• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.451-459
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• 2021

The mechanical behaviors and chloride resistance performance of fiber reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) with hybrid polyethylene (PE) and steel fiber (in total 2% by volume) were investigated. Based on micro-mechanics and fracture mechanics, the reason why the tensile strain capacity of FRCC changed obviously was obtained. Besides, the effects of the total surface area of fiber in FRCC on compressive strength and chloride content were clarified. It is found that the improvement of the tensile strain capacity of FRCC with hybrid fiber is attributed to the growth of strain-hardening performance index (the ratio of complementary energy to crack tip toughness). As the total surface area of fiber related with the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) between fiber and matrix increases, compressive strength decreases obviously. Since the total surface area of fiber is small, the chloride resistance performance of FRCC with hybrid PE and steel fiber is better than that of FRCC containing only PE fiber.

• Structural Monitoring and Maintenance
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.107-127
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• 2022

Structural health monitoring (SHM) has been related to damage identification with either operational loads or other environmental loading playing a significant complimentary role in terms of structural safety. In this study, a non-parametric method of time frequency analysis on the measurement is used to address the time-frequency representation for modal parameter estimation and system damage identification of structure. The method employs the wavelet decomposition of dynamic data by using the modified complex Morlet wavelet with variable central frequency (MCMW+VCF). Through detail discussion on the selection of model parameter in wavelet analysis, the method is applied to study the dynamic response of both steel structure and reinforced concrete frame under white noise excitation as well as earthquake excitation from shaking table test. Application of the method to building earthquake response measurement is also examined. It is shown that by using the spectrogram generated from MCMW+VCF method, with suitable selected model parameter, one can clearly identify the time-varying modal frequency of the reinforced concrete structure under earthquake excitation. Discussions on the advantages and disadvantages of the method through field experiments are also presented.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2022

FIB is introduced as the sole guideline for the design purpose that results in a practical relationship for the torsional capacity of concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). This study applies first-order reliability method to assess the reliability evaluation of the torsional capacity of CFRP-strengthened beams on the basis of FIB guidelines. In terms of steel reinforcement losses, this study applies a corrosion model to investigate the ceaseless deterioration of the existing structure. Hence, the average of reliability indices varies between 2.68 and 2.80, indicating the reliability viewpoint of the design methodologies. The average values are somehow low compared to the target values of reliability (3.0 or 3.5) applied in the calibration stage of the FIB guideline. In this way, the partial safety factors may change in the forthcoming guideline revisions. For this aim, the reliability of strengthening ratio was applied to assess the variation in the average value of the reliability index with different partial safety factors. The performance of parametric study for the factor proved that minimum values of 1.60 and 2.32 are required for target values of reliability (3.0 and 3.5), respectively.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.333-346
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• 2023

This paper presents findings from an experimental study that was focused on evaluating the use of Forta-Ferro (FF) and Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) fibers on the response of moderate and special ductility beams under load cycles. For this reason, eight full-scale specimens, identical in geometry, were subjected to gradual cyclic loading. The specimens included two plain concrete beams with medium and special ductility, three beams with medium ductility and stirrup spacing of one-quarter the effective depth (d/4) and three beams with special ductility, and stirrup spacing of one-half the effective depth (d/2), strengthened with FF and PVA fibers separately. The use of fibers was aimed at reducing the amount of shear reinforcement in flexural members. Here, the variation of parameters including the maximum strength, ultimate strength, stiffness, ductility, damage index, energy dissipation, and equivalent damping was studied. Utilizing FF and PVA fibers improved the performance in beams with moderate ductility when compared to those beams with special ductility. Therefore, in special ductility beams, fibers can be used instead of crossties and in moderate ductility beams, fibers can be added to reduce the ratio of shear reinforcement. Furthermore, increasing the stirrup spacing in the moderate ductility beams from d/4 to d/2 and adding 0.6% FF or 1.5% PVA fibers resulted in behavior similar to those of the moderate ductility beam.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.997-1018
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• 2015

Structural health monitoring along with damage detection and assessment of its severity level in non-accessible reinforced concrete members using piezoelectric materials becomes essential since engineers often face the problem of detecting hidden damage. In this study, the potential of the detection of flexural damage state in the lower part of the mid-span area of a simply supported reinforced concrete beam using piezoelectric sensors is analytically investigated. Two common severity levels of flexural damage are examined: (i) cracking of concrete that extends from the external lower fiber of concrete up to the steel reinforcement and (ii) yielding of reinforcing bars that occurs for higher levels of bending moment and after the flexural cracking. The purpose of this investigation is to apply finite element modeling using admittance based signature data to analyze its accuracy and to check the potential use of this technique to monitor structural damage in real-time. It has been indicated that damage detection capability greatly depends on the frequency selection rather than on the level of the harmonic excitation loading. This way, the excitation loading sequence can have a level low enough that the technique may be considered as applicable and effective for real structures. Further, it is concluded that the closest applied piezoelectric sensor to the flexural damage demonstrates higher overall sensitivity to structural damage in the entire frequency band for both damage states with respect to the other used sensors. However, the observed sensitivity of the other sensors becomes comparatively high in the peak values of the root mean square deviation index.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.279-288
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• 2016

