• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1129-1144
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• 2015

Based on the experiment, this paper focuses on studying flexural behavior of splicing concrete-filled glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) tubular composite members connected with steel bars. The test results indicated the confinement effects of GFRP tubes on the concrete core in compression zone began to produce, when the load reached about $50%P_u$ ($P_u$-ultimate load), but the confinement effects in tensile zone was unobvious. In addition, the failure modes of composite members were influenced by the steel ratio of the joint. For splicing unreinforced composite members, the steel ratio more than 1.96% could satisfy the splicing requirements and the steel ratio 2.94% was ideal comparatively. For splicing reinforced specimen, the bearing capacity of specimen with 3.92% steel ratio was higher 21.4% than specimen with 2.94% steel ratio and the latter was higher 21.2% than the contrast non-splicing specimen, which indicated that the steel ratio more than 2.94% could satisfy the splicing requirements and both splicing ways used in the experiment were feasible. So, the optimal steel ratio 2.94% was suggested economically. The experimental results also indicated that the carrying capacity and ductility of splicing concrete-filled GFRP tubular composite members could be improved by setting internal longitudinal rebars.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.375-391
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• 2022

This paper discussed and analyzed the interfacial stress distribution characteristic of adjacent cracks in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) plate strengthened concrete slabs. One un-strengthened concrete test beam and four CFRP plate-strengthened concrete test beams were designed to carry out four-point flexural tests. The test data shows that the interfacial shear stress between the interface of CFRP plate and concrete can effectively reduce the crack shrinkage of the tensile concrete and reduces the width of crack. The maximum main crack flexural height in pure bending section of the strengthened specimen is smaller than that of the un-strengthened specimen, the CFRP plate improves the rigidity of specimens without brittle failure. The average ultimate bearing capacity of the CFRP-strengthened specimens was increased by 64.3% compared to that without CFRP-strengthen. This indicites that CFRP enhancement measures can effectively improve the ultimate bearing capacity and delay the occurrence of debonding damage. Based on the derivation of mechanical analysis model, the calculation formula of interfacial shear stress between adjacent cracks is proposed. The distributions characteristics of interfacial shear stress between certain crack widths were given. In the intermediate cracking region of pure bending sections, the length of the interfacial softening near the mid-span cracking position gradually increases as the load increases. The CFRP-concrete interface debonding capacity with the larger adjacent crack spacing is lower than that with the smaller adjacent crack spacing. The theoretical calculation results of interfacial bonding shear stress between adjacent cracks have good agreement with the experimental results. The interfacial debonding failure between adjacent cracks in the intermediate cracking region was mainly caused by the root of the main crack. The larger the spacing between adjacent cracks exists, the easier the interfacial debonding failure occurs.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.133-145
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• 2022

Steel fiber composite bar (SFCB) is a novel type of reinforcement, which has good ductility and durability performance. Due to the unique pseudo strain hardening tensile behavior of SFCB, different flexural behavior is expected of SFCB reinforced concrete (SFCB-RC) beams from traditional steel bar reinforced concrete (S-RC) beams and FRP bar reinforced concrete (F-RC) beams. To investigate the flexural behavior of SFCB-RC beam, four points bending tests were carried out and different flexural behaviors between S/F/SFCB-RC beams were discussed. An flexural analytical model of SFCB-RC beams is proposed and proved by the current and existing experimental results. Based on the proposed model, the influence of the fiber volume ratio R of the SFCB on the flexural behavior of SFCB-RC beams is discussed. The results show that the proposed model is effective for all S/F/SFCB-RC flexural members. Fiber volume ratio R is a key parameter affecting the flexural behavior of SFCB-RC. By controlling the fiber volume ratio of SFCB reinforcements, the flexural behavior of the SFCB-RC flexural members such as bearing capacity, bending stiffness, ductility and repairability of SFCB-RC structures can be designed.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.45-55
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• 2022

In this article, the flexural and shear capacity of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete beams (UHPFRC) using two kinds of rebars, including GFRP and steel rebars, are experimentally investigated. For this purpose, six UHPFRC beams (250 × 300 × 1650 mm) with three reinforcement ratios (ρ) of 0.64, 1.05, and 1.45 were constructed using 2% steel fibers by volume. Half of the specimens were made of UHPFRC reinforced with GFRP rebars, while the other half were reinforced with conventional steel rebars. All specimens were tested to failure in four-point bending. Both the load-deformation at mid-span and the failure pattern were studied. The results showed that utilizing GFRP bars increases the flexural strength of UHPFRC beams in comparison to those made of steel bars, but at the same time, it reduces the post-cracking strain hardening. Furthermore, by increasing the percentage of longitudinal bars, both the post-cracking strain hardening and load-bearing capacity increase. Comparing the experiment results with some of the available equations and provisions cited in the valid design codes reveals that some of the equations to predict the flexural strength of UHPFRC beams reinforced with conventional steel and GFRP bars are reasonably conservative, while Khalil and Tayfur model is un-conservative. This issue makes it essential to modify the presented equations in this research for predicting the flexural strength of UHPFRC beams using GFRP bars.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2017

