• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1019-1039
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• 2016

In this paper, a parallel algorithm of nonlinear dynamic analysis of three-dimensional (3D) reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures based on the platform of graphics processing unit (GPU) is proposed. Time integration is performed using Newmark method for nonlinear implicit dynamic analysis and parallelization strategies are presented. Correspondingly, a parallel Preconditioned Conjugate Gradients (PCG) solver on GPU is introduced for repeating solution of the equilibrium equations for each time step. The RC frames were simulated using fiber beam model to capture nonlinear behaviors of concrete and reinforcing bars. The parallel finite element program is developed utilizing Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA). The accuracy of the GPU-based parallel program including single precision and double precision was verified in comparison with ABAQUS. The numerical results demonstrated that the proposed algorithm can take full advantage of the parallel architecture of the GPU, and achieve the goal of speeding up the computation compared with CPU.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.531-546
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• 1999

The paper presents an experimental and theoretical study on the influence of steel fibers and longitudinal tension and compression reinforcements on immediate and long-term deflections of high-strength concrete beams of 85 MPa (12,300 psi) compressive, strength. Test results of eighteen beams subjected to sustained load for 180 days show that the deflection behavior depends on the longitudinal tension and compression reinforcement ratios and fiber content; excessive amount of compression reinforcement and fibers may have an unfavorable effect on the long-term deflections. The beams having the ACI Code's minimum longitudinal tension reinforcement showed much higher time-dependent deflection to immediate deflection ratio, when compared with that of the beams having about 50 percent of the balanced tension reinforcement. The results of theoretical analysis of tested beams and those of a parametric study show that the influence of steel fibers in increasing the moment of inertia of cracked transformed sections is most pronounced in beams having small amount of longitudinal tension reinforcement.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2023

The characteristics of self-compacting concrete (SCC) made with fly ash and reinforced with polyester fibers were investigated in this research. Polyester fibers of 12 mm long and 15 micrometer diameters were utilized in M40 grade SCC mixtures at five different volume fractions 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.075%, 0.1%, 0.3% as a fiber reinforcement. To understand the influence of polyester fibers on passing ability, flowability, segregate resistance the J ring, L box, V funnel, slump flow and U box tests were performed. Polyester fibers have a direct influence, with a maximum of 0.075% polyester fibers producing excellent characteristics. ANN models were constructed using the testing data as inputs to anticipate the fresh and hardened characteristics as targeted outputs. The research revealed that R² values ranging from 0.900 to 0.997 appears to be a good correlation. The performance of ANN models and regression models for predicting the new characteristics of SCC is also evaluated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.211-223
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• 2008

A number of studies have suggested that the use of high ductile and high shear materials, such as Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) and High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Composites (HPFRCC), significantly enhances the shear capacity of structural elements, even with/without shear reinforcements. The present study emphasizes the development of a nonlinear model of shear behaviour of a HPFRCC panel for application to the seismic retrofit of reinforced concrete buildings. To model the shear behaviour of HPFRCC panels, the original Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT) for conventional reinforced concrete panels has been newly revised for reinforced HPFRCC panels, and is referred to here as the HPFRCC-MCFT model. A series of experiments was conducted to assess the shear behaviour of HPFRCC panels subjected to pure shear, and the proposed shear model has been verified through an experiment involving panel elements under pure shear. The proposed shear model of a HPFRCC panel has been applied to the prediction of seismic retrofitted reinforced concrete buildings with in-filled HPFRCC panels. In retrofitted structures, the in-filled HPFRCC element is regarded as a shear spring element of a low-rise shear wall ignoring the flexural response, and reinforced concrete elements for beam or beam-column member are modelled by a finite plastic hinge zone model. An experimental study of reinforced concrete frames with in-filled HPFRCC panels was also carried out and the analysis model was verified with correlation studies of experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 2020

This paper investigates the flexural behavior of concrete beams reinforced longitudinally with either steel bars, molded glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) grating mesh or pultruded glass-fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) grating mesh, under four-point bending. The variables included in this study were the type of concrete (normal weight concrete, perlite concrete and vermiculite concrete), type of the longitudinal reinforcement (steel bars, molded and pultruded GFRP grating mesh) and the longitudinal reinforcement ratio (between 0.007 and 0.035). The influences of these variables on the load-midspan deflection curves, bending stiffness, energy absorption and failure modes were investigated. A total of fifteen beams with a cross-sectional dimension of 160 mm × 210 mm and an overall length of 2400 mm were cast and divided into three groups. The first group was constructed with normal weight concrete and served as a reference concrete. The second and third groups were constructed with perlite concrete and vermiculite concrete, respectively. An innovative type of stirrup was used as shear reinforcement for all beams. The results showed that the ultimate load of the beams reinforced with pultruded GFRP grating mesh ranged between 19% and 38% higher than the ultimate load of the beams reinforced with steel bars. The bending stiffness of all beams was influenced by the longitudinal reinforcement ratio rather than the type of concrete. Failure occurred within the pure bending region which means that the innovative stirrups showed a significant resistance to shear failure. Good agreement between the experimental and the analytical ultimate load was obtained.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.29-45
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• 2018

