• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.88 no.2
• /
• pp.169-178
• /
• 2023

Lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) has various advantages, but it has limitations in ensuring sufficient ductility as structural members such as reinforced concrete (RC) columns due to its low confinement effect of core concrete. In particular, the confinement effect significantly decreases as the axial load increases, but studies on evaluating the ductility of RC columns at high axial loads are very limited. Therefore, this study examined the effects of concrete unit weight on the seismic performance of RC columns subjected to constant axial loads applied with different values for each specimen. The column specimens were classified into all-lightweight aggregate concrete (ALWAC), sand-lightweight aggregate concrete (SLWAC), and normal-weight concrete (NWC). The amount of transverse reinforcement was specified for all the columns to satisfy twice the minimum amount specified in the ACI 318-19 provision. Test results showed that the normalized moment capacity of the columns decreased slightly with the concrete unit weight, whereas the moment capacity of LWAC columns could be conservatively estimated based on the procedure stipulated in ACI 318-19 using an equivalent rectangular stress block. Additionally, by applying the section lamina method, the axial load level corresponding to the balanced failure decreased with the concrete unit weight. The ductility of the columns also decreased with the concrete unit weight, indicating a higher level of decline under a higher axial load level. Thus, the LWAC columns required more transverse reinforcement than their counterpart NWC columns to achieve the same ductility level. Ultimately, in order to achieve high ductility in LWAC columns subjected to an axial load of 0.5, it is recommended to design the transverse reinforcement with twice the minimum amount specified in the ACI 318-19 provision.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.265-283
• /
• 2021

To ensure that fire induced collapse of a building is prevented it is important to understand the sequence of events that can lead to this event. In this paper, the initiation of collapse mechanisms of generic a multi-storey steel frame subjected to vertical and horizontal travelling fires are analysed computationally by tracking the formation of plastic hinges in the frame and generation of fire induced loads. Both uniform and travelling fires are considered. In total 58 different cases are analysed using finite element software LS-DYNA. For the frame examined with a simple and generic structural arrangement and higher applied fire protection to the columns, the results indicate that collapse mechanisms for singe floor and multiple floor fires can be each split into two main groups. For single floor fires (taking place in the upper floors of the frame (Group S1)), collapse is initiated by the pull-in of external columns when heated beams in end bays go into catenary action. For single floor fires occurring on the lower floors(Group S2), failure is initiated (i.e. ultimate strain of the material is exceeded) after the local beam collapse. Failure in both groups for single floor fires is governed by the generation of high loads due to restrained thermal expansion and the loss of material strength. For multiple floor fires with a low number of fire floors (1 to 3) - Group M1, failure is dominated by the loss of material strength and collapse is mainly initiated by the pull-in of external columns. For the cases with a larger number of fire floors (5 to 10) - Group M2, failure is dominated by thermal expansion and collapse is mainly initiated by swaying of the frame to the side of fire origin. The results show that for the investigated frame initiation of collapse mechanisms are affected by the fire type, the number of fire floors, and the location of the fire floor. The findings of this study could be of use to designers of buildings when developing fire protection strategies for steel framed buildings where the potential for a multifloor fire exists.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.64 no.5
• /
• pp.621-640
• /
• 2017

This paper reports the numerical investigation conducted to study the influence of Local-Distortional (L-D) interaction mode buckling on post buckling strength erosion in fixed ended lipped channel cold formed steel columns. This investigation comprises of 81 column sections with various geometries and yield stresses that are carefully chosen to cover wide range of strength related parametric ratios like (i) distortional to local critical buckling stress ratio ($0.91{\leq}F_{CRD}/F_{CRL}{\leq}4.05$) (ii) non dimensional local slenderness ratio ($0.88{\leq}{\lambda}_L{\leq}3.54$) (iii) non-dimensional distortional slenderness ratio ($0.68{\leq}{\lambda}_D{\leq}3.23$) and (iv) yield to non-critical buckling stress ratio (0.45 to 10.4). The numerical investigation is carried out by conducting linear and non-linear shell finite element analysis (SFEA) using ABAQUS software. The non-linear SFEA includes both geometry and material non-linearity. The numerical results obtained are deeply analysed to understand the post buckling mechanics, failure modes and ultimate strength that are influenced by L-D interaction with respect to strength related parametric ratios. The ultimate strength data obtained from numerical analysis are compared with (i) the experimental tests data concerning L-D interaction mode buckling reported by other researchers (ii) column strength predicted by Direct Strength Method (DSM) column strength curves for local and distortional buckling specified in AISI S-100 (iii) strength predicted by available DSM based approaches that includes L-D interaction mode failure. The role of flange width to web depth ratio on post buckling strength erosion is reported. Then the paper concludes with merits and limitations of codified DSM and available DSM based approaches on accurate failure strength prediction.