The characteristics of lightweight aggregate (LWA) with a low specific gravity and high water absorption will significantly change the properties of lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). This study aimed at exploring the effect of presoaking degree of LWA on the strength degeneracy of LWAC and flexural behavior of LWAC members exposed to elevated temperatures. The residual mechanical properties of the LWAC subjected to elevated temperatures were first conducted. Then, the residual load tests of LWAC members (beams and slabs) after exposure to elevated temperatures were carried out. The test results showed that with increasing temperature, the decreasing trend of elastic modulus for LWAC was considerably more serious than the compressive strength. Besides, the presoaking degree of LWA had a significant influence on the residual compressive strength and elastic modulus for LWAC after exposure to $800^{\circ}C$. Moreover, owing to different types of heating, the residual load bearing capacity of the slab specimens were significantly different from those of the beam specimens.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.133-153
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• 2013

The concrete-filled steel tube (CFT) columns have several benefits of high load-bearing capacity, inherent ductility and toughness because of the confinement effect of the steel tube on concrete and the restraining effect of the concrete on local buckling of steel tube. However, the experimental research into the behavior of square CFT columns consisting of high-strength steel and high-strength concrete is limited. Six full scale CFT specimens were tested under flexural moment. The CFT columns consisted of high-strength steel tubes ($f_y$ = 325 MPa, 555 MPa, 900 MPa) and high-strength concrete ($f_{ck}$ = 80 MPa and 120 MPa). The ultimate capacity of high strength square CFT columns was compared with AISC-LRFD design code. Also, this study was focused on investigating the effect of high-strength materials on the structural behavior and the mathematical models of the steel tube and concrete. Nonlinear fiber element analyses were conducted based on the material model considering the cyclic bending behavior of high-strength CFT members. The results obtained from the numerical analyses were compared with the experimental results. It was found that the numerical analysis results agree well with the experimental results.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.81 no.5
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• pp.539-550
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• 2022

A detailed experimental program was conducted to investigate the flexural behavior of ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) beams reinforced with high strength steel (HSS) rebars with a specified yield strength of 600 MPa via direct tensile test and monotonic four-point bending test. First, two sets of direct tensile test specimens, with the same reinforcement ratio but different yield strength of reinforcement, were fabricated and tested. Subsequently, six simply supported beams, including two plain UHPC beams and four reinforced UHPC beams, were prepared and tested under four-point bending load. The results showed that the balanced-reinforced UHPC beams reinforced with HSS rebars could improve the ultimate load-bearing capacity, deformation capacity, ductility properties, etc. more effectively owing to interaction between high strength of HSS rebar and strain-hardening characteristic of UHPC. In addition, the UHPC with steel rebars kept strain compatibility prior to the yielding of the steel rebar, further satisfied the plane-section assumption. Most importantly, the crack pattern of the UHPC beam reinforced with HSS rebars was prone to transform from single main crack failure corresponding to the normal-strength steel, to multiple main cracks failure under the condition of balanced-reinforced failure, which validated by the conclusion of direct tensile tests cooperated with acoustic emission (AE) source locating technique as well.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2022

The increase in waste tires has brought serious environmental problems. Using waste tires rubber particles as aggregate in concrete can reduce pollution and decrease the usage of natural aggregate. The paper describes an investigation on flexural bearing capacity of self-compacting concrete (SCC) pavement slabs containing crumb rubber. Cyclic loading tests with different stress ratios and loading frequencies are carried out on SCC pavement slabs containing crumb rubber. Based on Paris Law and test data, the fatigue life of SCC pavement slab containing crumb rubber is discussed, and a revised mathematical model is established to predict the fatigue life of SCC pavement slab containing crumb rubber. The model applies to different stress ratios and loading frequencies. The fatigue life of SCC pavement slab containing crumb rubber is affected by the stress ratio and loading frequency. The fatigue life increases with the increase of stress ratio and loading frequency. Real-time acoustic emission (AE) signals in the SCC pavement slab containing crumb rubber under cyclic loading are measured, and the characteristics of crack propagation in the SCC pavement slab containing crumb rubber under different stress ratios and loading frequencies are compared. The AE signals provide abundant information of fracture process zone and crack propagation. The variation of AE ringing count, energy and b-value show that the fracture process of SCC pavement slab containing crumb rubber is divided into three stages.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-28
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• 2011

This paper documents an experimental study of dynamic response of reinforced concrete beams following instantaneous removal of a bearing column. Four half-scale specimens representing two-span beam bridging across the removed column were tested. The test boundary conditions simulated rotational and longitudinal restraints imposed on a frame beam by the neighboring structural components. The gravity loads were simulated by attaching mass blocks on the beams at three locations. Dynamic loading effects due to sudden removal of a column were simulated by quickly releasing the supporting force at the middle of the specimens. The experimental study investigated the load-carrying capacity of beams restrained longitudinally at the boundaries and dynamic impact on forces. The tests confirmed the extra flexural strength provided by compressive arch action under dynamic loading. The tests also indicated that the dynamic amplification effects on forces were much lower than that assumed in the current design guideline for progressive collapse.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.5
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• pp.545-556
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• 2021

The present experimental study evaluated the seismic performance of six engineered cementitious composite (ECC) columns strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates under cyclic lateral loading. The ECC columns damaged and crushed in the first stage of cyclic tests were repaired using the ECC with a certain polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fiber and strengthened with flexural and sheer CFRP laminates and then re-assessed under the cyclic loading. The effects of some variables were examined on lateral displacement, energy absorption and dissipation, failure modes, crack patterns, load bearing capacity and plasticity, and the obtained results were compared with those of the first stage of cyclic tests. The results showed that retrofitting the ECC columns can improve their performance, plasticity and load-bearing threshold, delayed the concrete failure, changed the failure modes and increased the energy absorbed by the strengthened columns element by over 50%.