• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.481-492
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• 2018

In this paper, a new hybrid fiber system (NHFS) is investigated for the application of slab. The steel fiber, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber and calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) whisker is added to form NHFS. The four-point bending test is carried out on the flexural properties of slab with plain, steel fiber, traditional hybrid fiber system (THFS) and NHFS reinforced cementitious composites. The flexural behavior is evaluated by ASTM C1018-97, JCI-SF4 and post-crack strength (PCS) technique. The evaluation parameters of flexural toughness such as toughness index (TI), equivalent flexural strength (EFS) and PCS are determined. The size of slab specimens is $15mm(thickness){\times}50mm(width){\times}200mm(length)$. The results show that adding $CaCO_3$ whisker to THFS can significantly improve the flexural strength, TI, EFS, PCS of the slab. The empirical relation between reinforcing index ($RI_v$) and flexural parameters show that flexural parameters of slabs increase first and then decrease; which indicates that optimum $RI_v$ values can be helpful in the considering the mix design of steel-PVA fibers-$CaCO_3$ whisker composites for achieving the desired flexural-related properties. The scanning electron microscopy is performed to observe the micro-morphological characteristics of the fracture surface, which proved the positive hybrid effect among the different fibers in cementitious composites. The NHFS can arrest the generation and propagation of the crack from micro to macro level.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.383-400
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• 2020

Due to higher stiffness to weight, higher corrosion resistance, higher strength to weight ratios and good durability, concrete composite structures provide many advantages as compared with conventional materials. Thus, they have wide applications in the field of concrete construction. This research focuses on the structural behavior of steel-tube CFRP confined concrete (STCCC) columns under axial concentric loading. A nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) model of STCCC columns was simulated using ABAQUS which was then, calibrated for different material and geometric models of concrete, steel tube and CFRP material using the experimental results from the literature. The comparative study of the NLFEA predictions and the experimental results indicated that the proposed constitutive NLFEA model can accurately predict the structural performance of STCCC columns. After the calibration of NLFEA model, an extensive parametric study was performed to examine the effects of different critical parameters of composite columns such as; (i) unconfined concrete strength, (ii) number of CFRP layers, (iii) thickness of steel tube and (iv) concrete core diameter, on the axial load capacity. Furthermore, a large database of axial strength of 700 confined concrete compression members was developed from the previous researches to give an analytical model that predicts the ultimate axial strength of composite columns accurately. The comparison of the predictions of the proposed analytical model was done with the predictions of 216 NLFEA models from the parametric study. A close agreement was represented by the predictions of the proposed constitutive NLFEA model and the analytical model.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.28-44
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• 2017

This paper deals with analyzing accreditation findings and the causes for the Weakness in the review by the EAC(Engineering Accreditation Committee) of ABEEK in 2015. As results of accreditation review by the EAC and CAC of ABEEK, Weakness findings were 697 cases which made up 56.94% of total findings. Deficiency and Weakness are considered to have been resolved only when the correction or revision has been implemented. The criterion which has the most Weakness findings in the 2015 accreditation review was the criterion 3 Curriculum. By the way the variety and quantity of the Weakness findings are so huge that the analysis of the causes for Weakness findings is focused on the Criterion 3 Curriculum. The findings on program accreditation are made on the basis of the Accreditation Actions Guide. Accordingly in view of formal logic in the accreditation review, the accreditation findings should comply with the Accreditation Actions Guide consistently. In this respect, the Weakness findings in the accreditation review can not be justified. On the other hand changeover in the accreditation policy of the ABEEK may be necessary. If the quality of the engineering education is improved continuously through the accreditation review, accreditation fulfills its purpose.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2020

