracks form later. However, although integral water repellent treatment has been proved feasible by previous studies, there is still lack of simulation work on the treated SHCC for evaluating its durability. This study presents a simulation method for capillary absorption of cracked SHCC with integral treatment based on a multi-scale approach proposed in the authors' previous work. The approach deals with water flows in bulk matrix and multiple cracks using two individual transport equations, respectively, whereas water absorbed from a crack to its adjacent matrix is treated as the mass exchange of the two equations. In this study, the approach is enhanced for the treated SHCC by integrating the influencing of water repellency into the two transport equations as well as the mass exchange term. Using the enhanced approach, capillary absorption of water repellent SHCC under cracked condition is simulated, showing much more reduced water ingress than the untreated concrete, which is consistent with total absorption data from previous tests. This approach is also capable of simulating water spatial distribution with time in treated SHCC reasonably.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-31
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• 2024

This study explores the failure mechanisms of 'I' shaped non-persistent cracks under uniaxial loads through a combination of experimental tests and numerical simulations. Concrete specimens measuring 200 mm×200 mm×50 mm were manufactured, featuring 'I' shaped non-persistent joints. The number of these joints varied from one to three, with angles set at 0, 30, 60, and 90 degrees. Twelve configurations, differing in the placement of pre-existing joints, were considered, where larger joints measured 80 mm in length and smaller cracks persisted for 20 mm with a 1 mm crack opening. Numerical models were developed for the 12 specimens, and loading in Y-axis direction was 0.05 mm/min, considering a concrete tensile strength of 5 MPa. Results reveal that crack starting was primarily influenced by the slope of joint that lacks persistence in relation to the loading direction and the number of joints. The compressive strength of the samples exhibited variations based on joint layout and failure mode. The study reveals a correlation between the failure behavior of joints and the number of induced tensile fracture, which increased with higher joint angles. Specimen strength increased with decreasing joint angles and numbers. The strength and failure processes exhibited similarities in both laboratory testing and numerical modeling methods.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.169-178
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• 2024

To circumvent the constraints of time-consuming experimental methods, numerical simulation can be one of the most effective approaches to investigating chloride diffusion behaviors in concrete. However, except for the effect of the external environments, the transport direction of the chloride cannot be neglected when the concrete is exposed to the marine tidal zone, especially in certain areas of concrete members. In this study, based on Fick's second law, considering the effects of timevarying, chloride binding capacity, concrete stress state, ambient temperature, and relative humidity on chloride diffusion coefficient, the modified one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional novel modified chloride diffusion theoretical models were established through defining the current boundary conditions. The simulated results based on the novel modified multi-dimensional model were compared with the experimental results obtained from some previous pieces of literature. The comparing results showed that the modified multi-dimensional model was well-fitted with experimental data, confirming the high accuracy of the novel modified model. The experimental results in literature showed that the chloride diffusion in the corner area of the concrete structure cannot be simulated by a simple one-dimensional diffusion model, where it is necessary to select a suitable multi-dimensional chloride diffusion model for simulation calculation. Therefore, the novel modified multi-dimensional model established in this study has a stronger applicability for practical engineering.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.195-212
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• 2024

The use of basalt fibers in various types of fiber-reinforced mortars has been increasing. One of the factors that expands the use of basalt fibers is that it is a natural fiber and therefore the production costs are lower than fibers such as PVA fiber. Basalt fibers have some drawbacks such as reducing the workability of mortars in which basalt fibers are added due to their structure, and negatively affecting the mechanical properties when used above a certain proportional amount depending on the type of mixture. For this purpose, in this study, as a different application, the surface of basalt fibers with different lengths (6 and 12 mm) was treated with Triton X-100 surfactant, and these disadvantages were tried to be reduced. In the study, a two-step method was followed. In the first one, the effectiveness of adding untreated and treated basalt fiber at 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2% by weight to the mortar mixtures was determined by conducting flow spread and flow rate as fresh mortar characteristics. In the second one, microstructural characterization and mechanical tests were performed as hardened mortar properties. The results showed that the flow characteristics of basalt fiber reinforced mortars treated with surfactant improved compared to untreated basalt fiber reinforced mortars. In terms of mechanical properties, the addition of 2% treated basalt fiber by weight to the mixtures allowed to obtain %18, %12, and%48 higher values of compressive, flexural, and tensile strength values, respectively, compared to the same amount of untreated basalt fiber mixtures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.137-149
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• 2024

In order to study the triaxial mechanical behavior of steel fiber reinforced high performance concrete (SFRHPC), the standard triaxial compression tests with four different confining pressures are performed on the cylindrical specimens. Three different steel fiber volumes (0, 1% and 2%) are added in the specimens with diameter of 50 mm and height of 100 mm. Test results show that the triaxial compressive strength and peak strain increase with the increasing of fiber content at the same confining pressure. At the same steel fiber content, the triaxial compressive strength and peak strain increases with the confining pressure. The compressive strength growth rate declines as the confining pressure and steel fiber content increases. Longitudinal cracks are dominant in specimens with or without steel fiber under uniaxial compression loading. While with the confining pressure increases, diagonal crack due to shear is obvious. The Mohr-Coulomb criterion is illustrated can be used to describe the failure behavior, and the cohesive force increases as steel fiber content increases. Finally, the numerical model is built by using the PFC3D software. In the numerical model a index is introduced to reflect the effect of steel fiber content on the triaxial compressive behavior. The simulating stress-strain curve and failure mode of SFRHPC are agree well with the experimental results.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.214-223
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• 2013

BACKGROUND: This study focused on the development of an analytical method about dichlorprop (DCPP; 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid) which is a plant growth regulator, a synthetic auxin for agricultural commodities. DCPP prevents falling of fruits during their growth periods. However, the overdose of DCPP caused the unwanted maturing time and reduce the safe storage period. If we take fruits with exceeding maximum residue limits, it could be harmful. Therefore, this study presented the analytical method of DCPP in agricultural commodities for the nation-wide pesticide residues monitoring program of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. METHODS AND RESULTS: We adopted the analytical method for DCPP in agricultural commodities by gas chromatograph in cooperated with Electron Capture Detector(ECD). Sample extraction and purification by ion-associated partition method were applied, then quantitation was done by GC/ECD with DB-17, a moderate polarity column under the temperature-rising condition with nitrogen as a carrier gas and split-less mode. Standard calibration curve presented linearity with the correlation coefficient ($r^2$) > 0.9998, analysed from 0.1 to 2.0 mg/L concentration. Limit of quantitation in agricultural commodities represents 0.05 mg/kg, and average recoveries ranged from 78.8 to 102.2%. The repeatability of measurements expressed as coefficient of variation (CV %) was less than 9.5% in 0.05, 0.10, and 0.50 mg/kg. CONCLUSION(S): Our newly improved analytical method for DCPP residues in agricultural commodities was applicable to the nation-wide pesticide residues monitoring program with the acceptable level of sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility.