• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2019

Structural fuses are made up from oriented steel plates to be used to resist seismic force with shear loading resistance capabilities. The damage and excessive inelastic deformations are concentrated in structural fuses to avoid any issues for the rest of the surrounding elements. Recently developed fuse plates are designed with engineered cutouts leaving flexural or shear links with controlled yielding features. A promising type of link is proposed to align better bending strength along the length of the link with the demand moment diagram is a butterfly-shaped link. Previously, the design methodologies are purely based on the flexural stresses, or shear stresses only, which overestimate the dampers capability for resisting against the applied loadings. This study is specifically focused on the optimized design methodologies for commonly used butterfly-shaped dampers. Numerous studies have shown that the stresses are not uniformly distributed along the length of the dampers; hence, the design methodology and the effective implementation of the steel need revisions and improvements. In this study, the effect of shear and flexural stresses on the behavior of butterfly-shaped links are computationally investigated. The mathematical models based on von-Mises yielding criteria are initially developed and the optimized design methodology is proposed based on the yielding criterion. The optimized design is refined and investigated with the aid of computational investigations in the next step. The proposed design methodology meets the needs of optimized design concepts for butterfly-shaped dampers considering the uniform stress distribution and efficient use of steel.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.111-130
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• 2021

In the present work, an extensive study for predicting efficiency parameters (��i) of various simulated nanocomposites including Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as matrix and different structures including various sizes of graphene platelets (GPLs), single, double, and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs-DWCNTs-MWCNTs), and single and double-walled boron nitride nanotubes (SWBNNTs-DWBNNTs) are investigated. It should be stated that GPLs, carbon and boron nitride nanotubes (CNTs, BNNT) with different chiralities (5, 0), (5, 5), (10, 0), and (10, 10) as reinforcements are considered. In this research, molecular dynamics (MDs) method with Materials studio software is applied to examine the mechanical properties (Young's modulus) of simulated nanocomposite boxes and calculate η1 of each nanocomposite boxes. Then, it is noteworthy that by changing length (6.252, 10.584, and 21.173 nm) and width (7.137, 10.515, and 19.936) of GPLs, ��1, ��2, and ��3 approximately becomes (0.101, 0.114, and 0.124), (1.15, 1.22, and 1.26), (1.04, 1.05, and 1.07) respectively. After that efficiency parameters of SWCNTs, DWCNTs, and MWCNTs are calculated and discussed separately. Finally efficiency parameters of SWBNNTs and DWBNNTs with different chiralities by PMMA as matrix are determined by MD and discussed separately. It is known that the accurate efficiency parameters helps a lot to calculate the properties of nanocomposite analytically. In particular, the obtained results from this research can be used for analytical work based on the extended rule of mixture (ERM) in bending, buckling and vibration analysis of structure in future study.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.2
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• pp.179-196
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• 2021

Experimental investigations on the seismic behaviors of the PVC-FRP Confined Reinforced Concrete (PFCRC) columns under low cyclic loading are carried out and two variable parameters including CFRP strips spacing and axial compression ratio are considered. The PFCRC column finally fails by bending and is characterized by the crushing of concrete and yielding of the longitudinal reinforcement, and the column with a high axial compression ratio is also accompanied by the cracking of the PVC tube and the fracture of CFRP strips. The hysteretic curves and skeleton curves of the columns are obtained from the experimental data. With the increase of axial compression ratio, the stiffness degradation rate accelerates and the ductility decreases. With the decrease of CFRP strips spacing, the unloading sections of the skeleton curves become steep and the ductility reduces significantly. On the basis of fiber model method, a numerical analysis approach for predicting the skeleton curves of the PFCRC columns is developed. Additionally, a simplified skeleton curve including the elastic stage, strengthening stage and unloading stage is suggested depending on the geometric drawing method. Moreover, the loading and unloading rules of the PFCRC columns are revealed by analyzing the features of the skeleton curves. The quantitative expressions that are used to predict the unloading stiffness of the specimens in each stage are proposed. Eventually, an analytical model for the PFCRC columns under low cyclic loading is established and it agrees well with test data.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2021

