• Computers and Concrete
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.521-532
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• 2021

Present paper focuses on the modeling of size effect on the compressive strength of normal concrete with the application of Discrete Element Method (DEM). Test specimens with different size and shape were cast and uniaxial compressive strength test was performed on each sample. Five different concrete mixes were used, all belonging to a different normal strength concrete class (C20/25, C30/37, C35/45, C45/55, and C50/60). The numerical simulations were carried out by using the PFC 5 software, which applies rigid spheres and contacts between them to model the material. DEM modeling of size effect could be advantageous because the development of micro-cracks in the material can be observed and the failure mode can be visualized. The series of experiments were repeated with the model after calibration. The relationship of the parallel bond strength of the contacts and the laboratory compressive strength test was analyzed by aiming to determine a relation between the compressive strength and the bond strength of different sized models. An equation was derived based on Bazant's size effect law to estimate the parallel bond strength of differently sized specimens. The parameters of the equation were optimized based on measurement data using nonlinear least-squares method with SSE (sum of squared errors) objective function. The laboratory test results showed a good agreement with the literature data (compressive strength is decreasing with the increase of the size of the specimen regardless of the shape). The derived estimation models showed strong correlation with the measurement data. The results indicated that the size effect is stronger on concretes with lower strength class due to the higher level of inhomogeneity of the material. It was observed that size effect is more significant on cube specimens than on cylinder samples, which can be caused by the side ratios of the specimens and the size of the purely compressed zone. A limit value for the minimum size of DE model for cubes and cylinder was determined, above which the size effect on compressive strength can be neglected within the investigated size range. The relationship of model size (particle number) and computational time was analyzed and a method to decrease the computational time (number of iterations) of material genesis is proposed.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.16 no.1 s.79
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• pp.27-35
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• 2004

Most of concrete fatigue tests currently used are flexural tension or compression methods to investigate the tensile or compressive properties, respectively. However, the concrete pavement or concrete slab is actually subjected to a combined stress condition such as biaxial or triaxial. The split tension test may result in similar stress condition to biaxial stress condition. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the split tension fatigue test method for application in concrete. These were done by a finite element analysis and experimental series. The results were as follows: The optimum configuration of split tension fatigue test was a cylinder of 15cm in diameter and 7.5cm in thickness, which had a little different thickness compared to the KS standard cylinder of ${\phi}15{\times}30cm$. The concrete stress ratio of compressive against horizontal from FEA was 3.1, while that from theory was 3.0. The stress distributions of mortar and steel were almost similar at different thicknesses. The measured static split tensile strengths of concrete and mortar were quite similar at 30cm and 7.5cm thickness cylinders. The measured stress-strain relationship showed their consistency at all specimens regardless of thickness, and confirmed the results from FEA. As a results, the concrete split tension specimen, cylinder of 15cm in diameter and 7.5cm in thickness, could be used at fatigue test because of its accuracy, simplicity and convenience.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.387-402
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• 2010

From typical stress-axial strain curve and stress-volume strain curve of a concrete under uniaxial compression, the initiation and localization of microcracks within the interior of the specimen can be identified. The occurrence of random microcrack indicates the end of the linear elasticity, and the localization of microcrack implies formation of major crack, which triggers the onset of unstable crack propagation. The interval between initiation and localization of microcracks is characterized by a stable microcrack growth. Based on fracture behavior observed from a uniaxial compressive test of a concrete cylinder, a model has been developed to extract fundamental fracture properties of a concrete, i.e. the equivalent fracture toughness and the size of fracture process zone. The introduction of cracking Poisson's ratio accounts for tensile failure characteristics of concrete even under uniaxal compression. To justify the validity of the model proposed, tests on three-point bending have been performed to obtain the fracture toughness in accordance with two parameter fracture model and double-K fracture model. Surprisingly, it yields favorably comparable results and provides an encouraging alternative approach to determine fracture properties for concretes.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.115-126
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• 2003

A novel finite element model based on the incremental endochronic theory with the effect of temperature was developed in this study to explore the deformed behaviors of a flexible pavement material. Three mesh systems and two loading steps were used in the calculation process for a specimen of three-dimensional circular cylinder. Computational results in the case of an uni-axial compression test for temperatures at $20^{\circ}C$ and at $40^{\circ}C$ were compared with available experimental measurements to verify the ability of developing numerical scheme. The isotropic response and the deviatoric response due to the thermal effect were presented from deformations in different profiles and displacement plots for the entire specimen. The characteristics of changing asphalt concrete material under a specified loading condition might be seen clearly from the numerical results, and might provide an useful information in the field of road engineering.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.63-71
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• 2010

This paper is about a research of steam curing which is one of the curing methods for accelerating the early-age strength of pre-cast concrete. With cylinder mold and mock-up specimen, the research was executed to study the best cycle of steam curing temperature through quantifying cycle of steam curing and maximum temperature, while the required strength is developed under the early-age. Moreover, causes and measurements for the high temperature of concrete, which is due to the steam curing, and the crack, which occurs when removing steel form, are stated. Ultimately, the economical method of producing, which satisfies early-age strength development and quality assurance while manufacturing PC structure, is stated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.247-261
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• 2023

