• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제42권6호
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• pp.791-804
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• 2022

As a type of semi-rigid connection, the top and seat angle connections are popular in current structures owing to their good cyclic performance and simple erection. However, their stiffness and load bearing capacity are relatively insufficient. This study proposes two strengthening methods to further increase the stiffness and strength of bolted-angle joints while maintaining satisfactory energy dissipation capacity (EDC) and ductility. Cyclic loading tests were conducted on six joint specimens with different strengthened angle components. Based on the test results, the influence of the following important factors on the cyclic behavior of steel joint specimens was investigated: the position of the rib stiffeners (edge rib stiffeners and middle rib stiffener), steel strength grade of rib stiffeners (Q345 and Q690), and additional stiffeners or not. In addition, the finite element models of these specimens were built and validated through a comparison of experimental and numerical results. The stiffness and bearing capacity of the bolted-angle joints could be improved significantly by utilizing the novel strengthened joints proposed in this study. Moreover, this can be achieved with almost no increase in the amount of steel required, and the EDC of this joint could also satisfy the requirements of seismic codes from various countries.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.635-642
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• 2021

In this paper, soft learning techniques are used to predict the ultimate torsional capacity of Reinforced Concrete beams strengthened with Fiber Reinforced Polymer. Soft computing techniques, namely Artificial Neural Network, trained by various back propagation algorithms, and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, have been used to model and predict the torsional strength of Reinforced Concrete beams strengthened with Fiber Reinforced Polymer. The performance of each model has been evaluated by using statistical parameters such as coefficient of determination (R²), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The hybrid PSO NN model resulted in an R² of 0.9292 with an RMSE of 5.35 for training and an R² of 0.9328 with an RMSE of 4.57 for testing. Another model, ANN BP, produced an R² of 0.9125 with an RMSE of 6.17 for training and an R² of 0.8951 with an RMSE of 5.79 for testing. The results of the PSO NN model were in close agreement with the experimental values. Thus, the PSO NN model can be used to predict the ultimate torsional capacity of RC beams strengthened with FRP with greater acceptable accuracy.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.173-184
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• 2023

In this study, the flexural behaviors of one- and two-way reinforced concrete (RC) slabs strengthened with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strips under impact loads were investigated. The flexural strengthening of RC slabs under simulated static monotonic loads has been comprehensively studied. However, the flexural behavior of RC slabs strengthened with CFRP strips has not been investigated extensively, particularly those conducted numerically. Nonlinear three-dimensional finite element models were developed, executed, and verified against previous experimental results, producing satisfactory models with approximately 4% error. The models were extended to a parametric study, considering three geometric parameters: the slab rectangularity ratio, CFRP strip width, and CFRP strip configuration. Finally, the main results were used to derive a new formula for predicting the total deflection of RC slabs strengthened with CFRP strips under impact loads with an error of approximately 10%. The proposed equation reflected the slab rectangularity, CFRP strip width, equivalent slab stiffness, and dropped weight. Results indicated that the use of CFRP strips enhanced the overall impact performance, the wider the CFRP width, the better the enhancement. Moreover, the application of diagonally oriented CFRP strips diminished the cracking zone compared to straight strips. Additionally, the diagonal orientation of CFRP strips was more efficient for two-way slabs while the vertical orientation was found to be better in the case of one-way slabs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.599-610
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• 2023

To avoid debonding failure, a novel type of hybrid anchorage (HA) is proposed in this study that uses a slotted plate to lock the ends of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheet in addition to the usual bonding over the substrate of the strengthened member. An experimental investigation was performed on three groups of RC beams, which differed from one another in either concrete strength or steel reinforcement ratio. The test results indicate that the end self-locking of the CFRP sheet can improve the failure ductility, ultimate capacity of the beams and its utilization ratio. Although intermediate debonding occurred in all the strengthened beams, it was not a fatal mode of failure for the three specimens with end anchorage. Among them, FRP rupture occurred in the beam with higher concrete strength and lower steel reinforcement ratio, whereas the other two failed by concrete crushing. The beam strengthened by HA obtained a relatively high percentage of increase in ultimate capacity when the rebar ratio or concrete strength decreased. The expressions in the literature were inspected to calculate the critical loads at intermediate debonding, FRP rupturing and concrete crushing after debonding for the strengthened beam. Then, the necessity of further research is addressed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제47권4호
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• pp.455-466
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• 2023

To investigate the load bearing capacity of axially preloaded circular hollow section (CHS) stub columns strengthened by carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), theoretical analysis is carried out. The yield strength and the ultimate strength of a CFRP strengthened preloaded CHS stub column are determined at the yielding of the CHS tube and at the CFRP fracture, respectively. Theoretical models are proposed and corresponding equations for calculating the static strengths, including the yield strength and the ultimate strength, are presented. Through comparison with reported experimental results, the theoretical predictions on the static strengths are proved to be accurate. Through finite element (FE) analyses, parametric studies for 258 models of CFRP strengthened preloaded CHS stub columns are conducted by considering different values of tube diameter, tube thickness, CFRP layer and preloading level. The static strengths of the 258 models predicted from presented equations are proved to be in good agreement with FE simulations when the diameter-to-thickness ratio is less than 90ε². The parametric study indicates that the diameter and the thickness of the steel tube have great effects on CFRP strengthening efficiency, and the recommended ranges of the diameter and the thickness are proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.115-132
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• 2023

