• Computers and Concrete
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.389-409
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• 2005

The Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is evidently a powerful tool for the analysis of structural concrete having nonlinearity and brittle failure properties. However, the result of FEA of structural concrete is sensitive to two modeling factors: the shear transfer coefficient (STC) for an open concrete crack and force convergence tolerance value (CONVTOL). Very limited work has been done to find the optimal FE Modeling (FEM) methodologies for structural concrete members strengthened with externally bonded FRP sheets. A total of 22 experimental deep beams with or without FRP flexure or/and shear strengthening systems are analyzed by nonlinear FEA using ANAYS program. For each experimental beams, an FE model with a total of 16 cases of modeling factor combinations are developed and analyzed to find the optimal FEM methodology. Two elements the SHELL63 and SOLID46 representing the material properties of FRP laminate are investigated and compared. The results of this research suggest that the optimal combination of modeling factor is STC of 0.25 and CONVTOL of 0.2. A SOLID 46 element representing the FRP strengthening system leads to better results than a SHELL 63 element does.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.559-569
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• 2019

The bond strength between composite laminates and concrete is a key factor that controls the behavior of concrete members strengthened with fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) sheets, which can be affected by several parameters such as thermal stresses and surface preparation. This article presents the result of an experimental study on the bond strength between FRP sheets and concrete at ambient temperature after specimens had been exposed to elevated temperatures of up to $200^{\circ}C$. For this purpose, 30 specimens of plain concrete with dimensions of $150{\times}150{\times}350mm$ were prepared. Three different conventional surface preparation methods (sandblasting, wire brushing and hole drilling) were considered and compared with a new efficient method (fiber implantation). Deformation field during each experiment was monitored using particle image velocimetry. The results showed that, the specimens which were prepared by conventional surface preparation methods, preserved their bond integrity when exposed to temperature below glass transition temperature of epoxy resin (about $60^{\circ}C$). Beyond this temperature, the bond strength and stiffness decreased significantly (about 50%) in comparison with control specimens. However, the specimens prepared by the proposed method displayed higher bond strengths of up to 32% and 90% at $25^{\circ}C$ and $200^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2021

This paper aims at investigating the capability of different FRP/concrete interface models to predict the effect of carbon nanotubes on the flexural behavior of RC beams strengthened with CFRP. Three different interfacial bond models are proposed to simulate the adhesion between CFRP composites and concrete, namely: full bond, nonlinear spring element, and cohesive zone model. 3D Nonlinear finite element model is developed then validated using experimental work conducted by the authors in a previous investigation. Cohesive zone model (CZM) has the best agreement with the experimental results in terms of load-deflection response. CZM is the only bond model that accurately predicted the cracks patterns and failure mode of the strengthened RC beams. The FE model is then expanded to predict the effect of bond strength on the flexural capacity of RC beams strengthened with externally bonded CNTs modified CFRP composites using CZM bond model. The results reveal that the flexural capacity of the strengthened beams increases with increasing the bond strength value. However, only 23% and 22% of the CFRP stress and strain capacity; in the case of full bond; can be utilized before failure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2022

This paper presents an experimental investigation into the effectiveness of using carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) and steel plates to repair damaged reinforced concrete (RC) beams with circular web openings at shear zones. It highlights the effectiveness of externally bonded CFRP and steel plates in repairing damaged RC beams by analysing the repaired beams'load capacity, deflection, strain, and failure mode. For the experiment, a total of five beams were used, with one solid beam as a control beam and the other four beams having an opening near the shear zone. Two beams with openings were repaired using inclined and vertical configuration CFRP plates, and the other two were repaired using inclined and vertical configuration steel plates. The results confirm the effectiveness of CFRP and steel plates for repairing damaged RC beams with circular openings. The CFRP and steel plates significantly increase ultimate capacity and reduce deflection under the openings. The inclined configuration of both CFRP and steel plates was more effective than the vertical configuration. Using an inclined configuration not only increases the ultimate capacity of the beams but also changes the mode of failure from shear to flexural.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.599-610
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• 2023

To avoid debonding failure, a novel type of hybrid anchorage (HA) is proposed in this study that uses a slotted plate to lock the ends of the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) sheet in addition to the usual bonding over the substrate of the strengthened member. An experimental investigation was performed on three groups of RC beams, which differed from one another in either concrete strength or steel reinforcement ratio. The test results indicate that the end self-locking of the CFRP sheet can improve the failure ductility, ultimate capacity of the beams and its utilization ratio. Although intermediate debonding occurred in all the strengthened beams, it was not a fatal mode of failure for the three specimens with end anchorage. Among them, FRP rupture occurred in the beam with higher concrete strength and lower steel reinforcement ratio, whereas the other two failed by concrete crushing. The beam strengthened by HA obtained a relatively high percentage of increase in ultimate capacity when the rebar ratio or concrete strength decreased. The expressions in the literature were inspected to calculate the critical loads at intermediate debonding, FRP rupturing and concrete crushing after debonding for the strengthened beam. Then, the necessity of further research is addressed.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2022