Rice Husk Ash (RHA) geopolymer paste activated by sodium aluminate were characterized by X-ray diffractogram (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersion X-Ray analysis (EDAX)and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Five series of RHA geopolymer specimens were prepared by varying the Si/Al ratio as 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5. The paper focuses on the correlation of microstructure with hardened state parameters like bulk density, apparent porosity, sorptivity, water absorption and compressive strength. XRD analysis peaks indicates quartz, cristobalite and gibbsite for raw RHA and new peaks corresponding to Zeolite A in geopolymer specimens. In general, SEM micrographs show interconnected pores and loosely packed geopolymer matrix except for specimens made with Si/Al of 2.0 which exhibited comparatively better matrix. Incorporation of Al from sodium aluminate were confirmed with the stretching and bending vibration of Si-O-Si and O-Si-O observations from the FTIR analysis of geopolymer specimen. The dense microstructure of SA2.0 correlate into better performance in terms of 28 days maximum compressive strength of 16.96 MPa and minimum for porosity, absorption and sorptivity among the specimens. However, due to the higher water demand to make the paste workable, the value of porosity, absorption and sorptivity were reportedly higher as compared with other geopolymer systems. Correlation regression equations were proposed to validate the interrelation between physical parameters and mechanical strength. RHA geopolymer shows comparatively lower compressive strength as compared to Fly ash geopolymer.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.151-164
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• 2021

During the pipe forming process, a steel plate undergoes inelastic behavior multiple times under a load condition repeating tension and compression in the circumferential direction. It derives local reduction or increase of yield strength within the thickness of steel pipes by the plastic hardening and Bauschinger effect. In this study, a combined hardening model is proposed to effectively predict variations of yield strength in the circumferential direction of API-X65 and X70 steel pipes with relatively low t/D ratio during the forming process, which is expected to experience accumulated plastic strain of 2~3%, the typical Lüder band range in a low-carbon steel. Cyclic tensile tests of API-X65 and X70 steels were performed, and the parameters of the proposed model for the steels were calibrated using the test results. Bending-flattening tests to simulate repeated tension and compression during pipe forming were followed for API-X65 and X70 steels, and the results were compared with those by the proposed model and Zou et al. (2016), in order to verify the process of material model calibration based on tension-compression cyclic test, and the accuracy of the proposed model. Finally, parametric analysis for the yield strength of the steel plate in the circumferential direction of UOE pipe was conducted to investigate the effects of t/D and expansion ratios after O-forming on the yield strength. The results confirmed that the model by Zou et al. (2016) underestimated the yield strength of steel pipe with relatively low t/D ratio, and the parametric analysis showed that the t/D and expansion ratio have a significant impact on the strength of steel pipe.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.103-120
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• 2021

This research examines the eccentric compression performance of composite columns composed of recycled aggregate concrete (RAC)-filled square steel tube and profile steel. A total of 17 specimens on the composite columns with different recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement percentage, RAC strength, width to thickness ratio of square steel tube, profile steel ratio, eccentricity and slenderness ratio were subjected to eccentric compression tests. The failure process and characteristic of specimens under eccentric compression loading were observed in detail. The load-lateral deflection curves, load-train curves and strain distribution on the cross section of the composite columns were also obtained and described on the basis of test data. Results corroborate that the failure characteristics and modes of the specimens with different design parameters were basically similar under eccentric compression loads. The compression side of square steel tube yields first, followed by the compression side of profile steel. Finally, the RAC in the columns was crushed and the apparent local bulging of square steel tube was also observed, which meant that the composite column was damaged and failed. The composite columns under eccentric compression loading suffered from typical bending failure. Moreover, the eccentric bearing capacity and deformation of the specimens decreased as the RCA replacement percentage and width to thickness ratio of square steel tube increased, respectively. Slenderness ratio and eccentricity had a significantly adverse effect on the eccentric compression performance of composite columns. But overall, the composite columns generally had high-bearing capacity and good deformation. Meanwhile, the mechanism of the composite columns under eccentric compression loads was also analysed in detail, and the calculation formulas on the eccentric compression capacity of composite columns were proposed via the limit equilibrium analysis method. The calculation results of the eccentric compression capacity of columns are consistent with the test results, which verify the validity of the formulas, and the conclusions can serve as references for the engineering application of this kind of composite columns.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.327-332
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• 2022

