• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.469-482
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• 2010

This paper investigates the concrete permeability through a numerical and statistical approach. Concrete is considered as a random heterogeneous composite of three phases: aggregates, interfacial transition zones (ITZ) and matrix. The paper begins with some classical bound and estimate theories applied to concrete permeability and the influence of ITZ on these bound and estimate values is discussed. Numerical samples for permeability analysis are established through random aggregate structure (RAS) scheme, each numerical sample containing randomly distributed aggregates coated with ITZ and dispersed in a homogeneous matrix. The volumetric fraction of aggregates is fixed and the size distribution of aggregates observes Fuller's curve. Then finite element method is used to solve the steady permeation problem on 2D numerical samples and the overall permeability is deduced from flux-pressure relation. The impact of ITZ on overall permeability is analyzed in terms of ITZ width and contrast ratio between ITZ and matrix permeabilities. Hereafter, 3680 samples are generated for 23 sample sizes and 4 contrast ratios, and statistical analysis is performed on the permeability dispersion in terms of sample size and ITZ characteristics. By sample theory, the size of representative volume element (RVE) for permeability is then quantified considering sample realization number and expected error. Concluding remarks are provided for the impact of ITZ on concrete permeability and its statistical characteristics.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.471-484
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• 2018

Refined analysis depicting mass transportation and physicochemical reaction and reasonable computing load with acceptable DOFs are the two major challenges of numerical simulation for concrete durability. Mesoscopic numerical simulation for chloride diffusion considering binder, aggregate and interfacial transition zone is unable to be expended to the full structure due to huge number of DOFs. In this paper, a multiscale approach of combining both mesoscopic model including full-graded aggregate and equivalent macroscopic model was introduced. An equivalent conversion of chloride content at the Interfacial Transition Layer (ITL) connecting both models was considered. Feasibility and relative error were discussed by analytical deduction and numerical simulation. Case study clearly showed that larger analysis model in multiscale model expanded the diffusion space of chloride ion and decreased chloride content in front of rebar. Difference for single-scale simulation and multiscale approach was observed. Finally, this paper addressed some worth-noting conclusions about the chloride distribution and rebar corrosion regarding the configuration of rebar placement, rebar diameter, concrete cover and exposure period.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2022.04a
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• pp.109-110
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• 2022

Recently, it tend to increase the high-rise and large-scale of buildings and the developtment of construction technology can to be applied reinforced concrete structures to high-rise buildings. However, when a high-rise buildings is constructed with reinforced concrete, it has a disadvantage that buildings weight increases. In order to resolve the weight of reinforced concrete structures, various types of lightweight aggregates become development and research. Although lightweight aggregates can be reduced the weight of concrete, the strength of ITZ(Interfacial Transition Zone) is lowered due to its less strength than natural aggregates. In this study, an experimental study was conducted to coat the surface of lightweight aggregates with GGBFS(ground granulated blast furnace slag) to improve the strength of cement matrix mixed with lightweight aggregates. Result of this experimental study shows that the compressive strnegth of the surface coating lightweight aggregates was higher than general lightweight aggregates. Also, it was considered that this is because the pore at the ITZ of the surface-coated lightweight aggregates mixed cement matrix are filled with GGBFS fine particle.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.9 no.4 s.33
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• pp.515-521
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• 1997

The effects of heat treatment and fiber orientation on tensile strength and fatigue behavior were studied in a continuously reinforced. magnesium-based composite Following an earlier TEM investigation, specimens were thermally aged to modified the interfacial zone between the alumina fibers and the magnesium alloy matrix. From the tensile experimental results, the ultimate tensile strength of the aged specimens were lower than that of the as-fabricated due to weak fiber-matrix interfacial strength with chemical reaction during the thermal processing. The fatigue crack growth experiments were conducted with specimens having the fiber orientation normal to the crack growth direction (longitudinal) and also specimens with the fibers oriented parallel to the crack growth direction(transverse). A comparison of the fatigue crack growth behavior indicates that aged longitudinal specimens are more resistant to fatigue crack growth the as-fabricated longitudinal specimens. Conversely, as-fabricated transverse specimens are more resistant to fatigue crack growth than aged transverse specimens.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.467-484
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• 2023

Despite the significant features of fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCCs), including better mechanical, fractural, and durability performance, their high content of cement has restricted their use in the construction industry. Although ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) is considered the main supplementary cementitious material, its slow pozzolanic reaction stands against its application. The addition of nano-sized mineral modifiers, including nano-silica (NS), is an alternative to address the drawbacks of using GGBFS. The main object of this empirical and numerical research is to examine the effect of NS on the strain-hardening behavior of cementitious composites; ten mixes were designed, and five levels of NS were considered. This study proposes a new method, using a four-point bending test to assess the use of nano-silica (NS) on the flexural behavior, first cracking strength, fracture energy, and micromechanical parameters including interfacial friction bond strength and maximum bridging stress. Digital image correlation (DIC) was used for monitoring the initiation and propagation of the cracks. In addition, to attain a deep comprehension of fiber/matrix interaction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was used. It was discovered that using nano-silica (NS) in cementitious materials results in an enhancement in the matrix toughness, which prevents multiple cracking and, therefore, strain-hardening. In addition, adding NS enhanced the interfacial transition zone between matrix and fiber, leading to a higher interfacial friction bond strength, which helps multiple cracking in the composite due to the hydrophobic nature of polypropylene (PP) fibers. The findings of this research provide insight into finding the optimum percent of NS in which both ductility and high tensile strength of the composites would be satisfied. As a concluding remark, a new criterion is proposed, showing that the optimum value of nano-silica is 2%. The findings and proposed method of this study can facilitate the design and utilization of green cementitious composites in structures.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.423-430
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• 2013

