• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.391-403
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• 2014

In this study an innovative method of earthquake-resistant strengthening of reinforced concrete structures is presented for the first time. Strengthening according to this new method consists of the construction of steel fiber high-strength concrete jackets without conventional reinforcement which is usually applied in the construction of conventional reinforced concrete jackets (i.e., longitudinal reinforcement, stirrups, hoops). The proposed in this study innovative steel fiber high-strength or ultra high-strength concrete jackets were proved to be much more effective than the reinforced concrete jackets and the FRP-jackets when used for the earthquake-resistant strengthening of reinforced concrete structural members.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.323-338
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• 2014

In this study a new innovative method of earthquake-resistant strengthening of reinforced concrete structures is presented for the first time. Strengthening according to this new method consists of the construction of steel fiber ultra-high-strength concrete jackets without conventional reinforcement which is usually applied in the construction of conventional reinforced concrete jackets. An innovative solution is proposed also for the first time that ensures a satisfactory seismic performance of existing reinforced concrete structures, strengthened by using composite materials. The weak point of the use of such materials in repairing and strengthening of old R/C structures is the area of beam-column joints. According to the proposed solution, the joints can be strengthened with a steel fiber ultra-high-strength concrete jacket, while strengthening of columns can be achieved by using CFRPs. The experimental results showed that the performance of the subassemblage strengthened with the proposed mixed solution was much better than that of the subassemblage retrofitted completely with CFRPs.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.141-148
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• 2019

In this study, a well-established model and a new simplified version of it, that help avoid collapses in reinforced concrete structures during strong earthquakes, are presented and discussed. Using this model, the initial formation of plastic hinges and the final concentration of the damages only in beams are accurately assured. The model also assures that the columns and the beam-column joints can remain intact. This model can be applied for the design of modern R/C structures, as well as for the design of strengthening schemes of old R/C structures by the use of reinforced concrete jackets. The model can also predict the form of earthquake damages in old structures but also earthquake damages in the modern structures.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.273-292
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• 2014

The effectiveness of a retrofitting method for concrete columns with particular weaknesses is experimentally evaluated and presented in this paper. Structural deficiencies namely the inadequacy of transverse reinforcement and short length of lap splices are very common in columns found in structures built prior to the 1960s and 1970s. Recent earthquakes worldwide have caused severe damages and collapses of these structures. Nevertheless, the importance of improving the load transfer capacity between the deficiently lap-spliced bars is usually underestimated during the strengthening procedures applied in old buildings, though critical for the safety of the residents' lives. Thus, the seismic performance of the enhanced columns is frequently overestimated. The retrofitting approach presented herein involves reinforced concrete jacketing of the column sub-assemblages and welding of the lap-spliced bars to prevent the splice failure and conform to the provisions of modern design Codes. The cyclic lateral loading response of poorly confined original column specimens with insufficient lap splices and the seismic behavior of the retrofitted columns are compared. Test results clearly demonstrate that the retrofitting procedure followed is an effective way of significantly improving the seismic performance of substandard columns found in old buildings.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.309-319
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• 2017

A new method is suggested for the retrofitting of torsionally sensitive buildings. The main objective is to eliminate the torsional component from the first two natural modes of the structure by properly modifying its stiffness distribution via selective strengthening of its vertical elements. Due to the multi-parameter nature of this problem, state-of-art optimization schemes together with an ad-hoc software implementation were used for quantifying the required stiffness increase, determine the required retrofitting scheme and finally design and analyze the required composite sections for structural rehabilitation. The performance of the suggested method and its positive impact on the earthquake response of such structures is demonstrated through benchmark examples and applications on actual torsionally sensitive buildings.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.333-350
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• 2005

