• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.455-468
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• 2010

This paper presents a prediction and simulation method of tensile stress-strain curves of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC). For this purpose, the bridging stress and crack opening relations were obtained by the fiber bridging constitutive law which is quantitatively able to consider the fiber distribution characteristics. And then, a multi-linear model is employed for a simplification of the bridging stress and crack opening relation. In addition, to account the variability of material properties, randomly distributed properties drawn from a normal distribution with 95% confidence are assigned to each element which is determined on the basis of crack spacing. To consider the variation of crack spacing, randomly distributed crack spacing is drawn from the probability density function of fiber inclined angle calculated based on sectional image analysis. An equation for calculation of the crack spacing that takes into quantitative consideration the dimensions and fiber distribution was also derived. Subsequently, a series of simulations of ECC tensile stress-strain curves was performed. The simulation results exhibit obvious strain hardening behavior associated with multiple cracking, which correspond well with test results.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.103-111
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• 1985

Presented is a study on the determination of crack width and crack spacing in the reinforced concrete flexural members. The derivation of crack width and crack spacing is based on the recently developed cracking theory. The new prediction formulas for the crack widths and crack spacings are proposed. An experiment for the reinforced concrete beams was conducted to compare with the proposed formulas. The comparisons of the present prediction formulas with our tests and other test data show good agreement. The present crack width formula has been also compared with the well-known ACI formula originally proposed by Gergely & Lutz. It was found that the present crack width formula shows better correlation with test data than that of Gergely & Lutz.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2011

For a practical simplicity in designing of reinforced concrete structures, the indirect crack controlling method of limiting bar spacing is adopted in KCI structural design provisions. In addition, a direct method for evaluating crack width is also provided in the appendix of the code. But there may be some mismatched results between these two crack controlling methods. In this study, limit values of maximum bar spacing calculated from KCI provisions, KCI appendix, and Frosch's equation are examined as concrete strength, cross-section height, and concrete cover are varied, and the differences are analyzed. From the results, it becomes clear that the differences between maximum bar spacing calculated from KCI code text provisions and those from KCI code appendix provisions are too significant to be neglected. Therefore, rational crack models are suggested in order to get rid of the discrepancy between the direct and indirect control methods.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.809-812
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• 1999

This research analyzed the factors for crack generation and proposed the recommended construction methods for the efficient crack control of underground RC box structures under the roadway. The selected main factors were: details of contraction joints, ratio of crack control rebars in longitudinla direction, and placement of flyash concrete. These factors were tested on the actual structures and the significance of each factor was analyzed, The results show that the flyash concrete placement and the inducting minor cracks in a certain direction by adopting contraction joints are practical and efficient methods to control cracks. The significance of crack generating factors increases as the sectional loss of contraction joint spacing increase. It was recommeded that the sectional loss should be higher than 20 percent to maximize the crack generating effects. It was not possible to verify the effect of crack control rebar spacing, but it was estimated that the ratio of crack control rebar should be increased to minimize cracks.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.223-243
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• 2015

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) can be placed and compacted under its own weight with little or no compaction. It is cohesive enough to be handled without segregation or bleeding. Modifications in the mix design of SCC may significantly influence the material's mechanical properties. Therefore, it is vital to investigate whether all the assumed hypotheses about conventional concrete (CC) are also valid for SCC structures. The aim in this paper is to develop analytical models for flexural cracking that describe in appropriate detail the observed cracking behaviour of the reinforced concrete flexural one way slabs tested. The crack width and crack spacing calculation procedures outlined in five international codes, namely Eurocode 2 (1991), CEB-FIP (1990), ACI318-99 (1999), Eurocode 2 (2004), and fib-Model Code (2010), are presented and crack widths and crack spacing are accordingly calculated. Then, the results are compared with the proposed analytical models and the measured experimental values, and discussed in detail.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.903-908
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• 2001

This paper deals with the estimation of the maximum flexural crack widths using minimum crack spacing for reinforced concrete members. The proposed method utilizes the conventional crack and bond-slip theories as well as bonding transfer length and effects of creep and shrinkage between the reinforcement and concrete. An analytical equation for the estimation of the maximum flexural crack width is formulated as a function of mean bond stress. The validity, accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are established by comparing the analytical results with the experimental data and the major code specifications (e.g., ACI, CEB-FIP Model code, Eurocode 2, etc.). The analytical results of analysis presented in this paper indicate that the proposed method can be effectively estimated the maximum flexural crack width of the reinforced concrete members.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.215-227
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• 2017

