• Computers and Concrete
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.1-19
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• 2012

The size-effect study of various fracture parameters obtained from two parameter fracture model, effective crack model, double-K fracture model and double-G fracture model is presented in the paper. Fictitious crack model (FCM) for three-point bend test geometry for cracked concrete beam of laboratory size range 100-400 mm is developed and the different fracture parameters from size effect model, effective crack model, double-K fracture model and double-G fracture model are evaluated using the input data obtained from FCM. In addition, the fracture parameters of two parameter fracture model are obtained using the mathematical coefficients available in literature. From the study it is concluded that the fracture parameters obtained from various nonlinear fracture models including the double-K and double-G fracture models are influenced by the specimen size. These fracture parameters maintain some definite interrelationship depending upon the specimen size and relative size of initial notch length.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제8권5호
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• pp.491-510
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• 2011

Before deciding if structures exposed to high temperature are to be repaired or demolished, their final state should be carefully examined. Destructive and non-destructive testing methods are generally applied for this purpose. Compressive strength and color change in mortars are observed as a result of the effects of high temperature. In this study, ordinary and pozzolan-added mortar samples were produced using different aggregates, and exposed to 100, 200, 300, 600, 900 and $1200^{\circ}C$. The samples were divided into two groups and cooled to room temperature in water and air separately. Compression tests were carried out on these samples, and the color change was evaluated by the Munsell Color System. The relationships between the change in compressive strength and color of mortars were determined by using a multi-layered feed-forward Neural Network model trained with the back-propagation algorithm. The results showed that providing accurate estimates of compressive strength by using the color components and ultrasonic pulse velocity design parameters were possible using the approach adopted in this study.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제8권5호
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• pp.525-539
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• 2011

This paper describes the development of a fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) unit cell for analyzing concrete structures by executing a multiscale analysis procedure using the theory of homogenization. This was achieved through solving a periodic unit cell problem of the material in order to evaluate its macroscopic properties. Our research describes the creation of an FRC unit cell through the use of concrete paste generic information e.g. the percentage of aggregates, their distribution, and the percentage of fibers in the concrete. The algorithm presented manipulates the percentage and distribution of these aggregates along with fiber weight to create a finite element unit cell model of the FRC which can be used in a multiscale analysis of concrete structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제8권6호
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• pp.631-645
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• 2011

The capacity design rule for beam-column joints, as adopted by the EC8, forces the formation of the plastic hinges to be developed in beams rather than in columns. This is achieved by deriving the design moments of the columns of a joint from equilibrium conditions, assuming that plastic hinges with their possible overstrengths have been developed in the adjacent beams of the joint. In this equilibrium the parameters (dimensions, material properties, axial forces etc) are, in general, random variables. Hence, the capacity design is associated with a probability of non-compliance (probability of failure). In the present study the probability of non-compliance of the capacity design rule of joints is being calculated by assuming the basic variables as random variables. Parameters affecting this probability are examined and a modification of the capacity design rule for beam-column joints is proposed, in order to achieve uniformity of the safety level.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.51-61
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• 2012

According to the results of three-point bending tests of rubberized concrete and plain concrete, the parameters such as total fracture energy ($G_F$), initial fracture energy ($G_f$), and tensile strength ($f_t$) are obtained for concrete material. Using ABAQUS software and a bilinear softening fictitious crack model, the crack propagation process was simulated and compared to the experimental results. It is found that the increase of AE hit count has a similar trend with the increase of energy dissipation in FEM simulation. For two types of concretes, both experimental results and numerical simulation indicate that the rubberized concrete has a better fracture resistance.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제9권1호
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• pp.63-79
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the behavior and strength of prestressed concrete deep beams using nonlinear analysis. By using a sophisticated nonlinear finite element analysis program, the accuracy and objectivity of the assessment process can be enhanced. A computer program, the RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), was used for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures. Tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and models of reinforcing and prestressing steel were used to account for the material nonlinearity of prestressed concrete. The smeared crack approach was incorporated. A bonded or unbonded prestressing bar element is used based on the finite element method, which can represent the interaction between the prestressing bars and concrete of a prestressed concrete member. The proposed numerical method for the evaluation of behavior and strength of prestressed concrete deep beams is verified by comparing its results with reliable experimental results.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.587-607
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• 2012

The purpose of this research is to propose a design technique of concrete mix proportions satisfying service life through genetic algorithm (GA) and neural network (NN). For this, thirty mix proportions and the related diffusion coefficients in high performance concrete are analyzed and fitness function for diffusion coefficient is obtained considering mix components like w/b (water to binder ratio), cement content, mineral admixture (slag, flay ash and silica fume) content, sand and coarse aggregate content. Through averaging the results of 10 times GA simulations, relative errors to the previous data decrease lower than 5.0% and the simulated mix proportions are verified with the experimental results. Assuming the durability design parameters, intended diffusion coefficient for intended service life is derived and mix proportions satisfying the service life are obtained. Among the mix proportions, the most optimized case which satisfies required concrete strength and the lowest cost is selected through GA algorithm. The proposed technique would be improved with the enhancement of comprehensive data set including wider the range of diffusion coefficients.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.357-374
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• 2012

The aim of this paper is to develop a procedure able to calculate the long-term stress and strain patterns in modern prestressed composite structures which are largely influenced by creep and shrinkage and whose final static configuration is the result of many phases of loading and restraints conditions. The introduction of equivalent moduli, depending on the viscous and elastic features of materials, can guarantee a significant simplification of the problem presented above. The proposed calculation model has been used to design the "Quattroquercie Viaduct" located on the highway "A3" Salerno-Reggio Calabria, Italy.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.541-555
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• 2012

This paper presents an algorithm for the evaluation of stresses in reinforced concrete sections under service loads. The algorithm is applicable to any section defined by polygonal contours and is based on an analytical integration of the stresses. The nonlinear behaviour of concrete is represented by the parabola-rectangle law used in the Eurocode-2 for the ultimate concrete design. An integrated definition of the strains in concrete and steel is possible by the use of Heaviside functions, similarly to what is done for ultimate section design in Barros et al. (2004). Other constitutive equations for the definition of the stresses in the concrete or steel can be easily incorporated into the code. The examples presented consist in the evaluation of resulting axial load and bending moment in an irregular section and in a section in L shape. The results, for service stresses, can also be plotted in terms of design abacus; a rectangular doubly reinforced section is presented as example.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제10권5호
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• pp.457-467
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• 2012

Using appropriate raw materials for cement is crucial for providing the required products. Monitoring relationships and analyzing distributions in a cement material quarry are important stages in the process. CaO, one of the substantial chemical components, is included in some raw materials such as limestone and marl; furthermore, appraising spatial assessment of this chemical component is also very critical. In this study, spatial evaluation and monitoring of CaO concentrations in a cement site are considered. For this purpose, two effective regression-based models were applied to a cement quarry located in Turkey. For the assessment, some spatial models were developed and performance comparisons were carried out. The results show that the regression-based spatial modelling is an efficient methodology and it can be employed to evaluate spatially varying relationships in a cement quarry.