• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns which are the main vertical structural members are exposed to several static and dynamic effects such as earthquake and wind. However, impact loading that is sudden impulsive dynamic one is the most effective loading type acting on the RC columns. Impact load is a kind of impulsive dynamic load which is ignored in the design process of RC columns like other structural members. The behavior of reinforced concrete columns under impact loading is an area of research that is still not well understood; however, work in this area continues to be motivated by a broad range of applications. Examples include reinforced concrete structures designed to resist accidental loading scenarios such as falling rock impact; vehicle or ship collisions with buildings, bridges, or offshore facilities; and structures that are used in high-threat or high-hazard applications, such as military fortification structures or nuclear facilities. In this study, free weight falling test setup is developed to investigate the behavior effects on RC columns under impact loading. For this purpose, eight RC column test specimens with 1/3 scale are manufactured. While drop height and mass of the striker are constant, application point of impact loading, stirrup spacing and concrete compression strength are the experimental variables. The time-history of the impact force, the accelerations of two points and the displacement of columns were measured. The crack patterns of RC columns are also observed. In the light of experimental results, low-velocity impact behavior of RC columns were determined and interpreted. Besides, the finite element models of RC columns are generated using ABAQUS software. It is found out that proposed finite element model could be used for evaluation of dynamic responses of RC columns subjected to low-velocity impact load.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.225-244
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• 2020

The influence of boundary conditions on the bending and free vibration behavior of functionally graded sandwich plates resting on a two-parameter elastic foundation is examined using an original novel high order shear theory. The Hamilton's principle is used herein to derive the equations of motion. The number of unknowns and governing equations of the present theory is reduced, and hence makes it simple to use. This theory includes indeterminate integral variables and contains only four unknowns in which any shear correction factor not used, with even less than the conventional theory of first shear strain (FSDT). Unlike any other theory, the number of unknown functions involved in displacement field is only four, as against five, six or more in the case of other shear deformation theories. Galerkin's approach is utilized for FGM sandwich plates with six different boundary conditions. The accuracy of the proposed solution is checked by comparing it with other closed form solutions available in the literature.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.105-121
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• 2018

In 1995, the WTO started to ease the trade barriers. Globalization has accelerated. The opening of the agricultural products market is rapidly gaining momentum with the conclusion of an FTA. The acceleration of this FTA is expected to be a threat to Korea's agriculture, and a new strategy is needed. At the beginning of the nuclear accident, mainly radioactive materials are found in the surface layer of the soil. Over time, the concentration of the plant gradually increases. After 5 years, it becomes noticeable. In March 2016, it will be five years after the nuclear accident. Radioactive contamination is very likely to occur in agricultural products produced in the Fukushima area at this time. In this period, agricultural products produced in the Fukushima region are expected to generate supply disruptions in Japan, and imports to replace them will increase. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a mid- and long-term strategy for exporting to Japan by analyzing the competitiveness of Korean agricultural products. In this study, standardization index was derived by using agricultural price ratio, TSI, export CAC. Based on this, we analyzed the competitiveness of each item in the Japanese market. The analysis shows that garlic is the most competitive product in the Japanese market. Also, strawberry, tomato, and cucumber were found to be competitive. On the other hand, Kiwi, pineapple, soybean, onion, potato, etc. As a result of the analysis, the following strategies were proposed for the export of agricultural products with high competitiveness. First, it is necessary to develop technology to suppress deterioration of export transportation quality. Second, continuous supply of local consumption pattern information is required. Third, it is necessary to expand exports by processing fresh food. Fourth, it suggested the establishment of export base and strengthening of support system.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.73-90
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• 2014

