• Computers and Concrete
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.289-299
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• 2022

Based on the random cracking theory, the cylinder RVE model of reinforced concrete is established and the damage process is divided into three stages as the evolution of the cracks. The stress distribution along longitude direction of the concrete and the steel bar in the cylinder model are derived. The equivalent elastic modulus of the RVE are derived and the user-defined field variable subroutine (USDFLD) for the equivalent elastic modulus is well integrated into the ABAQUS. Regarding the tensile rebars and the concrete surrounding the rebars as the equivalent homogeneous transversely isotropic material, and the FEM analysis for the reinforced concrete beams is conducted with the USDFLD subroutine. Considering the concrete cracking and interfacial debonding, the macroscopic damage process of the reinforced concrete beam under four-point bending loading in the simulation. The volume fraction of rebar and the cracking degree are mainly discussed to reveal their influence on the macro-performance and they are calibrated with experimental results. Comparing with the bending experiment performed with 8 reinforced concrete beams, the bending stiffness of the second stage and the ultimate load simulated are in good agreement with the experimental values, which verifies the effectiveness and the accuracy of the improved finite element method for reinforced concrete beam.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.641-657
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• 2020

A unique lightweight string truss deployable bridge assembled by thin-walled fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and metal profiles was designed for emergency applications. As a new structure, investigations into the static structural performance under the serviceability limit state are desired for examining the structural integrity of the developed bridge when subjected to unsymmetrical loadings characterized by combined torsion and bending. In this study, a full-scale experimental inspection was conducted on a fabricated bridge, and the combined flexural-torsional behavior was examined in terms of displacement and strains. The experimental structure showed favorable strength and rigidity performances to function as deployable bridge under unsymmetrical loading conditions and should be designed in accordance with the stiffness criterion, the same as that under symmetrical loads. In addition, a finite element model (FEM) with a simple modeling process, which considered the multi segments of the FRP members and realistic nodal stiffness of the complex unique hybrid nodal joints, was constructed and compared against experiments, demonstrating good agreement. A FEM-based numerical analysis was thereafter performed to explore the effect of the change in elastic modulus of different FRP elements on the static deformation of the bridge. The results confirmed that the change in elastic modulus of different types of FRP element members caused remarkable differences on the bending and torsional stiffness of the hybrid bridge. The global stiffness of such a unique bridge can be significantly enhanced by redesigning the critical lower string pull bars using designable FRP profiles with high elastic modulus.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.361-377
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• 2012

Four Reinforced Concrete (RC) single span structural walls having various opening sizes and locations were constructed and tested under lateral reversed cyclic loading at the structural laboratory of Kyoto University. These specimens were scaled to 40% and represented the lower three stories of a six-storied RC building. The main purposes of the experimental tests were to evaluate the shear behavior and to identify the influence of opening ratios on the cracks distribution and shear strength of RC structural walls. The shear strength of the specimens was estimated by combining the shear strength of structural wall without openings and the reduction factor that takes into account the openings. Experimental and analytical results showed that the shear strength was different depending on the loading direction due to opening locations. A two-dimensional finite element analysis was carried out to simulate the performance of the tested specimens. The constructed finite elements model simulated the lateral load-drift angle relations quite well.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.52-59
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• 2012

An analytical model is presented to predict the static behavior of the long-span prestressed concrete bridge deck(the long-span PSC deck). The finite element analysis is performed and the results are compared with that of the previous experimental test. The load-deflection relationship curves by FEM are in good agreement with the results reported in the previous study. The failure mode of all test specimens is predicted by the punching shear in this study. It is also observed in the previous experimental test. The main objective of this paper is presenting supportive method to predict static behavior of the long-span PSC deck slab. It is not simulating the punching shear behavior graphically.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.175-191
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• 2020

In this article, for the first time, the seismic behavior of elliptic-braced moment resisting frame (ELBRF) is assessed through a laboratory program and numerical analyses of FEM specifically focused on the development of global- and local-type failure mechanisms. The ELBRF as a new lateral braced system, when installed in the middle bay of the frames in the facade of a building, not only causes no problem to the opening space of the facade, but also improves the structural behavior. Quantitative and qualitative investigations were pursued to find out how elliptic braces would affect the failure mechanism of ELBRF structures exposed to seismic action as a nonlinear process. To this aim, an experimental test of a ½ scale single-story single-bay ELBRF specimen under cyclic quasi-static loading was run and the results were compared with those for X-bracing, knee-bracing, K-bracing, and diamond-bracing systems in a story base model. Nonlinear FEM analyses were carried out to evaluate failure mechanism, yield order of components, distribution of plasticity, degradation of structural nonlinear stiffness, distribution of internal forces, and energy dissipation capacity. The test results indicated that the yield of elliptic braces would delay the failure mode of adjacent elliptic columns and thus, help tolerate a significant nonlinear deformation to the point of ultimate failure. Symmetrical behavior, high energy absorption, appropriate stiffness, and high ductility in comparison with the conventional systems are some of the advantages of the proposed system.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.207-218
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• 2022

