• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.413-423
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• 2005

This paper presents the solution of large static deflection due to uniformly distributed self weight and the critical or maximum applied uniform loading that a simply supported beam with variable-arc-length can resist. Two analytical approaches are presented and validated experimentally. The first approach is a finite-element discretization of the span length based on the variational formulation, which gives the solution of large static sag deflections for the stable equilibrium case. The second approach is the shooting method based on an elastica theory formulation. This method gives the results of the stable and unstable equilibrium configurations, and the critical uniform loading. Experimental studies were conducted to complement the analytical results for the stable equilibrium case. The measured large static configurations are found to be in good agreement with the two analytical approaches, and the critical uniform self weight obtained experimentally also shows good correlation with the shooting method.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.675-690
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• 2007

In order to study the ductility and the lateral load carrying capacity of the masonry walls strengthened with CFRPs (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer sheets), three pieces of masonry walls subjected to cyclic loads with low frequency and vertical load of constant amplitude have been tested. Two different strengthening methods have been used. The strengthening efficiency is affected by the strengthening method. A simplified calculation approach has been introduced based on the experimental test results, and the theoretical results agree reasonably well with the experimental results. It is found that the critical loads, the critical displacements, the ultimate loads, the ultimate displacements and the ductile coefficients of the masonry walls strengthened with CFRPs improve remarkably (6%~57%). Therefore, the masonry structures strengthened with CFRPs are of better ductility and of better lateral load carrying capacity than the masonry structures without any strengthening measurements.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 2019

The plates made of two materials joined to each other having the different coefficient of thermal expansions are frequently encountered in the industrial applications. The stress analysis of these members under the effect of high-temperature variation has great importance in design. In this study, the stress analysis of the experimental model developed for the problem considered here was performed by the method of photothermoelasticity. The thermal strains were formed by the mechanical way and these were fixed by the strain freezing method. For the stress measurements, the method of slicing is applied which provides three-dimensional stress analysis. The analytical solution in the literature was compared with the related stress distribution obtained from the model. Moreover, the axisymmetric finite element model developed for the problem was solved by ABAQUS and the results obtained here compared with those of the experimental model and the analytical solution. As a result of this study, this experimental method and numerical model can be used for these type of thermal stress problems which have not been comprehensively analyzed yet.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.70 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2019

Any revision of seismic codes usually demands a higher capacity from structural members, making existing structures unsafe particularly from strength considerations. Retrofitting of capacity deficient members is very suitable for tackling such situations. This paper presents an experimental study on different retrofitting measures adopted for strengthening a series of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. Four identical RC beam specimens were casted, out of which three specimens were strengthened by different schemes (viz., bolted hot rolled flat, bolted cold-formed steel channel, and carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminate, respectively) on their tension face and tested under four-point monotonic loading. This study focuses on the investigation of the flexural behaviour of these retrofitted beams, observed in terms of strength and stiffness. It was concluded that all retrofitting measures improved the structural performance of these beams. However, the cost involved with each strengthening mode was proportional to the improvement in the performance achieved.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.2
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• pp.163-175
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• 2019

Structural deterioration arises due to aging, environmental effects, deficiencies during design and construction phase, and overloading. Experimental and numerical investigations are carried out in this study to evaluate the performance of control and flexural deficient reinforced concrete (RC) beams under monotonic loading. Three levels of flexural deficiency are considered in this study. After confirming load carrying capacities of control and flexural deficient beams, the flexural deficient RC beams are strengthened with carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) fabric. CFRP strengthened RC beams are tested under monotonic loading and compared with the performance of control specimen. Further, non-linear finite element analyses are also carried out to evaluate the flexural performance of control, deficient and CFRP strengthened flexural deficient RC beams. There is good correlation between results of experimental and numerical investigations. Numerical approach presented in this study can be adopted for assessing the adequacy of CFRP retrofit measure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.801-812
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• 2022