Traditionally used analytical approach to predict the fatigue failure of reinforced concrete (RC) structure is generally conservative and has certain limitations. The nonlinear finite element method (FEM) offers less expensive solution for fatigue analysis with sufficient accuracy. However, the conventional implicit dynamic analysis is very expensive for high level computation. Whereas, an explicit dynamic analysis approach offers a computationally operative modelling to predict true responses of a structural element under periodic loading and might be perfectly matched to accomplish long life fatigue computations. Hence, this study simulates the fatigue behaviour of RC beams with finite element (FE) assemblage presenting a simplified explicit dynamic numerical solution to show computer aided fatigue behaviour of RC beam. A commercial FEM package, ABAQUS has been chosen for this complex modelling. The concrete has been modelled as a 8-node solid element providing competent compression hardening and tension stiffening. The steel reinforcements are simulated as two-node truss elements comprising elasto-plastic stress-strain behaviour. All the possible nonlinearities are duly incorporated. Time domain analysis has been adopted through an automatic Newmark-β time incremental technique. The program consists of twelve RC beams to visualize the real behaviour during fatigue process and to obtain the reliability of the study. Both the numerical and experimental results indicate a redistribution of stresses along the time and damage accumulation of beam which severely affect the serviceability and ultimate capacity of RC beam. The output of the FEM analysis demonstrates good match with the experimental consequences which affirm the efficacy of the computer aided model. The controlled fatigue damage evolution at service fatigue load limits makes the FE model an efficient tool in predicting high cycle fatigue behaviour of RC structures.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.957-966
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• 1998

In this paper an imrpoved Signal-to-Interference ratio(SIR)-based call admission control(CAC) algorithm for DS-CDMA cellular system is proposed and its performance is analyzed. This algorithm uses Residual-Capacity defined asthe additional number of initial calls that a base station can accept such that system-wide outage probability will guaranteed to remain below a certain level. the residual capcity at each cell is calculated according to the reverse-link SIR measured not only at the home cell but also the adjacent cells. Then the adjacent cell interference-coupling coefficient .betha. is used. In this work we propose an improved algorithm that .betha. varies according to the traffic load of the home cell. The influence of traffic condition on system performance, namely blocking probability and outage probability, is then examined via simulation. The performance of the improved algorithm is evaluated both under homogeneous and hot spot traffic loads. The results show that the improved algorithm outperforms conventional algorithms under all load values. Under over-load situation, especially, the improved algorithm gives almost constant outage performance the QoS(quality of service) can be guranted.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.32 no.12A
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• pp.1286-1295
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• 2007

This paper proposes, based on a bandpass sampling theory, a novel method to find valid sampling frequency range and minimum sampling rate with low computational complexity for downconversion of N bandpass radio frequency(RF) signals, under application of all possible signal placements(full permutations) in a IF stage. Additionally, we have developed a complexity-reducing method to obtaine the opttimal and minimal sampling rate for supporting the user-wanted guard-band or spacing between adjacent downconverted signal spectrums. Moreover, we have verified through comparisons with other methods that the proposed methods have more advantageous properties.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-94
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• 2020

The aim of this research is to investigate free vibration of a novel five layer Timoshenko microbeam which consists of a transversely flexible porous core made of Al-foam, two graphen platelets (GPL) nanocomposite reinforced layers to enhance the mechanical behavior of the structure as well as two piezo-magneto-electric face sheets layers. This microbeam is subjected to a thermal load and resting on Pasternak's foundation. To accomplish the analysis, constitutive equations of each layer are derived by means of nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) to capture size dependent effects. Then, the Hamilton's principle is employed to obtain the equations of motion for five layer Timoshenko microbeam. They are subsequently solved analytically by applying Navier's method so that discretized governing equations are determined in form of dynamic matrix giving the possibility to gain the natural frequencies of the Timoshenko microbeam. Eventually, after a validation study, the numerical results are presented to study and discuss the influences of various parameters such as nonlocal parameter, strain gradient parameter, aspect ratio, porosity, various volume fraction and distributions of graphene platelets, temperature change and elastic foundation coefficients on natural frequencies of the sandwich microbeam.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.235-248
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• 2006

