• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2022

The influence of normal stress perpendicular to the potential shear plane was always neglected in existing researches, which may lead to a serious deviation of the shear strength of concrete members in practice designs and numerical analyses. In this study, a series of experimental studies are carried out in this paper, which serves to investigate the shear behavior of concrete under compression shear loading. Based on the test results, a three-phase shear failure model for cohesive elements are developed, which is able to take into consideration the influence of normal stress on the shear strength of concrete. To identify the accuracy and applicability of the proposed model, numerical models of a double-noted concrete plate are developed and compared with experimental results. Results show that the proposed constitutive model is able to take into consideration the influence of normal stress on the shear strength of concrete materials, and is effective and accurate for describing the complex fracture of concrete, especially the failure modes under compression shear loadings.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.345-359
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• 2016

In order to investigate the influence of the interfacial angel on failure characteristics and mechanism of combined coal-rock mass, 35 uniaxial/biaxial compressive simulation tests with 5 different interfacial angels of combined coal-rock samples were conducted by PFC2D software. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) The compressive strength and cohesion decrease with the increase of interfacial angle, which is defined as the angle between structure plane and the exterior normal of maximum principal plane, while the changes of elastic modulus and internal friction angle are not obvious; (2) The impact energy index $K_E$ decreases with the increase of interfacial angle, and the slip failure of the interface can be predicted based on whether the number of acoustic emission (AE) hits has multiple peaks or not; (3) There are four typical failure patterns for combined coal-rock samples including I (V-shaped shear failure of coal), II (single-fracture shear failure of coal), III (shear failure of rock and coal), and IV (slip rupture of interface); and (4) A positive correlation between interfacial angle and interface effect is shown obviously, and the interfacial angle can be divided into weak-influencing scope ($0-15^{\circ}$), moderate-influencing scope ($15-45^{\circ}$), and strong-influencing scope (> $45^{\circ}$), respectively. However, the confining pressure has a certain constraint effect on the interface effect.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.715-728
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• 2022

A new type of buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) with a longitudinally profiled steel plate working as the core (LPBRB) is proposed and experimentally investigated. Different from conventional BRBs with a constant thickness core, both stiffness and strength of the longitudinally profiled steel core along its longitudinal direction can change through itself variable thickness, thus the construction of LPBRB saves material and reduces the processing cost. Four full-scale component tests were conducted under quasi-static cyclic loading to evaluate the seismic performance of LPBRB. Three stiffening methods were used to improve the fatigue performance of LPBRBs, which were bolt-assembled T-shaped stiffening ribs, partly-welded stiffening ribs and stiffening segment without rib. The experimental results showed LPBRB specimens displayed stable hysteretic behavior and satisfactory seismic property. There was no instability or rupture until the axial ductility ratio achieved 11.0. Failure modes included the out-of-plane buckling of the stiffening part outside the restraining member and core plate fatigue fracture around the longitudinally profiled segment. The effect of the stiffening methods on the fatigue performance is discussed. The critical buckling load of longitudinally profiled segment is derived using Euler theory. The local bulging behavior of the outer steel tube is analyzed with an equivalent beam model. The design recommendations for LPBRB are presented finally.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2020

To study the reverse fault formation process and the stress evolution feature, a simulation test system of reverse fault formation is developed based on the analysis of reverse fault formation mechanism. The system mainly consists of simulation laboratory module, operation console and horizontal loading control system, and data monitoring system. It can represent the fault formation process, induce fault crack initiation and simulate faults of different throws. Simulation tests on reverse fault formation process are conducted by using the simulation test system: horizontal loading is added to one side of the model. the bottom rock layer cracks under the effect of the induction device. The crack dip angle is about 29°. A reverse fault is formed with the expansion of the crack dip angle towards the upper right along the fracture surface and the slippage of the hanging wall over the foot wall. Its formation process unfolds five stages: compressive deformation of rock, local crack initiation, reverse fault penetration, slippage of the hanging wall over the foot wall and compaction of fault plane. There is residual structural stress inside rock after fault formation. The study methods and results have guiding and referential significance for further study on reverse fault formation mechanism and rock stress evolution.