• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.623-636
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• 2023

This study utilized small-scale physical model tests to investigate the impact of different types of geosynthetics, including geocell, planar geotextile, and wraparound geotextile, on the behaviour of strip footings placed on 0.8 m thick soil fills and backfills with a slope angle of 70°. Bearing capacity and settlement of the footing and failure mechanisms are discussed and evaluated. The results revealed that the bearing capacity of footings situated on both unreinforced and reinforced slopes increased with a greater embedment depth of the footing. For settlement ratios below 4%, the geocell reinforcement exhibited significantly higher stiffness, carrying greater loads and experiencing less settlement compared to the planar and wraparound geotextile reinforcements. However, the performance of geocell reinforcement was influenced by the number and length of the geocell layers. Increasing the geocell back length ratio from 0.44 to 0.84 significantly improved the bearing capacity of the footing located at the crest of the reinforced slope. Adequate reinforcement length, particularly for geocell, enhanced the bearing pressure of the footing and increased the stiffness of the slope, resulting in reduced deflections. Increasing the length of reinforcement also led to improved performance of the footing located on wraparound geotextile reinforced slopes. In all reinforcement cases, reducing the vertical spacing between reinforcement layers from 100 mm to 75 mm allowed the slope to withstand much greater loads.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.997-1016
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• 2015

The contribution of tensioned concrete between cracks (tension-stiffening) cannot be ignored when analysing deformation of reinforced concrete elements. The tension-stiffening effect is crucial when it comes to adequately estimating the load-deformation response of steel reinforced concrete and the more recently appeared fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforced concrete. This paper presents a unified methodology for numerical modelling of the tension-stiffening effect in steel as well as FRP reinforced flexural members using the concept of equivalent deformation modulus and the smeared crack approach to obtain a modified stress-strain relation of the reinforcement. A closed-form solution for the equivalent secant modulus of deformation of the tensioned reinforcement is proposed for rectangular sections taking the Eurocode 2 curvature prediction technique as the reference. Using equations based on general principles of structural mechanics, the main influencing parameters are obtained. It is found that the ratio between the equivalent stiffness and the initial stiffness basically depends on the product of the modular ratio and reinforcement ratio ($n{\rho}$), the effective-to-total depth ratio (d/h), and the level of loading. The proposed methodology is adequate for numerical modelling of tension-stiffening for different FRP and steel reinforcement, under both service and ultimate conditions. Comparison of the predicted and experimental data obtained by the authors indicates that the proposed methodology is capable to adequately model the tension-stiffening effect in beams reinforced with FRP or steel bars within wide range of loading.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2012

The objective of this study is to evaluate the stiffness of mortar-filled sleeve bar splice using estimation method of failure mode in the sleeve reinforcement splice. To attain this goal, we analyzed the test results of 261 actual-sized mortar-filled sleeve splice specimens. The study results showed that the estimation method of the failure mode in mortar-filled sleeve bar splice made an effective estimate of the stiffness in this bar splice with the exception of specimens with SD500 bars and smooth pipe sleeve. Especially, of the specimens with cast sleeve or uneven pipe sleeve in the range of reinforcement fracture using the estimation method of the failure mode in mortar-filled sleeve splice, specimens over 98% with SD400 bars and all specimens with SD500 bars had the stiffness capacity of higher than "A" class of AIJ code in monotonic loading. In addition, of the specimens in the range of reinforcement fracture using the estimation method of the failure mode in mortar-filled sleeve splice, all specimens with SD400 bars and SD500 bars had the stiffness capacity of higher than "A" class of AIJ code in cyclic loading.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.357-367
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• 2008

Parametric study of beams with reinforced with FRP rebar is conducted in this study. Using ABAQUS program, the finite element analysis model is set and calibrated with the experimental results which have been conducted by the authors. The employed design parameters are reinforcement ratio, elastic modulus of rebar, and concrete strength. The obtained results from FE analysis are investigated in terms of normalized beam stiffness. In particular, the effect of reinforcement ratio on the flexural stiffness is investigated with comparing with the model code specified on ACI 440. From the analysis results, the reinforcement ratio in beam is the first parameter affecting on the beam stiffness. In addition, its effect could be increased with higher concrete strength.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.761-778
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• 2015

The objective of this paper is to report the result of an experimental program conducted on the strengthening of nonductile RC frames by using external mesh reinforcement and plaster application. The main objective was to test an alternative strengthening technique for reinforced concrete buildings, which could be applied with minimum disturbance to the occupants. Generic specimen is two floors and one bay RC frame in 1/2 scales. The basic aim of tested strengthening techniques is to upgrade strength, ductility and stiffness of the member and/or the structural system. Six specimens, two of which were reference specimens and the remaining four of which had deficient steel detailing and poor concrete quality were strengthened and tested in an experimental program under cyclic loading. The parameters of the experimental study are mesh reinforcement ratio and plaster thickness of the infilled wall. The effects of the mesh reinforced plaster application for strengthening on behavior, strength, stiffness, failure mode and ductility of the specimens were investigated. Premature and unexpected failure mode has been observed at first and second specimens failed due to inadequate plaster thickness. Also third strengthened specimen failed due to inadequate lap splice of the external mesh reinforcement. The last modified specimen behaved satisfactorily with higher ultimate load carrying capacity. Externally reinforced infill wall composites improve seismic behavior by increasing lateral strength, lateral stiffness, and energy dissipation capacity of reinforced concrete buildings, and limit both structural and nonstructural damages caused by earthquakes.

