• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.185-207
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• 2013

In flexural strength design of normal-strength concrete (NSC) beams, it is commonly accepted that the distribution of concrete stress within the compression zone can be reasonably represented by an equivalent rectangular stress block. The stress block it governed by two parameters, which are normally denoted by ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ to stipulate the width and depth of the stress block. Currently in most of the reinforced concrete (RC) design codes, ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ are usually taken as 0.85 and 0.80 respectively for NSC. Nonetheless, in an experimental study conducted earlier by the authors on NSC columns, it was found that ${\alpha}$ increases significantly with strain gradient, which means that larger concrete stress can be developed in flexure. Consequently, less tension steel will be required for a given design flexural strength, which improves the ductility performance. In this study, the authors' previously proposed strain-gradient-dependent concrete stress block will be adopted to produce a series of design charts showing the maximum design limits of flexural strength and ductility of singly-and doubly-NSC beams. Through the design charts, it can be verified that the consideration of strain gradient effect can improve significantly the flexural strength and ductility design limits of NSC beams.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.247-263
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• 2013

It is evident that torsional resistance of a reinforced concrete (RC) member is attributed to both concrete and steel reinforcement. However, recent structural design codes neglect the contribution of concrete because of cracking. This paper reports on the results of an experimental and numerical investigation into the torsional capacity of concrete beams reinforced only by longitudinal rebars without transverse reinforcement. The experimental investigation involves six specimens tested under pure torsion. Each specimen was made using a cast-in-place concrete with different amounts of longitudinal reinforcements. To create the torsional moment, an eccentric load was applied at the end of the beam whereas the other end was fixed against twist, vertical, and transverse displacement. The experimental results were also compared with the results obtained from the nonlinear finite element analysis performed in ANSYS. The outcomes showed a good agreement between experimental and numerical investigation, indicating the capability of numerical analysis in predicting the torsional capacity of RC beams. Both experimental and numerical results showed a considerable torsional post-cracking resistance in high twist angle in test specimen. This post-cracking resistance is neglected in torsional design of RC members. This strength could be considered in the design of RC members subjected to torsion forces, leading to a more economical and precise design.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.217-230
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• 2008

The increasing use of performance-based approaches in structural fire engineering design of multi-storey composite buildings has prompted the development of various tools to help quantify the influence of tensile membrane action in composite slabs at elevated temperatures. One simplified method which has emerged is the Bailey-BRE membrane action method. This method predicts slab capacities in fire by analysing rectangular slab panels supported on edges which resist vertical deflection. The task of providing the necessary vertical support, in practice, requires protecting a panel's perimeter beams to achieve temperatures of no more than $620^{\circ}C$ at the required fire resistance time. Hence, the integrity of this support becomes critical as the slab and the attached beams deflect, and large deflections of the perimeter beams may lead to a catastrophic failure of the structure. This paper presents a finite element investigation into the effects of vertical support along slab panel boundaries on the slab behaviour in fire. It examines the development of the membrane mechanism for various degrees of edge-beam protection, and makes comparisons with predictions of the membrane action design method and various acceptance criteria.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.339-350
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• 2017

Dynamic behaviours of reinforced concrete (RC) bending beams subjected to monotonic loading with different loading rates were studied. A dynamic experiment was carried out with the electro-hydraulic servo system manufactured by MTS (Mechanical Testing and Simulation) Systems Corporation to study the effect of loading rates on the mechanical behaviours of RC beams. The monotonic displacement control loading, with loading rates of 0.1 mm/s, 0.5 mm/s, 1 mm/s, 5 mm/s and 10 mm/s, was imposed. According to the test results, the effects of loading rates on the failure model and load-displacement curve of RC beams were investigated. The influences of loading rates on the cracking, ultimate, yield and failure strengths and displacements, ductility and dissipated energy capability of RC beams were studied. Then, the three-dimensional finite element models of RC beams, with the rate-dependent DP (Drucker-Prager) model of concrete and three rate-dependent model of steel reinforcement, were described and verified using the experimental results. Finally, the dynamic mechanical behaviours and deformation behaviours of the numerical results were compared with those of the experimental results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.135-143
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• 2017