The traditional destructive tests in damage detection require high cost, long consuming time, repairing of damaged members, etc. In addition to these, powerful equipments with advanced technology have motivated development of global vibration based damage detection methods. These methods base on observation of the changes in the structural dynamic properties and updating finite element models. The existence, location, severity and effect on the structural behavior of the damages can be identified by using these methods. The main idea in these methods is to minimize the differences between analytical and experimental natural frequencies. In this study, an application of damage detection using model updating method was presented on a one storey reinforced concrete (RC) building model. The model was designed to be 1/2 scale of a real building. The measurements on the model were performed by using ten uni-axial seismic accelerometers which were placed to the floor level. The presented damage identification procedure mainly consists of five steps: initial finite element modeling, testing of the undamaged model, finite element model calibration, testing of the damaged model, and damage detection with model updating. The elasticity modulus was selected as variable parameter for model calibration, while the inertia moment of section was selected for model updating. The first three modes were taken into consideration. The possible damaged members were estimated by considering the change ratio in the inertia moment. It was concluded that the finite element model calibration was required for structures to later evaluations such as damage, fatigue, etc. The presented model updating based procedure was very effective and useful for RC structures in the damage identification.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2017

ANSYS is a software well accepted by professionals and academics, since it provides a variety of finite elements, material constitutive models, and linear and nonlinear analysis of structures in general. For the concrete material, for instance, the software uses an elastoplastic model with the Willam-Warnke surface of rupture (1975). However, this model is only available for finite elements that do not offer the possibility of use of the element-embedded model for rebars, demanding a much larger amount of elements to discretize structures, making numerical solutions less efficient. This study is, therefore, about the development of a computational model using the Finite Element Method via ANSYS platform for nonlinear analysis of reinforced and prestressed concrete beams under plane stress states. The most significant advantage of this implementation is the possibility of using the element-embedded rebar model in ANSYS with its 2D eight-node quadratic element PLANE183 for discretization of the concrete together with element REINF263 for discretization of rebars, stirrups, and cables, making the solutions faster and more efficient. For representation of the constitutive equations of the steel and the concrete, a proposed model was implemented with the help of the UPF customization tool (User Programmable Features) of ANSYS, where new subroutines written in FORTRAN were attached to the main program. The numerical results are compared with experimental values available in the technical literature to validate the proposed model, with satisfactory results being found.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 2017

This paper conveys the effects of fly ash and silica fume incorporated in concrete at various replacement ratios on the durability properties of concretes. It is quite well known that concrete durability is as much important as strength and permeability is the key to durability. Permeability is closely associated with the voids system of concrete. Concrete, with less and disconnected voids, is assumed to be impermeable. The void system in concrete is straightly related to the mix proportions, placing, compaction, and curing procedures of concrete. Reinforced concrete structures, particularly those of subjected to water, are at the risk of various harmful agents such as chlorides and sulfate since the ingress of such agents through concrete becomes easy and accelerates as the permeability of concrete increases. Eventually, both strength and durability of concrete reduce as the time moves on, in turn; the service life of the concrete structures shortens. Mineral additives have been proven to be very effective in reducing permeability. The tests performed to accomplish the aim of the study are the rapid chloride permeability test, pressurized water depth test, capillarity test and compressive strength test. The results derived from these tests indicated that the durability properties of concretes incorporated fly ash and silica fume have improved substantially compared to that of without mineral additives regardless of the binder content used. Overall, the improvement becomes more evident as the replacement ratio of fly ash and silica fume have increased. With regard to permeability, silica fume is found to be superior to fly ash. Moreover, at least a 30% fly ash replacement and/or a replacement ratio of 5% to 10% silica fume have been found to be highly beneficial as far as sustainability is concerned, particularly for concretes subjected to chloride bearing environments.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.429-434
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• 2017

Failure of basic structures material is usually accompanied by expansion of interior cracks due to stress concentration at the cracks tip. This phenomenon shows the importance of examination of the failure behavior of concrete structures. To this end, 4 types of mortar samples with different amounts of nano-silica (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) were made to prepare twelve $50{\times}50{\times}50mm$ cubic samples. The goal of this study was to describe the failure and micro-crack growth behavior of the cement mortars in presence of nano-silica particles and control mortars during different curing days. Failure of mortar samples under compressive strength were sensed with acoustic emission technique (AET) at different curing days. It was concluded that the addition of nano-silica particles could modify failure and micro-crack growth behavior of mortar samples. Also, monitoring of acoustic emission parameters exposed differences in failure behavior due to the addition of the nanoparticles. Mortar samples of nano-silica particles revealed stronger shear mode characteristics than those without nanoparticles, which revealed high acoustic activity due to heterogeneous matrix. It is worth mentioning that the highest compressive strength for 3 and 7 test ages obtained from samples with the addition of 1.5% nano-silica particles. On the other hand maximum compressive strength of 28 curing days obtained from samples with 1% combination of nano-silica particles.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.419-427
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• 2017

