• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.125-139
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• 2016

For seismic retrofitting of masonry walls, the use of fibre reinforced cement-based mortar for bonding the fibre grids can eliminate some of the shortcomings related to the use of resin as bonding material. The results of an experimental testing program on masonry walls retrofitted with fibre reinforced mortar and fibre grids are presented in this paper. Seven squat masonry walls were tested under unidirectional lateral displacement reversals and constant axial load. Steel anchors were used to increase the effectiveness of the bond between the fibre grids and the masonry walls. Application of fibre grids on both lateral faces of the walls effectively improved the hysteretic behaviour and specimens could be loaded until slip occurred in the horizontal joint between the masonry and the bottom concrete stub. Application of the fibre grids on a single face did not effectively improve the hysteretic behaviour. Retrofitting with fibre reinforced mortar only prevented the early damage but did not effectively increase deformation capacity. When the boundaries of the cross sections were not properly confined, midplane splitting of the masonry walls occurred. Steel anchors embedded in the walls in the corners area effectively prevented this type of failure.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.299-306
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• 2019

The natural fibre composites are termed as bio-composites. They have shown a promising replacement to the current carbon/glass fibre reinforced composites as environmental friendly materials in specific applications. Natural fibre reinforced composites are potential materials for various engineering applications in automobile, railways, building and Aerospace industry. The natural fibre selected to fabricate the composite material is plant-based fibre e.g., sisal fibre. Sisal fibre is a suitable reinforcement for use in composites on account of its low density, high specific strength, and high hardness. Epoxy is a thermosetting polymer which is used as a resin in natural fibre reinforced composites. Hand lay-up technique was used to fabricate the composites by reinforcing sisal fibres into the epoxy matrix. Composites were prepared with the unidirectional alignment of sisal fibres. Test specimens with different fibre orientations were prepared. The fabricated composites were tested for mechanical properties. Impact test, tensile test, flexural test, hardness test, compression test, and thermal test of composites had been conducted to assess its suitability in industrial applications. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) test revealed the microstructural information of the fractured surface of composites.

• 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.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2022

The effect of discrete polypropylene fibre reinforcement on shear strength parameters, tensile properties and isotropic index of stabilized compacted residual subgrade was investigated. Composites of compacted subgrade were developed from polypropylene fibre dosage of 0%, 1%, 2.5% and 4% and 3% cement binder. Saturated compacted soil benefited from incremental fibre dosage, the mobilized friction coefficient increased to a maximum at 2.5% fibre dosage from 0.41 to 0.58 and the contribution due to further increase in fibre dosage was marginal. Binder stabilization increased the degree of isotropy for unreinforced soil at lower fibre dosage of 1% and then decreased with higher fibre dosage. Saturation of 3% binder stabilized soil decreased the soil friction angle and the degree of isotropy for both unstabilized and binder stabilized soil increased with fibre dosage. The maximum tensile stress of 3% binder stabilized fibre reinforced residual soil was 3-fold that of 3% binder stabilized unreinforced soil. The difference in computed and measured maximum tensile and tangential stress decreased with increase in fibre dosage and degree of stabilization and polypropylene fibre reinforced soil met local and international criteria for road construction subgrade.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.221-230
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• 2017

In this paper, we investigated the propagation of thermoelastic surface waves in fibre-reinforced anisotropic general viscoelastic media of higher order of nth order including time rate of strain under the influence of rotation. The general surface wave speed is derived to study the effectsof rotation andthermal onsurface waves. Particular cases for Stoneley, Love and Rayleighwaves are discussed.The results obtained in this investigation are more general in the sense that some earlier published results are obtained from our result as special cases. Our results for viscoelastic of order zero are well agreed to fibre-reinforced materials. Comparison was made with the results obtained in the presence and absence of rotation and parameters for fibre-reinforced of the material medium. It is also observed that, surface waves cannot propagate in a fast rotating medium.Numerical results for particular materials are given and illustrated graphically. The results indicate that the effect of rotation on fibre-reinforced anisotropic general viscoelastic media are very pronounced.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.283-293
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• 2015