In this research, a paramteric study to account for the effect of interfacial strength and nanotube agglomeration on the elastoplastic behavior of carbon nanotube reinforced polypropylene composites is performed. At first, the elastoplastic behavior of nanocomposites is predicted from molecular dynamics(MD) simulations. By combining the MD simulation results with the nonlinear micromechanics model based on the Mori-Tanaka model, a two-step domain decomposition method is applied to inversely identify the elastoplastic behavior of adsorption interphase zone inside nanocomposites. In nonlinear micromechanics model, the secant moduli method combined with field fluctuation method is used to predict the elastoplastic behavior of nanocomposites. To account for the imperfect material interface between nanotube and matrix polymer, displacement discontinuity condition is applied to the micromechanics model. Using the elastoplastic behavior of the adsorption interphase zone obtained from the present study, stress-strain relation of nanocomposites at various interfacial bonding condition and local nanotube agglomeration is predicted from nonlinear micromechanics model with and without the adsorption interphase zone. As a result, it has been found that local nanotube agglomeration is the most important design factor to maximize reinforcing effect of nanotube in elastic and plastic behavior.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.641-649
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• 2017

The discovery of the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) by Farran in 1956 initiated a new era in the study of the behaviour of concrete. Acknowledged as the weak link, this ITZ was studied extensively, numerically as well as experimentally. While the complementary experimental tests illustrated the visual behaviour of this specimen under increasing monotonic compression loading, a perfect bond within the ITZ has also been studied by using finite element analysis for comparison purposes. Finite element analysis was used to evaluate the degree of correctness and precision of the proposed ITZ model. This paper discusses the use of the cutoff bar in finite element modeling, representing the ITZ of a single aggregate (inclusion) in a mortar matrix. Experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of the ITZ model on the single inclusion specimen's strength. The model was tested for some inclusions that varied in dimension and shape. The effect of inclusion shape on the stress concentrations of the specimens was examined. The aim of this research work is to propose a simple yet accurate ITZ model to be used in the commercially available finite element software packages.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.5
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• pp.585-598
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• 2020

We develop design model within which nucleation and propagation of crack in a fibrous composite is described. It is assumed that under loading, crack initiation and fracture of material happens in the composite. The problem of equilibrium of a composite with embryonic crack is reduced to the solution of the system of nonlinear singular integral equations with the Cauchy type kernel. Normal and tangential forces in the crack nucleation zone are determined from the solution of this system of equations. The crack appearance conditions in the composite are formed with regard to criterion of ultimate stretching of the material's bonds. We study the case when near the fiber, the binder has several arbitrary arranged rectilinear prefracture zones and a crack with interfacial bonds. The proposed computational model allows one to obtain the size and location of the zones of damages (prefracture zones) depending on geometric and mechanical characteristics of the fibrous composite and applied external load. Based on the suggested design model that takes into account the existence of damages (the zones of weakened interparticle bonds of the material) and cracks with end zones in the composite, we worked out a method for calculating the parameters of the composite, at which crack nucleation and crack growth occurs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2021

This paper aims at investigating the capability of different FRP/concrete interface models to predict the effect of carbon nanotubes on the flexural behavior of RC beams strengthened with CFRP. Three different interfacial bond models are proposed to simulate the adhesion between CFRP composites and concrete, namely: full bond, nonlinear spring element, and cohesive zone model. 3D Nonlinear finite element model is developed then validated using experimental work conducted by the authors in a previous investigation. Cohesive zone model (CZM) has the best agreement with the experimental results in terms of load-deflection response. CZM is the only bond model that accurately predicted the cracks patterns and failure mode of the strengthened RC beams. The FE model is then expanded to predict the effect of bond strength on the flexural capacity of RC beams strengthened with externally bonded CNTs modified CFRP composites using CZM bond model. The results reveal that the flexural capacity of the strengthened beams increases with increasing the bond strength value. However, only 23% and 22% of the CFRP stress and strain capacity; in the case of full bond; can be utilized before failure.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.571-582
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• 2020

Aiming at the mechanical and structural characteristics of the contact zone composite rock, the uniaxial compression tests and numerical studies were carried out. The interaction forms and formation mechanisms at the contact interfaces of different materials were analyzed to reveal the effect of interaction on the mechanical behavior of composite samples. The research demonstrated that there are three types of interactions between the two materials at the contact interface: constraint parallel to the interface, squeezing perpendicular to the interface, and shear stress on the interface. The interaction is mainly affected by the differences in Poisson's ratio and elastic modulus of the two materials, stronger interface adhesion, and larger interface inclination. The interaction weakens the strength and stiffness of the composite sample, and the magnitude of weakening is positively correlated with the degree of difference in the mechanical properties of the materials. The tensile-shear stress derived from the interaction results in the axial tensile fracture perpendicular to the interface and the interfacial shear facture. Tensile cracks in stronger material will propagation into the weaker material through the bonded interface. The larger inclination angle of the interface enhances the effect of composite tensile/shear failure on the overall sample.