To better promote the development of fabricated buildings, this paper studies the seismic behavior of precast concrete beam-column bolted joint under vertical low cyclic loading. The experimental results show that cracks appear in the beam-column joint core area. Meanwhile, the concrete and the grade 5.6 bolts are damaged and deformed, respectively. Specifically, the overall structure of the beam-column joint remains intact, and the bolts have good energy dissipation capacity. Based on the experimental study, a new method of beam-column bolted connection is proposed in simulation analysis. The simulation results show that the bolts deform in the core area of the new beam-column joint, which enhances the concrete shear capacity legitimately and protects the T-end of the beam against shear failure. To summarize, both the experimental joint and the simulated joint prolong the service life by replacing the bolts under the seismic loading. The research results provide a reference for applications of the fabricated beam-column joint.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.87 no.6
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• pp.601-614
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• 2023

In this study, the uniaxial ratcheting effect of Z2CND18.12N austenitic stainless steel at room and elevated temperatures is firstly simulated based on the Ahmadzadeh-Varvani hardening rule (A-V model), which is embedded into the finite element software ABAQUS by writing the user material subroutine UMAT. The results show that the predicted results of A-V model are lower than the experimental data, and the A-V model is difficult to control ratcheting strain rate. In order to improve the predictive ability of the A-V model, the parameter γ2 of the A-V model is modified using the isotropic hardening criterion, and the extended A-V model is proposed. Comparing the predicted results of the above two models with the experimental data, it is shown that the prediction results of the extended A-V model are in good agreement with the experimental data.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.229-237
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• 2023

The mechanics underlying photon and electron interactions was validated using our developed Brachytherapy computer code for high Dose Rate (HDR). By comparing the photon cross-section utilizing multiple physics libraries in the developed code, the results were benchmarked against experimental and theoretical findings. Klein-Nishina and experimental cross-section results were in good agreement with the Livermore library results. For two therapeutically relevant materials, the first scattered electron range was measured within 1 mm and 2 mm, which has significant implications for the interpretation of the kernel dose spikes observed in previous research.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 2022

Prestressed prefabricated hollow core concrete slabs with spans of 5 m and 10 m are commonly used since last century and still in service due to the advantage of construction convenience and durability. However, the end slabs are regularly subjected to cracks at the top and fail with brittleness due to the asymmetric boundary conditions. To better maintain such widely used type of hollow core slabs, the effect of asymmetric constraint in the end slabs are systematically studied through detailed nonlinear finite element analyses and experimental data. Experimental tests of slabs with four prestressed tendons and seven prestressed tendons with different boundary conditions were conducted. Results observe three failure modes of the slabs: the bending failure mode, shear and torsion failure mode, and transverse failure mode. Detailed nonlinear finite element models are developed to well match the failure modes and to reveal potential damage scenarios with asymmetric boundary conditions. Recommendations regarding ultimate capacity of the slabs with asymmetric boundary conditions are made to ensure a safe and rational design of prestressed concrete hollow slabs for short span bridges.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.539-555
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• 2023

Although some prediction models have successfully developed for ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), they do not provide insights and explicit relations between all constituents and its consistency, and compressive strength. In the present study, based on the experimental results, several mathematical models have been evaluated to predict the consistency and the 28-day compressive strength of UHPC. The models used were Linear, Logarithmic, Inverse, Power, Compound, Quadratic, Cubic, Mixed, Sinusoidal and Cosine equations. The applicability and accuracy of these models were investigated using experimental data, which were collected from literature. The comparisons between the models and the experimental results confirm that the majority of models give acceptable prediction with a high accuracy and trivial error rates, except Linear, Mixed, Sinusoidal and Cosine equations. The assessment of the models using numerical methods revealed that the Quadratic and Inverse equations based models provide the highest predictability of the compressive strength at 28 days and consistency, respectively. Hence, they can be used as a reliable tool in mixture design of the UHPC.