This paper presents the effects of elevated temperatures of $400^{\circ}C$ and $800^{\circ}C$ on the residual compressive strength and failure behaviour of fibre reinforced concretes and comparison is made with that of unreinforced control concrete. Two types of short fibres are used in this study e.g., steel and basalt fibres. The results show that the residual compressive strength capacity of steel fibre reinforced concrete is higher than unreinforced concrete at both elevated temperatures. The basalt fibre reinforced concrete, on the other hand, showed lower strength retention capacity than the control unreinforced concrete. However, the use of hybrid steel-basalt fibre reinforcement recovered the deficiency of basalt fibre reinforced concrete, but still slightly lower than the control and steel fibres reinforced concretes. The use of fibres reduces the spalling and explosive failure of steel, basalt and hybrid steel-basalt fibres reinforced concretes oppose to spalling in deeper regions of ordinary control concrete after exposure to above elevated temperatures. Microscopic observation of steel and basalt fibres surfaces after exposure to above elevated temperatures shows peeling of thin layer from steel surface at $800^{\circ}C$, whereas in the case of basalt fibre formation of Plagioclase mineral crystals on the surface are observed at elevated temperatures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.181-197
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• 2016

In this paper, we investigated the propagation of surface waves in a nonhomogeneous rotating fibre-reinforced viscoelastic anisotropic media of higher order of nth order including time rate of strain. The general surface wave speed is derived to study the effect of rotation on surface waves. Particular cases for Stoneley, Love and Rayleigh waves are discussed. The results obtained in this investigation are more general in the sense that some earlier published results are obtained from our result as special cases. Also results for homogeneous media can be deduced from this investigation. For order zero our results are well agreed to fibre-reinforced materials. Also by neglecting the reinforced elastic parameters, the results reduce to well known isotropic medium. It is also observed that, surface waves cannot propagate in a fast rotating medium. Comparison was made with the results obtained in the presence and absence of rotation and parameters for fibre-reinforced of the material medium Numerical results are given and illustrated graphically. The results indicate that the effect of rotation and parameters for fibre-reinforced of the material are very pronounced.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.76 no.4
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• pp.491-503
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• 2020

This study extends previous experimental research on the shear behaviour of macrosynthetic fibre-reinforced concrete beams and compares them to steel fibre-reinforced concrete beams with similar mechanical and geometrical properties. This work employed two fibre types: 60/0.9 (long/diameter) double hooked-end steel fibre and 60/85 monofilament polypropylene fibre. Beams were tested by shear loading covering parameters, such as two different cross-section widths, two shear-span-to-effective-depth ratios, two fibre types and using repetitions with and without transverse reinforcement. For quantitative comparison purposes, crack pattern evolution was studied along increasing loads levels. Effects were studied by photogrammetry, including influence of fibres on crack propagation in uncracked and dowel zones, influence of fibres on stirrup behaviour, and shear deformation or kinematics of critical shear cracks. The results evidenced similar effectiveness for both fibre types in controlling shear crack propagation and horizontal dowel cracking. Both fibres provided similar shear ductility and shear deflections. Consequently, the authors confirm that residual flexural tensile strengths are a convenient parameter for characterising the shear behaviour of fibre-reinforced concrete beams.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.6 no.7
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• pp.785-800
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• 1998

This paper deals with the nonlinear finite element analysis of fibre-reinforced plastic poles. Based on the principle of stationary potential energy and Novozhilov's derivations of nonlinear strains, the formulations for the geometric nonlinear analysis of general shells are derived. The formulations are applied to the fibre-reinforced plastic poles which are treated as conical shells. A semi-analytical finite element model based on the theory of shell of revolution is developed. Several aspects of the implementation of the geometric nonlinear analysis are discussed. Examples are presented to show the applicability of the nonlinear analysis to the post-buckling and large deformation of fibre-reinforced plastic poles.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.437-450
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• 1996

A study on the behaviour of fibre reinforced concrete deep beams with and without web openings is carried out using nonlinear finite element analysis. Eight node isoparametric plane stress elements are employed to model the fibre reinforced concrete materials. Steel bars are treated using a compatible three node truss elements. The constitutive equations for fibre reinforced concrete materials take into account the softening effect of co-existing shear strains. Element stiffness at each step is formulated based on the tangent modulus at the current level of principal strains. Transformation between principal directions and global coordinate system is imposed. Comparison of analytical results with experimental values indicates reasonably good agreement. The proposed numerical model can be used to study the behaviour of this composite structures of practically any geometries.