• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.641-652
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• 2021

Digging well foundation has been widely used in railway bridges due to its good economy and reliability. In other instances, bridges with digging well foundation still have damage risks during earthquakes. In this study, a new type of digging well foundation with prefabricated roots was proposed to reduce earthquake damage of these bridges. Quasi-static tests were conducted to investigate the failure mechanism of the root digging well foundation, and then to analyze seismic behaviors of the new type well foundation. The testing results indicated that these prefabricated roots could effectively limit the rotation and uplift of the digging well foundation and increase the lateral bearing capacity of the digging well foundation. The elastic critical load and ultimate load can be increased by 69% and 36% if prefabricated roots were added in the digging well foundation. The prefabricated roots drived more soil around the foundation to participate in working, the stiffness of the bridge pier with root digging well foundation was improved. Moreover, the root participation could improve the energy dissipation capacity of soil-foundation-pier interaction system. The conclusions obtained in this paper had important guiding significance for the popularization and application of the digging well foundation with prefabricated roots in earthquake-prone zones.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.407-417
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• 2023

Precast assembled bridge piers with hybrid connection (PASP) use both tendons and socket connections. To study the seismic performance of PASP, a full-scale in-situ test was performed based on an actual bridge project. The elastic-plastic fiber model of PASP was established using finite element software, and numerical analyses were performed to study the influence of prestress degree and socket depth on the PASP seismic performance. The results show that the typical failure mode of PASP under horizontal load is bending failure dominated by concrete cracking at the joint between the column and cushion cap. The cracking of the pier concrete and opening of joints depend on the prestress degree and socket depth. The prestressing tendons and socket connection can provide enough ductility, strength, restoration capability, and bending strength under small horizontal displacements. Although the bearing capacity and post yield stiffness of the pier can be improved to some extent by increasing the prestressing force, ductility is reduced, and residual deformation is increased. Overall, there are reasonable minimum socket depths to ensure the reliability of the socket connection.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.5
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• pp.405-418
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• 2023

This study focused on the effectiveness of seismic isolation technique in case of a reinforced concrete structure with soft story defined as the stiffness irregularity between adjacent stories. In this context, a seismically isolated 3-story reinforced concrete structure was analyzed by gradually increasing the first story height (3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 m). The seismic isolation system of the structure is assumed to be composed of lead rubber bearings (LRB). In the analyses, isolators were modeled by both deteriorating (temperature-dependent analyses) and non-deteriorating (bounding analyses) hysteretic representations. The deterioration in strength of isolator is due to temperature rise in the lead core during cyclic motion. The ground motion pairs used in bi-directional nonlinear dynamic analyses were selected and scaled according to codified procedures. In the analyses, different isolation periods (Tiso) and characteristic strength to weight ratios (Q/W) were considered in order to determine the sensitivity of structural response to the isolator properties. Response quantities under consideration are floor accelerations, and interstory drift ratios. Analyses results are compared for both hysteretic representations of LRBs. Results are also used to assess the significance of the ratio between the horizontal stiffnesses of soft story and isolation system. It is revealed that seismic isolation is a viable method to reduce structural damage in structures with soft story.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.323-334
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• 2022

In order to study the axial compression performance of basalt-fiber reinforced recycled concrete (BFRRC) filled circular steel tubular short columns, the axial compression performance tests of seven short column specimens were conducted to observe the mechanical whole-process and failure mode of the specimens, the load-displacement curves and the load-strain curves of the specimens were obtained, the influence of design parameters on the axial compression performance of BFRRC filled circular steel tubular short columns was analyzed, and a practical mathematical model of stiffness degradation and a feasible stress-strain curve equation for the whole process were suggested. The results show that under the axial compression, the steel tube buckled and the core BFRRC was crushed. The load-axial deformation curves of all specimens show a longer deformation flow amplitude. Compared with the recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement ratio and the basalt fiber dosage, the BFRRC strength has a great influence on the peak bearing capacity of the specimen. The RCA replacement ratio and the BFRRC strength are detrimental to ductility, whereas the basalt fiber dosage is beneficial to ductility.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.391-403
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• 2023

In this study, a new type of self-centering beam-column joint with tapered steel plate links is proposed. Firstly, mechanical property of the basic joint (with the prestressed steel strands only, to provide the self-centering ability) and the combined joint (with both the prestressed steel strands and tapered steel plate links, to provide self-centering and energy dissipation simultaneously) is theoretically analyzed. Then, three joints with different dimensions and combinations of tapered plate links are designed and tested through a series of quasi-static cyclic loading tests. Test results show that a nearly bilinear elastic moment-rotation relationship for the basic joint is obtained. With the addition of tapered steel plate links, typical flag-shape hysteretic curves are obtained, which indicates good self-centering and energy dissipating ability of the combined joint. By installing multiple tapered plate links, stiffness and bearing capacity of the beam-column joint can be enhanced. The theoretical moment-rotation relationships agree well with the test results. A simplified macro model of the proposed joint is developed using OpenSees, which simulates reasonably well its hysteretic behavior.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.4
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• pp.375-389
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• 2023

