• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2017

External pre-stressing is often used in strengthening or retrofitting of steel-concrete composite beams. In this way, a proper numerical model should be able to trace the completely nonlinear response of these structures at service and ultimate loads. A three dimensional finite element model based on shell elements for representing the concrete slab and the steel beam are used in this work. Partial interaction at the slab-beam interface can be taken into account by using special beam-column elements as shear connectors. External pre-stressed tendons are modeled by using one-dimensional catenary elements. Contact elements are included in the analysis to represent the slipping at the tendon-deviator locations. Validation of the numerical model is established by simulating seven pre-stressed steel-concrete composite beams with experimental results. The model predictions agree well with the experimental results in terms of collapse loads, path failures and cracking lengths at negative moment regions due to service loads. Finally, the accuracy of some simplified formulas found in the specialized literature to predict cracking lengths at interior supports at service loading and for the evaluation of ultimate bending moments is also examined in this work.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.6
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• pp.765-780
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• 2023

In this work, a novel combined logarithmic, secant and tangential 2D and quasi-3D refined higher order shear deformation theory is proposed to examine the buckling analysis of simply supported uniform functionally graded plates under uniaxial and biaxial loading. The proposed formulations contain a reduced number of variables compared to others similar solutions. The combined function employed in this study ensures automatically the zero-transverse shear stresses at the free surfaces of the structure. Various models of the material distributions are considered (linear, quadratic, cubic inverse quadratic and power-law). The differentials stability equations are derived via virtual work principle with including the stretching effect. The Navier's approach is applied to solve the governing equations which satisfying the boundary conditions. Several comparative and parametric studies are performed to illustrates the validity and efficacity of the proposed model and the various factors influencing the critical buckling load of thick FG plate.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2024

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) has received remarkable attentions in civil infrastructure due to its unique mechanical characteristics and durability. UHPC gains increasingly dominant in essential structural elements, while its unique properties pose challenges for traditional inspection methods, as damage may not always manifest visibly on the surface. As such, the need for robust inspection techniques for detecting cracks in UHPC members has become imperative as traditional methods often fall short in providing comprehensive and timely evaluations. In the era of artificial intelligence, computer vision has gained considerable interest as a powerful tool to enhance infrastructure condition assessment with image and video data collected from sensors, cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles. This paper presents a computer vision-based approach employing deep learning to detect cracks in UHPC beams, with the aim of addressing the inherent limitations of traditional inspection methods. This work leverages computer vision to discern intricate patterns and anomalies. Particularly, a convolutional neural network architecture employing transfer learning is adopted to identify the presence of cracks in the beams. The proposed approach is evaluated with image data collected from full-scale experiments conducted on UHPC beams subjected to flexural and shear loadings. The results of this study indicate the applicability of computer vision and deep learning as intelligent methods to detect major and minor cracks and recognize various damage mechanisms in UHPC members with better efficiency compared to conventional monitoring methods. Findings from this work pave the way for the development of autonomous infrastructure health monitoring and condition assessment, ensuring early detection in response to evolving structural challenges. By leveraging computer vision, this paper contributes to usher in a new era of effectiveness in autonomous crack detection, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of UHPC civil infrastructure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.263-276
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• 2007

This paper presents a fuzzy finite element model for the analysis of structures in the presence of multiple uncertainties. A new methodology to evaluate the cumulative effect of multiple uncertainties on structural response is developed in the present work. This is done by modifying Muhanna's approach for handling single uncertainty. Uncertainty in load and material properties is defined by triangular membership functions with equal spread about the crisp value. Structural response is obtained in terms of fuzzy interval displacements and rotations. The results are further post-processed to obtain interval values of bending moment, shear force and axial forces. Membership functions are constructed to depict the uncertainty in structural response. Sensitivity analysis is performed to evaluate the relative sensitivity of displacements and forces to uncertainty in structural parameters. The present work demonstrates the effectiveness of fuzzy finite element model in establishing sharp bounds to the uncertain structural response in the presence of multiple uncertainties.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.11-15
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• 2015

The Last PlannerSystem (LPS) has been implemented on construction projects to increase work flow reliability, a precondition for project performance againstproductivity and progress targets. The LPS encompasses four tiers of planning processes:master scheduling, phase scheduling, lookahead planning, and commitment / weeklywork planning. This research highlights deficiencies in the current implementation of LPS including poor lookahead planning which results in poor linkage between weeklywork plans and the master schedule. This poor linkage undetermines the ability of theweekly work planning process to select for execution tasks that are critical to projectsuccess. As a result, percent plan complete (PPC) becomes a weak indicator of project progress. The purpose of this research is to improve lookahead planning (the bridgebetween weekly work planning and master scheduling), improve PPC, and improve theselection of tasks that are critical to project success by increasing the link betweenShould, Can, Will, and Did (components of the LPS), thereby rendering PPC a betterindicator of project progress. The research employs the case study research method to describe deficiencies inthe current implementation of the LPS and suggest guidelines for a better application ofLPS in general and lookahead planning in particular. It then introduces an analyticalsimulation model to analyze the lookahead planning process. This is done by examining the impact on PPC of increasing two lookahead planning performance metrics: tasksanticipated (TA) and tasks made ready (TMR). Finally, the research investigates theimportance of the lookahead planning functions: identification and removal ofconstraints, task breakdown, and operations design.The research findings confirm the positive impact of improving lookaheadplanning (i.e., TA and TMR) on PPC. It also recognizes the need to perform lookaheadplanning differently for three types of work involving different levels of uncertainty:stable work, medium uncertainty work, and highly emergent work.The research confirms the LPS rules for practice and specifically the need to planin greater detail as time gets closer to performing the work. It highlights the role of LPSas a production system that incorporates deliberate planning (predetermined andoptimized) and situated planning (flexible and adaptive). Finally, the research presents recommendations for production planningimprovements in three areas: process related, (suggesting guidelines for practice),technical, (highlighting issues with current software programs and advocating theinclusion of collaborative planning capability), and organizational improvements(suggesting transitional steps when applying the LPS).

