• Computers and Concrete
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.515-529
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• 2013

The moment-curvature relation for simple bending is a well-studied subject and the classical moment-curvature diagram is commonly found in literature. The influence of axial forces has generally been considered as compression onto symmetrically reinforced cross-sections, thus strain at the reference fiber never has been an issue. However, when dealing with integral structures, which are usually statically indeterminate in different degrees, these concepts are not sufficient. Their horizontal elements are often completely restrained, which, under imposed deformations, leads to moderate compressive or tensile axial forces. The authors propose to analyze conventional beam cross-sections with moment-curvature diagrams considering asymmetrically reinforced cross-sections under combined influence of bending and moderate axial force. In addition a new diagram is introduced that expands the common moment-curvature relation onto the strain variation at the reference fiber. A parametric study presented in this article reveals the significant influence of selected cross-section parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.391-399
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• 2017

This study investigates the effects of soft story, short columns, heavy overhangs, pounding, and construction and workmanship quality parameters on seismic response of reinforced concrete buildings through nonlinear static and dynamic procedures. The accounted parameters are selected for their common use in rapid screening of RC buildings. The 4- and 7-story buildings designed according to pre-modern codes are used to reflect majority of the existing building stock. The relative penalty scores are employed in this study to evaluate relative importance of certain irregularities in the existing rapid seismic assessment procedures. Comparison of relative scores for the irregularities considered in this study show that the overall trend is similar. The relatively small differences may be accounted for regional construction practices. It is concluded that initial-phase seismic assessment procedures based on architectural features yield in somewhat similar results independent of their bases. However, the differences in the scores emphasize the proper selection of the method based on the regional structure characteristics.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2013

Soft storey failure mechanism is a common collapse mode for masonry-infilled (MI) reinforced concrete (RC) buildings subjected to severe earthquakes. Simple analytical equations correlating global with local ductility demands are derived from pushover (PO) analyses for seismic assessments of regular MI RC frames, considering the critical interstorey drift ratio, number of storeys and lateral loading configurations. The reliability of the equations is investigated using incremental dynamic analyses for MI RC frames of up to 7 storeys. Using the analytical ductility relationship and a coefficient-based method (CBM), the response spectral accelerations and period shift factors of low-rise MI RC frames are computed. The results are verified through published shake table test results. In general applications, the analytical ductility relationships thus derived can be used to bypass the onerous PO analysis while accurately predicting the local ductility demands for seismic assessment of regular MI RC frames.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.261-278
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• 2021

In the current work, a series of seismic analyses of one-storey asymmetrical reinforced concrete (R/C) framed buildings is accomplished while the effect of soil deformability on the structural response is investigated. A comparison is performed between the simplified elastic behavior of R/C elements according to the structural regulations' instructions to the possible non-linear behavior of R/C elements under actual circumstances. The target of the time history analyses is the elucidation of the Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) effect in the seismic behavior of common R/C structures by examining the possible elastic or elastoplastic behavior of R/C sections because of the redistribution of the internal forces by employing a realistic damage index. The conclusions acquired from the presented elastic and elastoplastic analyses supply practical guidelines towards the safer design of structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.745-758
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• 2010

12 typical laminated composite reinforced concrete (RC) walls with different concrete ages and 3 cast-in-place RC walls subjected to low frequency cyclic load were carried out in this study. The failure mode, force-deformation response and energy dissipation capacity of these specimens were investigated. Differences of structural behaviours between composite RC walls and common cast-in-place RC walls were emphasized in the analysis. The compatibility of the composite specimens with different concrete ages was discussed based on the experiment. Test results indicated that the differences between the lateral bearing capacity and the displacement ductility of the composite walls and the common walls were not so obvious. Some of the composite specimen even has higher bearing capacity under the experiment loading situation. Besides, the two parts of the laminated composite specimens demonstrates incompatibility at the later loading sequence on failure mode and strain response when it is in tension. Finally, this laminated composite shear walls are suggested to be applied in rapid reconstruction structures which is not very high.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.545-559
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• 2023

