• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.125-136
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• 2017

This study investigated the performance of a steel column standing on a reinforced concrete footing when it was subjected to collision of an eight-ton single unit truck. Finite element analyses of the structure with different connection schemes were performed using the finite element model of the truck, and the results showed that the behavior of the column subjected to the automobile impact depended largely on the column-footing connection detail. Various reinforcement schemes were investigated to mitigate the damage caused by the car impact. The probability of the model reinforced with a certain scheme to reach a given limit state was obtained by fragility analysis, and the effects of the combined reinforcement methods were investigated based on the equivalent fragility scheme. The analysis results showed that the reinforcement schemes such as increase of the pedestal area, decrease of the pedestal height, and the steel plate jacketing of the pedestal were effective in reducing the damage. As the speed of the automobile increased the contribution of the increase in the number of the anchor bolts and the dowel bars became more important to prevent crushing of the pedestal.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.419-429
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• 2018

The seismic vulnerability analysis of multi-span bridges can be based on the response of the piers, provided that deck, bearings and foundations remain elastic. The lateral response of an RC bridge pier can be affected by different mechanisms (i.e., flexure, shear, lap-splice or buckling of the longitudinal reinforcement bars, second order effects). In the literature, simplified formulations are available for mechanisms different from the flexure. On the other hand, the flexural response is usually calculated with a numerically-based Moment-Curvature diagram of the base section and equivalent plastic hinge length. The goal of this paper is to propose a simplified analytical solution to obtain the Moment-Curvature relationship for hollow circular RC sections. This based on calibrated polynomials, fitted against a database comprising 720 numerical Moment-Curvature analyses. The section capacity curve is defined through the position of 6 characteristic points and they are based on four input parameters: void ratio of the hollow section, axial force ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio, transversal reinforcement ratio. A case study RC bridge pier is assessed with the proposed solution and the results are compared to a refined numerical FEM analysis, showing good match.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.117-130
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• 2011

The methods of design available for geocell-supported embankments are very few. Two of the earlier methods are considered in this paper and a third method is proposed and compared with them. In the first method called slip line method, plastic bearing failure of the soil was assumed and the additional resistance due to geocell layer is calculated using a non-symmetric slip line field in the soft foundation soil. In the second method based on slope stability analysis, general-purpose slope stability program was used to design the geocell mattress of required strength for embankment. In the third method proposed in this paper, geocell reinforcement is designed based on the plane strain finite element analysis of embankments. The geocell layer is modelled as an equivalent composite layer with modified strength and stiffness values. The strength and dimensions of geocell layer is estimated for the required bearing capacity or permissible deformations. These three design methods are compared through a design example. It is observed that the design method based on finite element simulations is most comprehensive because it addresses the issue of permissible deformations and also gives complete stress, deformation and strain behaviour of the embankment under given loading conditions.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.251-269
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• 2014

To investigate the seismic performance and to obtain quantitative parameters for the requirement of performance-based bridge seismic design approach, 12 reinforced concrete (RC) hollow rectangular bridge column specimens were tested under constant axial load and cyclic bending. Parametric study is carried out on axial load ratio, aspect ratio, longitudinal reinforcement ratio and transverse reinforcement ratio. The damage states of these column specimens were related to engineering limit states to determine the quantitative criteria of performance-based bridge seismic design. The hysteretic behavior of bridge column specimens was simulated based on the fiber model in OpenSees program and the results of the force-displacement hysteretic curves were well agreed with the experimental results. The damage states of residual cracking, cover spalling, and core crushing could be well related to engineering limit states, such as longitudinal tensile strains of reinforcement or compressive strains of concrete, etc. using cumulative probability curves. The ductility coefficient varying from 3.71 to 8.29, and the equivalent viscous damping ratio varying from 0.19 to 0.31 could meet the requirements of seismic design.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.57-67
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• 2023

