• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.369-379
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• 2015

Friction in a post-tensioning system has a significant effect on the distribution of the prestressing force of tendons in prestressed concrete structures. However, attempts to derive friction coefficients using conventional electrical resistance strain gauges do not usually lead to reliable results, mainly due to the damage of sensors and lead wires during the insertion of strands into the sheath and during tensioning. In order to overcome these drawbacks of the existing measurement system, the Smart Strand was developed in this study to accurately measure the strain and prestressing force along the strand. In the Smart Strand, the core wire of a 7-wire strand is replaced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer in which the fiber Bragg grating sensors are embedded. As one of the applications of the Smart Strand, friction coefficients were evaluated using a full-scale test of a 20 m long beam. The test variables were the curvature, diameter, and filling ratio of the sheath. The analysis results showed the average wobble and curvature friction coefficients of 0.0038/m and 0.21/radian, respectively, which correspond to the middle of the range specified in ACI 318-08 in the U.S. and Structural Concrete Design Code in Korea. Also, the accuracy of the coefficients was improved by reducing the effective range specified in these codes by 27-34 %. This study shows the wide range of applicability of the developed Smart Strand system.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.257-273
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• 2012

Based on the heterogeneous characterization of concrete at mesoscopic level, Realistic Failure Process Analysis ($RFPA^{3D}$) code is used to simulate the failure process of concrete-filled tubular (CFT) stub columns. The results obtained from the numerical simulations are firstly verified against the existing experimental results. An extensive parametric study is conducted to investigate the effects of different concrete strength on the behaviour and load-bearing capacity of the CFT stub columns. The strength of concrete considered in this study ranges from 30 to 110 MPa. Both the load-bearing capacity and load-displacement curves of CFT columns are evaluated. In particular, the crack propagation during the deformation and failure processes of the columns is predicted and the associated mechanisms related to the increased load-bearing capacity of the columns are clarified. The numerical results indicate that there are two mechanisms controlling the failure of the CFT columns. For the CFT columns with the lower concrete strength, they damage when the steel tube yields at first. By contrast, for the columns with high concrete strength it is the damage of concrete that controls the overall loading capacity of the CFT columns. The simulation results also demonstrate that $RFPA^{3D}$ is not only a useful and effective tool to simulate the concrete-filled steel tubular columns, but also a valuable reference for the practice of engineering design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.633-646
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• 2017

The compressive behavior of special-shaped concrete filled tube (CFT) mega column coupled with multiple cavities is studied by testing six columns subjected to cyclically uniaxial compressive load. The six columns include three pentagonal specimens and three hexagonal specimens. The influence of cavity construction, arrangement of reinforcement, concrete strength on failure feature, bearing capacity, stiffness, and residual deformation is examined. Experimental results show that cavity construction and reinforcements make it possible to form a combined confinement effect to in-filled concrete, and the two groups of special-shaped CFT columns show good elastic-plastic compressive behavior. As there is no axial bearing capacity calculation method currently available in any Code of practice for special-shaped CFT columns, values predicted by normal CFT column formulas in GB50936, CECS254, ACI-318, EC4, AISCI-LRFD, CECS159, and AIJ are compared with tested values. The calculated values are lower than the tested values for most columns, thus the predicted bearing capacity is safe. A reasonable calculation method by dividing concrete into active and inactive confined regions is proposed. And high accuracy shows in estimating special-shaped CFT columns either coupled with multiple cavities or not. In addition, a finite element method (FEM) analysis is conducted and the simulated results match the test well.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.765-784
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• 2015

Connections are usually designed either as pinned usually associated with simple construction or rigid normally is associated with continuous construction. However, the actual behaviour falls in between these two extreme cases. The use of partial strength or semi-rigid connections has been encouraged by Euro-code 3 and studies on semi-continuous construction have shown substantial savings in steel weight of the overall construction. Composite connections are proposed in this paper as partial or full strength connections. Standardized connection tables are developed based on checking on all possible failure modes as suggested by "component method" for beam-to-column composite connection on major axis. Four experimental tests were carried out to validate the proposed standardised connection table. The test results showed good agreement between experimental and theoretical values with the ratio in the range between 1.06 to 1.50. All tested specimens of the composite connections showed ductile type of failure with the formation of cracks occurred on concrete slab at maximum load. No failure occurred on the Trapezoidal Web Profiled Steel Section as beam and on the British Section as column.

