• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.261-274
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• 2015

This study established the standard recommended values and expansion fracture threshold values for the content of steel slag in controlled low-strength materials (CLSM) to ensure the appropriate use of steel slag aggregates and the prevention of abnormal expansion. The steel slags used in this study included basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag and desulfurization slag (DS), which replaced 5-50% of natural river sand by weight in cement mixtures. The steel slag mortars were tested by high-temperature ($100^{\circ}C$) curing for 96 h and autoclave expansion. The results showed that the effects of the steel slag content varied based on the free lime (f-CaO) content. No more than 30% of the natural river sand should be replaced with steel slag to avoid fracture failure. The expansion fracture threshold value was 0.10%, above which there was a risk of potential failure. Based on the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, the high-temperature catalysis resulted in the immediate extrusion of peripheral hydration products from the calcium hydroxide crystals, leading to a local stress concentration and, eventually, deformation and cracking.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 2021

Magnesium alloy is limited in the industrial field because its standard electrode potential is -2.363 V vs. NHE (Normal Hydrogen Electrode) at 25 ℃. This high electrochemical activity causes magnesium to quickly corrode with oxygen in air; chemical conversion coating prevents corrosion but causes surface defects like cracks and pores. We have examined the anti-corrosion effect of sol-gel coating sealed on the defected conversion coating layer. Sol-gel coatings produced higher voltage current and smaller pore than the chemical conversion coating layer. The conversion coating on magnesium alloy AZ31 was prepared using phosphate-permanganate solution. The sol-gel coating was designed using trimethoxymethylsilane (MTMS) and (3-Glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) as precursors, and aluminum acetylacetonate as a ring-opening agent. The thermal shock resistance was tested by exposing specimens at 140 ℃ in a convection oven; the results showed changes in the magnesium alloy AZ31 surface, such as oxidization and cracking. Scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analysis confirmed a sealed sol-gel coating layer on magnesium alloy AZ31. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measured the differences in corrosion protection properties by sol-gel and conversion coatings in 0.35 wt% NaCl solution, and the potentiodynamic polarization test and confirmed conversion coating with the sol-gel coating show significantly improved resistance by crack sealing.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.657-670
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• 2019

This paper proposes a one-dimensional fiber beam element model taking account of materially non-linear behavior, benefiting the highly efficient elastic-plastic analysis of girders with shear-lag effects. Based on the displacement-based fiber beam-column element, two additional degrees of freedom (DOFs) are added into the proposed model to consider the shear-lag warping deformations of the slabs. The new finite element (FE) formulations of the tangent stiffness matrix and resisting force vector are deduced with the variational principle of the minimum potential energy. Then the proposed element is implemented in the OpenSees computational framework as a newly developed element, and the full Newton iteration method is adopted for an iterative solution. The typical materially non-linear behaviors, including the cracking and crushing of concrete, as well as the plasticity of the reinforcement and steel girder, are all considered in the model. The proposed model is applied to several test cases under elastic or plastic loading states and compared with the solutions of theoretical models, tests, and shell/solid refined FE models. The results of these comparisons indicate the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model for the analysis of both concrete box girders and steel-concrete composite girders, under either elastic or plastic states.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.103-124
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• 2019

Present study concerns the safety evaluation of SefidRud dam's block No. 18 regarding probable crack propagation in the foundation gallery under a MCE record. Accordingly, a 3D finite element model of the block in companion with the reservoir and the foundation is modeled. All the associated thermal and structural parameters are derived via calibration with the records of thermometers and pendulums installed inside the dam body. The origination of the cracks and their whereabouts are determined by primary thermal and static analyses and through a linear dynamic analysis the potential failure zone and their extent and level are studied. The foundation gallery is the most probable zone among the other intensive tensile stress area to compromise the dam stability. Therefore, the nonlinear analysis of this risky region is inevitable. The results depict the permissible expansion of the cracks inside the gallery even under another future earthquake in MCE level. As a consequence, the general dam performance is assessed safe in spite of the seepage flow rate growth from the gallery fractures.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.172-180
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• 2021

In this study, using the plasma spray method, tensile and compression fatigue tests are performed in saline solution to examine the effect of Ti undercoat on corrosion fatigue behavior of alumina-coated specimens. The alumina-coated material using Ti in the undercoat shows better corrosion fatigue strength than the base material in the entire stress amplitude range. Fatigue cracking of UT specimens occurs in the recess formed by grit-blasting treatment and progresses toward the base metal. Subsequently, the undercoat is destroyed at a stage where the deformation of the undercoat cannot follow the crack opening displacement. The residual stress of the UT specimen has a tensile residual stress up to about 100 ㎛ below the surface of the base material; however, when the depth exceeds 100 ㎛, the residual stress becomes a compressive residual stress. In addition, the inside of the spray coating film is compressive residual stress, which contributes to improving the fatigue strength characteristics. A hardened layer due to grit-blasting treatment is formed near the surface of the UT specimen, contributing to the improvement of the fatigue strength characteristics. Since the natural potential of Ti spray coating film is slightly higher than that of the base material, it exhibits excellent corrosion resistance; however, when physiological saline intrudes, a galvanic battery is formed and the base material corrodes preferentially.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.649-666
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• 2023