In many fiber concrete beams with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), debonding occurs between the carbon sheets and the concrete due to the low strength of the bonding resin. A total of 42 fiber concrete beams with a cross-section of 10×10 cm with a span length of 50 cm are fabricated and retrofitted with CFRP and subjected to a 4-point bending test. Graphene Oxide (GO) at 1, 2, and 3 wt% of the resin is used to improve the mechanical properties of the bonding resins, and the effect of length, width, and the number of layers of CFRP and resin material are investigated. The crack pattern, failure mode, and stress-strain curve are analyzed and compared in each case. The results showed that adding GO to polyamine resin could improve the bonding between the resin and the fiber concrete beam. Furthermore, the optimum amount of nanomaterials is equal to 2% by the weight of the resin. Using 2% nanomaterials showed that by increasing the length, width, and number of layers, the bearing and stiffness of fiber concrete beams increased significantly.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.745-757
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• 2023

In order to study the fatigue performance of the flat steel plate-lightweight aggregate concrete hollow composite bridge slab subjected to fatigue load, both static test on two specimens and fatigue test on six specimens were conducted. The effects of the arrangement of the steel pipes, the amplitude of the fatigue load and the upper limit as well as lower limit of fatigue load on failure performance were investigated. Besides, for specimens in fatigue test, strains of the concrete, residual deflection, bending stiffness, residual bearing capacity and dynamic response were analyzed. Test results showed that the specimens failed in the fracture of the bottom flat steel plate regardless of the arrangement of the steel pipes. Moreover, the fatigue loading cycles of composite slab were mainly controlled by the amplitude of the fatigue load, but the influences of upper limit and lower limit of fatigue load on fatigue life was slight. The fatigue life of the composite bridge slabs can be determined by the fatigue strength of bottom flat steel plate, which can be calculated by the method of allowable stress amplitude in steel structure design code.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.5A
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• pp.417-424
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• 2010

The dynamic properties of laminated rubber bearings used as isolators in structures could be significantly deteriorated because of the change of microstructure in rubber caused by thermal aging. As a result, a catastrophic failure of bridges and buildings unexpectedly occurs when they are subjected to earthquake attack. Here, the dynamic properties of laminated rubber bearings before and after different of compression-shear loading and repeated cycles loadings, ultimated failure test with thermal aging were first measured and compared to each other. The experimental results, the effects of thermal aging on the shear stiffness, energy absorption, and equivalent damping coefficient of laminated rubber bearings are investigated. It is found that the deterioration of dynamic properties of laminated rubber bearings caused by thermal aging is significant and should be taken into account in designing rubber bearings.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.135-147
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• 2023

Sand columns in clayey soil are considered one of the most economical and environmentally-friendly soil-improving techniques. It improves the shear strength parameters, reduces the settlement, and increases the bearing capacity of clayey soils. The aim of this paper is to study the effect of grain shape in sand columns on their performance in improving the mechanical properties of clayey soils. An intensive series of consolidated-drained triaxial tests were performed on clay specimens only and clay specimens with sand columns. The parameters examined during the experimental work were grain shape in sand columns (angular, rounded, sub-rounded) and effective confining pressure (50 kPa, 100 kPa, 200 kPa). The results indicated that there is a significant improvement in the deviatoric stress and stiffness values of specimens with sand columns. Improving deviatoric stress values in the use of angular sand grains was found to be higher than those in the use of sub-rounded and rounded sand grains. A 187%, 159%, and 153% increment in deviatoric stress values were observed for the sand columns with angular, sub-rounded, and rounded grain shapes, respectively. The specimens were observed to be more contractive as the sand column was installed, and as the angularity of grains in the sand column was increased. Sand column installation improves significantly the angle of internal friction, and the effective angle of internal friction increases as the angularity of the sand grains increases.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.498-504
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• 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiological outcomes, and the complications of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) using a fixed bearing prosthesis after 5-year follow-up. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six knees (25 patients) that underwent fixed bearing UKA between May 2003 and August 2011 were included. The subjects were 3 males (3 knees) and 22 females (23 knees), and the average age was 63.5 years. The preoperative diagnosis was osteoarthritis (23 knees) and osteonecrosis (3 knees). The mean follow-up duration was 67 months (from 60 to 149 months). The clinical evaluation included pre- and postoperative American knee society knee and function score, and range of motion. The radiology evaluation included standing antero-posterior, lateral view, and fluoroscopic film to analyze the postoperative alignment and osteolysis. Results: The mean American Knee Society knee score and function score were improved from 42.0 and 57.5 to 87.9 and 85.0, respectively (p<0.001). The mean preoperative and postoperative range of motion was $132.9^{\circ}$ and $132.5^{\circ}$, respectively. The mean femorotibial angle were varus $0.5^{\circ}$ preoperatively and valgus $2.2^{\circ}$ postoperatively. A radiolucent line was observed in 2 knees; one knee had a stable implant, while in the other knee, patellofemoral arthritis was identified during UKA. Diffuse pain of the knee joint with tenderness of the medial joint line was identified at the follow-up, so conversion to total knee arthroplasty was recommended. No other complications, such as osteolysis, infections, postoperative stiffness, and dislocation, were encountered. Conclusion: The midterm results of fixed bearing UKA were clinically and radiologically satisfactory.