• Geotechnical Engineering
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.35-48
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• 1996

Reinforced soil structures may experience large local movements between soil and reinforcement. The failure modes of a reinforced structure depend on several factors which are governed by deformation and slipping of the reinforcement. In some cases, pulling out of the reinforcement may occur instead of rupturing, The growing use of geosynthetic liner system for storage of solid and liquid wastes has led to a number of slope instability problems where the synthetic liner may undergo a large amount of stretching and slipping as a result of the loading. The conventional finite element model for the soil-reinforcement interface uses a zero thickness joint element with normal and shear stiffnesses and can only accommodate a small amount of deformation. When a large slippage occurs, the model provides an i ncorrect mechanism for deformation. This paper presents a new interface finite element model which is able to simulate a large amount of slippage between soil and reinforcement. The formulation of the model is presented and the capability of the model is demonstrated using illustrative examples.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.691-697
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• 2010

Reliability-based topology optimization (RBTO) is to get an optimal topology satisfying uncertainties of design variables. In this study, reliability-based topology optimization method is applied to the inner reinforcement of vehicle's hood based on BESO. A multi-objective topology optimization technique was implemented to obtain optimal topology of the inner reinforcement of the hood. considering the static stiffness of bending and torsion as well as natural frequency. Performance measure approach (PMA), which has probabilistic constraints that are formulated in terms of the reliability index, is adopted to evaluate the probabilistic constraints. To evaluate the obtained optimal topology by RBTO, it is compared with that of DTO of the inner reinforcement of the hood. It is found that the more suitable topology is obtained through RBTO than DTO even though the final volume of RBTO is a little bit larger than that of DTO. From the result, multiobjective optimization technique based on the BESO can be applied very effectively in topology optimization for vehicle's hood reinforcement considering the static stiffness of bending and torsion as well as natural frequency.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.729-746
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• 2019

The nonlinear behavior of single- and multi-story steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) strengthened with three different patterns of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) laminates (including single-strip, multi-strip and fully FRP-strengthened models) is studied using the finite element analysis. In the research, the effects of orientation, width, thickness and type (glass or carbon) of FRP sheets as well as the system aspect ratio and height are investigated. Results show that, despite an increase in the system strength using FRP sheets, ductility of reinforced SPSWs is decreased due to the delay in the initiation of yielding in the infill wall, while their initial stiffness does not change significantly. The content/type/reinforcement pattern of FRPs does affect the nonlinear behavior characteristics and also the mode and pattern of failure. In the case of multi-strip and fully FRP-strengthened models, the use of FPR sheets almost along the direction of the infill wall tension fields can maximize the effectiveness of reinforcement. In the case of single-strip pattern, the effectiveness of reinforcement is decreased for larger aspect ratios. Moreover, a relatively simplified and approximate theoretical procedure for estimating the strength of SPSWs reinforced with different patterns of FRP laminates is presented and compared with the analytical results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.665-682
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• 2022

In the current study, punching behavior of Reinforced concrete (RC) isolated footings was experimentally and numerically investigated. The experimental program consisted of four half-scale RC isolated footing specimens. The test matrix was proposed to show effect of footing area, reinforcement mesh ratio, adding internal longitudinal reinforcement bars and stirrups on the punching response of RC isolated footings. Footings area varied from 1200×1200 mm2 to 1500×1500 mm2 while the mesh reinforcement ratio was in the range from 0.36 to 0.45%. On the other hand, a 3D non-linear finite element model was constructed using ABAQUS/standard program and verified against the experimental program. The numerical results agreed well with the experimental records. The validated numerical model was used to study effect of concrete compressive strength; longitudinal reinforcement bars ratio and stirrups concentration along one or two directions on the ultimate load, deflection, stiffness and failure patterns of RC isolated footings. Results concluded that adding longitudinal reinforcement bars did not significantly affect the punching response of RC isolated footings even high steel ratios were used. On the contrary, as the stirrups ratio increased, the ultimate load of RC isolated footings increased. Footing with stirrups ratio of 1.5% had ultimate load equal to 1331 kN, 19.6% higher than the bare footing. Moreover, adding stirrups along two directions with lower ratio (0.5 and 0.7%) significantly enhanced the ultimate load of RC isolated footings compared to their counterparts with higher stirrups ratio (1.0 and 1.5%).

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2022

A wide range of experimental bases and improved performance with different forms of Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) have attracted researchers to produce eco-friendly and sustainable structures. The reinforced concrete (RC) beam's shear capacity has remained a complex phenomenon because of various parameters affecting. Design recommendations for the shear capacity of RC elements having FRP reinforcement need a more experimental database to improve design recommendations because almost all the recommendations replace different parameters with FRP's. Steel and FRP are fundamentally different materials. One is ductile and isotropic, whereas the other is brittle and orthotropic. This paper presents experimental results of the investigation on the beams with glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcement as longitudinal bars and stirrups. Total twelve beams with GFRP reinforcement were prepared and tested. The cross-section of the beams was rectangular of size 230 × 300 mm, and the total length was 2000 mm with a span of 1800 mm. The beams are designed for simply-supported conditions with the two-point load as per specified load positions for different beams. Flexural reinforcement provided is for the balanced conditions as the beams were supposed to test for shear. Two main variables, such as shear span and spacing of stirrups, were incorporated. The beams were designed as per American Concrete Institute (ACI) ACI 440.1R-15. Relation of VExp./VPred. is derived with axial stiffness, span to depth ratio, and stirrups spacing, from which it is observed that current design provisions provide overestimation, particularly at lower stirrups spacing.