Due to the non-uniform distribution of meso-structure, the diffusion of chloride ions in concrete show the characteristics of characteristics of randomness and fuzziness, which leads to the non-uniform distribution of chloride ions and the non-uniform corrosion of steel rebar in concrete. This phenomenon is supposed as the main reason causing the uncertainty of the bearing capacity deterioration of reinforced concrete structures. In order to analyze and predict the durability of reinforced concrete structures under chloride environment, the random features of chloride ions transport in concrete were studied in this research from in situ meso-structure of concrete. Based on X-ray CT technology, the spatial distribution of coarse aggregates and pores were recognized and extracted from a cylinder concrete specimen. In considering the influence of ITZ, the in situ mesostructure of concrete specimen was reconstructed to conduct a numerical simulation on the diffusion of chloride ions in concrete, which was verified through electronic microprobe technology. Then a stochastic study was performed to investigate the distribution of chloride ions concentration in space and time. The research indicates that the influence of coarse aggregate on chloride ions diffusion is the synthetic action of tortuosity and ITZ effect. The spatial distribution of coarse aggregates and pores is the main reason leading to the non-uniform distribution of chloride ions both in spatial and time scale. The chloride ions concentration under a certain time and the time under a certain concentration both satisfy the Lognormal distribution, which are accepted by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Chi-square test. This research provides an efficient method for obtain mass stochastic data from limited but representative samples, which lays a solid foundation for the investigation on the service properties of reinforced concrete structures.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1505-1516
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• 2014

In this study, a cylinder embedded within cemented soils was used to cause directly tensile failure of cemented soils. An existing dumbbell type direct tensile test and a split tensile test that is most general indirect tensile test were also carried out to verify the developed built-in cylinder tensile test. Testing specimens with two different sand/cement ratios (1:1 and 3:1) and two curing periods (7 and 28 days) were prepared and tested. Total 10 specimens were prepared for each case and their average value was evaluated. Unconfined compression tests were also carried out and the ratio of compressive strength and tensile strength was evaluated. The tensile strength determined by built-in cylinder tensile test was slightly higher than that by dumbbell type direct tensile test. The dumbbell type test has often failed in joint part of specimen and showed some difficulty to prepare a specimen. Among three tensile testing methods, the standard deviation of tensile strength by split tensile test was highest. It was shown that the split tensile test is applicable to concrete or rock with elastic failure but not for cemented soils having lower strength.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.323-331
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• 2012

Since the 1970s, the mechanical properties of concrete at high temperature, such as compressive strength, elastic modulus, thermal strain, etc. have been investigated. Internal and external factors should be effect to concrete elevated temperature. In particular, the thermal properties of aggregate and cooling conditions are most important to estimate residual mechanical properties. This study evaluates the mechanical properties of concrete with aggregate type and cooling methods. We use normal and light aggregate for different thermal properties, and also test mechanical properties to use ${\O}100{\times}200$ mm cylinder specimen according to target temperature, slow cooling and water cooling. We found that normal aggregate concrete that uses is more highly influenced by cooling conditions than concrete that uses light aggregate concrete. In addition, the residual mechanical properties of concrete increase as cooling velocity lowers.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.6 no.1 s.19
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• pp.47-56
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• 2004

To determine the pure bond strength between substrate and its overlayed concrete material, a direct pull-off test method was introduced by using a bi-material cylinder with which a penny-shaped crack was mountained at its interface. First, to evaluate the stress magnification or concentration at the interface, the energy release rates of a penny-shaped interface crack in remote tension loading on a bi-material cylinder were determined in terms of different modulus ratios and undonded area ratios(crack ratios) using a commercial finite element program. Then the energy release rates were calibrated as non-dimensional values in consideration of structural dimensions and applied forces. And to evaluate whether this new pull-off test method gives sound test results, three different sizes of unbended area ratios were incorporated along their interface in bi-material cylinders(sulphur polymer concrete + old concrete). Test results showed that all specimens were broken off at their interfaces as intended. Also the FEM analyses and test results indicated that a bi-material specimen with unbended area ratio of 0.4$\sim$0.6 is suitable for best accurate testing.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2016

In construction field, it used various technique for concrete formwork. Part of them, non-destructive test has been conducted to estimate a compressive strength of concrete easily such as rebound method and ultrasonic pulse velocity method etc. Former research has recommend proposed equation based on experimental data to investigate strength of concrete but it was sometimes deferent actual value of that from in field because of the few of data in case of early strength concrete. In this study, an experiment was conducted to analyze strength properties for early strength concrete using cylinder mold and $1,000mm{\times}1,000mm{\times}200mm$ rectangular specimen. And compressive strength of concrete was tested by non-destructive test, and calculated by the equation proposed former research. As a result, the non-destructive test results showed approximately 70 percent of the failure test value for all conditions, and worse reliability was obtained for high strength concrete samples when the ultrasonic pulse velocity method was used. Based on the scope of this study, the experimental equation for estimating compressive strength of early strength concrete from 24MPa to 60MPa was proposed.