• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.337-348
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• 2023

The optimization of reinforced concrete (RC) cantilever retaining walls is a complex problem and requires the use of advanced techniques like metaheuristic algorithms. For this purpose, an optimization model must first be developed, which involves mathematical complications, multidisciplinary knowledge, and programming skills. This task has proven to be too arduous and has halted the mainstream acceptance of optimization. Therefore, it is necessary to unravel the complications of optimization into an easily applicable form. Currently, the most commonly used method for designing retaining walls is by following the proportioning limits provided by the ACI handbook. However, these limits, derived manually, are not verified by any optimization technique. There is a need to validate or modify these limits, using optimization algorithms to consider them as optimal limits. Therefore, this study aims to propose updated proportioning limits for the economical design of a RC cantilever retaining wall through a comprehensive parametric investigation using the genetic algorithm (GA). Multiple simulations are run to examine various design parameters, and trends are drawn to determine effective ranges. The optimal limits are derived for 5 geometric and 3 reinforcement variables and validated by comparison with their predecessor, ACI's preliminary proportioning limits. The results indicate close proximity between the optimized and code-provided ranges; however, the use of optimal limits can lead to additional cost optimization. Modifications to achieve further optimization are also discussed. Besides the geometric variables, other design parameters not covered by the ACI building code, like reinforcement ratios, bar diameters, and material strengths, and their effects on cost optimization, are also discussed. The findings of this investigation can be used by experienced engineers to refine their designs, without delving into the complexities of optimization.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.41-53
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• 2009

In order to analyze the influence of particle shape on evolution of particle crushing and characteristic of shear behavior of granular soil, direct shear test was simulated by using DEM (Discrete Element Method). Six particle shapes were generated by clump and cluster model built in PFC (Particle Flow Code). The results of direct shear test for six particle shapes were compared and analyzed with those for circular particle shape. The results of numerical tests showed a good agreement with those of experimental tests, thus the appropriateness of numerical modelling set in this study was proved. As for particle shape, more angular and rougher particle induced larger internal friction angle and more particle crushing than relatively round and smooth particle. When particles were crushed, crushing was concentrated on the shear band adjacent to the shear plane. Finally, it can be concluded that the numerical models suggested in this study can be used extensively for other studies concerning the shear behavior of granular soil including soil crushing.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2020

The failure mode of concrete reinforced with FRP is defined as the concrete crushing and the fiber rupture and the definition of limit state is a slightly different according to the design methods. It is relatively difficult to predict of FRP reinforced concrete because the mechanical properties of fibers are quite depending on its of fibers. The design code by ACI440 committee, which has been developed mainly on GFRP having low modulus of elasticity, is widely used, but the applicability on other FRPs of this code has not been sufficiently verified. In addition, the ultimate and serviceability limit state based on the ACI440 are comparatively difficult to predict the behavior of member with the 0.8~1.2 𝜌_b because crushing and rupturing failure can be occurred simultaneously is in this region of reinforcement ratio, and predicted deflection is too sensitive according to the loading condition. Therefore, in this study, reliability and convenience of the prediction of structural performance by design methods such as ACI440 and MC90 concept, respectively, were examined through the experimental results and literature review of the beam and slab with the reinforcement ratio of 0.8 ~ 1.4. As a result of the analysis, it can be applied to the FRP reinforced structure in the case of the simple moment-curvature formula (LIM-MC) of Model Code, and the limit state design method based on the EC2 is more reliable than the ultimate strength design method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.72 no.5
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• pp.643-652
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• 2019

Protection of cultural heritage and carrying it to the future are at the top of the significant topics of research and implementation in engineering in the 21st century. There are several historical structures in the district of Ahlat located in the east of Turkey on the Lake Van Basin that has harbored many civilizations. Some of such works are the gravestones that are found in the Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery, which is the oldest and largest cemetery in the district. This study firstly provides information about the Ahlat Seljuk Cemetery and the gravestones found in it. Observation-based structural analyses were carried out on these gravestones that are found in this area that are known to have belonged to different civilizations based on their physical and constructional characteristics. These stones were built out of Ahlat stone as single pieces. Information is provided on the damages that have occurred on the gravestones in time and their causes. In general, losses of mass, abrasions, separations, collapses and calcifications due to natural conditions, as well as vegetative formations, were observed in the gravestones. To provide an example of other gravestones within the context of the study, the gravestone that is known to belong to the person named Nureddin Ebu Hasan was selected. As a result of the modeling that was carried out for this gravestone by using the finite elements method, modal analyses were carried out. With these analyses, for the gravestone, period, effective mass participation rates and stress values were calculated. The stress values that were obtained in this study were compared to the material safety stress values that were obtained in previous studies. Additionally, QR code application was created for the gravestone that was selected as an example in the study, and information on this gravestone was transferred to an electronic environment. The QR code application includes different language options, visuals of the gravestone and information on the gravestone. The QR application was also supported with a video of the cemetery where the gravestone is located. With this application, access to information about gravestones will be possible by using tablets and smartphones. With a QR code to be created for each gravestone, these gravestones will obtain identity cards.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.833-847
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• 2011