In the current scenario, conventional concrete faces a substantial challenge in the modern era of the construction industry. Today's structures are massive, featuring innovative designs and strict time constraints. Conventional concrete does not provide the required compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, toughness, and cracking resistance. As a result, most of engineers and professionals prefer to use ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), based on its wide advantages. Several advantages like mechanical and durability properties of UHPC provides dominant properties than the traditional concrete. Mix proportions of UHPC consists of higher powder content which provides maximum hydration and pozzolanic reaction, thereby contributing to the enhancement of the UHPC properties. Apart from that the nanomaterials provides the filler behavior, which will further improve the density. Enhanced density and mechanical properties lead to improved durability properties against water absorption and other typical chemicals. Nanomaterials are the most adopted materials for various applications, ranging in size from 0.1 nanometers to 100 nanometers. This article explores the effects of nanomaterial application in UHPC as a replacement for cementitious material or as an additive in the UHPC mix. The physical and durability properties modifications and improvements of UHPC, as well as negative effects, limitations, and shortcomings, are also analyzed.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.255-267
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• 2023

The production of ultra-early-strength concrete (UESC) traditionally involves complexity or necessitates high-temperature curing conditions. However, this study aimed to achieve ultra-early-strength performance solely through room-temperature curing. Experimental results demonstrate that under room-temperature (28℃) curing conditions, the concrete attained compressive strengths of 20 MPa at 4 hours and 69.6 MPa at 24 hours. Additionally, it exhibited a flexural strength of 7.5 MPa after 24 hours. In contrast, conventional concrete typically reaches around 20.6 MPa (3,000 psi) after approximately 28 days, highlighting the rapid strength development of the UESC. This swift attainment of compressive strength represents a significant advancement for engineering purposes. Small amounts of steel fibers (0.5% and 1% by volume, respectively) were added to address potential concrete cracking due to early hydration heat and enhance mechanical properties. This allowed observation of the effects of different volume contents on ultra-early-strength fiber-reinforced concrete (UESFRC). Furthermore, the compressive strength of 0.5% and 1% UESFRC increased by 16.3% and 31.3%, respectively, while the flexural strength increased by 37.1% and 47.9%. Moreover, toughness increased by 58.2 and 69.7 times, respectively. These findings offer an effective solution for future emergency applications in public works.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.18 no.1 s.91
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• pp.21-28
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• 2006

This paper presents both experimental and analytical studies for the development of an ECC(Engineered Cementitious Composites) using ground granulated blast furnace slag(slag). This material has been focused on achieving moderately high composite strength while maintaining high ductility, represented by strain-hardening behavior in uniaxial tension. In the material development, micromechanics was adopted to properly select optimized range of the composition based on steady-state cracking theory and experimental studies on matrix, and interfacial properties. A single fiber pullout test and a wedge splitting test were employed to measure the bond properties of the fiber in a matrix and the fracture toughness of mortar matrix. The addition of the slag resulted in slight increases in the frictional bond strength and the fracture toughness. Subsequent direct tensile tests demonstrate that the fiber reinforced mortar exhibited high ductile uniaxial tension behavior with a maximum strain capacity of 3.6%. Both ductility and tensile strength(~5.3 MPa) of the composite produced with slag were measured to be significantly higher than those of the composite without slag. The slag particles contribute to improving matrix strength and fiber dispersion, which is incorporated with enhanced workability attributed to the oxidized grain surface. This result suggests that, within the limited slag dosage employed in the present study, the contribution of slag particles to the workability overwhelms the side-effect of decreased potential of saturated multiple cracking.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.378-384
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• 2013

This study was conducted to identify the effect of soil water potential on the fruit quality and yield of paprika in summer fertigation cultivation. Treatments of soil water potential during cultivation were composed of -10, -20, and -30 kPa, respectively. The plant height of early growth was increased by high soil water potential (-10 kPa) treatment all of 'Cupra' and 'E499524' (mini-paprika) varieties. Mean fruit weight was increased by -20 kPa soil water potential treatment compared with the other treatments. The fruit number per plant was not affected by soil water potential in 'Cupra' variety but was increased by -20 kPa soil water potential treatment in E499524 variety (mini-paprika). The yield of soil water potential treatment of -20 kPa was higher than those of the other treatments. The flesh thickness and sugar content were not affected by soil water potential in 'Cupra' and 'E499524' (mini-paprika) varieties. The incidence of fruit cracking was decreased with decreasing soil water potential. Mineral contents of plants such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium etc. were not affected in soil water potential.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.343-354
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• 2008

A new method is suggested herein to measure the virgin earth stresses by means of a borehole. This novel concept is basically a combination of borehole stress relieving and borehole fracturing techniques. The destressing of the borehole is achieved by means of inducing thermal tensile stresses at the borehole periphery by using a cryogenic fluid such as Liquid Nitrogen($LN_2$). The borehole wall eventually develops fractures when the induced thermal stresses exceed the existing compressive stresses at the borehole periphery in addition to the tensile strength of the rock. The above concept is theoretically analyzed for its potential applicability to interpret in situ stress levels from the tensile fracture stresses and the corresponding borehole wall temperatures. Coupled thermo-mechanical numerical simulations are also conducted using FLAC3D, with thermal option, to check the validity of the proposed techniques. From the preliminary theoretical and numerical analysis, the method suggested for the measurement of in situ stresses appears to be capable of accurate estimation of the virgin stresses by monitoring tensile crack formation at a borehole wall and recording the wall temperatures at the time of crack initiation.