• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.80 no.6
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• pp.689-699
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• 2021

The present study aims to understand the behaviour of low-strength masonry prisms constructed with locally-produced low-strength hollow concrete blocks. Compression tests were conducted on masonry prisms constructed with three different mortar grades of cement-sand ratios of 1:3, 1:4.5 and 1:6 representing strong, moderately strong and weak mortar. Stress-strain curves were generated from the test results for the masonry prisms. The hollow concrete masonry units employed in this study are some of the weakest as compared to other masonry units employed by other researchers. The compressive strengths for masonry prisms with mortar grades 1:3, 1:4.5 and 1:6 are 2.21 MPa, 2.19 MPa and 2.25 MPa respectively. The results indicate that the masonry compressive strength of such low-strength hollow concrete block masonry prisms is not influenced by the mortar strength. Simple relationships to estimate the modulus of elasticity and compressive strength of masonry prisms is also proposed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2023.11a
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• pp.207-208
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• 2023

Concrete bricks and hollow concrete block products manufactured using ordinary portland cement react with salt and carbon dioxide absorbed from the soil and atmosphere in the use environment, causing contamination such as efflorescence. This is due to the reaction between calcium hydroxide, a cement hydration product, and carbon dioxide, producing and eluting calcium carbonate. This study was a preliminary study to compare and evaluate the reduction of efflorescence in concrete bricks and hollow concrete block products manufactured using carbon dioxide reaction hardening cement. The purpose was to evaluate the efflorescence occurrence in products using ordinary Portland cement.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.261-264
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• 2002

This study is intended to develop the new concrete block for planting through investigating weight and basic physical properties, varying the shapes of concrete block for planting. According to the results, unit weight, void ratio and absorption water ratio of concrete block show 1625kg/$m^3M$ 30%, and 7.7% respectively, and pH is small, compared with non neutralization and pH is below 8.5 after 7 days elapses. The compressive strength of concrete block for planting shows 38kgf/$cm^2$ at the age of 7 days, and 50kgf/$cm^2$ at the age of 28 days respectively. As the number of the hole is many and the area of hollow is large, weight of developed concrete block for planting grow light. Weight of optimum scheme with 2 hollow is reduced by 25%.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.437-456
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• 2014

This work incorporates newly introduced Lattice Discrete Particle Model (LDPM) to assess the failure mechanism and strength of hollow concrete blocks. Alongside, a method for the graphical representation of cracked surfaces in the LDPM is outlined. A slightly modified calibration procedure is also suggested and used to estimate required model parameters for a tested concrete sample. Next, the model is verified for a compressively loaded hollow block made of the very same concrete. Finally, four geometries commonly used in the production of hollow concrete blocks are selected, numerically simulated, and their failure properties are explored under concentric and eccentric compressions.

• Journal of the Korean Geosynthetics Society
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.85-93
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• 2021

The seventy percentage of Korean Peninsular is covered by the mountainous area, and the depth of west sea and south sea is relatively shallow. Therefore, a large scale land reclamation from the sea has been implemented for the construction of industrial complex, residental area, and port and airport facilities. The common problem of reclaimed land is consisted of soft ground, and hence it has low load bearing capacity as well as excessive settlement upon loading on the ground surface. The hollow concrete block has been used to reinforce the loose and soft foundation soil where the medium-high apartment or one-story industrial building is being planned to be built. Recently the earthquakes with the magnitude of 4.0~5.0 have been occurred in the west coastal and southeast coastal areas. Lee (2019) reported the advantages of hollow concrete block reinforced shallow foundation through the static laboratory bearing capacity tests. In this study, the dynamic behavior of hollow concrete block reinforced sandy ground with filling the crushed stone in the hollow space has been investigated by the means of shaking table test with the size of shaking table 1000 mm × 1000 mm. Three types of seismic wave, that is, Ofunato, Hachinohe, Artificial, and two different accelerations (0.154 g, 0.22 g) were applied in the shaking table tests. The horizontal displacement of structure which is situated right above the hollow concrete block reinforced ground was measured by using the LVDT. The relative density of soil ground are varied with 45%, 65%, and 85%, respectively, to investigate the effectiveness of reinforcement by hollow block and measured the magnitude of lateral movement, and compared with the limit value of 0.015h (Building Earthquake Code, 2019). Based on the results of shaking table test for hollow concrete block reinforced sandy ground, honeycell type hollow block gives a large interlocking force due to the filling of crushed stone in the hollow space as well as a great interface friction force by the confining pressure and punching resistance along the inside and outside of hollow concrete block. All these factors are contributed to reduce the great amount of horizontal displacement during the shaking table test. Finally, hollow concrete block reinforced sandy ground for shallow foundation is provided an outstanding reinforced method for medium-high building irrespective of seismic wave and moderate accelerations.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.267-272
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• 2019