We have developed a lightweight aggregate (LWA) concrete made by expanding fine sediments dredged from the Shihmen Reservoir (Taiwan) with high heat. In this study, the performance of the concrete and of prestressed concrete beams made of the sedimentary LWA were tested and compared with those made of normal-weight concrete (NC). The test results show that the lightweight concrete (LWAC) exhibited comparable time-dependent properties (i.e., compressive strength, elastic modulus, drying shrinkage, and creep) as compared with the NC samples. In addition, the LWAC beams exhibited a smaller percentage of prestress loss compared with the NC beams. Moreover, on average, the LWAC beams could resist loading up to 96% of that of the NC beams, and the experimental strengths were greater than the nominal strengths calculated by the ACI Code method. This investigation thus established that sedimentary LWA can be recommended for structural concrete applications.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2020

Steel spherical hinged bearings have high loading capacity, reliable load transfer, flexible rotation with universal hinge and allowance of large displacement and rotation angle. However, bearings are in complex forced states subject to various load combinations, which lead to the significant influence on integral structural safety. Taking the large-tonnage complex steel spherical hinged bearings of Terminal 2 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as an example, full-scale rotation and shear behaviour tests of the bearings subject to axial tensile load are carried out, and the corresponding finite element simulation analyses are conducted. The results of experiments and finite element simulations are in good agreement with the coincident development tendency of stress and deformation. In addition, the measured rotational moment is less than the calculated moment prescriptive by the code, and the relationship between horizontal displacement and horizontal shear force is linear. Finally, based on these results, the rotation and shear stiffness models of bearings subject to axial tensile load are proposed for the refinement analysis of integral structure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.971-983
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• 2015

To promote greater acceptance and use of composite RCS systems, a two-bay two-story frame specimen with improved composite RCS joint details was tested in the laboratory under reversed cyclic loading. The test revealed superior seismic performance with stable load versus story drift response and excellent deformation capacity for an inter-story drift ratio up to 1/25. It was found that the failure process of the frame meets the strong-column weak-beam criterion. Furthermore, cracking inter-story drift ratio and ultimate inter-story drift ratio both satisfy the limitation prescribed by the design code. Additionally, inter-story drift ratios at yielding and peak load stage provide reference data for Performance-Based Seismic Design (PBSD) approaches for composite RCS frames. An advantage over conventional reinforced concrete and steel moment frame systems is that the displacement ductility coefficient of the RCS frame system is much larger. To conclude, the test results prove that composite RCS frame systems perform satisfactorily under simulated earthquake action, which further validates the reliability of this innovative system. Based on the test result, some suggestions are presented for the design of composite RCS frame systems.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.415-440
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• 2015

In the present case study, High Strain Dynamic Testing of piles is conducted at 3 different locations of Kolkata city of India. The raw field data acquired is analyzed using Pile Driving Analyzer (PDA) and CAPWAP (Case Pile Wave Analysis Programme) computer software and load settlement curves along with variation of force and velocity with time is obtained. A finite difference based numerical software FLAC3D has been used for simulating the field conditions by simulating similar soil-pile models for each case. The net pile displacement and ultimate pile capacity determined from the field tests and estimated by using numerical analyses are compared. It is seen that the ultimate capacity of the pile computed using FLAC3D differs from the field test results by around 9%, thereby indicating the efficiency of FLAC3D as reliable numerical software for analyzing pile foundations subjected to impact loading. Moreover, various parameters like top layers of cohesive soil varying from soft to stiff consistency, pile length, pile diameter, pile impedance and critical height of fall of the hammer have been found to influence both pile displacement and net pile capacity substantially. It may, therefore, be suggested to include the test in relevant IS code of practice.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.3
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• pp.281-289
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• 2017

Damping value has considerable influence on the dynamic and seismic behaviors of bridges. However, currently the constant damping ratios that are prescribed by most bridge seismic design codes can't truly represent the complicated damping character of actual structures. In this paper, a cyclic loading experiment was conducted to study the effect of stress amplitude on material damping of concrete to present an analyzing model of the material damping of concrete. Furthermore, based on the fundamental damping of structure measured under ambient vibration, combined with the presented stress-dependent material damping concrete, the seismic response of a bridge pier was calculated. Comparison between the calculated and experiment results verified the validity of the presented damping model. Finally, a modified design and analysis method for bridge was proposed based on stress-dependent damping theory, and a continuous rigid frame bridge was selected as the example to calculate the actual damping values and the dynamic response of the bridge under different earthquake intensities. The calculation results indicated that using the constant damping given by the Chinese seismic design code of bridges would overestimate the energy dissipation capacity of the bridge.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.613-631
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• 2014

To complement the method of field-scale seismic ground motion simulations by buried blast techniques, the application and evaluation of the capability of a numerical modeling platform to simulate buried explosion-induced ground motion at a real soil site is presented in this paper. Upon a layout of the experimental setup at a level site wherein multiple charges that were buried over a large-diameter circle and detonated in a planned sequence, the formulation of a numerical model of the soil and the explosives using the finite element code LS-DYNA is developed for the evaluation of the resulting ground motion and surface subsidence. With a compact elastoplastic cap model calibrated for the loess soils on the basis of the site and laboratory test program, numerical solutions are obtained by explicit time integration for various dynamic aspects and their relation with the field blast experiment. Quantitative comparison of the computed ground acceleration time histories at different locations and induced spatial subsidence on the surface afterwards is given for further engineering insights in regard to the capabilities and limitations of both the numerical and experimental approaches.