A finite element model (FEM) for predicting early-age behavior of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge deck slabs with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars is presented. In this model, the shrinkage profile of concrete accounted for the effect of surrounding conditions including air flow. The results of the model were verified against the experimental test results, published by the authors. The model was verified for cracking pattern, crack width and spacing, and reinforcement strains in the vicinity of the crack using different types and ratios of longitudinal reinforcement. The FEM was able to predict the experimental results within 6 to 10% error. The verified model was utilized to conduct a parametric study investigating the effect of four key parameters including reinforcement spacing, concrete cover, FRP bar type, and concrete compressive strength on the behavior of FRP-RC bridge deck slabs subjected to restrained shrinkage at early-age. It is concluded that a reinforcement ratio of 0.45% carbon FRP (CFRP) can control the early-age crack width and reinforcement strain in CFRP-RC members subjected to restrained shrinkage. Also, the results indicate that changing the bond-slippage characteristics (sand-coated and ribbed bars) or concrete cover had an insignificant effect on the early-age crack behavior of FRP-RC bridge deck slabs subjected to shrinkage. However, reducing bar spacing and concrete strength resulted in a decrease in crack width and reinforcement strain.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.610-616
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• 1990

The fracture mechanics analysis of surface cracks in plates and cylindrical geometries is important in the integrity evaluation of flawed structural components. The objective of this paper is, thus, to numerically investigate an interaction effect of two surface cracks in plate and cylindrical geometries. The effect of crack spacing on the magnitude of the stress intensity factor(K) is investigated using the line-spring model. For the case of a finite plate under uniaxial loading, the effect of crack spacing on the K values is negligible. However, for the case of a cylinder under moderate internal pressure, a significant increase in K values is observed at the deepest point of the surface crack.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.51-59
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• 2011

Tensile stress occurs and random crack develops in concrete pavement slab when it contracts by variation of temperature and humidity. The tensile stress decreases and the random crack is minimized by sawcutting the slab and inducing the crack with regular spacing. The random crack, joint damage, decrease of load transfer efficiency are caused by too wide joint spacing while too narrow joint spacing leads to increase of construction cost and decrease of comfort. A mechanistic-empirical joint spacing design method for the concrete pavement was developed in this study. Structurally and environmentally weakest sections were found among the sections showing good performance, and design strengths were determined by finite element analysis on the sections. The joint width for which the load transfer efficiency is suddenly lowered was determined as allowable joint with referring to existing research results. The maximum joint spacing for which the maximum tensile stress calculated by the finite element analysis did not exceed the design strength were found. And the maximum joint width expected by the maximum joint spacing were compared to the allowable joint width. The new method developed in this study was applied to two zones of Hamyang-Woolsan Expressway being designed. The same joint spacing as a test section constructed by 8.0m of joint spacing wider than usual was calculated by the design method. Very low cracking measured at 6 years after opening of the test section verified the design method developed in this study.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.8 s.227
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• pp.1109-1115
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to elucidate what governs delayed hydride cracking (DHC) in Zr-2.5Nb tubes by correlating the striation spacings with DHCV(DHC Velocity). To this end, DHC tests were conducted on the compact tension specimens taken from the Zr-2.5Nb tubes at different temperatures ranging from 100 to $300^{\circ}C$ with a 3 to 6 data set at each test conditions. The compact tension specimens were electrolytically charged with 27 to 87 ppm H before DHC tests. After DHC tests, the striation spacings and DHCV were determined with the increasing the test temperature and yield strength. The striation spacing and DHCV increased as a function of yield $strength^2$ and the temperature. Since the plastic zone size ahead of the crack tip can be represented by ${\sim}(K_{IH}/{\sigma}_{Y})^2$, we conclude that the striation spacing is governed by the plastic zone size which in turn determines a gradient of hydrogen concentration at the crack tip. The relationship between the plastic zone size and the striation spacing was validated through a complimentary experiment using double cantilever beam specimens. Two main factors to govern DHCV of Zr-2.5Nb tubes are concluded to be hydrogen diffusion and a hydrogen concentration gradient at the crack tip that are controlled by temperature and yield strength, respectively. The activation energy of DHCV in the Zr-2.5Nb tubes is discussed on the basis of temperature dependency of hydrogen diffusion and the striation spacing.