• Computers and Concrete
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.355-363
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• 2018

In the following paper, a socio-political heuristic search approach, named the imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA) has been used to improve the efficiency of the multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network (ANN) for predicting the compressive strength of concrete. 173 concrete samples have been investigated. For this purpose the values of slump flow, the weight of aggregate and cement, the maximum size of aggregate and the water-cement ratio have been used as the inputs. The compressive strength of concrete has been used as the output in the hybrid ICA-ANN model. Results have been compared with the multiple-linear regression model (MLR), the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The results indicate the superiority and high accuracy of the hybrid ICA-ANN model in predicting the compressive strength of concrete when compared to the other methods.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.155-164
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• 2017

During the past decades, development of reinforcing materials caused a revolution in the structure of high strength and high performance cement-based concrete. Among the most important and exciting reinforcing materials, Steel Fiber (SF) becomes a widely used in the recent years. The main reason for addition of SF is to enhance the toughness and tensile strength and limit development and propagation of cracks and deformation characteristics of the SF blended concrete. Basically this technique of strengthening the concrete structures considerably modifies the physical and mechanical properties of plain cement-based concrete which is brittle in nature with low flexural and tensile strength compared to its intrinsic compressive strength. This paper presents an overview of the work carried out on the use of SF as reinforcement in cement-based concrete matrix. Reported properties in this study are fresh properties, mechanical and durability of the blended concretes.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.229-246
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• 2017

The dynamic bending response of single walled carbon nanotube reinforced composite (SWCNTRC) plates subjected to hygro-thermo-mechanical loading are investigated in this paper. The mechanical load is considered as wind pressure for dynamic bending responses of SWCNTRC plate. The dynamic version of the High Order shear deformation Theory (HSDT) for a composite plate with Matrix and SWCNTRC plate is first formulated. Distribution of fibers through the thickness of the SWCNTRC plate could be uniform or functionally graded (FG). The dynamic displacement response is predicted by using Nemarck integration method. The effective material properties of SWCNTRC are estimated by using micromechanics based modeling approach. The effect of different environmental condition, volume fraction of SWCNT, Width-to-thickness ratio, wind pressure, different SWCNTRC-FG plates, boundary condition, E1/E2 ratio, different temperature on dynamic displacement response is investigated. The dynamic displacement response is compared with the available literature and it shows good agreement.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.129-143
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• 2017

Seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures requires a certain minimum level of flexural ductility. For example, Eurocode EN1998-1 directly specifies a minimum flexural ductility for RC beams, while Chinese code GB50011 limits the equivalent rectangular stress block depth ratio at peak resisting moment to achieve a certain nominal minimum flexural ductility indirectly. Although confinement is effective in improving the ductility of RC beams, most design codes do not provide any guidelines due to the lack of a suitable theory. In this study, the confinement for desirable flexural ductility performance of both normal- and high-strength concrete beams is evaluated based on a rigorous full-range moment-curvature analysis. An effective strategy is proposed for flexural ductility design of RC beams taking into account confinement. The key parameters considered include the maximum difference of tension and compression reinforcement ratios, and maximum neutral axis depth ratio at peak resisting moment. Empirical formulae and tables are then developed to provide guidelines accordingly.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.177-184
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• 2017

The characteristics of lightweight aggregate (LWA) with a low specific gravity and high water absorption will significantly change the properties of lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). This study aimed at exploring the effect of presoaking degree of LWA on the strength degeneracy of LWAC and flexural behavior of LWAC members exposed to elevated temperatures. The residual mechanical properties of the LWAC subjected to elevated temperatures were first conducted. Then, the residual load tests of LWAC members (beams and slabs) after exposure to elevated temperatures were carried out. The test results showed that with increasing temperature, the decreasing trend of elastic modulus for LWAC was considerably more serious than the compressive strength. Besides, the presoaking degree of LWA had a significant influence on the residual compressive strength and elastic modulus for LWAC after exposure to $800^{\circ}C$. Moreover, owing to different types of heating, the residual load bearing capacity of the slab specimens were significantly different from those of the beam specimens.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.345-353
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• 2018

This paper approaches to improve the mechanical and durability properties of low calcium fly ash geopolymer concrete with the addition of Alccofine as a mineral admixture. The mechanical and durability performance of GPC was assessed by means of compressive strength, flexural strength, permeability, water absorption and permeable voids tests. The correlation between compressive strength and flexural strength, depth of water penetration and percentage permeable voids are also reported. Test results show that addition of Alccofine significantly improves the mechanical as well as permeation properties of low calcium fly ash geopolymer concrete. Very good correlations were noted between the depth of water penetration and compressive strength, percentage permeable voids and compressive strength as well as between compressive strength and flexural strength.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.239-248
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• 2018

This study developed and investigated a precast slab track system partially reinforced with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars in the transverse direction, which mitigated the loss of track circuit current by reducing magnetic coupling between the rails and steel reinforcements. An electric analysis was conducted and the results of the analysis verified that the GFRP rebars mitigate the reduced current strength produced by electro-magnetic induction. In the study, a three-dimensional finite element method and flexural experiments were used to study the mechanical behavior of the proposed slab track.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.231-237
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• 2018

A strain-hardening highly ductile composite based on an alkali-activated slag binder and synthetic fibers is a promising construction material due to its excellent tensile behavior and owing to the ecofriendly characteristics of its binder. This study investigated the effect of different types of synthetic fibers and water-to-binder ratios on the compressive strength and tensile behavior of slag-based cementless composites. Alkali-activated slag was used as a binder and water-to-binder ratios of 0.35, 0.45, and 0.55 were considered. Three types of fibers, polypropylene fiber, polyethylene (PE) fiber, and polyparaphenylene-benzobisethiazole (PBO) fiber, were used as reinforcing fibers, and compression and uniaxial tension tests were performed. The test results showed that the PE fiber series composites exhibited superior tensile behavior in terms of the tensile strain capacity and crack patterns while PBO fiber series composites had high tensile strength levels and tight crack widths and spacing distances.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.617-623
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• 2017

This work is conducted with the aim of using waste material to reserve the natural resources. The objective is accomplished by conducting experimentation and verify by modeling based on fuzzy logic. In experimentation, concrete is casted by using natural/river sand as fine aggregate and termed as control specimen. Natural sand is conserved by replacing it with used foundry sand (UFS) by an amount of 10, 20 and 30% by weight. Fresh and hardened properties of concrete are investigated at different ages. It is observed that compressive strength and modulus of elasticity reduced with the increase in amount of UFS. Furthermore, concrete compressive strength is predicted by using fuzzy logic model and verified at different replacement ratio and age with experimental observations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제19권6호
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• pp.701-710
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• 2017

In this study, the thermoelastic beam in modified couple stress theory due to laser source and heat flux is investigated. The beam are heated by a non-Guassian laser pulse and heat flux. The Euler Bernoulli beam theory and the Laplace transform technique are applied to solve the basic equations for coupled thermoelasticity. The simply-supported and isothermal boundary conditions are assumed for both ends of the beam. A general algorithm of the inverse Laplace transform is developed. The analytical results have been numerically analyzed with the help of MATLAB software. The numerically computed results for lateral deflection, thermal moment and axial stress due to laser source and heat flux have been presented graphically. Some comparisons have been shown in figures to estimate the effects of couple stress on the physical quantities. A particular case of interest is also derived. The study of laser-pulse find many applications in the field of biomedical, imaging processing, material processing and medicine with regard to diagnostics and therapy.