• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.413-429
• /
• 2013

The primary aim of this study is to develop a three dimensional finite element (FE) model to predict the axial stress-strain relationship and ultimate strength of the FRP-wrapped UHPC columns by comparing experimental results. The reliability of four selected confinement models and three design codes such as ACI-440, CSA-S806-02, and ISIS CANADA is also evaluated in terms of agreement with the experimental results. Totally 6 unconfined and 36 different types of the FRP-wrapped UHPC columns are tested under monotonic axial compression. The values of ultimate strengths of FRP-wrapped UHPC columns obtained from the experimental results are compared and verified with finite element (FE) analysis results and the design codes mentioned above. The concrete damage plasticity model (CDPM) in Abaqus is utilized to represent the confined behavior of the UHPC. The results indicate that agreement between the test results and the non-linear FE analysis results is highly satisfactory. The CSA-S806-02 design code is considered more reliable than the ACI-440 and the ISIS CANADA design codes to calculate the ultimate strength of the FRP-wrapped UHPC columns. None of the selected confinement models that are developed for FRP-wrapped low and normal strength concrete columns can safely predict the ultimate strength of FRP-wrapped UHPC columns.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.535-558
• /
• 2008

This study evaluates seismic performance of the school buildings with the selected template designs in Turkey considering nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete components. Six school buildings with template designs were selected to represent major percentage of school buildings in medium-size cities located in high seismic region of Turkey. Selection of template designed buildings and material properties were based on field investigation on government owned school buildings in several cities in western part of Turkey. Capacity curves of investigated buildings were determined by pushover analyses conducted in two principal directions. The inelastic dynamic characteristics were represented by equivalent single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) systems and their seismic displacement demands were calculated under selected ground motions. Seismic performance evaluation was carried out in accordance with recently published Turkish Earthquake Code that has similarities with FEMA-356 guidelines. Reasons of building damages in past earthquakes are examined using the results of performance assessment of investigated buildings. The effects of material quality on seismic performance of school buildings were investigated. The detailed examination of capacity curves and performance evaluation identified deficiencies and possible solutions for template designs.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.60 no.5
• /
• pp.761-779
• /
• 2016

Design of safe structures with resistance to progressive collapse is of paramount importance in structural engineering. In this paper, an efficient optimization technique is used for optimal design of steel moment frames subjected to progressive collapse. Seismic design specifications of AISC-LRFD code together with progressive collapse provisions of UFC are considered as the optimization constraints. Linear static, nonlinear static and nonlinear dynamic analysis procedures of alternate path method of UFC are considered in design process. Three design examples are solved and the results are discussed. Results show that frames, which are designed solely considering the AISC-LRFD limitations, cannot resist progressive collapse, in terms of UFC requirements. Moreover, although the linear static analysis procedure needs the least computational cost with compared to the other two procedures, is the most conservative one and results in heaviest frame designs against progressive collapse. By comparing the results of this work with those reported in literature, it is also shown that the optimization technique used in this paper significantly reduces the required computational effort for design. In addition, the effect of the use of connections with high plastic rotational capacity is investigated, whose results show that lighter designs with resistance to progressive collapse can be obtained by using Side Plate connections in steel frames.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.29-41
• /
• 2020

It is extremely important to obtain rock strength parameters for geological engineering. In this paper, the evolution of sandstone cohesion and internal friction angle with plastic shear strain was obtained by simulating the cyclic loading and unloading tests under different confining pressures using Particle Flow Code software. By which and combined with the micro-crack propagation process, the mesoscopic mechanism of parameter evolution was studied. The results show that with the increase of plastic shear strain, the sandstone cohesion decreases first and then tends to be stable, while the internal friction angle increases first, then decreases, and finally maintains unchanged. The evolution of sandstone shear strength parameters is closely related to the whole process of crack formation, propagation and coalescence. When the internal micro-cracks are less and distributed randomly and dispersedly, and the rock shear strength parameters (cohesion, internal friction angle) are considered to have not been fully mobilized. As the directional development of the internal micro-fractures as well as the gradual formation of macroscopic shear plane, the rock cohesion reduces continuously and the internal friction angle is in the rise stage. As the formation of the macroscopic shear plane, both the rock cohesion and internal friction angle continuously decrease to a certain residual level.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.211-226
• /
• 2004

A relatively simple multiple-vertical-line-element macro model has been incorporated into a standard computer code DRAIN-2D. It was used in blind predictions of seismic response of cantilever RC walls subjected to a series of consequent earthquakes on a shaking table. The model was able to predict predominantly flexural response with relative success. It was able to predict the stiffness and the strength of the pre-cracked specimen and time-history response of the highly nonlinear wall as well as to simulate the shift of the neutral axis and corresponding varying axial force in the cantilever wall. However, failing to identify the rupture of some brittle reinforcement in the third test, the model was not able to predict post-critical, near collapse behaviour during the subsequent response to two stronger earthquakes. The analysed macro model seems to be appropriate for global analyses of complex building structures with RC structural walls subjected to moderate/strong earthquakes. However, it cannot, by definition, be used in refined research analyses monitoring local behaviour in the post critical region.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.19 no.6
• /
• pp.1381-1402
• /
• 2015