To upgrade shear performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams, and particularly of the segments under negative moment within continuous T-section beams, a series of original schemes has been proposed using carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) U-shaped strips for shear-strengthening. The current work focuses on one of them, in which CFRP U-strips are wound around steel bars against the top of the flange of a T-beam and then spliced on its bottom face in addition to being bonded onto its sides. The test results showed that the proposed scheme successfully provided reliable anchorage for U-strips and prevented premature onset of shear failure due to FRP debonding. The governing shear mode of failure changed from peeling of CFRP to its fracture or crushing of concrete. The strengthened specimens displayed an average increase of about 60% in shear capacity over the unstrengthened control one. The specimen with a relatively high ratio and uniform distribution of CFRP reinforcement had a maximum increase of nearly 75% in strength as well as significantly improved ductility. The formulas by various codes or guidelines exhibited different accuracy in estimating FRP contribution to shear resistance of the segments that are subjected to negative moment and strengthened with well-anchored FRP U-strips within continuous T-beams. Further investigation is necessary to find a suitable approach to predicting load-carrying capacity of continuous beams shear strengthened in this way.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.65-77
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• 2017

The purpose of this research is to study the nonlinear free vibration and post-buckling analysis of functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) beams resting on a nonlinear elastic foundation. Uniformly and functionally graded distributions of single walled carbon nanotubes as reinforcing phase are considered in the polymeric matrix. The modified form of rule of mixture is used to estimate the material properties of CNTRC beams. The governing equations are derived employing Euler-Bernoulli beam theory along with energy method and Hamilton's principle. Applying von $K\acute{a}rm\acute{a}n's$ strain-displacement assumptions, the geometric nonlinearity is taken into consideration. The developed governing equations with quadratic and cubic nonlinearities are solved using variational iteration method (VIM) and the analytical expressions and numerical results are obtained for vibration and stability analysis of nanocomposite beams. The presented comparative results are indicative for the reliability, accuracy and fast convergence rate of the solution. Eventually, the effects of different parameters, such as foundation stiffness, volume fraction and distributions of carbon nanotubes, slenderness ratio, vibration amplitude, coefficients of elastic foundation and boundary conditions on the nonlinear frequencies, vibration response and post-buckling loads of FG-CNTRC beams are examined. The developed analytical solution provides direct insight into parametric studies of particular parameters of the problem.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.195-205
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• 2001

The surface characteristics of Ti/TiN films coated on sintered stainless steels (SSS) by electron beam physical vapour deposition (EB-PVD) were investigated. Stainless steel compacts containing 2, 4, and 10wt%Cu were prepared by the electroless Cu-plating method, which results in increased homogenization in the alloying powder. The specimens were coated with Ti and TiN with a 1.0$\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness respectively by EB-PVD. The microstructures were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The corrosion behaviors were investigated using a potentiosat in 0.1 M $H_2$$SO_4$, and 0.1M HCl solutions and the corrosion surface was observed using SEM and XPS. The Ti coated specimens showed rough surface compared to Ti/TiN coated specimens. Ti and Ti/TiN coated SSS revealed a higher corrosion and pitting potential from anodic polarization curves than that of Ti and Ti/TiN uncoated SSS. In addition, Ti/TiN coated SSS containing 10wt% Cu exhibited good resistance to pitting corrosion due to the formation of a dense film on the surface and the decrease in interconnected porosity by electroless coated Cu.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Rural facilities need to be changed to be industrialized and long span structures due to accelerating aging of the rural population. In this study, the optimized structure was developed by applying Pre-Engineered Building System using the tapered member to make that the Korea standard green house has a long span. When considering design load, reasonable values were adapted by reviewing existing design codes. As a result, applying pre-engineered building system was efficient in structural system that has span longer than 16 m. And it was concluded that the increase with the longitudinal span from 4 m to 12 m was more efficient in aspect of steel amount.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.55-62
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• 1999

For the efficient performance of steel and composite building structures subjected to strong earthquake, one of current research investigates the cyclic behavior of open-web composite beams. Both experimental test and nonlinear FEM analysis demonstrate their behavior so ductile that four T-sections around the corners of rectangular web-opening develop plastic hinges prior to potential brittle failure at the beam end, i.e. at the column face. This research proposes simplified equations for determining strength and initial stiffness of composite beams with a rectangular web-opening, and compares its results with those of experimental test and nonlinear FEM analysis.

• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 1995

The objective of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of rotating orthotropic axes model in analyzing reinforced concrete planar members under cyclic as well as monotonic loading. The structural members to be addressed are moderately reinforced beams, columns, beam-column joints, and shear walls, whose failure occurs due to compressive crushing after extensive crack propagation, The rotating orthotropic axes model which is usually used for monotonic loading is developed for cyclic loading. With the existing cyclic material models of reinforcing steel and bond-slip, this material model is used for the finite element analysis. For monotonic loading, the analytical results of the rotating orthotropic axes model are compared with reinforced concrete beams which have brittle failure. For Shear wall members under cyclic loading, the analyses are compared with the experiments for the ultimate load capacity, nonlinear deformation, and pinching effect due to crack opening and closing.