• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.15-38
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• 2010

In order to predict the shear strengths of reinforced concrete beams, many deterministic models have been developed based on rules of mechanics and on experimental test results. While the constant and variable angle truss models are known to provide reliable bases and to give reasonable predictions for the shear strengths of members with shear reinforcement, in the case of members without shear reinforcement, even advanced models with complicated procedures may show lack of accuracy or lead to fairly different predictions from other similar models. For this reason, many research efforts have been made for more accurate predictions, which resulted in important recent publications. This paper develops probabilistic shear strength models for reinforced concrete beams without shear reinforcement based on deterministic shear strength models, understanding of shear transfer mechanisms and influential parameters, and experimental test results reported in the literature. Using a Bayesian parameter estimation method, the biases of base deterministic models are identified as algebraic functions of input parameters and the errors of the developed models remaining after the bias-correction are quantified in a stochastic manner. The proposed probabilistic models predict the shear strengths with improved accuracy and help incorporate the model uncertainties into vulnerability estimations and risk-quantified designs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.329-345
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• 2019

Despite the extensive use of mortar materials in constructions over the last decades, there is not yet a robust quantitative method, available in the literature, which can reliably predict mortar strength based on its mix components. This limitation is due to the highly nonlinear relation between the mortar's compressive strength and the mixed components. In this paper, the application of artificial neural networks for predicting the compressive strength of mortars has been investigated. Specifically, surrogate models (such as artificial neural network models) have been used for the prediction of the compressive strength of mortars (based on experimental data available in the literature). Furthermore, compressive strength maps are presented for the first time, aiming to facilitate mortar mix design. The comparison of the derived results with the experimental findings demonstrates the ability of artificial neural networks to approximate the compressive strength of mortars in a reliable and robust manner.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.5
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• pp.653-661
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• 2020

The paper presents a study regarding rubber compressibility behavior. The objective is to analyze the effect of compression degree of rubber on its mechanical properties and propose a new methodology based on reverse engineering to predict compressibility degree based on uniaxial stretching test and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). In general, rubbers are considered to be almost incompressible and Poisson's ratio is close to 0.5. Since this property is intimately related to the rubber packing density, little changes in Poisson's ratio can lead to significant changes regarding mechanical behavior. The deviatory hyperelastic constants were obtained through experimental data fitting by least squares method for the most relevant constitutive models implemented in commercial software Abaqus, such as: Neo-Hooke, Mooney-Rivlin, Ogden, Yeoh and Arruda-Boyce, whereas the hydrostatic part was determined through an optimization algorithm implemented in the Abaqus environment by Python scripting. The simulation results presented great influence of the Poisson's ratio in the rubber specimen mechanical behavior mainly for high strain levels. A conventional pure volumetric compression test was also carried out in order to compare the results obtained by the proposed methodology.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2022

This study presents experimental measurements of the rotordynamic performance of a motor-driven small turbocompressor supported by gas beam foil journal bearings (GBFJBs) and compares the test results with the predictions of a computational model. The experiments confirmed that the rotational synchronous frequency component dominates the behavior of the overall rotor vibrations, whereas the nonsynchronous components are insignificant, indicating the rotor-bearing system remains stable up to 100 krpm. The undamped natural frequency and imbalanced response of the rotor-bearing system are predicted when integrating the finite element model of the rotor-bearing system with the predictions of the bearing dynamic coefficients. The results are in good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, base excitation test results show that the small turbocompressor can endure large external forces and demonstrate limited rotor amplitudes. A simple single degreeof-freedom rotor model using the nonlinear stiffness of the GBFJBs can effectively predict the test results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.89 no.1
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• pp.77-91
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• 2024

During strong seismic events, inelastic shear deformation occurs in beam-column joints. To capture inelastic shear deformation, an analytical model for beam-column joint in reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures has been proposed in this study. The proposed model has been developed using a rotational spring and rigid links. The stiffness properties of the rotational spring element have been assigned in terms of a moment rotation curve developed from the shear stress-strain backbone curve. The inelastic rotation behavior of joint has been categorized in three stages viz. cracking, yielding and ultimate. The joint shear stress and strain values at these stages have been estimated using analytical models and experimental database respectively. The stiffness properties of joint rotational spring have been modified by incorporating a geometry factor based on dimensions of adjoining beam and column members. The hysteretic response of the joint rotational spring has been defined by a pivot hysteresis model. The response of the proposed analytical model has been verified initially at the component level and later at the structural level with the two actually tested RC frame structures. The proposed joint model effectively emulates the inelastic behavior precisely with the experimental results at component as well as at structural levels.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.317-328
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• 2023

