• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.85-97
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• 2017

Research has suggested that conventional lightweight concrete can offer durability advantages due to reduced cracking tendency. Although a number of publications exist providing the results of laboratory-based studies on the durability performance of lightweight concrete (with lightweight coarse aggregate) and internally cured concrete (using prewetted lightweight fine aggregate), far fewer field studies of durability performance of conventional lightweight concrete bridge decks in service have been performed. This study was commissioned to provide insight to a highway agency on whether enhanced durability performance, and therefore reduced maintenance and longer lifecycles, could be anticipated from existing lightweight concrete bridge decks that were not intentionally internally cured. To facilitate performance comparison, each lightweight bridge deck selected for inclusion in this study was paired with a companion normalweight bridge deck on a bridge of similar structural type, deck thickness, and geometric configuration, with similar age, traffic, and environmental exposure. The field-observed cracking of the decks was recorded and evaluated, and crack densities for transverse, longitudinal, and pattern cracking of the normalweight and lightweight deck in each pair were compared. Although some trends linking crack prevalence to geographic location, traffic, and age were observed, a distinct difference between the cracking present in the paired lightweight and normalweight bridge decks included in this study was not readily evident. Statistical analysis using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to adjust for age and traffic influence did not indicate that the type of concrete deck (lightweight or normalweight) is a statistically significant factor in the observed cracking. Therefore, for these service environments, lightweight decks did not consistently demonstrate reduced cracking.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.1
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• pp.89-102
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• 2021

Rapid construction of prefabricated bridges requires minimizing the field work of precast members and ensuring structural stability and constructability. In this study, we conducted experimental and analytical investigations of transverse joints of prefabricated T-girder bridge superstructures to verify the flexural performance and serviceability. In addition, we conducted parametric studies to identify the joint parameters. The results showed that both the segmented and continuous specimens satisfied the ultimate flexural strength criterion, and the segmented specimen exhibited unified behavior, with the flexural strength corresponding to that of the continuous specimen. The segmented specimens exhibited elastic behavior under service load conditions, and the maximum crack width satisfied the acceptance criteria. The reliability of the finite element model of the joint was verified, and parametric analysis of the convexity of the joint section and the compressive strength of the filler concrete showed that the minimum deflection and crack width occurred at a specific angle. As the strength of the filler concrete increased, the deflection and crack width decreased. However, we confirmed that the reduction in the crack width was hardly observed above a specific strength. Therefore, a design suitable for prefabricated bridges and accelerated construction can be achieved by improving the joint specifications based on the required criteria.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.239-251
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• 2023

The stiffness evaluation of cracked base metal is of great guidance to fatigue crack reinforcement. By carrying out fatigue tests and numerical simulation of typical cracking details in steel box girder, the strain-degradation law of cracked base metal was analyzed and the relationship between base metal stress and its displacement (stiffness) was explored. The feasibility of evaluating the stress of cracked base metal based on the stress field at the crack tip was verified. The results demonstrate that the stiffness of cracked base metal shows the fast-to-slow degradation trend with fatigue cracking and the base metal at 50mm or more behind the crack tip basically lose its bearing capacity. Drilling will further accelerate stiffness degradation with the increase of hole diameters. The base metal stress has a negative linear relation with its displacement (stiffness), The stress of cracked base metal is also related to stress intensity factor and its relative position (distance, included angle) to the crack tip, through which the local stiffness can be effectively evaluated. Since the stiffness is not uniformly distributed along the cracked base metal, the reinforcement patch is suggested to be designed according to the stiffness to avoid excessive reinforcement for the areas incompletely unloaded.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.137-145
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• 2015

The slab-type precast modular bridge consists of the precast slab bridge modules which are connected in the transverse direction. The longitudinal joints between the precast slab bridge modules are filled with cast-in-place mortar. The construction of the slab-type precast modular bridge is completed by applying the prestressing force on the longitudinal joints. In this study, 4-points bending tests and 3-points bending tests were conducted to examine the effects of the prestressing force and the shape of joint on the flexural strength and crack serviceability of longitudinal joint. The results of 4-points bending tests showed that the flexural strength is affected by the prestressing force but not by the shape of join. From the results of 3-points bending tests by which the bending moment and the shear force are simultaneously applied on the joints of the specimens, it is observed that the shape of joint affects on the flexural strength and the crack behavior. The results of two types of bending tests confirmed that the prestressing force according to the design code is appropriate and the joint with two shear keys gives the better performances against the crack of joint.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.389-396
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• 2001

