• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.469-478
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• 2020

This study aims to establish a new methodological framework for the evaluation of the evolution of the reliability of plain concrete for pavement vs number of cycles under flexural fatigue loading. According to the framework, a new method calculating the reliability was proposed through probability simulation in order to describe a random accumulation of fatigue damage, which combines reliability theory, one-to-one probability density functions transformation technique, cumulative fatigue damage theory and Weibull distribution theory. Then the statistical analysis of flexural fatigue performance of cement concrete tested was carried out utilizing Weibull distribution. Ultimately, the reliability for the tested cement concrete was obtained by the proposed method. Results indicate that the stochastic evolution behavior of concrete materials under fatigue loading can be captured by the established framework. The flexural fatigue life data of concrete at different stress levels is well described utilizing the two-parameter Weibull distribution. The evolution of reliability for concrete materials tested in this study develops by three stages and may corresponds to develop stages of cracking. The proposed method may also be available for the analysis of degradation behaviors under non-fatigue conditions.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.499-520
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• 2011

The effectiveness of a technique for the repair of reinforced concrete members in combination with a technique for the repair of masonry walls of infilled frames, damaged due to cyclic loading, is experimentally investigated. Three single - story, one - bay, 1/3 - scale frame specimens are tested under cyclic horizontal loading, up to a drift level of 4%. One bare frame and two infilled frames with weak and strong infills, respectively, have been tasted. Specimens have spirals as shear reinforcement. The applied repair technique is mainly based on the use of thin epoxy resin infused under pressure into the crack system of the damaged RC joint bodies, the use of a polymer modified cement mortar with or without a fiberglass reinforcing mesh for the damaged infill masonry walls and the use of CFRP plates to the surfaces of the damaged structural RC members, as external reinforcement. Specimens after repair, were retested in the same way. Conclusions concerning the effectiveness of the applied repair technique, based on maximum cycles load, loading stiffness, and hysteretic energy absorption capabilities of the tested specimens, are drawn and commented upon.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.141-158
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• 2005

A new design of distributed crack sensors based on the topological change of transmission line cables is presented for the condition assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) structures during and immediately after an earthquake event. This study is primarily focused on the performance of cable sensors under dynamic loading, particularly a feature that allows for some "memory" of the crack history of an RC member. This feature enables the post-earthquake condition assessment of structural members such as RC columns, in which the earthquake-induced cracks are closed immediately after an earthquake event due to gravity loads, and are visually undetectable. Factors affecting the onset of the feature were investigated experimentally with small-scale RC beams under cyclic loading. Test results indicated that both crack width and the number of loading cycles were instrumental in the onset of the memory feature of cable sensors. Practical issues related to dynamic acquisition with the sensors are discussed. The sensors were proven to be fatigue resistant from shake table tests of RC columns. The sensors continued to show useful performance after the columns can no longer support additional loads.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.759-768
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• 2019

In nuclear fusion reactors, the key structural component (i.e., the plasma-facing component) undergoes high heat flux cyclic loading. To ensure the safety of fusion reactors, an experimental study on the temperature-induced creep of stainless steel under heat flux cyclic loading was performed in the present work. The strains were measured using a stereo digital image correlation technique (3D-DIC). The influence of the heat haze was eliminated, owing to the use of a vacuum environment. The specimen underwent heat flux cycles ($500^{\circ}C-1000^{\circ}C$) with different mechanical preloads (0 kN, 10 kN, 30 kN, and 50 kN). The results revealed that, for a relatively large preload (for example, 50 kN), a single temperature cycle can induce a residual strain of up to $15000{\mu}{\varepsilon}$.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.597-608
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• 2022

One of the most important parameters affecting nonlinearsoil-structure interaction, especially rocking foundation, is the vertical factor of safety (F.S_v). In this research, the effect of F.S_v on the behavior of rocking foundations was experimentally investigated. A set of slow, cyclic, horizontal loading tests was conducted on elastic SDOF structures with different shallow foundations. Vertical bearing capacity tests also were conducted to determine the F.S_v more precisely. Furthermore, 10% silt was mixed with the dry sand at a 5% moisture content to reach the minimum apparent cohesion. The results of the vertical bearing capacity tests showed that the bearing capacity coefficients (N_c and N_γ) were influenced by the scaling effect. The results of horizontal cyclic loading tests showed that the trend of increase in capacity was substantially related to the source of nonlinearity and it varied by changing F.S_v. Stiffness degradation was found to occur in the final cycles of loading. The results indicated that the moment capacity and damping ratio of the system in models with lower F.S_v values depended on soil specifications such cohesiveness or non-cohesiveness and were not just a function of F.S_v.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.97-109
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was designed to evaluate the influence of implant abutment materials on detorque value and screw joint stability before and after dynamic fatigue test. Materials & Methods : The external hexagonal fixture and three different groups of abutment (titanium abutments, zirconia abutments, and UCLA abutments) were used. The detorque value before loading and after loading (cyclic loading up to $10^5$ cycles) of the abutment screw were measured. Result : 1. There was no significant difference in detorque value before loading among the each group. 2. There was no significant difference in detorque value after loading among the each group. 3. Detorque values before and after cyclic loading in each group were not significantly different. 4. There was no significant difference in loss percentage of removal torque before loading among the each group. 5. There was no significant difference in loss percentage of removal torque after loading among the each group. 6. There was no significant difference in loss percentage of removal torque according to loading among the each group. Conclusion : Short term screw loosening of three types of abutment was not significantly different. When bite force was applied, there was no significant difference in screw loosening between before loading and after loading.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2014