• Journal of KIBIM
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.9-18
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• 2013

In case of applying the BIM method in the civil engineering of irregularly shaped structure, BIM method began to be introduced in the current building engineering area compared with the expected effects of the relatively high construction productivity has been recognized. In this paper, I have developed quantity calculation algorithms applying it to earthwork and bridge construction, tunnel construction, retaining wall construction, culvert construction and implemented BIM based 3D-BIM Modeling quantity calculation. Structure work in which errors occurred in range between -6.28% ~ 5.17%. Especially, understanding of the problem and improvement of the existing 2D-CAD based of quantity calculation through rock type quantity calculation error in range of -14.36% ~ 13.07% of earthwork quantity calculation. It's benefit and applicability of BIM method in civil engineering. In addition, routine method for quantity of earthwork has the same error tolerance negligible for that of structure work. But, rock type's quantity calculated as the error appears significantly to the reliability of 2D-based volume calculation shows that the problem could be. Through the estimating quantity of earthwork based 3D-BIM, proposed method has better reliability than routine method. BIM, as well as the design, construction, maintenance levels of information when you consider the benefits of integration, the introduction of BIM design in civil engineering and the possibility of applying for the effectiveness was confirmed. In addition, as the beginning phase of information integration, quantity document automation program has been developed for activation of BIM. And automatically enter the program code number, linkage and manual volume calculation program, quantity document automation programs, such as the development is now underway, and step-by-step procedures and methods are presented.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2022.06a
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• pp.616-623
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• 2022

Some regions and states, such as Wyoming, have harsh weather conditions, forcing most transportation projects to be completed under tight schedules. However, construction projects are not only delayed by weather conditions, but also delayed by other factors such as contractor's competency, resource availability, coordination issues, and safety. Also, the construction method, geographical location of the projects, and inability to follow baseline schedules accurately due to the contractor's resource allocation are also reasons for the delay. This paper discusses the main reasons for the delay in the public transportation projects based on Daily Work Reports (DWRs) from five different transportation projects of the last three years in Wyoming. This paper focuses on the inconsistencies of the contractor's schedules to complete the project according to the baseline schedule. First, the authors collected DWRs and baseline schedules from the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). Second, the DWR data are compared against the baseline schedules to determine the reasons for delaying their significance. Finally, the paper presents the recommendations to mitigate the effects of delays on public transportation projects as well as to improve the documentation process of DWR data.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.1359-1363
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• 2009

The object of this research is to develop a simulation system for earthmoving operations in consideration of the impact of congestion in-between equipment and existing traffic flow around the site. The congestion in-between equipment and traffic flow affect work productivity. The conventional discrete event simulation, however, has limitations in simulating the flow of construction equipment. To consider the impact of congestion in-between equipment and existing traffic flow, in this paper, a multi-agent based simulation model that can realize characteristics of truck behavior more accurately to consider the impact of congestion was proposed. In this simulation model, multiple agents can identify environmental changes and adapt themselves to the new environment. This modeling approach is a better choice for this problem since it describes behavioral characteristics of each agent by sensing changes in dynamic surroundings. This study suggests a detailed system design of the multi-agent based simulation system.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2017.10a
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• pp.242-244
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• 2017

Excavation for construction is implemented in natural geographical terrain using a variety of construction equipment. Therefore, 3D excavation simulation requires integration of geographical and equipment modeling. This paper proposes a technique that integrates geographical and equipment modeling for 3D simulations of construction excavation. The geographical model uses a digital map to show ground surface changes during excavation and the equipment model shows equipment movement and placement. This combination produced a state of the art 3D simulation environment that can be used for machine guidance. An equipment operator can use the 3D excavation simulation to help construction equipment operators with decisions during excavation work and consequently improve productivity.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.639-655
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• 2016

The effect of particle breakage and intermediate principal stress ratio on the behaviour of crushable granular assemblies under true triaxial stress conditions is studied using the discrete element method. Numerical results show that the increase of intermediate principal stress ratio $b(b=({\sigma}_2-{\sigma}_3)/({\sigma}_1-{\sigma}_3))$ results in the increase of dilatancy at low confining pressures but the decrease of dilatancy at high confining pressures, which stems from the distinct increasing compaction caused by breakage with b. The influence of b on the evolution of the peak apparent friction angle is also weakened by particle breakage. For low relative breakage, the relationship between the peak apparent friction angle and b is close to the Lade-Duncan failure model, whereas it conforms to the Matsuoka-Nakai failure model for high relative breakage. In addition, the increasing tendency of relative breakage, calculated based on a fractal particle size distribution with the fractal dimension being 2.5, declines with the increasing confining pressure and axial strain, which implies the existence of an ultimate graduation. Finally, the relationship between particle breakage and plastic work is found to conform to a unique hyperbolic correlation regardless of the test conditions.