The present study simplified the moment-curvature relationship to straightforwardly determine the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) columns. For the idealized column section, moments and neutral axis depths at different stages(first flexural crack, yielding of tensile reinforcing bar, maximum strength, and 80% of the maximum strength at the descending branch) were derived on the basis of the equilibrium condition of forces and compatibility condition. Concrete strains at the extreme compression fiber beyond the maximum strength were determined using the stress-strain relationship of confined concrete, proposed by Kim et al. The lateral load-displacement curves converted from the simplified moment-curvature relationship of columns are well consistent with test results obtained from column specimens under various parameters. The moments and the corresponding neutral axis depth at different stages were formulated as a function of longitudinal reinforcement and transverse reinforcement indices and/or applied axial load index. Overall, curvature ductility of columns was significantly affected by the axial load level as well as concrete compressive strength and the amount of longitudinal and transverse reinforcing bars.

• Composites Research
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.368-374
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• 2019

Basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composites with inorganic filler (BFRP-F) such as Mg(OH)₂ (magnesium hydroxide), Al(OH)₃ (aluminum hydroxide), Al₂O₃ (aluminum oxide) and AlOOH (boehmite) were prepared by hand lay-up and hot pressing. The combustive properties of BFRP-F were improved comparing with basalt fiber reinforced epoxy composite (BFRP) without inorganic filler. At a 30 wt% resin content, the limited oxygen index (LOI) of BFRP is 28.9, which is higher than that of epoxy (21.4), and the LOI of BFRP-F is higher than that of BFRP. The BFRP-F showed the lower peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR) and total smoke release rate (TSR) than those of BFRP. We confirmed that the flame retardant properties of the composite were improved by the addition of inorganic filler through the dehydration reaction and oxide film formation.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.531-539
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanical properties of high strength concretes reinforced with hooked steel fiber. For this purpose, total 36 specimens whose variables are concrete compressive strength, steel fiber aspect ratio, and steel fiber volume contents, are made and tested. From the test results including previous research work, flexural performance of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete is evaluated in terms of flexural strength and toughness index. Flexural behavior of steel fiber reinforced high strength concrete is enhanced with respect to the fiber volume content, the aspect ratio, and concrete compressive strength. More efforts are devoted to evaluate quantitatively between the flexural strength and the structural parameters such as the fiber volume content, the aspect ratio, and concrete compressive strength.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.707-726
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• 2015

There is a growing trend of considering uncertainty in optimization process since last few decades. In this regard, Robust Design Optimization (RDO) scheme has gained increasing momentum because of its virtue of improving performance of structure by minimizing the variation of performance and ensuring necessary safety and feasibility of constraint under uncertainty. In the present study, RDO of reinforced concrete folded plate and shell structure has been carried out incorporating uncertainty in the relevant parameters by Monte Carlo Simulation. Folded plate and shell structures are among the new generation popular structures often used in aesthetically appealing constructions. However, RDO study of such important structures is observed to be scarce. The optimization problem is formulated as cost minimization problem subjected to the force and displacements constraints considering dead, live and wind load. Then, the RDO is framed by simultaneously optimizing the expected value and the variation of the performance function using weighted sum approach. The robustness in constraint is ensured by adding suitable penalty term and through a target reliability index. The RDO problem is solved by Sequential Quadratic Programming. Subsequently, the results of the RDO are compared with conventional deterministic design approach. The parametric study implies that robust designs can be achieved by sacrificing only small increment in initial cost, but at the same time, considerable quality and guarantee of the structural behaviour can be ensured by the RDO solutions.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.535-543
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• 2019

Building on/with expansive soils with no treatment brings complications. Compacted expansive soils specifically fall short in satisfying the minimum requirements for transport embankment infrastructures, requiring the adoption of hauled virgin mineral aggregates or a sustainable alternative. Use of hauled aggregates comes at a high carbon and economical cost. On average, every 9m high embankment built with quarried/hauled soils cost $12600MJ.m^{-2}$ Embodied Energy (EE). A prospect of using mixed cutting-arising expansive soils with industrial/domestic wastes can reduce the carbon cost and ease the pressure on landfills. The widespread use of recycled materials has been extensively limited due to concerns over their long-term performance, generally low shear strength and stiffness. In this contribution, hydromechanical properties of a waste tyre sand-sized rubber (a mixture of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, elastomers, and styrene-butadiene) and expansive silt is studied, allowing the short- and long-term behaviour of optimum compacted composites to be better established. The inclusion of tyre shred substantially decreased the swelling potential/pressure and modestly lowered the compression index. Silt-Tyre powder replacement lowered the bulk density, allowing construction of lighter reinforced earth structures. The shear strength and stiffness decreased on addition of tyre powder, yet the contribution of matric suction to the shear strength remained constant for tyre shred contents up to 20%. Reinforced soils adopted a ductile post-peak plastic behaviour with enhanced failure strain, offering the opportunity to build more flexible subgrades as recommended for expansive soils. Residual water content and tyre shred content are directly correlated; tyre-reinforced silt showed a greater capacity of water storage (than natural silts) and hence a sustainable solution to waterlogging and surficial flooding particularly in urban settings. Crushed fine tyre shred mixed with expansive silts/sands at 15 to 20 wt% appear to offer the maximum reduction in swelling-shrinking properties at minimum cracking, strength loss and enhanced compressibility expenses.