This paper presents results of an experimental study to evaluate a new retrofit technique for strengthening shear deficient short concrete beams and columns. In this technique a mortar jacket reinforced with expanded steel meshes is used for retrofitting. Twelve short reinforced concrete specimens, including eight retrofitted ones, were tested. Six specimens were tested under a constant compressive axial force of 15% of column axial load capacity based on original concrete gross section, $A_g$, and the concrete compressive strength, ${f_c}^{\prime}$. Main variables were the spacing of ties in original specimens and the volume fraction of expanded metal in jackets. Original specimens failed before reaching their nominal calculated flexural strength, $M_n$, and had very poor ductility. Strengthened specimens reached their nominal flexural strength and had a ductility capacity factor of up to 8 for the beams and up to 5.5 for the columns. Based on the test results, it can be concluded that expanded steel meshes can be used effectively to strengthen shear deficient concrete members.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.549-556
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• 2014

This study evaluates the thermal insulation and evaporative resistance of a waterproof and breathable garment system and determines the factors influencing its thermal performance. The experimental garments were composed of underwear (shirts with 100% wool and 100% polyester) and outerwear (jackets and pants with a vapor-permeable membrane and a vapor-impermeable membrane). Data on clothing insulation in a dry condition ($10^{\circ}C$) and a wet condition ($10^{\circ}C$, 40% R.H.), evaporative resistance ($34^{\circ}C$, 40% R.H., and $10^{\circ}C$, 40% R.H.), and microclimate vapor pressure were collected and analyzed. According to the results, the thermal insulation of the experimental garment system ranged 1.27~1.40 in the dry condition and 0.40~0.89 in the wet condition at $10^{\circ}C$. Evaporative resistance ranged $41{\sim}525m^2Pa/W$. A decrease in thermal insulation by wetting underwear ranged 31~67% in the cold condition ($10^{\circ}C$). The breathability of the outer garment influenced the decrease in thermal insulation by wetting. The type of underwear fiber influenced the decrease in thermal insulation only when it was used with breathable outerwear. The vapor-permeable outerwear sample with polyester underwear (P_Perm) showed a larger decrease in insulation than that with wool (W_Perm). The evaporative resistance of the vapor-permeable ensemble showed no effect of underwear in the warm condition ($34^{\circ}C$), but polyester underwear showed lower evaporative resistance than wool in the cold condition ($10^{\circ}C$). The vapor-impermeable ensemble showed no difference in evaporative resistance between polyester underwear and wool underwear in both conditions. Future research should consider various clothing ensemble combinations and environmental conditions and evaluate wear comfort by using human subjects.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 2002

The use of local two-sided and three-sided jacketing for the repair and strengthening of reinforced concrete beam-column joints damaged by severe earthquakes is investigated experimentally and analytically. Two exterior beam-column joint specimens ($O_1$ and $O_2$) were submitted to a series of cyclic lateral loads to simulate severe earthquake damage. The specimens were typical of existing older structures built in the 1960s and 1970s. The specimens were then repaired and strengthened by local two-sided or three-sided jacketing according to UNIDO Manual guidelines. The strengthened specimens ($RO_1$ and $RO_2$) were then subjected to the same displacement history as that imposed on the original specimens. The repaired and strengthened specimens exhibited significantly higher strength, stiffness and better energy dissipation capacity than the original specimens.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.411-425
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• 2020

Unreinforced masonry (URM) walls present low shear strength and are prone to brittle failure when subjected to inplane seismic overloads. This paper discusses the shear strengthening of URM walls with Textile Reinforced Mortar (TRM) jackets. The available literature is thoroughly reviewed and an extended database is developed including available brick, concrete and stone URM walls retrofitted and subjected to shear tests to assess their strength. Further, the experimental results of the database are compared against the available shear strength design models from ACI 549.4R-13, CNR DT 215 2018, CNR DT 200 R1/2013, Eurocode 6 and Eurocode 8 guidelines as well as Triantafillou and Antonopoulos 2000, Triantafillou 1998, Triantafillou 2016. The performance of the available models is investigated and the prediction average absolute error (AAE) is as high as 40%. A new model is proposed that takes into account the additional contribution of the reinforcing mortar layer of the TRM jacket that is usually neglected. Further, the approach identifies the plethora of different block materials, joint mortars and TRM mortars and grids and introduces rational calibration of their variable contributions on the shear strength. The proposed model provides more accurate shear strength predictions than the existing models for all different types of the URM substrates, with a low AAE equal to 22.95%.