• Computers and Concrete
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.351-363
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• 2023

Reducing the self-weight of reinforced concrete structures problem is discussed in this paper by using two types of self-weight reduction, the first is by using lightweight coarse aggregate (crushed brick) and the second is by using styropor block. Experimental and Numerical studies are conducted on (LWAC) lightweight aggregate reinforced concrete slabs, having styropor blocks with various sizes of blocks and the ratio of shear span to the effective depth (a/d). The experimental part included testing eleven lightweight concrete one-way simply supported slabs, comprising three as reference slabs (solid slabs) and eight as styropor block slabs (SBS) with a total reduction in cross-sectional area of (43.3% and 49.7%) were considered. The holes were formed by placing styropor at the ineffective concrete zones in resisting the tensile stresses. The length, width, and thickness of specimen dimensions were 1.1 m, 0.6 m, and 0.12 m respectively, except one specimen had a depth of 85 mm (which has a cross-sectional area equal to styropor block slab with a weight reduction of 49.7%). Two shear spans to effective depth ratios (a/d) of (3.125) for load case (A) and (a/d) of (2) for load case (B), (two-line monotonic loads) are considered. The test results showed under loading cases A and B (using minimum shear reinforcement and the reduction in cross-sectional area of styropor block slab by 29.1%) caused an increase in strength capacity by 60.4% and 54.6 % compared to the lightweight reference slab. Also, the best percentage of reduction in cross-sectional area is found to be 49.7%. Numerically, the computer program named (ANSYS) was used to study the behavior of these reinforced concrete slabs by using the finite element method. The results show acceptable agreement with the experimental test results. The average difference between experimental and numerical results is found to be (11.06%) in ultimate strength and (5.33%) in ultimate deflection.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.205-216
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• 2023

Concrete structures may become vulnerable during their lifetime due to several reasons such as degradation of their material properties; design or construction errors; and environmental damage due to earthquake. These structures should be repaired or strengthened to ensure proper performance for the current service load demands. Several methods have been investigated and applied for the strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) structures using various materials. Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement is one of the most recent type of material for the strengthening purpose of RC structures. The main objective of the present research is to identify the behavior of reinforced concrete slabs strengthened with FRP bars by using near surface mounted (NSM) technique. Validation study is conducted based on the experimental test available in the literature to investigate the accuracy of finite element models using LS-DYNA to present the behavior of the models. A parametric analysis is conducted on the effect of FRP bar diameters, number of grooves, groove intervals as well as width and height of the grooves on the flexural behavior of strengthened reinforced slabs. Performance of strengthening RC slabs with NSM FRP bars was confirmed by comparing the results of strengthening reinforced slabs with control slab. The numerical results of mid-span deflection and stress time histories were reported. According to the numerical analysis results, the model with three grooves, FRP bar diameter of 10 mm and grooves distances of 100 mm is the most ideal and desirable model in this research. The results demonstrated that strengthening of reinforced concrete slabs using FRP by NSM method will have a significant effect on the performance of the slabs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.215-227
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• 2017

A finite element model (FEM) for predicting early-age behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge deck slabs with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is presented. In this model, the shrinkage profile of concrete accounted for the effect of surrounding conditions including air flow. The results of the model were verified against the experimental test results, published by the authors. The model was verified for cracking pattern, crack width and spacing, and reinforcement strains in the vicinity of the crack using different types and ratios of longitudinal reinforcement. The FEM was able to predict the experimental results within 6 to 10% error. The verified model was utilized to conduct a parametric study investigating the effect of four key parameters including reinforcement spacing, concrete cover, FRP bar type, and concrete compressive strength on the behavior of FRP-RC bridge deck slabs subjected to restrained shrinkage at early-age. It is concluded that a reinforcement ratio of 0.45% carbon FRP (CFRP) can control the early-age crack width and reinforcement strain in CFRP-RC members subjected to restrained shrinkage. Also, the results indicate that changing the bond-slippage characteristics (sand-coated and ribbed bars) or concrete cover had an insignificant effect on the early-age crack behavior of FRP-RC bridge deck slabs subjected to shrinkage. However, reducing bar spacing and concrete strength resulted in a decrease in crack width and reinforcement strain.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.535-546
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to understand the behaviour of hollow core slabs strengthened with FRP and hybrid techniques through numerical and analytical studies. Different strengthening techniques considered in this study are (i) External Bonding (EB) of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates, (ii) Near Surface Mounting (NSM) of CFRP laminates, (iii) Bonded Overlay (BO) using concrete layer, and (iv) hybrid strengthening which is a combination of bonded overlay and NSM or EB. In the numerical studies, three-dimensional Finite Element (FE) models of hollow core slabs were developed considering material and geometrical nonlinearities, and a phased nonlinear analysis was carried out. The analytical calculations were carried out using Response-2000 program which is based on Modified Compression Field Theory (MCFT). Both the numerical and analytical models predicted the behaviour in agreement with experimental results. Parametric studies indicated that increase in the bonded overlay thickness increases the peak load capacity without reducing the displacement ductility. The increase in FRP strengthening ratio increased the capacity but reduced the displacement ductility. The hybrid strengthening technique was found to increase the capacity of the hollow core slabs by more than 100% without compromise in ductility when compared to their individual strengthening schemes.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.153-171
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• 2015

