• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1435-1452
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• 2015

The performance of masonry infilled frames during the past earthquakes shows that the infill panels play a major role as earthquake-resistant elements. Experimental observations regarding the influence of infill panels on increasing stiffness and strength of reinforced concrete structures reveal that such panels can be used in order to strengthen reinforced concrete frames. The present study examines the influence of infill panels on seismic behavior of RC frame structures. For this purpose, several low- and mid-rise RC frames (two-, four-, seven-, and ten story) were numerically investigated. Reinforced masonry infill panels were then placed within the frames and the models were subjected to several nonlinear incremental static and dynamic analyses. In order to determine the acceptance criteria and modeling parameters for frames as well as reinforced masonry panels, the Iranian Guideline for Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Masonry Buildings (Issue No. 376), the Iranian Guideline for Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Structures (Issue No. 360) and FEMA Guidelines (FEMA 273 and 356) were used. The results of analyses showed that the use of reinforced masonry infill panels in RC frame structures can have beneficial effects on structural performance. It was confirmed that the use of masonry infill panels results in an increment in strength and stiffness of the framed buildings, followed by a reduction in displacement demand for the structural systems.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.383-393
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• 2018

Infill wall strengthening method has been widely used for seismic strengthening of deteriorated reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures with non-seismic details. Although such infill wall method can ensure sufficient lateral strengths of RC frame structures deteriorated in seismic performances with a low constructional cost, it generally requires quite cumbersome construction works due to its complex connection details between an infill wall and existing RC frame. In this study, an advanced seismic strengthening method using externally-anchored precast wall panels (EPCW) was developed to overcome the disadvantage inherent in the existing infill wall strengthening method. A total of four RC frame specimens were carefully designed and fabricated. Cyclic loading tests were then conducted to examine seismic performances of RC frame specimens strengthened using the EPCW method. Two specimens were fully strengthened using stocky precast wall panels with different connection details while one specimen was strengthened only in column perimeter with slender precast wall panels. Test results showed that the strength, stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity of RC frame specimens strengthened by EPCWs were improved compared to control frame specimens without strengthening.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.767-783
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• 2014

The use of composite materials to strengthen reinforced concrete (RC) structures against blast terror has great interests from engineering experts in structural retrofitting. The composite materials used in this study are rigid polyurethane foam (RPF) and aluminum foam (ALF). The aim of this study is to use the RPF and the ALF to strengthen the RC panels under blast load. The RC panel is considered to study the RPF and the ALF as structural retrofitting. Field blast test is conducted. The finite element analysis (FEA) is also used to model the RC panel under shock wave. The RC panel performance is studied based on detonating different TNT explosive charges. There is a good agreement between the results obtained by both the field blast test and the proposed numerical model. The composite materials improve the RC panel performance under the blast wave propagation.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.105-112
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• 2019

This study was conducted to examine experimentally the seismic performance of non-ductile reinforced concrete (RC) frames retrofitted with precast(PC) engineered cementitious composite (ECC) wall panels. The seismic performance was investigated through cyclic load tests on RC frame with different aspect ratio (h_w/l_w = 2 and 3) and installation position (center and both side of RC frame) of the PC ECC wall panels. Test results indicated that the seismic strengthening method using PC ECC wall panels is effective to improve significantly the strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity of non-ductile RC frame. Based on test results, it can be recommended to install PC ECC wall panel at the center of RC frame for improving the strength and to install slender wall panels at both side of RC frame for increasing ductility.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.75 no.5
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• pp.607-620
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• 2020

A numerical study is carried out to assess the dynamic response and damage level of one- and two-way reinforced concrete (RC) panels subjected to explosive loads by using finite element LS-DYNA software. The precision of the numerical models is validated with the previous experimental test. The calibrated models are used to conduct a series of parametric studies to evaluate the effects of panel wall dimensions, concrete strength, and steel reinforcement ratio on the blast-resistant capacity of the panel under various magnitudes of blast load. The results are used to develop pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams corresponding to the damage levels defined according to UFC-3-340-02 manual. Empirical equations are proposed to easily construct the P-I diagrams of RC panels that can be efficiently used to assess its safety level against blast loads.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.417-432
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• 2004