• 한국강구조학회 논문집
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.11-20
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• 2014

2001년 이후 앵커의 설계는 Concrete Capacity Design(CCD) 방법이 적용되고 있는데, 국내 기준에서는 지진하중에 대한 콘크리트의 파열파괴강도를 정적 파괴강도의 75%로 제한하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 무근콘크리트에 매입된 선설치앵커의 동적 전단하중에 대한 콘크리트 파열파괴강도 평가하기 위한 실험을 수행하였다. 이를 위해 직경 20 mm의 앵커에 대해 정적 하중과 동적 편진하중에 대한 실험을 각각 3개의 시험체에 대해 수행하였으며, 앵커의 연단거리는 120 mm를 적용하였다. 동적 실험은 15 cycle의 편진하중을 1 Hz의 속도로 재하하였으며 반복하중단계의 크기를 키워가면서 최종 파괴 시까지 가력하였다. 실험으로부터 동적 전단하중에 의한 콘크리트 파열파괴강도는 정적하중에 의한 것과 거의 같은 파괴강도를 보였다.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.269-282
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• 2015

Civil structures should be designed with the lowest cost and longest lifetime possible and without service failure. The efficient and sustainable use of materials in building design and construction has always been at the forefront for civil engineers and environmentalists. Timber is one of the best contenders for these purposes particularly in terms of aesthetics; fire protection; strength-to-weight ratio; acoustic properties and seismic resistance. In recent years, timber has been used in commercial and taller buildings due to these significant advantages. It should be noted that, since the launch of the modern building standards and codes, a number of different structural systems have been developed to stabilise steel or concrete multistorey buildings, however, structural analysis of high-rise and multi-storey timber frame buildings subjected to lateral loads has not yet been fully understood. Additionally, timber degradation can occur as a result of biological decay of the elements and overloading that can result in structural damage. In such structures, the deficient members and joints require strengthening in order to satisfy new code requirements; determine acceptable level of safety; and avoid brittle failure following earthquake actions. This paper investigates performance assessment and damage assessment of older multi-storey timber buildings. One approach is to retrofit the beams in order to increase the ductility of the frame. Experimental studies indicate that Sprayed Fibre Reinforced Polymer (SFRP) repairing/retrofitting not only updates the integrity of the joint, but also increases its strength; stiffness; and ductility in such a way that the joint remains elastic. Non-linear finite element analysis ('pushover') is carried out to study the behaviour of the structure subjected to simulated gravity and lateral loads. A new global index is re-assessed for damage assessment of the plain and SFRP-retrofitted frames using capacity curves obtained from pushover analysis. This study shows that the proposed method is suitable for structural damage assessment of aged timber buildings. Also SFRP retrofitting can potentially improve the performance and load carrying capacity of the structure.

• Advances in Computational Design
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• 제4권3호
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• pp.273-294
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• 2019

In this paper is presented the minimum cost (optimal design) for reinforced concrete circular isolated footings based on an analytic model. This model considers a load and two moments in directions of the X and Y axes, and the pressure has a variation linear, these are the effects that act on the footing. The minimum cost (optimal design) and the Maple program are shown in Flowcharts. Two numerical experiments are shown to obtain the minimum cost design of the two materials that are used for a circular footing supporting an axial load and moments in two directions in accordance to the code of the ACI (American Concrete Institute), and it is compared against the current design (uniform pressure). Also, the same examples are developed through the normal procedure to verify the minimum cost (optimal design) presented in this document, i.e., the equations of moment, bending shear and punching shear are used to check the thickness, and after, the steel areas of the footing are obtained, and it is compared against the current design (uniform pressure). Results section show that the optimal design is more accurate and more economical than to any other model. Therefore, it is concluded that the optimized design model presented in this paper should be used to obtain the minimum cost design for the circular isolated footings.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.69-83
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• 2019