In building envelope, transparent components play an important role. The structural glazing systems are the weak element of the casing in terms of mechanical resistance, thermal and acoustic insulation. In the present work, new structural glass panels with granular aerogel in interspace were investigated from different points of view. In particular, the mechanical characterization was carried out in order to assess the resistance to bending of the single glazing pane. To this end, a special instrument system was built to define an alternative configuration of the coaxial double ring test, able to predict the fracture strength of glass large samples (400 × 400 mm) without overpressure. The thermal and lighting performance of an innovative double-glazing façade with granular aerogel was evaluated. An experimental campaign at pilot scale was developed: it is composed of two boxes of about 1.60 × 2 m² and 2 m high together with an external weather station. The rooms, identical in terms of size, construction materials, and orientation, are equipped with a two-wing window in the south wall surface: the first one has a standard glazing solution (double glazing with air in interspace), the second room is equipped with the innovative double-glazing system with aerogel. The indoor mean air temperature and the surface temperature of the glass panes were monitored together with the illuminance data for the lighting characterization. Finally, a brief energy characterization of the performance of the material was carried out by means of dynamic simulation models when the proposed solution is applied to real case studies.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.169-185
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• 2022

The urbanization and increasing rate of population demands effective means of transportation system (basement and tunnels) as well as high-rise building (resting on piled foundation) for accommodation. Therefore, it unavoidable to construct basements (i.e., excavation) nearby piled foundation. Since the basement excavation inevitably induces soil movement and stress changes in the ground, it may cause differential settlements to nearby piled raft foundation. To understand settlement and load transfer mechanism in the piled raft due to excavation-induced stress release, numerical parametric studies are carried out in this study. The effects of excavation depths (i.e., formation level) relative to piled raft were investigated by simulating the excavation near the pile shaft (i.e., H_e/L_p=0.67), next to (H_e/L_p=1.00) and below the pile toe (H_e/L_p=1.33). In addition, effects of sand density and raft fixity condition were investigated. The computed results have revealed that the induced settlement, tilting, pile lateral movement and load transfer mechanism in the piled raft depends upon the embedded depth of the diaphragm wall. Additional settlement of the piled raft due to excavation can be account for apparent loss of load carrying capacity of the piled raft (ALPC). The highest apparent loss of piled raft capacity ALPC (on the account of induced piled raft settlement) of 50% was calculated in in case of H_e/L_p = 1.33. Furthermore, the induced settlement decreased with increasing the relative density from 30% to 90%. On the contrary, the tilting of the raft increases in denser ground. The larger bending moment and lateral force was induced at the piled heads in fixed and pinned raft condition.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2022

Piled raft foundations are widely used and effective in supporting high-rise buildings around the world. In this study, a piled raft system was numerically simulated using PLAXIS 3D. The settlement comparison results between the actual building measurements and the three-dimensional (3D) numerical analysis, were in good agreement, indicating the usefulness of this approach for the evaluation of the feasibility of using a piled raft foundation in Ho Chi Minh City subsoil. The effects were investigated of the number of piles based on pile spacing, pile length, raft embedment on the settlement, load sharing, bending moments, and the shear force of the piled raft foundation in Ho Chi Minh City subsoil. The results indicated that with an increased number of piles, increased pile length, and embedding raft depth, the total and differential settlement decreased. The optimal design consisted of pile numbers of 60-70, corresponding to pile spacings is 5.5-6 times the pile diameter (D_p), in conjunction with a pile length-to-pile diameter ratio of 30. Furthermore, load sharing by the raft, by locating it in the second layer of stiff clay, could achieve 66% of the building load. The proposed model of piled raft foundations could reduce the total foundation cost by 49.61% compared to the conventional design. This research can assist practicing engineers in selecting pile and raft parameters in the design of piled raft foundations to produce an economical design for high-rise buildings in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, and around the world.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.735-757
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• 2022

The behavior of shear deficient under-balanced reinforced concrete beams with rectangular cross-sections, which were externally strengthened with CFRP composite along shear spans, was experimentally investigated under vertical load. One of the specimens represents a reference beam without CFRP strengthening and the other specimens have different width/strip spacing ratios (w_f/s_f). The optimum strip in terms of w_f/s_f, which will bring the beam behavior to the ideal level in terms of strength and ductility, was determined according to the regulations. When the w_f/s_f ratio exceeds 0.55, the behavior of the beam shifted from shear failure to bending failure. However, it has been observed that the w_f/s_f ratio should be increased up to 0.82 in order for the beam to reach sufficient shear reserve value according to the codes. It is also observed that the direction and weight of the CFRP composite are one of the most critical factors and 240 gr/m² CFRP strips experienced sudden ruptures in the shear span after the cracking of the concrete. It is considered as a deficiency that the empirical shear capacity formulas given for the beams reinforced with CFRP in the regulations do not take into account both direction and weight of CFRP composites.