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interface accuracy of computer-assisted designed and manufactured (CAD/CAM) titanium abutments and implant fixture compared to gold-cast UCLA abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS. An external connection implant system (Mark III, n=10) and an internal connection implant system (Replace Select, n=10) were used, 5 of each group were connected to milled titanium abutment and the rest were connected to the gold-cast UCLA abutments. The implant fixture and abutment were tightened to torque of 35 Ncm using a digital torque gauge, and initial detorque values were measured 10 minutes after tightening. To mimic the mastication, a cyclic loading was applied at 14 Hz for one million cycles, with the stress amplitude range being within 0 N to 100 N. After the cyclic loading, detorque values were measured again. The fixture-abutment gaps were measured under a microscope and recorded with an accuracy of ${\pm}0.1{\mu}m$ at 50 points. RESULTS. Initial detorque values of milled abutment were significantly higher than those of cast abutment (P<.05). Detorque values after one million dynamic cyclic loadings were not significantly different (P>.05). After cyclic loading, detorque values of cast abutment increased, but those of milled abutment decreased (P<.05). There was no significant difference of gap dimension between the milled abutment group and the cast abutment group after cyclic loading. CONCLUSION. In conclusion, CAD/CAM milled titanium abutment can be fabricated with sufficient accuracy to permit screw joint stability between abutment and fixture comparable to that of the traditional gold cast UCLA abutment.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.70-77
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• 2022

PURPOSE. This study evaluated screw loosening and 3D crown displacement after cyclic loading of implant-supported incisor crowns cemented with original titanium bases or with three compatible, nonoriginal components. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 32 dental implants were divided into four groups (n = 8 each): Group 1 used original titanium bases, while Groups 2-4 used compatible components. The reverse torque value (RTV) was evaluated prior to and after cyclic loading (1,200,000 cycles). Samples (prior to and after cyclic loading) were scanned with a microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Preload and postload files were superimposed by 3D inspection software, and 3D crown displacement analysis was performed using root-mean-square (RMS) values. All datasets were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc analysis. RESULTS. Significant variations were observed in the postload RTV, depending on the titanium base brand (P < .001). The mean postload RTVs were significantly higher in Groups 1 and 2 than in the other study groups. While evaluating 3D crown displacement, the lowest mean RMS value was shown in the original Group 1, with the highest RMS value occurring in Group 4. CONCLUSION. Within the limitations of this in vitro study and under the implemented conditions, it was concluded that the manufacturer brand of the titanium base significantly influenced screw loosening following the fatigue test and influenced 3D crown displacement after cyclic loading.

• Composites Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.328-333
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• 2013

In this study, bone plate made of glass/polypropylene composite material which was applied to an artificial bone was tested to check the service ability under fatigue loading. To check serviceability of composite bone plates fatigue test was carried out considering changes in the moisture absorption rate, locking position of screws and loading condition. Test results showed that all the tested specimens had the fatigue life more than one million cycles which was much higher fatigue life than the expected value of 650,000 cycles. Screw position was not critical impact on the deformation of the fracture site. In this paper, the mechanical performance of the glass/polypropylene composite was verified by fatigue test under various water absorption conditions, and this result may give useful information on the design of composite bone plate.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 2015

Purpose: To present a flexible and accurate autonomous solution for creating any desired row spacing value between the hydroponic gullies in multilayer growing units, and evaluate the capabilities and performance of the relevant automated system through the use of virtual prototyping technique. Methods: To build the virtual prototype of the system, CAD models of its different parts, including an autonomous vehicle and the mechanical mechanisms embedded in the multilayer growing unit, were developed and imported into the RecurDyn simulation software. In order to implement the automated row spacing operation, three spacing modes with different loading cycles and working steps were defined, and the operation of the system was simulated to obtain the target row spacing values specified for each of these modes. Results: Motion profiles related to the horizontal displacement of: 1) the lower and upper sliding bars installed in the cultivation layers, and 2) the hydroponic gullies, during the simulation of the system operation, were generated and analyzed. No deviation from the specified target spacing values was observed at the end of simulations for all spacing modes. Conclusions: The results of the motion analysis obtained by simulating the system operation confirm the effectiveness of the control scheme proposed for automated row spacing of gullies. It was also found that proper sequencing of the loading cycles and the precision of the working strokes of the upper bars are the critical factors for establishing a certain row spacing value. Based on the simulation results, precise control of the back and forth motions of the upper bars is highly necessary for sound operation of the real system.