• Steel and Composite Structures
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.1337-1358
• /
• 2016

The current study focuses on the assessment and interface response of reinforced concrete elements with composite materials (carbon fiber reinforced polymers-CFRPs, glass fiber reinforced polymers-GFRPs, textile reinforced mortars-TRM's, near surface mounted bars-NSMs). A description of the transfer mechanisms from concrete elements to the strengthening materials is conducted through analytical models based on failure modes: plate end interfacial debonding and intermediate flexural crack induced interfacial debonding. A database of 55 in total reinforced concrete columns (scale 1:1) is assembled containing elements rehabilitated with various techniques (29 wrapped with CFRP's, 5 wrapped with GFRP's, 4 containing NSM and 4 strengthened with TRM). The failure modes are discussed together with the performance level of each technique as well as the efficiency level in terms of ductility and bearing/ bending capacity. The analytical models' results are in acceptable agreement with the experimental data and can predict the failure modes. Despite the heterogeneity of the elements contained in the aforementioned database the results are of high interest and point out the need to incorporate the analytical expressions in design codes in order to predict the failure mechanisms and the limit states of bearing capacities of each technique.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.58 no.6
• /
• pp.1021-1044
• /
• 2016

Different versions of a damage index (DI) along with a formulation to find the number of cycles at failure due to fatigue, applicable to reinforced concrete (RC) structures are presented. These are based on an energetic analysis method and applicable to both global and local levels. The required data can be found either from the numerical simulation of structures or from the experimental tests. A computer program has been developed to simulate numerically the nonlinear behavior of RC columns under cyclic loading. The proposed DI gives a regular distribution of structural damages up to failure and is validated by the results of the tests carried out on RC columns subjected to cyclic loading. In general, the local and global damage indices give approximately similar results, while each of them has its own advantages. The advantage of the implicit version of DI is that, it allows the comparison of the results with those of the monotonic loading case, while the explicit version makes it possible to estimate the number of loading cycles at failure due to fatigue, and the advantage of the simplified version is that; the monotonic loading data is not needed for the cyclic loading case.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.137-154
• /
• 2006

The reliable pushover analysis of RC structures requires a realistic prediction of moment-curvature relations, which can be obtained by utilizing proper constitutive models for the stress-strain relationships of laterally confined concrete members. Theoretical approach of Mander is still a single stress-strain model, which employs a multiaxial failure surface for the determination of the ultimate strength of confined concrete. Alternatively, this paper introduces a simple and practical failure criterion for confined concrete with emphasis on introduction of significant modifications into the two-parameter Drucker-Prager model. The new criterion is only applicable to triaxial compression stress state which is exactly the case in the RC columns. Unlike many existing multi-parameter criteria proposed for the concrete fracture, the model needs only the compressive strength of concrete as an independent parameter and also implies for the influence of the Lode angle on the material strength. Adopting Saenz equation for stress-strain plots, satisfactory agreement between the measured and predicted results for the available experimental test data of confined normal and high strength concrete specimens is obtained. Moreover, it is found that further work involving the confinement pressure is still encouraging since the confinement model of Mander overestimates the ultimate strength of some RC columns.

