• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2017

This research project aimed at evaluating experimentally the effect of natural perlite powder as an alternative supplementary cementing material (SCM) on the performance of fiber reinforced self-consolidating repair mortars (FR-SCRMs). For this purpose, four FR-SCRMs mixes incorporating 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% of natural perlite powder as cement replacements were prepared. The evaluation was based on fresh (slump flow, flow time, and unit weight), hardened (air-dry unit weight, compressive and flexural strengths, dynamic modulus of elasticity), and durability (water absorption test) performances. The results reveal that structural repair mortars confronting the performance requirements of class R4 materials (European Standard EN 1504-3) could be designed using 10%, 20%, and 30% of perlite powder as cement substitutions. Bonding results between repair mortars containing perlite powder and old concrete substrate investigated by the slant shear test showed good interlocking justifying the effectiveness of these produced mortars.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.669-679
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• 2018

In this paper the behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column connections under cyclic loading was analyzed. The specimens, manufactured in a reduced-scale were made of (a) recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) by replacing 30% of natural coarse aggregate (NCA) with recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and (b) RAC incorporating Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber i.e., PET fiber-reinforced concrete (PFRC) at the joint region. PET fiber (aspect ratio=25) of 0.5% by weight of concrete used in the PFRC mix was obtained by hand cutting of post-consumer PET bottles. A reference specimen was also prepared using 100% of NCA and subjected to similar loading sequence. Comparing the results the structural behavior under cyclic loading of RAC specimens are quite similar to the reference specimens. Damage tolerance, load resisting capacity, stiffness degradation, ductility, and energy dissipation of the RAC specimens enhanced due to addition of PET fibers at the joint region. PFRC specimens also presented a lower damage indices and higher principal tensile stresses as compared to the RAC specimens. The results obtained gave experimental evidence on the feasibility of RAC for structural use. Using PET fibers as a discrete reinforcement is recommended for improving the seismic performance of RAC specimens.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.71 no.3
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• pp.211-221
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• 2019

To study the eccentric compression behavior of ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) columns, six UHPFRC columns and one high-strength concrete (HSC) column were tested. Variation parameters include load eccentricity, volume of steel fibers and stirrup ratio. The crack pattern, failure mode, bearing capacity, and deformation of the specimens were studied. The results showed that the UHPFRC columns had different failure modes. The large eccentric compression failure mode was the longitudinal tensile reinforcements yielded and many horizontal cracks appeared in the tension zone. The small eccentric compression failure mode was the longitudinal compressive reinforcements yielded and vertical cracks appeared in the compressive zone. Because of the bridging effect of steel fibers, the number of cracks significantly increased, and the width of cracks decreased. The load-deflection curves of the UHPFRC columns showed gradually descending without sudden dropping, indicating that the specimens had better deformation. The finite element (FE) analysis was performed to stimulate the damage process of the specimens with monotonic loading. The concrete damaged plasticity (CDP) model was adopted to characterize the behaviour of UHPFRC. The contribution of the UHPFRC tensile strength was considered in the bearing capacity, and the theoretical calculation formulas were derived. The theoretical calculation results were consistent with the test results. This research can provide the experimental and theoretical basis for UHPFRC columns in engineering applications.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.735-744
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• 2021

In recent years, the use of new materials and technologies with the aim of developing high-performing and cost-effective structures has greatly increased. Application of high-strength concrete (HSC) has been found effective in reducing the dimensions of frame members; nonetheless, such reduction in dimensions of structural elements in the most cases may result in the lack of accountability in the tolerable drift capacity. On this basis, strengthening of frame members using fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) may be deemed as an appropriate remedy to address this issue, which albeit requires comprehensive and systematic investigations. In this paper, the performance of properly-designed, two-dimensional frames made of high-strength concrete and strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) is investigated through detailed numerical simulation. To this end, nonlinear dynamic time history analyses have been performed using the Seismosoft software through application of five scaled earthquake ground motion records. Unstrengthened (bare) and strengthened frames have been analyzed under seismic loading for performance assessment and comparison purposes. The results and findings of this study show that use of CFRP can be quite effective in seismic response improvement of high-strength-concrete structures.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.325-351
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• 2022

This paper studies the lateral impact behavior of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) filled double-skin steel tubular (UHPFRCFDST) columns. The impact force, midspan deflection, and strain histories were recorded. Based on the test results, the influences of drop height, axial load, concrete type, and steel tube wall thickness on the impact resistance of UHPFRCFDST members were analyzed. LS-DYNA software was used to establish a finite element (FE) model of UHPFRC filled steel tubular members. The failure modes and histories of impact force and midspan deflection of specimens were obtained. The simulation results were compared to the test results, which demonstrated the accuracy of the finite element analysis (FEA) model. Finally, the effects of the steel tube thickness, impact energy, type of concrete and impact indenter shape, and void ratio on the lateral impact performances of the UHPFRCFDST columns were analyzed.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.347-360
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• 2022

Fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) have emerged as a response to the calls for strong, ductile and sustainable concrete mixes. FRCC has shown outstanding mechanical properties and ductility where special fibres are used in the mixes to give it the strength and the ability to exhibit strain hardening. With the possibility of designing the FRCC mixes to include sustainable constituents and by-products materials such as fly ash, FRCC started to emerge as a green alternative as well. To be able to design mixes that achieve these conflicting properties in concrete, there is a need to understand the composition effect on FRCC and optimize these compositions. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the influence of FRCC compositions on the properties of fresh and hardened of FRCC and then to optimize these mix compositions using factorial design approach. Three factors, water-to-binder ratio (w/b), mineral admixtures (total of fly ash and metakaolin by cement content (MAR)), and metakaolin content (MK), were investigated to determine their effects on the properties of fresh and hardened FRCC. The results show the importance of combining both FA and MK in obtaining a satisfactory fresh and mechanical properties of FRCC. Models were suggested to elucidate the role of the studied factors and a method for optimization was proposed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.123-136
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• 2015

The proposed techniques to repair concrete members such as steel plates, fiber-reinforced polymers or concrete have important deficiencies in adherence and durability. The use of ultra high performance fiber concrete (UHPFC) can overtake effectively these problems. In this paper, the possibility of using UHPFC to strengthen reinforced concrete beams under torsion is investigated. Seven specimens of concrete beams reinforced with longitudinal and transverse reinforcements. One of these beams consider as control specimen while the others was strengthened by UHPFC on four, three, and two sides. This study includes experimental results of all beams with different types of configurations and thickness of UHPFC. As well as, finite element analysis was conducted in tandem with experimental test. Results reveal the effectiveness of the proposed technique at cracking and ultimate torque for different beam strengthening configurations, torque - twist graphs and crack patterns. The UHPFC can generally be used as an effective external torsional reinforcement for RC beams. It was noted that the behavior of the beams strengthen with UHPFC are better than the control beams. This increase was proportional to the retrofitted beam sides. The use of UHPFC had effect in delaying the growth of crack formation. The finite element analysis is reasonably agreement with the experimental data.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.281-295
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• 2016

This paper presents a study on a non-seismically designed reinforced concrete (RC) frame structure. The structure was a existing three-story office building constructed according to the 1990s practice in Vietnam. The 1/3 scaled down versions of structure was tested on a shake table to investigate the seismic performance of this type of construction. It was found that the inter-story drift and the overall behavior of structure meet the requirements of the actual seismic design codes. Then, nonlinear time history analyses are carried out using the fiber beam- column elements. The comparison between the experimental and simulation results shows the performance of the time history analysis models.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.73-88
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• 2015

Following previous studies, the current paper describes the results of an experimental program concerning the repair of reinforced concrete columns by thixotropic pseudo plastic mortar, preformed to analyze and quantify the influence of initial construction damage to the behavior of the repaired element. Five columns (section scale 1:2) were designed according to the minimum requirements of reinforcement of ductility orientated codes' design with variables the percentages of initial construction damages. All were tested in axial compression with repeated cycles up to failure. For comparison reasons, another one of the same characteristics, yet healthy, was constructed and tested as a reference specimen. A numerical study (Finite Element Analysis) was conducted for further investigation of the behavior of the thixotropic mortar as repair material. The results indicate that: a) surpassing a specific amount of damage, columns even suitably repaired present lower strain capacity, b) finite element analysis present the same way of deboning of the repaired material taking into consideration the buckling of the reinforcement bars.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.333-353
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• 2004

Strength of reinforced concrete beams can easily be increased by the use of externally bonded CFRP composites. However, the mode of failure of CFRP strengthened beam is usually brittle due to tension-shear failure in the concrete substrate or bond failure near the CFRP-Concrete interface. In order to improve the ductility of CFRP strengthened concrete beams, critical variables need to be investigated. This experimental and analytical research focused on a series of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with CFRP composites to enhance the flexural capacity and ductility. The main variables were the amount of CFRP composites, the amount of longitudinal and shear reinforcement, and the effect of CFRP end diagonal anchorage system. Sixteen full-scale beams were investigated. A new design guideline was proposed according to the effects of the above-mentioned variables. The experimental and analytical results were found to be in good agreement.