The buckling of longitudinal reinforcements under seismic loading accelerates the degradation of the bearing capacity of reinforced concrete columns. The traditional hysteretic constitutive model of reinforcement, which does not consider buckling, usually overestimates the seismic performance of pier columns. Subsequent researchers have also proposed many models including the buckling effects. However, the accuracy of these hysteretic constitutive models proposed for simulating the buckling behavior is inadequate. In this study, based on their works, the influence of historical events on buckling is considered, the path of the re-tensioning phase is corrected by adjusting the boundary lines, and the positions of the onset buckling point and compressive buckling path during each buckling deformation are corrected by introducing correction parameters and a boundary line. A modified hysteretic constitutive model is obtained, that can more accurately reflect the buckling behavior of reinforcements. Finally, a series of hysteresis tests of reinforcements with different slenderness ratios were then conducted. The experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed modified model. Indicating that the modified model can more accurately simulate the equivalent stress-strain relationship of the buckling reinforcement segment.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.319-326
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to evaluate seismic performance of reinforced concrete pier columns in Seohae Ground Bridge. Since the bridge was designed before preparing the seismic design specification the bridge columns of hollow hexagonal section were designed and constructed with insufficient seismic reinforcement details such as longitudinal and transverse reinforcement lap-splices. In order to take the necessary measures to improve its seismic performance experimental study was performed by small-scale test for the bridge columns, From the quasi-static test for small-scale column specimens the lap-splices were not critical for overall behavior of the column if sufficient lap-splice-length was provided. The test results of failure mode effective stiffness ductility and equivalent viscous damping ratio are presented.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.129-143
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• 2017

Seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures requires a certain minimum level of flexural ductility. For example, Eurocode EN1998-1 directly specifies a minimum flexural ductility for RC beams, while Chinese code GB50011 limits the equivalent rectangular stress block depth ratio at peak resisting moment to achieve a certain nominal minimum flexural ductility indirectly. Although confinement is effective in improving the ductility of RC beams, most design codes do not provide any guidelines due to the lack of a suitable theory. In this study, the confinement for desirable flexural ductility performance of both normal- and high-strength concrete beams is evaluated based on a rigorous full-range moment-curvature analysis. An effective strategy is proposed for flexural ductility design of RC beams taking into account confinement. The key parameters considered include the maximum difference of tension and compression reinforcement ratios, and maximum neutral axis depth ratio at peak resisting moment. Empirical formulae and tables are then developed to provide guidelines accordingly.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.529-532
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• 1999

With increasing use of high-strength concrete tied columns in structural engineering, it becomes necessary to examine the applicability of related sections of the current design codes. This experimental study was conducted to investigate the behavior of eccentrically loaded high-strength concrete columns. Column specimens with concrete strength 234, 437, 703kgf/㎠ were tested under monotonically increasing eccentric compression. The test parameters included the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, eccentric distance and concrete compressive strength. The analytical results obtained from the stress-strain relationship and the ACI's equivalent rectangular stress block are compared with experimental test results.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.19-24
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• 1994

Four types of horizontal joint were tested to investigate the difference with regards to the compressive behavior and strength. These include wedge-type joints (i)with and (ii)without transverse reinforcement against splitting failure of the panel concrete, and wedge-type joints (iii)with different widths of joint concrete (6cm vs 8cm) and (iv)closed platform joint. It was shown that the compressive strength of wedge-type joint is about 10% higher than that of closed-type (platform) joint. But the effect of transverse reinforcement and joint concrete widths on the strength of the joints turned out be negligible. Also, the moduli of elasticity in panel and joint are compared and the equivalent moduli of the whole wall are derived.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.106-112
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• 2004

In particle or short-fiber reinforced composites, cracking or debonding of the reinforcements cause a significant damage mode because the damaged reinforcements lose load carrying capacity. The average stress in the inhomogeneity represents its load carrying capacity, and the difference between the average stresses of the intact and broken inhomogeneities indicates the loss of load carrying capacity due to cracking damage. The composite in damage process contains intact and broken reinforcements in a matrix. An incremental constitutive relation of discontinuously-reinforced composites including the progressive cracking damage of the reinforcements have been developed based on the Eshelby's equivalent inclusion method and Mori-Tanaka's mean field concept. Influence of the cracking damage on the stress-strain response of the composites is demonstrated.