FIB is introduced as the sole guideline for the design purpose that results in a practical relationship for the torsional capacity of concrete beams strengthened with carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). This study applies first-order reliability method to assess the reliability evaluation of the torsional capacity of CFRP-strengthened beams on the basis of FIB guidelines. In terms of steel reinforcement losses, this study applies a corrosion model to investigate the ceaseless deterioration of the existing structure. Hence, the average of reliability indices varies between 2.68 and 2.80, indicating the reliability viewpoint of the design methodologies. The average values are somehow low compared to the target values of reliability (3.0 or 3.5) applied in the calibration stage of the FIB guideline. In this way, the partial safety factors may change in the forthcoming guideline revisions. For this aim, the reliability of strengthening ratio was applied to assess the variation in the average value of the reliability index with different partial safety factors. The performance of parametric study for the factor proved that minimum values of 1.60 and 2.32 are required for target values of reliability (3.0 and 3.5), respectively.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.27-44
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• 2023

The current study targets to apply the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for the estimation of the shear resistance offered by the externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (EB-FRP) U-jackets. A total of 202 groups of data cumulated from previous investigations, were employed for the development and evaluation of the ANFIS model. A relative appraisal between the ANFIS predictions and the results of experiments has shown that the assessments by current ANFIS model are in good concurrence with the latter. In addition, assessment of the accuracy of the ANFIS model was done by relating the ANFIS predictions with the forecasts of eight extensively used design guidelines. Based on the examination of various performance measures, it has been derived that the adequacy of the ANFIS model is better than the available guidelines. A parametric investigation has additionally been done to reconnoiter the influence of individual parameters as well as their combined effects on the shear contribution of EB-FRP. Based on the observations made from the parametric study, it has been witnessed that the ANFIS model has incorporated the effect of different parameters more competently than the considered design guidelines.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.1
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• pp.67-81
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• 2023

The reinforced concrete (RC) structures might need strengthening or upgradation due to adverse environmental conditions, design defects, modification requirements, and to prolong the expected lifespan. The RC beams have been efficiently strengthened using the near surface mounted (NSM) approach over the externally bonded reinforcing (EBR) system. In this study, the performance of RC beam elements strengthened with NSM-steel rebars was investigated using an experimental program and nonlinear finite element modeling (FEM). Nine medium-sized, rectangular cross-section RC beams total in number made up for the experimental evaluation. The beams strengthened with varying percentages of NSM reinforcement, and the number of grooves was assessed in four-point bending experiments up to failure. Based on the experimental evaluation, the load-displacement response, crack features, and failure modes of the strengthened beams were recorded and considered. According to the experimental findings, NSM steel greatly improved the flexural strength (up to about 84%) and stiffness of RC beams. The flexural response of the tested beams was simulated using a 3D non-linear finite element (FE) model. The findings of the experiments and the numerical analysis showed good agreement. The effect of the NSM groove and reinforcement on the structural response was then assessed parametrically.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.44-52
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• 2003

Shape memory alloys (SMA) are often used in smart structures as active components. Their ability to provide large recovery forces and displacements has been useful in many applications, including devices for artificial muscles, active structural acoustic control, and shape control. Based on the 3-dimensional SMA constitutive equation in this paper, the radial displacement control of externally pressurized circular and semicircular composite cylinders under external pressure with a thin SMA layer bonded on its inner surface or inserted between composite layers in investigated using 3-dimensional finite element analysis. Upon actuation through resistive heating, SMAs start to transform from martensitic into austenitic state, simultaneously recover the prestrain, and thus cause the composite cylinders to go back to their original shapes of the cylinder cross-sections.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-85
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• 2017

This paper summarizes the experimental study of the shear behaviour of Hybrid Fibre Reinforced Concrete (HFRC) beams retrofitted by using externally bonded Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) laminates. To attain the set-out objectives of the present investigation, steel fibre of 1% and polypropylene fibre of 0.30% was used for hybrid steel-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete: whereas for hybrid glass-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete, glass fibre by 0.03% and polypropylene fibre of 0.03% by volume of concrete was used. In this study, 9 numbers of beams were cast and tested into three groups (Group I, II & III). Each group containing 3 numbers of beams, out of which one serve as a control beam or a hybrid steel-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete beam or a hybrid glass - polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete beam and the remaining two beams were preloaded until shear cracks appeared up to 75% of ultimate load and then preloaded beams (damaged beams) were retrofitted with GFRP laminates at shear zone in the form of strips, as one beam in vertical position and another beam in inclined position to restrict the shear cracks. Finally, the retrofitted beams were loaded until failure and test results were compared. The experimental tests have been conducted to investigate various parameters of structural performance, such as load carrying capacity, crack pattern and failure modes, load-deflection responses and ductility relations. The test results revealed that beams retrofitted using GFRP laminates considerably increased the load carrying capacity. In addition, it was found that beams retrofitted with inclined strip offers superior performance than vertical one. Comparing the test results, it was observed that hybrid steel-polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete beam retrofitted with GFRP laminates showed enhanced behaviour as compared to other tested beams.