• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.863-870
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• 2017

With the increasing interest in using bacterial biofilms in geo-engineering practices, such as soil improvement, sealing leakage in earth structures, and hydraulic barrier installation, understanding of the contribution of bacterial biofilm formation to mechanical and hydraulic behavior of soils is important. While mechanical properties of soft gel-like biofilms need to be identified for appropriate modeling and prediction of behaviors of biofilm-associated soils, elastic properties of biofilms remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the microscale Young's modulus of biofilms produced by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in a liquid phase. The indentation test was performed on a biofilm sample using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a spherical indentor, and the force-indentation responses were obtained during approach and retraction traces. Young's modulus of biofilms was estimated to be ~33-38 kPa from these force-indentation curves and Hertzian contact theory. It appears that the AFM indentation result captures the microscale local characteristics of biofilms and its stiffness is relatively large compared to the other methods, including rheometer and hydrodynamic shear tests, which reflect the average macro-scale behaviors. While modeling of mechanical behaviors of biofilm-associated soils requires the properties of each component, the obtained results provide information on the mechanical properties of biofilms that can be considered as cementing, gluing, or filling materials in soils.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2018

The dynamic compressive behavior of concrete after freezing and thawing tests are investigated by using the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) technique. The stress-strain curves of concrete under dynamic loading are measured and analyzed. The setting numbers of freeze-thaw cycles are 0, 25, 50, and 75 cycles. Test results show that the dynamic strength decreases and peak strain increases with the increasing of freeze-thaw cycles. Based on the Weibull distribution model, statistical damage constitutive model for dynamic stress-strain response of concrete after freeze-thaw cycles was proposed. At last, the fragmentation test of concrete subjected to dynamic loading and freeze-thaw cycles is carried out using sieving statistics. The distributions of the fragment sizes are analyzed based on fractal theory. The fractal dimensions of concrete increase with the increasing of both freeze-thaw cycle and strain rate. The relations among the fractal dimension, strain rates and freeze-thawing cycles are developed.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.325-343
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• 2016

A total stress-based bounding surface model is developed to predict the undrained behaviour of saturated soft clays under cyclic loads based on the anisotropic hardening modulus field and bounding-surface theories. A new hardening rule is developed based on a new interpolation function of the hardening modulus that has simple mathematic expression and fewer model parameters. The evolution of hardening modulus field is described in the deviatoric stress space. It is assumed that the stress reverse points are the mapping centre points and the mapping centre moves with the variation of loading and unloading paths to describe the cyclic stress-strain hysteresis curve. In addition, by introducing a model parameter that reflects the accumulation rate and level of shear strain to the interpolation function, the cyclic shakedown and failure behaviour of soil elements with different combinations of initial and cyclic stresses can be captured. The methods to determine the model parameters using cyclic triaxial compression tests are also studied. Finally, the cyclic triaxial extension and torsional shear tests are performed. By comparing the predictions with the test results, the model can be used to describe undrained cyclic stress-strain responses of elements with different stress states for the tested clays.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.205-215
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• 2010

Recently, earthquake proof technology has been widely applied to both new and existing structures and bridges. The analysis of bridge systems equipped with structural control devices, which possess large degrees of freedom and nonlinear characteristics, is a result in time-consuming task. Therefore, a piecewise exact solution is proposed in this study to simplify the seismic mitigation analysis process for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. In this study, the simplified system having two degrees of freedom, to reasonably represent the large number of degrees of freedom of a bridge, and is modeled to obtain a piecewise exact solution for system responses during earthquakes. Simultaneously, we used the nonlinear finite element computer program to analyze the bridge responses and verify the accuracy of the proposed piecewise exact solution for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. The conclusions derived by comparing the results obtained from the piecewise exact solution and nonlinear finite element analysis reveal that the proposed solution not only simplifies the calculation process but also provides highly accurate seismic responses of isolated bridges under earthquakes.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.337-354
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• 2016

To study the influence on fracture properties of reinforced concrete wedge splitting test specimens by the addition of reinforcement, and the restriction of steel bars on crack propagation, 7 groups reinforced concrete specimens of different reinforcement position and 1 group plain concrete specimens with the same size factors were designed and constructed for the tests. Based on the double-K fracture criterion and tests, fracture toughness calculation model which was suitable for reinforced concrete wedge splitting tensile specimens has been obtained. The results show that: the value of initial craking load Pini and unstable fracture load Pun decreases gradually with the distance of reinforcement away from specimens's top. Compared with plain concrete specimens, addition of steel bar can reduce the value of initial fracture toughness KIini, but significantly increase the value of the critical effective crack length ac and unstable fracture toughness KIun. For tensional concrete member, the effect of anti-cracking by reinforcement was mainly acted after cracking, the best function of preventing fracture initiation was when the steel bar was placed in the middle of the crack, and when the reinforcement was across the crack and located away from crack tip, it plays the best role in inhibiting the extension of crack.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.527-546
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• 2014