• Journal of Korean Association for Spatial Structures
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.51-60
• /
• 2021

As earthquakes continue to occur in Korea in recent years, seismic evaluation and retrofit of existing school buildings have been carried out. Many domestic school buildings were built using or referring to standard drawings. Therefore, if the overall structural characteristics of a school building can be known first based on standard drawings, it can be provided as valuable data for detailed seismic evaluation. For this reason, this study investigated the weak structural components and failure modes by comparing the strength of beams, columns, and joints constituting standard school buildings constructed in the 1980s. The evaluation was performed for different types of standard drawings and different material strengths. The results showed that the joint was mainly the weakest due to the eccentricity, and the failure modes were partially changed depending on the material strength.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.72 no.1
• /
• pp.43-60
• /
• 2019

This paper presents a finite element model which can simulate the axial compression behavior of steel reinforced recycled concrete (SRRC) filled square steel tube columns using the ABAQUS software. The analytical model was established by selecting the reasonable nonlinear analysis theory and the constitutive relationship of material in the columns. The nonlinear analysis of failure modes, deformation characteristics, stress nephogram, and load-strain curves of columns under axial loads was performed in detail. Meanwhile, the influences of recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) replacement percentage, profile steel ratio, width thickness ratio of square steel tube, RAC strength and slenderness ratio on the axial compression behavior of columns were also analyzed carefully. It shows that the results of finite element analysis are in good agreement with the experimental results, which verifies the validity of the analytical model. The axial bearing capacity of columns decreased with the increase of RCA replacement percentage. While the increase of wall thickness of square steel tube, profile steel ratio and RAC strength were all beneficial to improve the bearing capacity of columns. Additionally, the parameter analysis of finite element analysis on the columns was also carried out by using the above numerical model. In general, the SRRC filled square steel tube columns have high bearing capacity and good deformation ability. On the basis of the above analysis, a modified formula based on the American ANSI/AISC 360-10 was proposed to calculate the nominal axial bearing capacity of the columns under axial loads. The research conclusions can provide some references for the engineering application of this kind of columns.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.19-25
• /
• 2012

The study investigated the buckling behavior of sandwich composite columns with different hole sizes and hole positions when they were applied to a compressive load. The columns consisted of 1.7mm thick faces of glass fabric/epoxy and 23mm, 37mm, 48mm, and 61mm thick cores of urethane-foam. Different hole sizes with the diameter of 25mm and 38mm were considered in this experiment. To evaluate the effect of hole position on the buckling behavior, we considered three types of hole position: 25mm diameter hole located at the center, 25mm diameter hole at 1/4 position from the center to the end of the column, and 25mm diameter hole at 1/2 position from the center to the end of the column. According to the results, buckling and maximum loads of the column having 25mm diameter hole were lower by 10% compared to those of the column without hole, whereas the loads for the column having 38mm diameter hole were 30% less than those of the column without hole. Hole position appeared to have no effect on buckling and maximum loads. Major failure modes were observed as follows: the core shear failure for the thin columns having 23mm and 37mm thick cores, and the face-core debonding for the thick columns having 48mm and 61mm thick cores.

• Earthquakes and Structures
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.115-129
• /
• 2019

The effectiveness of an innovative method for the earthquake-resistant rehabilitation of existing poorly detailed reinforced concrete (RC) structures is experimentally investigated herein. Eight column subassemblages were subjected to earthquake-type loading and their hysteretic behaviour was evaluated. Four of the specimens were identical and representative of columns found in RC structures designed in the 1950s-70s period for gravity load only. These original specimens were subjected to cyclic lateral deformations and developed brittle failure mechanisms. Three of the damaged specimens were subsequently retrofitted with innovative high-strength steel fiber-reinforced concrete (HSSFC) jackets. The main variables examined were the jacket width and the contribution of mesh steel reinforcement in the seismic performance of the enhanced columns. The influence of steel fiber volume fraction was also examined using test results of a previous work of Tsonos et al. (2017). The fourth earthquake damaged subassemblage was strengthened with a conventional RC jacket and was subjected to the same lateral displacement history as the other three retrofitted columns. The seismic behaviour of the subassemblages strengthened according to the proposed retrofit scheme was evaluated with respect to that of the original specimens and that of the column strengthened with the conventional RC jacket. Test results clearly demonstrated that the HSSFC jackets effectively prevented the development of shear failure mechanisms, while ensuring a ductile seismic response similar to that of the subassemblage retrofitted with the conventional RC jacket. Ultimately, an indisputable superiority in the overall seismic performance of the strengthened columns was achieved with respect to the original specimens.