This paper investigates the structural behavior of very high strength concrete encased steel composite columns via combined experimental and analytical study. The experimental programme examines stub composite columns under pure compression and eccentric compression. The experimental results show that the high strength encased concrete composite column exhibits brittle post peak behavior and low ductility but has acceptable compressive resistance. The high strength concrete encased composite column subjected to early spalling and initial flexural cracking due to its brittle nature that may degrade the stiffness and ultimate resistance. The analytical study compares the current code methods (ACI 318, Eurocode 4, AISC 360 and Chinese JGJ 138) in predicting the compressive resistance of the high strength concrete encased composite columns to verify the accuracy. The plastic design resistance may not be fully achieved. A database including the concrete encased composite column under concentered and eccentric compression is established to verify the predictions using the proposed elastic, elastoplastic and plastic methods. Image-oriented intelligent recognition tool-based fiber element method is programmed to predict the load resistances. It is found that the plastic method can give an accurate prediction of the load resistance for the encased composite column using normal strength concrete (20-60 MPa) while the elastoplastic method provides reasonably conservative predictions for the encased composite column using high strength concrete (60-120 MPa).

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제47권2호
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• pp.269-287
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• 2023

The WGJ420 fire-resistant weathering (FRW) steel is developed and manufactured with standard yield strength of 420 MPa at room temperature, which is expected to significantly enhance the performance of steel structures with excellent fire and corrosion resistances, strong seismic capacity, high strength and ductility, good resilience and robustness. In this paper, the mechanical properties of FRW steel plates and buckling behavior of columns are investigated through tests at elevated temperatures. The stress-strain curves, mechanical properties of FRW steel such as modulus of elasticity, proof strength, tensile strength, as well as corresponding reduction factors are obtained and discussed. The recommended constitutive model based on the Ramberg-Osgood relationship, as well as the relevant formulas for mechanical properties are proposed, which provide fundamental mechanical parameters and references. A total of 12 FRW steel welded I-section columns with different slenderness ratios and buckling load ratios are tested under standard fire to understand the global buckling behavior in-depth. The influences of boundary conditions on the buckling failure modes as well as the critical temperatures are also investigated. In addition, the temperature distributions at different sections/locations of the columns are obtained. It is found that the buckling deformation curve can be divided into four stages: initial expansion stage, stable stage, compression stage and failure stage. The fire test results concluded that the residual buckling capacities of FRW steel columns are substantially higher than the conventional steel columns at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the numerical results show good agreement with the fire test results in terms of the critical temperature and maximum axial elongation. Finally, the critical temperatures between the numerical results and various code/standard curves (GB 51249, Eurocode 3, AS 4100, BS 5950 and AISC) are compared and verified both in the buckling resistance domain and in the temperature domain. It is demonstrated that the FRW steel columns have sufficient safety redundancy for fire resistance when they are designed according to current codes or standards.

• Wind and Structures
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• 제37권6호
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• pp.413-423
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• 2023

Wind turbines are usually steel hollow structures that can be vulnerable to dramatic failures due to high-intensity wind (HIW) events, which are classified as a category of localized windstorms that includes tornadoes and downbursts. Analyzing Wind Turbines (WT) under tornadoes is a challenging-to-achieve task because tornadoes are much more complicated wind fields compared with the synoptic boundary layer wind fields, considering that the tornado's 3-D velocity components vary largely in space. As a result, the supporting tower of the wind turbine and the blades will experience different velocities depending on the location of the event. Wind farms also extend over a large area so that the probability of a localized windstorm event impacting one or more towers is relatively high. Therefore, the built-in-house numerical code "HIW-WT" has been developed to predict the straining actions on the blades considering the variability of the tornado's location and the blades' pitch angle. The developed HIWWT numerical model incorporates different wind fields that were generated from developed CFD models. The developed numerical model was applied on an actual wind turbine under three different tornadoes that have different tornadic structure. It is found that F2 tornado wind fields present significant hazard for the wind turbine blades and have to be taken into account if the hazardous impact of this type of unexpected load is to be avoided.