In submerged floating tunnels (SFTs), a next-generation maritime transportation infrastructure, the tunnel module floats in water due to buoyancy. For the effective and economical use of SFTs, connection with the ground is inevitable, but the stability of the shore connection is weak due to stress concentration caused by the displacement difference between the subsea bored tunnel and the SFT. The use of an elastic joint has been proposed as a solution to solve the stability problem, but it changes the dynamic characteristics of the SFT, such as natural frequency and mode shape. In this study, the finite element method (FEM) was used to simulate the elastic joints in shore connections, assuming that the ground is a hard rock without displacement. In addition, a small-scale model test was performed for FEM model validation. A parametric study was conducted on the resonance behavior such as the natural frequency change and velocity, stress, and reaction force distribution change of the SFT system by varying the joint stiffness under loading conditions of various frequencies and directions. The results indicated that the natural frequency of the SFT system increased as the stiffness of the elastic joint increased, and the risk of resonance was the highest in the low-frequency environment. Moreover, stress concentration was observed in both the SFT and the shore connection when resonance occurred in the vertical mode. The results of this study are expected to be utilized in the process of quantitative research such as designing elastic joints to prevent resonance in the future.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.377-391
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• 2020

A concrete filled steel tube (CFT) column with stiffeners has preferable behavior subjected to axial loading condition due to delay local buckling of the steel wall than traditional CFT columns without stiffeners. Welding lines in welded built-up steel box columns is expected to behave as longitudinal stiffeners. This study has presented a numerical investigation into the behavior of built-up concrete filled steel tube columns under axial pressure. At first stage, a finite element model (FE) has been built to simulate the behavior of built-up CFT columns. Comparing the results of FE and test has shown that numerical model passes the desired conditions and could accurately predict the axial performance of CFT column. Also, by the raise of steel tube thickness, the load bearing capacity of columns has been increased due to higher confinement effect. Also, the raise of concrete strength with greater cross section is led to a higher load bearing capacity compared to the steel tube thickness increment. In CFT columns with greater cross section, concrete strength has a higher influence on load bearing capacity which is noticeable in columns with more welding lines.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-93
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• 2012

With an active structural involvement in spiral case structure (SCS) that is always the design and research focus of hydroelectric power plant (HPP), the compressible membrane sandwiched between steel spiral case and surrounding reinforced concrete was often assumed to be linear elastic material in conventional design analysis of SCS. Unfortunately considerable previous studies have proved that the foam material serving as membrane exhibits essentially nonlinear mechanical behavior. In order to clarify the effect of membrane (foam) material's nonlinear stress-strain behavior on SCS, this work performed a case study on SCS with a compressible membrane using the ABAQUS code after a sound calibration of the employed constitutive model describing foam material. In view of the successful capture of fitted stress-strain curve of test by the FEM program, we recommend an application and dissemination of the simulation technique employed in this work for membrane material description to structural designers of SCS. Even more important, the case study argues that taking into account the nonlinear stress-strain response of membrane material in loading process is definitely essential. However, we hold it unnecessary to consider the membrane material's hysteresis and additionally, employment of nonlinear elastic model for membrane material description is adequate to the structural design of SCS. Understanding and accepting these concepts will help to analyze and predict the structural performance of SCS more accurately in design effort.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.127-140
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• 2023

The present article focuses on the thermoelastic deformation behavior of inhomogeneous functionally graded metal/ceramic cylindrical shell structure with multiple perforations using 2D finite element approximation. Here, cylindrical shell structure is considered with single (1×1) and multiple (2×2, 3×3 and 4×4) perforations. The temperature-dependent elastic and thermal properties of functionally graded material are evaluated using Voigt's micromechanical material scheme via power-law function. The kinematics of the proposed model is based on the equivalent single-layer first-order shear deformation mid-plane theory with five degrees-of-freedom. Here, 2D isoparametric finite element solutions are obtained using eight-node quadrilateral elements. The mesh refinement of present finite element model is performed to confirm the appropriate number of elements and nodes for the analysis purpose. Subsequently, a comparison test is conducted to demonstrate the accuracy of present results. In later section, numerous numerical illustrations are demonstrated at different set of conditions by varying structural, material and loading parameters and that confirms the significance of various parameters such as power-law index, aspect ratio, thickness ratio, curvature ratio, number of perforations and temperature on the deformation characteristics of functionally graded cylindrical shell structure.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.9 no.1 s.31
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• pp.1-15
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• 2007

The objective of this paper is the establishment of finite element analysis frame work for pavement research. Finite element analysis results simulating various loading experiments are verified with sensor measurements obtained from the KHC Test Road. The accuracy of the finite element analysis can be supported by these efforts so that it helps spread out the finite element analysis to pavement research and design processes. The finite element model used in this research is the full 3D nonlinear model including concrete slab, lean concrete base, subbase, shoulder, dowel, and tie-bar. In order to accomplish the accurate verification, the loading condition and the pavement temperature distribution are exactly simulated with field measured data. The curling behavior and the strain distribution are compared with measured responses from the loading tests with a truck and the FWD. Strain and curling predictions from the concrete slab are matched well with measured responses but the strain prediction from the lean concrete base is not matched with measured response. In addition, the magnitude of permanent curling is evaluated with the finite element analysis.