The soil behaviour can be represented by numerical modelling of element testing using diverse constitutive models. However, not all constitutive models allow the simulation of the stress-strain response at the critical state in granular soils with both contractive and dilative behaviour. Moreover, the accuracy of these models depends highly on the quality of the experimental data used for their calibration. This study addresses the modelling of the critical state behaviour of an alluvial natural soil from the Lower Tagus Valley (south of Portugal), known as TP-Lisbon sand, using the NorSand constitutive law. For this purpose, a series of numerical simulations of element testing was carried out using two algorithms performed in Visual Basic (VB) and Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC). Moreover, this study presents the characterisation of of NorSand parameters from an accurate experimental programme based on triaxial and bender element testing. This experimental program allowed defining: (i) the critical state locus, (ii) the stress-dilatancy, and (iii) the soil elasticity of TP-Lisbon sand -all fundamental to calibrate the contractive and dilative behaviour of such alluvial soil. The results revealed a good agreement between experimental data and NorSand simulations using VB and FLAC. Therefore, this study showed that the quality of laboratory testing procedures and its good interpretation enables NorSand constitutive law to capture representatively the non-associated plastic strains, often expressed by the state parameter, allowing a representation of soil behaviour of alluvial soils within the critical state soil mechanics framework for different state parameters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.519-540
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• 2007

In this paper, the energy-based plastic-damage model previously proposed by the authors [International Journal of Solids and Structures, 43(3-4): 583-612] is first simplified with an empirically defined evolution law for the irreversible strains, and then it is extended to its rate-dependent version to account for the strain rate effect. Regarding the energy dissipation by the motion of the structure under dynamic loadings, within the framework of continuum damage mechanics a new damping model is proposed and incorporated into the developed rate-dependent plastic-damage mode, leading to a unified constitutive model which is capable of directly considering the damping on the material scale. Pertinent computational aspects concerning the numerical implementation and the algorithmic consistent modulus for the unified model are also discussed in details, through which the dynamic nonlinear analysis of damping structures can be coped with by the same procedures as those without damping. The proposed unified plastic-damage model is verfied by the simulations of concrete specimens under different quasistatic and high rate straining loading conditions, and is then applied to the Koyna dam under earthquake motions. The numerical predictions agree fairly well with the results obtained from experimental tests and/or reported by other investigators, demonstrating its capability for reproducing most of the typical nonlinear performances of concrete under quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.396-411
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• 2014

Synchronized switch damping (SSD) techniques have recently been developed for structural vibration control using piezoelectric materials. In these techniques, piezoelectric materials are bonded on the vibrating structure and shunted by a network of electrical elements. These piezoelectric materials are switched according to the amplitude of the excitation force to damp vibration. This paper presents a new SSD technique called 'synchronized switch damping on negative capacitance and adaptive voltage sources' (SSDNCAV). The technique combines the phenomenon of capacitance transient charging and electrical resonance to effectively dampen the structural vibration. Also, the problem of stability observed in the previous SSD techniques is effectively addressed by adapting the voltage on the piezoelectric patch according to the vibration amplitude of the structure. Analytical expressions of vibration attenuation at the resonance frequency are derived, and the effectiveness of this new technique is demonstrated, for the control of a resonant cantilever beam with bonded piezoelectric patches, by comparing with SSDI, SSDVenh, and SSDNC techniques. Theoretical predictions and experimental results show the remarkable vibration damping capability of SSDNCAV technique, which was better than the previous SSD techniques. The broadband vibration control capabilities of SSDNCAV technique are also demonstrated, which exceed those of previous SSD techniques.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.73 no.2
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• pp.143-152
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• 2020

Deep coupling beams are more prone to suffer brittle shear failure. The addition of steel fibers to seismic members such as coupling beams can improve their shear performance and ductility. Based on the test results of steel fiber reinforced concrete(SFRC) coupling beams with span-to-depth ratio between 1.5 and 2.5 under lateral reverse cyclic load, the shear mechanism were analyzed by using strut-and-tie model theory, and the effects of the span-to-depth ratio, compressive strength and volume fraction of steel fiber on shear strengths were also discussed. A simplified calculation method to predict the shear capacity of SFRC deep coupling beams was proposed. The results show that the shear force is mainly transmitted by a strut-and-tie mechanism composed of three types of inclined concrete struts, vertical reinforcement ties and nodes. The influence of span-to-depth ratio on shear capacity is mainly due to the change of inclination angle of main inclined struts. The increasing of concrete compressive strength or volume fraction of steel fiber can improve the shear capacity of SFRC deep coupling beams mainly by enhancing the bearing capacity of compressive struts or tensile strength of the vertical tie. The proposed calculation method is verified using experimental data, and comparative results show that the prediction values agree well with the test ones.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Technology Engineers
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.421-427
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• 2015

In this paper, a description is given of finite element method (FEM) simulations of the elastic bending modulus of multi-layered graphene sheets that were carried out to investigate the mechanical behavior of graphene sheets with different gap thicknesses through molecular mechanics theory. The interaction forces between layers with various gap thicknesses were considered based on the van der Waals interaction. A finite element (FE) model of a multi-layered rectangular graphene sheet was proposed with beam elements representing bonded interactions and spring elements representing non-bonded interactions between layers and between diagonally adjacent atoms. As a result, the average elastic bending modulus was predicted to be 1.13 TPa in the armchair direction and 1.18 TPa in the zigzag direction. The simulation results from this work are comparable to both experimental tests and numerical studies from the literature.