With the rising global environmental awareness on energy saving and carbon reduction, as well as the environmental transition and natural disasters resulted from the greenhouse effect, waste resources should be efficiently used to save environmental space and achieve environmental protection principle of "sustainable development and recycling". This study used recycled cement mortar and adopted the volumetric method for experimental design, which replaced cement (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%) with recycled materials (fly ash, slag, glass powder) to test compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV). The hyperbolic function for nonlinear multivariate regression analysis was used to build prediction models, in order to study the effect of different recycled material addition levels (the function of $R_m$(F, S, G) was used and be a representative of the content of recycled materials, such as fly ash, slag and glass) on the compressive strength and UPV of cement mortar. The calculated results are in accordance with laboratory-measured data, which are the mortar compressive strength and UPV of various mix proportions. From the comparison between the prediction analysis values and test results, the coefficient of determination $R^2$ and MAPE (mean absolute percentage error) value of compressive strength are 0.970-0.988 and 5.57-8.84%, respectively. Furthermore, the $R^2$ and MAPE values for UPV are 0.960-0.987 and 1.52-1.74%, respectively. All of the $R^2$ and MAPE values are closely to 1.0 and less than 10%, respectively. Thus, the prediction models established in this study have excellent predictive ability of compressive strength and UPV for recycled materials applied in cement mortar.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.435-442
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• 2017

In recent years, the use of supplementary cementing materials, especially in addition to concrete, has been the subject of many researches. Rice husk ash (RHA) is one of these materials that in this research, is added to the roller compacted concrete as one of the pozzolanic materials. This paper evaluates how different contents of RHA added to the roller compacted concrete pavement specimens, can influence on the strength and permeability. The results are compared to the control samples and determined optimal level of RHA replacement. As it was expected, RHA as supplementary cementitious materials, improved mechanical properties of roller compacted concrete pavement (RCCP). Also, the application of adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in predicting the permeability and compressive strength is investigated. The obtained results shows that the predicted value by this model is in good agreement with the experimental, which shows the proposed ANFIS model is a useful, reliable, fast and cheap tool to predict the permeability and compressive strength. A mean relative error percentage (MRE %) less than 1.1% is obtained for the proposed ANFIS model. Also, the test results and performed modeling show that the optimal value for obtaining the maximum compressive strength and minimum permeability is offered by substituting 9% and 18% of the cement by RHA, respectively.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.395-404
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• 2017

In this paper, the mechanical property of CFRP, BFRP, GFRP and their hybrid FRP was experimentally studied. The elastic modulus and tensile strength of CFRP, BFRP, GFRP and their hybrid FRP were tested. The experimental results showed that the elastic modulus of hybrid FRP agreed well with the theoretical rule of mixture, which means the property of hybrid composites are linear with the volumes of the corresponding components while the tensile strength did not. The bearing capacity, peak strain, stress-strain relationship of circular concrete columns confined by CFRP, BFRP, GFRP and hybrid FRP subjected to axial compression were recorded. And the confinement effect of hybrid FRP on concrete columns was analyzed. The test results showed that the bearing capacity and ductility of concrete columns were efficiently improved through hybrid FRP confinement. A strength model and a stress-strain relationship model of hybrid FRP confined concrete columns were proposed. The proposed stress-strain model was shown to be capable of providing accurate prediction of the axial compressive strength of hybrid FRP confined concrete compared with Teng et al. (2002) model, Karbhari and Gao (1997) model and Miyachi et al. (1999) model. The modified stress-strain model was also suitable for single FRP confinement cases and it was so concise in form and didn't have piecewise fitting, which would be easy for use in structural design.