This paper presents an analytical prediction of the fatigue behavior of reinforced concrete bridge piers under earthquake. Material nonlinearity is taken into account by comprising tensile, compressive and shear models of cracked concrete and a model of reinforcing steel. The smeared crack approach is incorporated. In boundary plane at which each member with different thickness is connected, local discontinuous deformation due to the abrupt change in their stiffness can be taken into account by introducing interface element. The effect of number of load reversals with the same displacement amplitude has been also taken into account to model the reinforcing steel. The proposed numerical method for fatigue behavior of reinforced concrete bridge piers under earthquake will be verified by comparison with reliable experimental results.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.191-199
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• 2021

In seismic design, hollow section concrete columns offer advantages by reducing the weight and seismic mass compared to concrete section RC bridge columns. However, the flexure-shear behavior and spirals strain of hollow section concrete columns are not well-understood. Octagonal RC bridge columns of a small-scale model were tested under cyclic lateral load with constant axial load. The volumetric ratio of the transverse spiral hoop of all specimens is 0.00206. The test results showed that the structural performance of the hollow specimen, such as the initial crack pattern, initial stiffness, and diagonal crack pattern, was comparable to that of the solid specimen. However, the lateral strength and ultimate displacement of the hollow specimen noticeably decreased after the drift ratio of 3%. The columns showed flexure-shear failure at the final stage. Analytical and experimental investigations are presented in this study to understand a correlation confinement steel ratio with neutral axis and a correlation between the strain of spirals and the shear resistance capacity of steel in hollow and solid section concrete columns. Furthermore, shear strength components (V_c, V_s·, V_p) and concrete stress were investigated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.313-323
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• 2022

Steel laminated elastomeric bearings are commonly used in bridge structures to control displacements and rotations and transfer forces from the superstructure to the substructure. Proper knowledge of design, fabrication and erection procedures is important to ensure stability and adequate structural performance during the lifetime of the bridge. Difference in elevations sometimes leads to large size gaps between the bearing and the girder which makes the grout thickness that is commonly used for leveling deviate beyond standards. This paper investigates the structural response of High Strength Fiber Reinforced Cementitious (HSFRC) thin plinths that are used to close gaps between bearing pads and precast girders. An experimental program was developed for this purpose where HSFRC plinths of different size were cast and tested under vertical loads that simulate bridge loading in service. The structural performance of the plinths was closely monitored during testing, mainly crack propagation, vertical reaction and displacement. Analytically, the HSFRC plinth was analyzed using the beam on elastic foundation theory as the supporting elastomeric bearing pads are highly compressible. Closed form solutions were derived for induced displacement and forces and comparisons were made between analytical and experimental results. Finally, recommendations were made to facilitate the practical use of HSFRC plinths in bridge construction based on its enhanced load carrying capacity in shear and flexure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.15 no.5 s.66
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• pp.475-487
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• 2003

This study developed an analysis model of estimating fatigue damage using the linear elastic fracture mechanics method. Stress history occurring to an element when a truck passed over a bridge was defined as block loading and crack closure theory explaining load interaction effect was applied. Stress range frequency analysis considering dead load stress and crack opening was done. Probability of stress range frequency distribution was applied and the probability distribution parameters were estimated. The Monte Carlo simulation of generating the probability various of distribution was performed. The probability distribution of failure block numbers was obtained. With this the fatigue reliability of an element not occurring in failure could be calculated. The failure block number divided by average daily truck traffic remains the life of a day. Fatigue reliability analysis model was carried out for the welding member of cross beam flange and vertical stiffener of steel box bridge using the proposed model. Consequently, a 3.8% difference was observed between the remaining life in the peak analysis method and in the proposed analysis model. The proposed analysis model considered crack closure phase and crack retard.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.463-468
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• 2002

Transverse prestressing of bridge decks is an attractive concept with substantial benefits in both economy and crack control in slabs. To evaluate the necessary information for the prestressed long span bridge slab design, a series of static and fatigue tests were peformed. It is shown that the minimum thickness recommendation in Korean Highway Bridge Design Code is too conservative.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.701-704
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• 2000

Considerable research has been done to study the fatigue behavior of reinforced concrete bridge deck which is strengthened by carbon fiber sheets. Before the strengthening, the specimen was damaged by repeated loads with various repeat cycles. The results of this study show that strengthening efficiency is getting rised in the lower pre-damaged degree. When the fatigue damaged bridge-deck is strengthened, the crack propagation may be controled efficiently