Twelve large-scale composite deck slabs were instrumented and tested in a cantilever diaphragm configuration to assess the effect of fibers and welded wire mesh (WWM) on the in-plane shear capacity of composite deck slabs. The slabs were constructed with reentrant decking profile and reinforced with different types and dosages of secondary reinforcements: Conventional welded wire mesh (A142 and A98); synthetic macro-fibers (dosages of $3kg/m^3$ and $5.3kg/m^3$); and hooked-end steel fibers with a dosage of $15kg/m^3$. The deck orientation relative to the main beam (strong and weak) was also considered in this study. Fibers and WWM were found efficient in distributing the applied load to the whole matrix, inducing multiple cracking, thereby enhancing the strength and ductility of composite deck slabs. The test results indicate that fibers increased the slab's ultimate in-plane shear capacity by up to 29% and 50% in the strong and weak directions, respectively. WWM increased the ultimate in-plane shear capacity by up to 19% in the strong direction and 9% in the weak direction. The results suggest that discrete fibers can provide comparable diaphragm behavior as that with the conventional WWM.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.15-24
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• 2005

This study is focused on modeling to predict the behavior of two-way RC slabs. A new finite element model will be presented to analyze the nonlinear behavior of RC slabs. The numerical approach is based on the p-version degenerate shell element including theory of anisotropic laminated composites, theory of materially and geometrically nonlinear plates. In the nonlinear formulation of this model, the total Lagrangian formulation is adopted with large deflections and moderate rotations being accounted for in the sense of von Karman hypothesis. The material model is based on the Kuper's yield criterion, hardening rule, and crushing condition. The validity of the proposed p-version nonlinear RC finite element model is demonstrated through the load-deflection curves and the ultimate loads. It is shown that the proposed model is able to adequately predict the deflection and ultimate load of two-way slabs with respect to steel arrangements and steel ratios.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 2005

The expertise required in the judicious use of nonlinear finite element (FE) packages for design-assistance purposes is not widely available to the average engineer, whose sole aim may be to obtain an estimate for a single design parameter, such as the limit load capacity of a structure. Such a parameter may be required for the design of a proposed reinforced concrete (RC) floor slab or bridge deck with a given set of geometrical and material details. This paper outlines a procedure for developing design-assistance equations for carrying out such predictions for partially restrained RC slabs under uniformly distributed loading condition, based on a database of FE results previously generated from a large number of 'numerical model' slabs. The developed equations have been used for predicting the peak loads of a number of experimental RC slabs having varying degrees of edge restraints; with results showing a reasonable degree of accuracy and low level of scatter. The simplicity of the equations makes them attractive and their successful use in the field of application reported in this paper suggest that the outlined procedure may also be extended to other classes of concrete structures.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-206
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• 2007

A rational three-dimensional nonlinear finite element model is described and implemented for evaluating the behavior of high strength concrete slabs under transverse load. The concrete was idealized by using twenty-nodded isoparametric brick elements with embedded reinforcements. The concrete material modeling allows for normal (NSC) and high strength concrete (HSC), which was calibrated based on experimental data. The behavior of concrete in compression is simulated by an elastoplastic work-hardening model, and in tension a suitable post-cracking model based on tension stiffening and shear retention models are employed. The nonlinear equations have been solved using the incremental iterative technique based on the modified Newton-Raphson method. The FE formulation and material modeling is implemented into a finite element code in order to carry out the numerical study and to predict the behavior up to ultimate conditions of various slabs under transverse loads. The validity of the theoretical formulations and the program used was verified through comparison with available experimental data, and the agreement has proven to be very good. A parametric study has been also carried out to investigate the influence of different material and geometric properties on the behavior of HSC slabs. Influencing factors, such as concrete strength, steel ratio, aspect ratio, and support conditions on the load-deflection characteristics, concrete and steel stresses and strains were investigated.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.351-362
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• 2017

This paper presents an experimental study on the behavior of composite floor slab comprised by a new steel sheet and concrete slab. The strength of composite slabs depends mainly on the strength of the connection between the steel sheet and concrete, which is denoted by longitudinal shear strength. The composite slabs have three main failures modes, failure by bending, vertical shear failure and longitudinal shear failure. These modes are based on the load versus deflection curves that are obtained in bending tests. The longitudinal shear failure is brittle due to the mechanical connection was not capable of transferring the shear force until the failure by bending occurs. The vertical shear failure is observed in slabs with short span, large heights and high concentrated loads subjected near the supports. In order to analyze the behavior of the composite slab with a new steel sheet, six bending tests were undertaken aiming to provide information on their longitudinal shear strength, and to assess the failure mechanisms of the proposed connections. Two groups of slabs were tested, one with 3000 mm in length and other with 1500 mm in length. The tested composite slabs showed satisfactory composite behavior and longitudinal shear resistance, as good as well, the analysis confirmed that the developed sheet is suitable for use in composite structures without damage to the global behavior.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.6
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• pp.711-719
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• 2017

This study investigates the effects of reinforcing bar diameter and cover depth on the shrinkage behavior of restrained ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) slabs. For this, twelve large-sized UHPFRC slabs with three different rebar diameters ($d_b=9.5$, 15.9, and 22.2 mm) and four different cover depths (h=5, 10, 20, and 30 mm) were fabricated. In addition, a large-sized UHPFRC slab without steel rebar was fabricated for evaluating degree of restraint. Test results revealed that the uses of steel rebar with a large diameter, leading to a larger reinforcement ratio, and a low cover depth are unfavorable regarding the restrained shrinkage performance of UHPFRC slabs, since a larger rebar diameter and a lower cover depth result in a higher degree of restraint. The shrinkage strain near the exposed surface was high because of water evaporation. However, below a depth of 18 mm, the shrinkage strain was seldom influenced by the cover depth; this was because of the very dense microstructure of UHPFRC. Finally, owing to their superior tensile strength, all UHPFRC slabs with steel rebars tested in this study showed no shrinkage cracks until 30 days.