• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.593-605
• /
• 2018

A nonlinear finite element modeling approach is developed to assess the behavior of a dowel bar embedded on a single concrete block substrate, subjected to monotonic loading. In this approach, a discrete representation of the steel reinforcing bar is considered, using beam finite elements with nonlinear material behavior. The bar is connected to the concrete embedment through nonlinear Winkler spring elements. This modeling approach can only be used if a new constitutive model is developed for the spring elements, to simulate the deformability and strength of the concrete substrate. To define this constitutive model, an extensive literature review was conducted, as well as 3 experimental tests, in order to select the experimental data which can be used in the calibration of the model. Based on this data, an empirical model was established to predict the global dowel response, for a wide range of bar diameters and concrete strengths. This empirical model provided the information needed for calibration of the nonlinear Winkler spring model, valid for dowel displacements up to 4 mm. This new constitutive model is composed by 5 stages, in order to reproduce the concrete substrate response.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.243-260
• /
• 2008

The present article summarises the fundamental characteristics of concrete behaviour which underlie the formulation of an engineering finite element model capable of realistically predicting the behaviour of (plain or reinforced) concrete structural forms in a wide range of problems ranging from static to impact loading without the need of any kind of re-calibration. The already published evidence supporting the proposed formulation is complemented by four additional typical case studies presented herein; for each case, a comparative study is carried out between numerical predictions and the experimental data which reveals good agreement. Such evidence validates the material characteristics upon which the FE model's formulation is based and provides an alternative explanation regarding the behaviour of structural concrete and how it should be modelled which contradicts the presently (widely) accepted assumptions adopted in the majority of FE models used to predict the behaviour of concrete.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.44 no.7
• /
• pp.791-798
• /
• 2012

Since standardized fracture test specimens cannot be easily extracted from in-service components, several alternative fracture toughness test methods have been proposed to characterize the deformation and fracture resistance of materials. One of the more promising alternatives is the local approach employing the SP(Small Punch) testing technique. However, this process has several limitations such as a lack of anisotropic yield potential and tediousness in the damage parameter calibration process. The present paper investigates estimation of ductile fracture resistance(J-R) curve by FE(Finite Element) analyses using an anisotropic damage model and enhanced calibration procedure. In this context, specific tensile tests to quantify plastic strain ratios were carried out and SP test data were obtained from the previous research. Also, damage parameters constituting the Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman model in conjunction with Hill's 48 yield criterion were calibrated for a typical nuclear reactor material through a genetic algorithm. Finally, the J-R curve of a standard compact tension specimen was predicted by further detailed FE analyses employing the calibrated damage parameters. It showed a lower fracture resistance of the specimen material than that based on the isotropic yield criterion. Therefore, a more realistic J-R curve of a reactor material can be obtained effectively from the proposed methodology by taking into account a reduced load-carrying capacity due to anisotropy.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.228-233
• /
• 2012

In this study, powder compaction of AZO (alumina doped zinc oxide) powder was performed with a MTS 810 test system using a cylindrical die having a diameter of 10mm. Pressure-density curves were measured based on the load cell and displacement of the punch. The AZO powder compacts with various densities were formed to investigate the mechanical properties such as fracture stress of the AZO powder as a function of the compact density. Two types of compression tests were conducted in order to estimate the fracture stress using different loading paths: a diameteral compression test and a uniaxial compression test. The pressure-density curves of the AZO powder were obtained and the fracture stress of the compacted powders with various densities was estimated. The results show that the compact pressure dramatically increases as the density increases. Based on the experimental results, calibration of the modified Drucker-Prager/Cap model of the AZO powder for use in FE simulations was developed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2010

The heat sink system for a main board in a network server computer is built on printed circuit board by an anchor structure, mounted by eutectic SnPb solder. The solder creeping is caused by a constant high temperature condition in the computer and it eventually makes fatal failures. The FE model is used to calculate the stress and predict the life of soldered anchor in the computer. In the model, Anand constitutive equation is employed to simulate creep characteristics of solder. The creep test is conducted to verify and calibrate the solder model. A special jig is designed to mitigate the flexure of printed circuit board and to get the creep deformation of solder only in the test. Test results are compared with analysis and calibration is conducted on Anand model's constants. Precise life prediction of soldered anchor in creep condition can be performed by this model.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.371-394
• /
• 2012