The application of composite steel-concrete slabs with profiled steel sheeting has increased, due to the various advantages in relation to reinforced concrete slabs such as, the reduced thickness, the reduced amount of lost formwork needed, as well as the speed of execution. The loss of longitudinal shear resistance is, generally, the governing design mode for simply supported spans of common lengths. For common distributed loadings, the composite behaviour is influenced by the partial shear connection between the concrete and the steel sheeting. The present research work is intended to contribute to improving the ultimate limit state behaviour of composite slabs using end anchorage. Eurocode 4, Part 1.1 (EN 1994-1-1) provides an analytical methodology for predicting the increase of longitudinal resistance, achieved by using shear studs welded through the steel sheeting as the end anchorage mechanism. The code does not supply an analytical methodology for other kinds of end anchorage so, additional tests or studies are needed to prove the effectiveness of these types of anchorage. The influence of end anchorage mechanisms provided by transverse rebars at the ends of simply supported composite slabs is analysed in this paper. Two experimental programmes were carried out, the first to determine the resistance provided by the new end anchorage mechanism and the second to analyse its influence on the behaviour of simply supported composite slabs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.1185-1201
• /
• 2015

The aim of this experimental research is to investigate the conformity of the four-bolt unstiffened moment end-plate connections consisting of European steel sections which do not meet the limitations specified for beam flange width and overall beam depth in ANSI/AISC 358-10 to the requirements of seismic application. However, the connections are satisfactory with the limitations required by Turkish Earthquake Code. For this purpose, four test specimens were designed and cyclic load was applied to three specimens while one was tested under monotonic loading to provide data for the calibration of the analytical models. The moment-rotation hysteresis loops and the failure modes for all test specimens are presented. A full three-dimensional finite element model is also developed for each test specimen for use to predict their behavior and to provide a tool for generating subsequent extensive parametric studies. The test results show that all specimens performed well in terms of rotation capacity and strength. Finite element models are found to be capable of approximating the cyclic behavior of the extended end-plate connection specimens.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.803-823
• /
• 2011

In this paper, the three dimensional Parallel Realistic Failure Process Analysis ($RFPA^{3D}$-Parallel) code based on micromechanical model is employed to investigate the bonding behavior in FRP sheet bonded to concrete in single shear test. In the model, the heterogeneity of brittle disordered material at a meso-scale was taken into consideration in order to realistically demonstrate the mechanical characteristics of FRP-to-concrete. Modified Mohr-coulomb strength criterion with tension cut-off, where a stressed element can damage in shear or in tension, was adopted and a stiffness degradation approach was used to simulate the initiation, propagation and growth of microcracks in the model. In addition, a Master-Slave parallel operation control technique was adopted to implement the parallel computation of a large numerical model. Parallel computational results of debonding of FRP-concrete visually reproduce the spatial and temporal debonding failure progression of microcracks in FRP sheet bonded to concrete, which agrees well with the existing testing results in laboratory. The numerical approach in this study provides a useful tool for enhancing our understanding of cracking and debonding failure process and mechanism of FRP-concrete and our ability to predict mechanical performance and reliability of these FRP sheet bonded to concrete structures.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.46 no.5
• /
• pp.569-580
• /
• 2014

Seismic isolation is a viable strategy for protecting safety-related nuclear structures from the effects of moderate to severe earthquake shaking. Although seismic isolation has been deployed in nuclear structures in France and South Africa, it has not seen widespread use because of limited new build nuclear construction in the past 30 years and a lack of guidelines, codes and standards for the analysis, design and construction of isolation systems specific to nuclear structures. The funding by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission of a research project to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and MCEER/University at Buffalo facilitated the writing of a soon-to-be-published NUREG on seismic isolation. Funding of MCEER by the National Science Foundation led to research products that provide the technical basis for a new section in ASCE Standard 4 on the seismic isolation of safety-related nuclear facilities. The performance expectations identified in the NUREG and ASCE 4 for seismic isolation systems, and superstructures and substructures are described in the paper. Robust numerical models capable of capturing isolator behaviors under extreme loadings, which have been verified and validated following ASME protocols, and implemented in the open source code OpenSees, are introduced.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.73-87
• /
• 2015

In case of aircraft impact on nuclear containment structures, the initial kinetic energy of the aircraft is transferred and absorbed by the outer containment, may causing either complete or partial failure of containment structure. In the present study safety analysis of BWR Mark III type containment has been performed. The total height of containment is 67 m. It has a circular wall with monolithic dome of 21m diameter. Crash analysis has been performed for fighter jet Phantom F4. A normal hit at the crown of containment dome has been considered. Numerical simulations have been carried out using finite element code ABAQUS/Explicit. Concrete Damage Plasticity model have been incorporated to simulate the behaviour of concrete at high strain rate, while Johnson-Cook elasto-visco model of ductile metals have been used for steel reinforcement. Maximum deformation in the containment building has reported as 33.35 mm against crash of Phantom F4. Deformations in concrete and reinforcements have been localised to the impact region. Moreover, no significant global damage has been observed in structure. It may be concluded from the present study that at higher velocity of aircraft perforation of the structure may happen.