The present study experimentally and analytically investigates the effect of tensile reinforcement ratio and arrangement on the behavior of FRP strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The experimental part of the program was comprised of 8 RC beams that were tested under four-point bending. Results have shown that by keeping the total cross-section area of tensile reinforcing bars constant, in specimens with a low reinforcement ratio, increasing the number and decreasing the diameter of bars in the section lead to 21% and 29% increase in the load-carrying capacity of specimens made with normal and high compressive strength, respectively. In specimens with high reinforcement ratio, a different behavior was observed. Furthermore, the accuracy of the existing code provisions and analytical models in predicting the load-carrying capacity of the FRP strengthened beams failed by premature debonding mode were evaluated. Herein, a model is proposed which considers the tensile reinforcement ratio (as opposed to code provisions) to achieve more accurate results for calculating the load carrying capacity of FRP strengthened RC beams.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제92권2호
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• pp.133-147
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• 2024

Composite beams of steel and concrete strengthened with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) may exhibit considerably enhanced flexural behaviour, but the combination of three materials with different characteristics and the various possible failure mechanisms that may govern performance make their analysis quite demanding. Previous studies provided significant insights into this problem and several methods were proposed for calculating flexural stiffness and strength, but these studies are restricted to the single member level of a simply supported composite beam section. However, the problem considerably changes when the beam is part of a frame system due to the degree of continuity provided by the surrounding structure, which represents the most common situation in practice. This paper explores the behaviour of semi-continuous FRP-strengthened composite beams, by considering the response characteristics of their end connections and their effects on overall performance. A novel analytical model is derived, which enables a step-by-step representation of the nonlinear relationship between an incremental mid-span design bending moment and corresponding connection rotations. After verification against finite element analyses, a parametric study is conducted which shows that the substantially increased bending moment resistance of FRP-strengthened composite beams can hardly be fully utilized due to a deficiency of corresponding large deformation capacity available in the connections. The extent to which the presence FRP strengthening can be exploited to enhance the beam flexural response depends on the interplay between various structural parameters, including the connection rotation capacity, the beam span, and the FRP modulus of elasticity and ultimate strength.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.337-345
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• 2009

본 연구에서는 탄소섬유판이 외부 부착, 표면 매입 그리고 외부부착 및 표면매입이 혼합된 보강 방식의 철근콘크리트 부재의 전단 거동 및 전단 보강 효과를 구명하고자 하였다. 본 연구 결과, 표면매입 탄소섬유판 및 외부부착과 표면매입으로 혼용된 탄소섬유판으로 보강된 철근콘크리트 보의 전단 강성 및 극한 전단강도는 섬유판으로 보강되지 않은 보에 비하여 크게 증진되는 것으로 나타났다. 표면매입 탄소섬유판 및 외부부착과 표면매입으로 혼용된 탄소섬유판으로 보강된 철근콘크리트 보의 파괴는 전단균열로 시작되었으며, 하중이 증가함에 따라 하중 재하점과 가장 인접한 매입 탄소섬유판 하단 모서리에서 발생한 휨 균열은 하중재하점 방향으로 급격하게 진행되었고, 하중 재하점과 휨 균열을 연결하는 압축파괴가 발생되었다. 이러한 사실은 매입 섬유판의 전단보강 효과가 매우 우수하여 보가 전단으로 파괴되지 않고 섬유판이 매입 보강되지 않은 휨 구역에서 압축파괴가 발생하고 있음을 설명하고 있다. 매입 탄소섬유판 보강부재 및 탄소섬유판 부착 및 매입을 혼용한 부재에서는 매입 탄소섬유판의 변형률이 각각 0.45% 및 0.35%로 나타났으며, 외부 부착 탄소섬유판의 변형률이 약 0.3%로 나타났다.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.299-305
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• 2008

본 연구는 탄소섬유판으로 보강된 철근콘크리트 부재의 전단거동 특성 및 파괴형상을 구명함에 그 목적이 있다. 이를 위하여 탄소섬유판의 형상, 섬유판 부착 간격 및 전단보강 철근량 등의 변수를 포함하는 실험 연구가 수행되었다. 본 실험 결과 탄소섬유판으로 보강된 철근콘크리트 부재의 전단 강성은 보강되지 않은 보에 비해 현저하게 개선되며 최대 전단강도 증진율은 100% 이상인 것으로 나타났다. 또한 탄소섬유판은 전단균열의 발생 및 진전을 억제하며, 적은 량의 탄소섬유판으로 보강했을 경우에도 전단강도의 증진 효과는 매우 좋은 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구에서는 탄소섬유판에 발생하는 변형률을 기본으로 하여 유효응력을 도출하였으며, 탄소섬유판으로 보강된 철근콘크리트 부재의 전단강도를 계산하였다. 이는 실험 결과와 잘 일치하는 것으로 나타났다.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
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• 제12권5호
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• pp.35-46
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• 2000

In this paper, an analytical model is proposed to predict the shear strenth of RC beams strengthened by FRP. This predictional model is composed of two basic models-the upper bound theorem for shear failure (shear tension or shear compression criteria) and a truss model based on the lower bound theorem for diagonal tension creteria. Also, a simple flexural theory based on USD is used to explain flexural failure. The major cause of destruction of RC beams shear strengthened by FRP does not lie in FRP fracture but in the loss of load capacity incurred by rip-off failure of shear strengthening material. Since interfacial shear stree between base concrete and the FRP is a major variable in rip-off failure mode, it is carefully analyzed to derive the shear strengthening effect of FRP. The ultimate shear strength and failure mode of RC beams, using different strengthening methods, estimated in this predictional model is then compared with the result derived from destruction experiment of RC beams shear strengthened using FRP. To verify the accuracy and consistency of the analysis, the estimated results using the predictional model are compared with various other experimental results and data from previous publications. The result of this comparative analysis showed that the estimates from the predictional model are in consistency with the experimental results. Therefore, the proposed shear strength predictional model is found to predict with relative accuracy the shear strength and failure mode of RC beams shear strengthened by FRP regardless of strengthening method variable.