An analytical model which can simulate the post-cracking nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) members such as bars and panels subject to uniaxial and biaxial stresses is presented. The proposed model includes the description of biaxial failure criteria and the average stress-strain relation of reinforcing steel. Based on strain distribution functions of steel and concrete after cracking, a criterion to consider the tension-stiffening effect is proposed using the concept of average stresses and strains. The validity of the introduced model is established by comparing the analytical predictions for reinforced concrete uniaxial tension members with results from experimental studies. In advance, correlation studies between analytical results and experimental data are also extended to RC panels subject to biaxial tensile stresses to verify the efficiency of the proposed model and to identify the significance of various effects on the response of biaxially loaded reinforced concrete panels.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.177-196
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• 2011

An economic, structurally effective and practically applicable strengthening technique was developed for reinforced concrete (RC) framed buildings. The idea of the technique is to convert the existing hollow brick infill wall into a load carrying system acting as a cast-in-place RC infill wall by bonding relatively thin high strength precast concrete PC panels to the plastered hollow brick infill. For this purpose, a total of eight one-third scale, one bay, one story frames were tested under reversed-cyclic lateral loads. Test frames were designed and constructed with common deficiencies observed in practice. Four different panel types were used for strengthening. Test results showed that both strength and stiffness of the frames were significantly improved by the introduction of PC panels. Experimental results were compared with the analytical approaches suggested by the authors.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.451-461
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• 2018

Present study is mainly concerned about the idea of innovative utilization of bamboo in modern construction. Owing to its compatible mechanical properties, a beneficial effect of its use in reinforced concrete (RC) frame infills has been observed. In this investigation, finite element analyses have been performed to examine the failure pattern and stress distribution pattern through the infills of a moment resisting RC frame. To validate the pragmatic use of bamboo reinforced components as infills, earthquake loading corresponding to Nepal earthquake had been considered. The analysis have revealed that introduction of bamboo in RC frames imparts more flexibility to the structure and hence may causes a ductile failure during high magnitude earthquakes like in Nepal. A more uniform stress distribution throughout the bamboo reinforced wall panels validates the practical feasibility of using bamboo reinforced concrete wall panels as a replacement of conventional brick masonry wall panels. A more detailed analysis of the results have shown the fact that stress concentration was more on the frame components in case of frame with brick masonry, contrary to the frame with bamboo reinforced concrete wall panels, in which, major stress dispersion was through wall panels leaving frame components subjected to smaller stresses. Thus an effective contribution of bamboo in dissipation of stresses generated during devastating seismic activity have been shown by these results which can be used to concrete the feasibility of using bamboo in modern construction.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.791-796
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• 2000

Purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics and reinforcement effects of restored the RC bridge deck with small precast panel through static load tests and to provide the basic information for the damaged slab decks. In the tests for realizing movement of general RC bridge slabs, 6 samples are prepared and tested. All reinforced samples are restored with 1 or 2-layers precast panels by epoxy mortar. The movement of restored slabs is analyzed and compared with the behavior of non-restored slabs. In result of these tests, tension cracks due to bending moment are show, and after static load test there happens finally a punching shear failure, which is the general type of RC bridge failure. The tests show that restoration of the RC slab results in increasing of loading capacity about 30~50% an restoring panels are stick to slab and moving with slab under loading test.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.217-230
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• 2019

One of the most important design criteria in underground structure is to design lightweight protective layers to resist significant blast loads. Sandwich blast resistant panels are commonly used to protect underground structures. The front face of the sandwich panel is designed to resist the blast load and the core is designed to mitigate the blast energy from reaching the back panel. The design is to allow the sandwich panel to be repaired efficiently. Hence, the underground structure can be used under repeated blast loads. In this study, a novel sandwich panel, named RC panel - Helical springs- RC panel (RHR) sandwich panel, which consists of normal strength reinforced concrete (RC) panels at the front and the back and steel compression helical springs in the middle, is proposed. In this study, a detailed 3D nonlinear numerical analysis is proposed using the nonlinear finite element software, AUTODYN. The accuracy of the blast load and RHR Sandwich panel modelling are validated using available experimental results. The results show that the proposed finite element model can be used efficiently and effectively to simulate the nonlinear dynamic behaviour of the newly proposed RHR sandwich panels under different ranges of free air blast loads. Detailed parameter study is then conducted using the validated finite element model. The results show that the newly proposed RHR sandwich panel can be used as a reliable and effective lightweight protective layer for underground structures.