In order to study the effect of moisture on the compressive strength of low-strength hollow concrete blocks, an experimental study was carried out on 96 samples of locally manufactured hollow concrete blocks collected from three different locations. Uniaxial compression tests were conducted on dry specimens and three types of saturated specimens with moisture contents of 30%, 50% and 80% respectively. The range of moisture content adopted covered the range within which the concrete block samples are saturated in the dry and monsoon seasons. The compressive strength of low-strength hollow concrete blocks decreases with increase in moisture content and the relationship between compressive strength of hollow concrete blocks and their moisture content can be considered to be linear. However, the strength degradation of 30% moist concrete blocks with respect to dry blocks is relatively low and can be considered to be comparable to dry concrete blocks. A formula indicating the relationship between the moisture content and compressive strength of low-strength hollow concrete blocks is also proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.49-62
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• 2022

The hollow modular concrete block reinforced foundation method is one of the ground reinforcement foundation methods that uses hexagonal honeycomb-shaped concrete blocks with mixed crushed rock to reinforce soft grounds. It then forms an artificial layered ground that increases bearing capacity and reduces settlement. The hollow modular honeycomb-shaped concrete block is a geometrically economical, stable structure that distributes forces in a balanced way. However, the behavioral characteristics of hollow modular concrete block reinforced foundations are not yet fully understood. In this study, a bearing capacity test is performed to analyze the reinforcement effectiveness of the hollow modular concrete block through the laboratory model tests. From the load-settlement curve, punching shear failure occurs under the unfilled sand condition (A-1-N). However, the filled sand condition (A-1-F) shows a linear curve without yielding, confirming the reinforcement effect is three times higher than that of unreinforced ground. The bearing capacity equation is proposed for the parts that have contact pressure under concrete, vertical stress of hollow blocks, and the inner skin friction force from horizontal stress by confining effect based on the schematic diagram of confining effect inside a hollow modular concrete block. As a result of calculating the bearing capacity, the percentage of load distribution for contact force on the area of concrete is about 65%, vertical force on the area of hollow is 16.5% and inner skin friction force of area of the inner wall is about 18.5%. When the surcharge load is applied to the concrete part, the vertical stress occurs on the area of the hollow part by confining effect first. Then, in the filled sand in the hollow where the horizontal direction is constrained, the inner skin friction force occurs by the horizontal stress on the inner wall of the hollow modular concrete block. The inner skin friction force suppresses the punching of the concrete part and reduces contact pressure.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2001

Until now, disposal of casting foundry fly ash generally depends on reclamation. This is the great loss from a point of view saving of resources and utilizing industrial wastes. Therefore, a study on the use of fly ash as a substitute material for construction is necessary in order to utilize industrial wastes, to reduce cost of production, to improve quality in producing concrete products, and to protect environment from pollution. In this study, concrete products(hollow concrete block and concrete brick) using casting foundry fly ash as a substitute materials for cement, are produced. And experiments are conducted based on Korean Industrial Standards. Finally, the used methods of casting foundry fly ash as a substitute materials in industry are presented.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2012

This paper presents the details of studies conducted on hollow concrete block masonry (HCBM) units and wall panels. This study includes, compressive strength of unit block, ungrouted and grouted HCB prisms, flexural strength evaluation, testing of HCBM panels with and without opening. Non-linear finite element (FE) analysis of HCBM panels with and without opening has been carried out by simulating the actual test conditions. Constant vertical load is applied on the top of the wall panel and then lateral load is applied in incremental manner. The in-plane deformation is recorded under each incremental lateral load. Displacement ductility factors and response reduction factors have been evaluated based on experimental results. From the study, it is observed that fully grouted and partially reinforced HCBM panel without opening performed well compared to other types of wall panels in lateral load resistance and displacement ductility. In all the wall panels, shear cracks originated at loading point and moved towards the compression toe of the wall. The force reduction factor of a wall panel with opening is much less when compared with fully reinforced wall panel with no opening. The displacement values obtained by non-linear FE analysis are found to be in good agreement with the corresponding experimental values. The influence of mortar joint has been included in the stress-strain behaviour as a monolith with HCBM and not considered separately. The derived response reduction factors will be useful for the design of reinforced HCBM wall panels subjected to lateral forces generated due to earthquakes.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.540-548
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• 2002

The purpose of this study is to analyze the application of oyster shells (OS) as aggregates for concrete. For this purpose, five reference mixes with W/C ratios of 0.4 ∼0.6 at intervals of 0.05 were used. The replacement proportion of OS was varied with ratios of 0, 10, 30, 50 and 100％ by volume of fine or coarse aggregate in the reference mixes. OS was washed and crushed for using as aggregates. New chemical reaction between crushed OS aggregate and cement paste was tested through XRD and SEM analysis. Two strength properties (compressive and flexural) were considered. Strength tests were carried out at the ages of 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. The variations of workability, air content and density, drying shrinkage of the specimens with different proportions of OS were also studied. Finally, the hollow concrete block using OS as a substitute material for fine aggregate was made for testing the application of OS. Experimental results showed that my new chemical reaction did not occur due to mixing OS in concrete. The workability and strengths decreased with increase in proportion of OS. The same trend was observed in density and unit weight, but air content increased due to the inherent pores in OS, which showed a possibility to produce light weight concrete with low strength by using OS as coarse aggregates for concrete. Tests on hollow concrete block showed that the compressive strength and absorption ratio were satisfied with quality requirements when the fine aggregate was substituted with OS up to 50％ in volume.