This investigation presents an analysis procedure for simulating the compressive behavior of a rectangular concrete column confined by fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) under uniaxial load. That is, the entire stress-strain curve can be drawn through the present analysis procedure. The modified Mander's stress-strain model (Mander, et al. 1988) and finite element method are adopted in this analysis procedure. The numerical analysis results are compared with the experimental results to verify the accuracy of the analysis procedure. This study offers a useful analysis procedure of researching the compressive behavior of rectangular concrete columns confined by FRP. Two main parameters, the number of FRP layers and the radius of the round corners of a rectangular column, are investigated. The numerical results show that non-uniform stresses occur and reduce the sectional effective area owing to the geometry of the confined rectangular column. The stresses are concentrated at the corners of the rectangular column. Compressive strength of a rectangular column increases greatly because the number of FRP layers increase. The maximum predicted compressive stress of the rectangular column has approximately 10% error as compared to the experimental results. Comparing the numerical and experimental results demonstrates that the accuracy of this analysis procedure is credible. Besides, the stress-strain curves of the R30 models, which are rectangular concrete column with large radius of round corners, are almost bilinear. This calculated results conform to the expectation and show the present analysis procedure are more suitable than Mander's model (1988) to analyze the compressive behavior of the rectangular concrete column confined by FRP.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.213-233
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• 2006

Over the past years techniques for non-linear analysis have been enhanced significantly via improved solution procedures, extended finite element techniques and increased robustness of constitutive models. Nevertheless, problems remain, especially for real world structures of softening materials like concrete. The softening gives negative stiffness and risk of bifurcations due to multiple cracks that compete to survive. Incremental-iterative techniques have difficulties in selecting and handling the local peaks and snap-backs. In this contribution, an alternative method is proposed. The softening diagram of negative slope is replaced by a saw-tooth diagram of positive slopes. The incremental-iterative Newton method is replaced by a series of linear analyses using a special scaling technique with subsequent stiffness/strength reduction per critical element. It is shown that this event-by-event strategy is robust and reliable. First, the model is shown to be objective with respect to mesh refinement. Next, the example of a large-scale dog-bone specimen in direct tension is analyzed using an isotropic version of the saw-tooth model. The model is capable of automatically providing the snap-back response. Subsequently, the saw-tooth model is extended to include anisotropy for fixed crack directions to accommodate both tensile cracking and compression strut action for reinforced concrete. Three different reinforced concrete structures are analyzed, a tension-pull specimen, a slender beam and a slab. In all cases, the model naturally provides the local peaks and snap-backs associated with the subsequent development of primary cracks starting from the rebar. The secant saw-tooth stiffness is always positive and the analysis always 'converges'. Bifurcations are prevented due to the scaling technique.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.259-277
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• 2015

The lack of experimental studies on the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) haunched beams leads to difficulties in statistical and reliability analyses. This study performs stochastic and reliability analyses of the ultimate shear capacity of RC haunched beams based on nonlinear finite element analysis. The main aim of this study is to investigate the influence of uncertainty in material properties and geometry parameters on the mechanical performance and shear capacity of RC haunched beams. Firstly, 65 experimentally tested RC haunched beams and prismatic beams are analyzed via deterministic nonlinear finite element method by a special program (ATENA) to verify the efficiency of utilized numerical models, the shear capacity and the crack pattern. The accuracy of nonlinear finite element analyses is verified by comparing the results of nonlinear finite element and experiments and both results are found to be in a good agreement. Afterwards, stochastic analyses are performed for each beam where the RC material properties and geometry parameters are assigned to take probabilistic values using an advanced simulating procedure. As a result of stochastic analysis, statistical parameters are determined. The statistical parameters are obtained for resistance bias factor and the coefficient of variation which were found to be equal to 1.053 and 0.137 respectively. Finally, reliability analyses are accomplished using the limit state functions of ACI-318 and ASCE-7 depending on the calculated statistical parameters. The results show that the RC haunched beams have higher sensitivity and riskiness than the RC prismatic beams.