Portland cement concrete, which has higher strength and stiffness than asphalt concrete, has been widely applied on pavements. However, the brittle fracture characteristic of cement concrete restricts its application in highway pavement construction. Since the polypropylene fiber can improve the fracture toughness of cement concrete, Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (PFRC) is attracting more and more attention in civil engineering. In order to study the effect of polypropylene fiber on the generation and evolution process of the local deformation band in concrete, a series of three-point bending tests were performed using the new technology of the digital speckle correlation method for FRC notched beams with different volumetric contents of polypropylene fiber. The modified Double-K model was utilized for the first time to calculate the stress intensity factors of instability and crack initiation of fiber-reinforced concrete beams. The results indicate that the polypropylene fiber can enhance the fracture toughness. Based on the modified Double-K fracture theory, the maximum fracture energy of concrete with 3.2% fiber (in volume) is 47 times higher than the plain concrete. No effort of fiber content on the strength of the concrete was found. Meanwhile to balance the strength and resistant fracture toughness, concrete with 1.6% fiber is recommended to be applied in pavement construction.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.281-293
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• 2014

The present work aimed to study the decolorization kinetics and characteristics of a selected azo dye under the influence of two key operational parameters including hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solid retention time (SRT). The decolorization efficiency and the two important criteria of k and normalized k (k/MLSS) were evaluated in lab-scale membrane sequencing batch reactors (MSBRs) at various HRTs of 48, 24 and 16 h (with constant SRT) and in addition, at various SRTs of infinity, 40 and 10 d (with constant HRT). According to the obtained results, both zero and first-order kinetics were properly fitted the decolorization profiles of the selected azo dye in all of the applied HRTs and SRTs. Increase of both HRT and SRT positively affected the decolorization efficiency. More MLSS concentrations corresponded to the lower HRTs and the higher SRTs resulted in higher decolorization rate constants (k). However, the effect of reducing the HRT was not compensated by increase of the MLSS concentration in order to reach higher decolorization efficiency. In addition, increase of the decolorization efficiency, as a consequence of the higher MLSS concentrations at longer SRTs, was restrained by decrease of the time-limited decolorization capability of biomass (represented by normalized k). Evaluation of both k and normalized k is suggested in order to have a more precise study on the decolorization kinetics and characteristics.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.527-535
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• 2017

In this study, an aging deformation statistical model for a unique high and steep rock slope was proposed, and the aging characteristic of the slope deformation was better reflected. The slope displacement was affected by multiple-environmental factors in multiple scales and displayed the same tendency with a rising water level. The statistical model of the high and steep rock including non-aging factors was set up based on previous analyses and the study of the deformation and residual tendency. The rule and importance of the water level factor as a non-aging unit was analyzed. A partitioned statistical model and mutation model were established for the comprehensive cumulative displacement velocity with the monitoring study under multiple factors and multiple parameters. A spatial model was also developed to reflect and predict the whole and sectional deformation character by combining aging, deformation and space coordinates. A neural network model was built to fit and predict the deformation with a high degree of precision by mastering its feature of complexity and randomness. A three-dimensional finite element model of the slope was applied to approach the structure character using numerical simulations. Further, a three-dimensional finite element model of the slope and dam was developed, and the whole deformation state was analyzed. This study is expected to provide a powerful and systematic method to analyze very high, important and dangerous slopes.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.95-109
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• 2018

The relevance of turbulent mixing in estuarine numerical models for stratified two-layer shallow water flows is analysed in this paper. A one-dimensional numerical model was developed for this purpose by extending an immiscible two-layer model with an additional source term, which accounts for turbulent mixing effects, namely the entrainment of fluid from the lower to the upper layer. The entrainment rate is quantified by an empirical equation as a function of the bulk Richardson number. A finite volume method based on an approximated Roe solver was used to solve the governing coupled system of partial differential equations. A comparison of numerical results with and without entrainment is presented to illustrate the influence of entrainment on both the salt-water intrusion length and lower layer dynamics. Furthermore, one example is given to demonstrate how entrainment terms may help to stabilize the numerical scheme and prevent a possible loss of hyperbolicity. Finally, the model with entrainment is validated by comparing the numerical results to field measurements.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2018

In the present investigation, influence of various material parameters on the cavitation erosion resistance of concrete was investigated on the basis of laboratory experiments. As there is no well-established laboratory test method for evaluating the cavitation resistance of concrete, a test set up called 'cavitation jet' was specially established in the present study in order to simulate the cavitation phenomenon experienced in the hydraulic structures. Various mixtures of concrete were designed by varying the grade of concrete, type and quantity of pozzolana, type of aggregates and cement type to develop good cavitation resistant concrete constructed using marginal aggregates. Three types of aggregates having three different Los Angeles abrasion values (less than 30%, between 30% and 50% and more than 50%) were employed in this study. To evaluate the cavitation resistance a total of 60 cylindrical specimens and 60 companion cubes were tested in the laboratory respectively. The results indicate that cavitation resistance of concrete degrades significantly as the L.A. abrasion value of aggregates goes beyond the 30% value. Incorporation of pozzolanic admixtures was seemed to be beneficial to enhance the cavitation resistance of concrete. Influence of other material parameters on the cavitation resistance of concrete was also noted and important observations have been made in the paper.