This paper investigates the effect of inclusion of glass fibers on mechanical and fracture properties of binary blend geopolymer concrete produced by using fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag. To study the effect of glass fibers, the mix design parameters like binder content, alkaline solution/binder ratio, sodium hydroxide concentration and aggregate grading were kept constant. Four different volume fractions (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3% and 0.4%) and two different lengths (6 mm, 13 mm) of glass fibers were considered in the present study. Three different notch-depth ratios (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) were considered for determining the fracture properties. The test results indicated that the addition of glass fibers improved the flexural strength, split tensile strength, fracture energy, critical stress intensity factor and critical crack mouth opening displacement of geopolymer concrete. 13 mm fibers are found to be more effective than 6 mm fibers and the optimum dosage of glass fibers was found to be 0.3% (by volume of concrete). The study shows the enormous potential of glass fiber reinforced geopolymer concrete in structural applications.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.937-949
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• 2016

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) applications in the structural engineering field include concrete-FRP composite systems, where FRP components are either attached to or embedded into concrete structures to improve their structural performance. This paper presents the results of an analytical study conducted using finite element model (FEM) to simulate the behavior of three-points load beam reinforced with GFRP and/or steel bars. To calibrate the FEM, a small-scale experimental program was carried out using six reinforced concrete beams with $200{\times}200mm$ cross section and 1000 mm length cast and tested under three point bending load. The six beams were divided into three groups, each group contained two beams. The first group was a reference beams which was cast without any reinforcement, the second group concrete beams was reinforced using GFRP, and the third group concrete beams was reinforced with steel bars. Nonlinear finite element simulations were executed using ANSYS software package. The difference between the theoretical and experimental results of beams vertical deflection and beams crack shapes were within acceptable degree of accuracy. Parametric study using the calibrated model was carried out to evaluate two parameters (1) effect of number and position of longitudinal main bars on beam behavior; (2) performance of concrete beam with composite longitudinal reinforcement steel and GFRP bars.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.59 no.4
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• pp.775-793
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• 2016

This paper presents a numerical method for estimating the curvature, deflection and moment capacity of FRP-reinforced concrete encased steel composite beams (FRP-RCS). A sectional analysis is first carried out to predict the moment-curvature relationship from which beam deflection and moment capacity are then calculated. Comparisons between theoretical and experimental results of tests conducted elsewhere show that the proposed numerical technique can accurately predict moment capacity and deflection of FRP-RCS composite beam. The numerical results also indicated that beam ductility and stiffness are improved when encased steel is added to FRP reinforced concrete beams. ACI, ISIS and Bischoff models for deflection prediction compared well at low load, however, significantly underestimated the experimental results for high load levels.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.203-214
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• 2018

Deflection control in tall buildings is a challenging issue. Connecting of the towers is an interesting idea for architects as well as structural engineers. In this paper, two reinforced concrete core-wall towers are connected by a truss bridge with buckling restrained braces. The buildings are 40 and 60-story. The effect of the location of the bridge is investigated. Response spectrum analysis of the linear models is used to obtain the design demands and the systems are designed according to the reliable codes. Then, nonlinear time history analysis at maximum considered earthquake is performed to assess the seismic responses of the systems subjected to far-field and near-field record sets. Fiber elements are used for the reinforced concrete walls. On average, the inter-story drift ratio demand will be minimized when the bridge is approximately located at a height equal to 0.825 times the total height of the building. Besides, because of whipping effects, maximum roof acceleration demand is approximately two times the peak ground acceleration. Plasticity extends near the base and also in major areas of the walls subjected to the seismic loads.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2011

The response of concrete to transient dynamic loading has received extensive attention for both civil and military applications. Accordingly, thoroughly understanding the response and failure modes of concrete subjected to impact or explosive loading is vital to the protection provided by fortifications. Reactive powder concrete (RPC), as developed by Richard and Cheyrezy (1995) in recent years, is a unique mixture that is cured such that it has an ultra-high compressive strength. In this work, the concrete cylinders with different steel fiber volume fractions were subjected to repeated impact loading by a split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) device. Experimental results indicate that the ability of repeated impact resistance of ultra-high-strength concrete was markedly superior to that of other specimens. Additionally, the rate of damage was decelerated and the energy absorption of ultra-high-strength concrete improved as the steel fiber volume fraction increased.