Accurate finite element (FE) models are needed in many applications of Civil Engineering such as health monitoring, damage detection, structural control, structural evaluation and assessment. Model accuracy depends on both the model structure (the form of the equations) and the model parameters (the coefficients of the equations), and can be generally improved through that process of experimental reconciliation known as model updating. However, modelling errors, including (i) errors in the model structure and (ii) errors in parameters excluded from adjustment, may bias the solution, leading to an updated model which replicates measurements but lacks physical meaning. In this paper, an application of ambient-vibration-based model updating to a large-scale benchmark prototype of a building structure is reported in which both types of error are met. The error in the model structure, originating from unmodelled secondary structural elements unexpectedly working as resonant appendages, is faced through a reduction of the experimental modal model. The error in the model parameters, due to the inevitable constraints imposed on parameters to avoid ill-conditioning and under-determinacy, is faced through a multi-model parameterization approach consisting in the generation and solution of a multitude of models, each characterized by a different set of updating parameters. Results show that modelling errors may significantly impair updating even in the case of seemingly simple systems and that multi-model reasoning, supported by physical insight, may effectively improve the accuracy and robustness of calibration.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.240-247
• /
• 2014

Modelling and measurements of normal and lateral stiffness for atomic force microscopy (AFM) are presented in this work. Important issues, such as element discretisation, stiffness calibration, and deflection angle are explored using the finite element (FE) model. Elements with various dimension ratios are investigated and comparisons with several mathematical models are reported to verify the accuracy of the model. Investigation of the deflection angle of a cantilever is also shown. Moreover, AFM force measurement experiments with conical and colloid probe tips are demonstrated. The relationships between force and displacement, required for stiffness measurement, in normal and lateral directions are acquired for the conical tip and the limitations of the colloid probe tip are highlighted.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.289-296
• /
• 2009

Natural frequency is a key parameter to determine the seismic and wind loading of tall flexible structures, and to assess the wind-induced vibration for serviceability check. In this study, natural frequencies and associated mode shapes were obtained from measured acceleration data and system identification technique. Subsequently, finite element(FE) models for a tall reinforced concrete buildings were built using a popular PC-based finite element analysis program and calibrated to match their natural frequencies and mode shapes to actual values. The calibration of the FE model included: 1) compensation of modulus of elasticity considering the mix design strength, 2) flexural stiffness of floor slabs, and 3) major non-structural components such as plain concrete walls. Natural frequencies and mode shapes from the final FE model showed best agreement with the measured values.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.461-481
• /
• 2016

The research described in this paper investigates the seismic behaviour of lightly reinforced concrete (RC) bearing sandwich panels, heavily conditioned by shear deformation. A numerical model has been prepared, within an open source finite element (FE) platform, to simulate the experimental response of this emerging structural system, whose squat-type geometry affects performance and failure mode. Calibration of this equivalent mechanical model, consisting of a group of regularly spaced vertical elements in combination with a layer of nonlinear springs, which represent the cyclic behaviour of concrete and steel, has been conducted by means of a series of pseudo-static cyclic tests performed on single full-scale prototypes with or without openings. Both cantilevered and fixed-end shear walls have been analyzed. After validation, this numerical procedure, including cyclic-related mechanisms, such as buckling and subsequent slippage of reinforcing re-bars, as well as concrete crushing at the base of the wall, has been used to assess the capacity of two- and three-dimensional low- to mid-rise box-type buildings and, hence, to estimate their strength reduction factors, on the basis of conventional pushover analyses.

• Computers and Concrete
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.307-314
• /
• 2023

In this paper we back-analyze a failure event of a 9 m high concrete cantilever wall subjected to earth loading. Granular soil was deposited into the space between the wall and a nearby rock slope. The wall segments were not designed to carry lateral earth loading and collapsed due to excessive bending. As many geotechnical programs rely on the Mohr-Coulomb (MC) criterion for elastoplastic analysis, it is useful to apply this failure criterion to the concrete material. Accordingly, the back-analysis is aimed to search for the suitable MC parameters of the concrete. For this study, we propose a methodology for accelerating the back-analysis task by automating the numerical modeling procedure and applying a machine-learning (ML) analysis on FE model results. Through this analysis it is found that the residual cohesion and friction angle have a highly significant impact on model results. Compared to traditional back-analysis studies where good agreement between model and reality are deemed successful based on a limited number of models, the current ML analysis demonstrate that a range of possible combinations of parameters can yield similar results. The proposed methodology can be modified for similar calibration and back-analysis tasks.