Nanoparticle strips (NPS) are widely used as external reinforcers for two-way reinforced concrete slabs. However, the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of these slabs is a very important issue and was evaluated in this study. This study has been done analytically and numerically to optimize the placement of sensors. The properties of slabs and carbon nanotubes as composite sheets were considered isotopic and orthotropic, respectively. The nonlinear Finite Element Method (FEM) approach and suitable optimal placement of sensor approach were developed as a new MATLAB toolbox called DECOMAC by the authors of this paper. The Suitable multi-objective function was considered in optimized processes based on distributed ECOMAC method. Some common concrete slabs in construction with different aspect ratios were considered as case studies. The dimension and distance of nano strips in retrofitting process were selected according to building codes. The results of Optimal Sensor Placement (OSP) by DECOMAC algorithm on un-retrofitted and retrofitted slabs were compared. The statistical analysis according to the Mann-Whitney criteria shows that there is a significant difference between them (mean P-value = 0.61).

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.997-1018
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• 2015

Structural health monitoring along with damage detection and assessment of its severity level in non-accessible reinforced concrete members using piezoelectric materials becomes essential since engineers often face the problem of detecting hidden damage. In this study, the potential of the detection of flexural damage state in the lower part of the mid-span area of a simply supported reinforced concrete beam using piezoelectric sensors is analytically investigated. Two common severity levels of flexural damage are examined: (i) cracking of concrete that extends from the external lower fiber of concrete up to the steel reinforcement and (ii) yielding of reinforcing bars that occurs for higher levels of bending moment and after the flexural cracking. The purpose of this investigation is to apply finite element modeling using admittance based signature data to analyze its accuracy and to check the potential use of this technique to monitor structural damage in real-time. It has been indicated that damage detection capability greatly depends on the frequency selection rather than on the level of the harmonic excitation loading. This way, the excitation loading sequence can have a level low enough that the technique may be considered as applicable and effective for real structures. Further, it is concluded that the closest applied piezoelectric sensor to the flexural damage demonstrates higher overall sensitivity to structural damage in the entire frequency band for both damage states with respect to the other used sensors. However, the observed sensitivity of the other sensors becomes comparatively high in the peak values of the root mean square deviation index.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.175-181
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• 2010

The three truss models(equilibrium truss model, Mohr compatibility truss model, and the soften truss model) based on a rotating angle is called the rotating-angle model. The three rotating-angle models have a common weakness: they are incapable of predicting the so-called "contribution of concrete". To take into account this "contribution of concrete", the modern truss model(MCFT, STM) treats a cracked reinforced concrete element as a continuous material. By combining the equilibrium, compatibility, and the softened stress-strain relationship of concrete in biaxial state, MTM is capable of producing the nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete structures composed of membrane element. In this paper, an efficient algorithm is proposed for the solution of proposed model incorporated with failure criteria. This algorithm is used to analyze the behavior of reinforced membrane element using the results of Hsu test.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.143-144
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• 2016

The core drilling method is considered to be the most effective and common method of assessing the compressive strength of concrete in existing reinforced concrete buildings for structural repair and retrofit. In general, core specimens within reinforcing bars are not permitted in the regulations with regard to assessing concrete strength even if the core specimens can contain the bars in some cases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the reinforcement arrangement on the concrete compressive strength as a basic research to propose the quantitative criteria of strength for core specimens containing reinforcements. To complete the basic research, cylinder specimens inserted in a variety of reinforcement arrangements were prepared and tested.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.449-467
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• 2006

Most existing concrete structures in Taiwan are considered nonductile due to insufficient transverse reinforcement and poor detailing of frame elements. Such features are fairly typical for buildings constructed prior to 1997, at which time the local building code was revised based on ACI 318-95. Among these structures, many contain perimeter or partition walls made of concrete or clay brick for architectural purposes. These walls, though treated as non-structural components in common design practice, could affect the structural behavior of the buildings during an earthquake. To study the behavior of such structures under seismic load, experiments were conducted on concrete frames of various configurations to show the force-deformation relationships, damage patterns, and other characteristics of the frames. For further interest, similar units with columns jacketed by carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) were also tested to illustrate the effectiveness of this technique in the retrofit of concrete frames.