• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.369-385
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• 2014

In the existing method for analyzing the liquid tightness of the outer concrete tank in an emergency LNG spillage, the temperature variation over time inside the tank, and the concrete properties dependent on temperature and internal moisture content, have not been taken into account. In this study, the analyses for a typical LNG concrete tank subjected to thermal load due to spillage were performed with three different cases: the existing method was adopted in the first case, the transient temperature variation was considered in the second, and the temperature-moisture content dependent concrete properties were taken into account as well as the transient states of temperature in the third. The analysis results for deformation, compressive zone size, cracking, and stress of reinforcements were compared, and a discussion on the difference between the results obtained from the different analysis cases was made.

• KCI Concrete Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.93-101
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• 2002

The details of an approach to account for the factors that have been found to affect the ability and the probability to control cracking due to sawcutting in newly constructed concrete pavements are presented. Several factors such as material strength parameters, method and quality of curing, slab and subbase stiffness, and concrete shrinkage affect the probability of crack initiation. Others are relevant to concrete mixture characteristics that affect development of early aged stresses caused by shrinkage and thermally induced contraction. This paper presents the results of a probabilistic analysis of the factors that affect crack control using sawcut notches. Cost analyses on both conventional and early-entry sawcutting methods are shown to support the results of the probabilistic analysis. From both an operational and cost standpoint, it is evident for the environmental conditions considered that early-entry sawcut methodology holds a significant advantage over conventional methods.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.57-78
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• 2010

A novel flexibility-based 1D element that captures the material nonlinearity and second order P-$\Delta$ effects within a reinforced concrete frame member is developed. The formulation is developed for 2D planar frames in the modified fiber element framework but can readily be extended to 3D cases. The nonlinear behavior of concrete including cracking and crushing is taken into account through a modified hypo-elastic model. A parabolic and a constant shear stress distribution are used at section level to couple the normal and tangential tractions at material level. The lack of objectivity due to softening of concrete is addressed and objectivity of the response at the material level is attained by using a technique derived from the crack band approach. Finally the efficiency and accuracy of the formulation is compared with experimental results and is demonstrated by some numerical examples.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.4
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• pp.363-375
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• 2019

A renewable energy storage pile foundation system is being developed through a multi-disciplinary research project. This system intends to use reinforced concrete pile foundations configured with hollowed sections to store renewable energy generated from solar panels attached to building structures in the form of compressed air. However previous research indicates that the compressed air will generate considerable high circumferential tensile stresses in the concrete pile, which requires unrealistic high hoop reinforcement ratio to avoid leakage of the compressed air. One possible solution is to utilize fiber reinforced concrete instead of placing the hoop reinforcement to resist the tensile stress. This paper investigates nonlinear structural responses and post-cracking behavior of the fiber reinforced concrete pile subjected to high air pressure through nonlinear finite element simulations. Concrete damage plasticity models were used in the simulation. Several parameters were considered in the study including concrete grade, fiber content, and thickness of the pile section. The air pressures which the pile can resist at different crack depths along the pile section were identified. Design recommendations were provided for the energy storage pile foundation using the fiber reinforced concrete.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.703-710
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• 1994

A nonlinear FEM analysis of steel members under very-low-cycle loading has been performed in conjunction with experimental works. This analysis is an FEM tracing toward cracking of steel members under cyclic loads such as a strong earthquake. After verifying the procedure by comparing global hysteretic behaviors from the analytical and experimental results, the local stress-strain hysteresis at critical sections for large cyclic deformations was traced by the numerical analysis. Local strain history was discussed in relation to cracking. Based on the experimental and analytical results, a new approach to seismic safety assessment for steel members was proposed in this paper.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.75-87
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• 1993

Four series of fiber reinforced concrete deep beams without shear reinforcement were tested to determine their cracking shear strengths and ultimate shear capacities. Results of tests on 20 reinforced concrete deep beams (including 16 containing steel fibers) are reported. Three parameters were varied in the study, namely, the concrete compressive strength, volume fraction of fibers, and the shear span to depth ratio. The effects of fiber incorporation on failure modes, deflections. strains, cracking shear strength, and ultimate shear strength have been examined. Resistance to shear stresses have been found to be improved by the inclusion of fibers. Based on these investigations, a method of computing the shear stress of steel fiber reinforced concrete deep beam is suggested. The comparisons between computed values and experimentally observed values are shown to validate the proposed theoretical treatment.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.186-190
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• 2014

Nuclear Power Plants require the control ability of chemical condition (pH) because pH control during transient accident such as LOCA makes an able the fission product removal capability to be maintained, stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel equipment to be prevented and the production of hydrogen by aluminum and zinc to be minimized. An NPP is designed to control the pH of containment spray and sump coolant using the spray additives 30% NaOH in the event of loss of coolant accident. In this paper, the pH of sump coolant of an NPP during LOCA was analyzed and the fission products removal constant and decontamination factor were calculated according to Standard Review Plan 6.5.2 related to spray chemical conditions of pH. The calculated pH value of recirculation mode using the computer code corresponds to 8.09~9.67, which meets the chemical environment regulation requirements. The fission product removal capability caused by containment spray system is performed to provide input to radiation analysis.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.807-831
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• 2015

In the previous analytical studies on 2D reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column joints, the modified compression field theory (MCFT) and the strut-and-tie method (STM) are usually employed. In this paper, the limitations of these analytical models for RC joint applications are reviewed. Essentially for predictions of RC joint shear behaviour, the MCFT is not applicable, while the STM can only predict the ultimate shear strength. To eliminate these limitations, an improved STM is derived and applied to some commonly encountered 2D joints, viz., interior and exterior joints, subjected to monotonic loading. Compared with the other STMs, the most attracting novelty of the proposed improved STM is that all critical stages of the shear stress-strain relationships for RC joints can be predicted, which cover the stages characterized by concrete cracking, transverse reinforcement yielding and concrete strut crushing. For validation and demonstration of superiority, the shear stress-strain relationships of interior and exterior RC beam-column joints from published experimental studies are employed and compared with the predictions by the proposed improved STM and other widely-used analytical models, such as the MCFT and STM.

• 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.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.109-125
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• 2014

The force transfer mechanism in positive moment continuity details for prestressed concrete girder bridges is investigated in this paper using a three-dimensional detailed finite element model. Positive moment reinforcement in the form of hairpin bars as recommended by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report No 519 is incorporated in the model. The cold construction joint that develops at the interface between girder ends and continuity diaphragms is also simulated via contact elements. The model is then subjected to the positive moment and corresponding shear forces that would develop over the service life of the bridge. The stress distribution in the continuity diaphragm and the axial force distribution in the hairpin bars are presented. It was found that due to the asymmetric configuration of the hairpin bars, asymmetric stress distribution develops at the continuity diaphragm, which can be exacerbated by other asymmetric factors such as skewed bridge configurations. It was also observed that when the joint is subjected to a positive moment, the tensile force is transferred from the girder end to the continuity diaphragm only through the hairpin bars due to the lack of contact between the both members at the construction joint. As a result, the stress distribution at girder ends was found to be concentrated around the hairpin bars influence area, rather than be resisted by the entire girder composite section. Finally, the results are used to develop an approach for estimating the cracking moment capacity at girder ends based on a proposed effective moment of inertia.