• Computers and Concrete
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.195-213
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• 2012

This paper presents the investigation of the stochastic responses of seismically isolated bridges subjected to spatially varying earthquake ground motions including incoherence, wave-passage and site-response effects. The incoherence effect is examined by considering Harichandran and Vanmarcke coherency model. The effect of the wave-passage is dealt with various wave velocities in the response analysis. Homogeneous firm, medium and soft soil conditions are selected for considering the site-response effect where the bridge supports are constructed. The ground motion is described by filtered white noise and applied to each support points. For seismic isolation of the bridge, single and double concave friction pendulum bearings are used. Due to presence of friction on the concave surfaces of the isolation systems, the equation of motion of is non-linear. The non-linear equation of motion is solved by using equivalent linearization technique of non-linear stochastic analyses. Solutions obtained from the stochastic analyses of non-isolated and isolated bridges to spatially varying earthquake ground motions compared with each other for the special cases of the ground motion model. It is concluded that friction pendulum systems having single and double concave surfaces have important effects on the stochastic responses of bridges to spatially varying earthquake ground motions.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.353-386
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• 2016

Realistic assessment of the performance of reinforced concrete structural members like columns is needed for designing new structures or maintenance of the existing structural members. This assessment requires analytical capability of employing proper material models and cyclic rules and considering various load and displacement patterns. A computer application was developed to analyze the non-linear, cyclic flexural performance of reinforced concrete structural members under various types of loading paths including non-sequential variations in axial load and bi-axial cyclic load or displacement. Different monotonic material models as well as hysteresis rules, were implemented in a fiber-based moment-curvature and in turn force-deflection analysis, using proper assumptions on curvature distribution along the member, as in plastic-hinge models. Performance of the program was verified against analytical results by others, and accuracy of the analytical process and the implemented models were evaluated in comparison to the experimental results. The computer application can be used to predict the response of a member with an arbitrary cross section and various type of lateral and longitudinal reinforcement under different combinations of loading patterns in axial and bi-axial directions. On the other hand, the application can be used to examine analytical models and methods using proper experimental data.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.331-346
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• 2007

A computer program was developed to analyze the non-linear, cyclic flexural performance of reinforced concrete structural members under various types of loading paths including non-sequential variations in axial load. This performance is significantly affected by the loading history. Different monotonic material models as well as hysteresis rules for confined and unconfined concrete and steel, some developed and calibrated against test results on material samples, were implemented in a fiber-based moment-curvature and in turn force-deflection analysis. One of the assumptions on curvature distribution along the member was based on a method developed to address the variation of the plastic hinge length as a result of loading pattern. Functionality of the program was verified by reproduction of analytical results obtained by others for several cases, and accuracy of the analytical process and the implemented models were evaluated against the experimental results from large-scale reinforced concrete columns tested under the analyzed loading cases. While the program can be used to predict the response of a member under a certain loading pattern, it can also be used to examine various analytical models and methods or refine a custom material model against test data.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.377-402
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• 2007

The paper presents quasi-static plane strain FE-simulations of strain localization in reinforced concrete beams without stirrups. The material was modeled with two different isotropic continuum crack models: an elasto-plastic and a damage one. In case of elasto-plasticity, linear Drucker-Prager criterion with a non-associated flow rule was defined in the compressive regime and a Rankine criterion with an associated flow rule was adopted in the tensile regime. In the case of a damage model, the degradation of the material due to micro-cracking was described with a single scalar damage parameter. To ensure the mesh-independence and to capture size effects, both criteria were enhanced in a softening regime by nonlocal terms. Thus, a characteristic length of micro-structure was included. The effect of a characteristic length, reinforcement ratio, bond-slip stiffness, fracture energy and beam size on strain localization was investigated. The numerical results with reinforced concrete beams were quantitatively compared with corresponding laboratory tests by Walraven (1978).

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.477-487
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• 2021

This study focuses on the influence of strong ground motion duration on the response and collapse probability of reinforced concrete walls with a predominant response in flexure. Walls with different height and mass were used to account for a broad spectrum of configurations and fundamental periods. The walls were designed following the specifications of the Chilean design code. Non-linear models of the reinforced concrete walls using a distributed plasticity approach were performed in OpenSees and calibrated with experimental data. Special attention was put on modeling strength and stiffness degradation. The effect of duration was isolated using spectrally equivalent ground motions of long and short duration. In order to assess the behavior of the RC shear walls, incremental dynamic analyses (IDA) were performed, and fragility curves were obtained using cumulative and non-cumulative engineering demand parameters. The spectral acceleration at the fundamental period of the wall was used as the intensity measure (IM) for the IDAs. The results show that the long duration ground motion set decreases the average collapse capacity in walls of medium and long periods compared to the results using the short duration set. Also, it was found that a lower median intensity is required to achieve moderate damage states in the same medium and long period wall models. Finally, strength and stiffness degradation are important modelling parameters and if they are not included, the damage in reinforced concrete walls may be greatly underestimated.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.107-127
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• 2016

Concrete is a heterogeneous material containing many weaknesses such as micro-cracks, pores and grain boundaries. The crack growth mechanism and failure behavior of concrete structures depend on the plastic deformation created by these weaknesses. In this article the non-linear finite element method is used to analyze the effect of presence of micro pore near a crack tip on both of the characteristics of crack tip plastic zone (its shape and size) and crack growth properties (such as crack growth length and crack initiation angle) under pure shear loading. The FE Code Franc2D/L is used to carry out these objectives. The effects of the crack-pore configurations and the spacing between micro pore and pre-excising crack tip on the characteristics of crack tip plastic zone and crack growth properties is highlighted. Based on the obtained results, the relative distance between the crack tip and the micro pore affects in very significant way the shape and the size of the crack tip plastic zone. Furthermore, crack growth length and crack initiation angle are mostly influenced by size and shape of plastic zone ahead of crack tip. Also the effects of pore decrease on the crack tip by variation of pore situation from linear to perpendicular configuration. The critical position for a micro pore is in front of the crack tip.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.599-620
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• 2011

The investigation on possible causes of failures related to documented collapses is a complicated issue, primarily due to the scarcity and inadequacy of information available. Although several studies have tried to understand which are the inherent structural deficiencies or circumstances associated to failure of the main structural elements in a reinforced concrete frame, to the authors knowledge a uniform approach for the evaluation building static vulnerability, does not exist yet. This paper investigates, by means of a detailed case study, the potential failure mechanisms of an existing reinforced concrete building. The linear elastic analysis for the three-dimensional building model gives an insight on the working conditions of the structural elements, demonstrating the relevance of a number of structural faults that could sensibly lower the structure's safety margin. Next, the building's bearing capacity is studied by means of parametric nonlinear analysis performed at the element's level. It is seen that, depending on material properties, concrete strength and steel yield stress, the failure hierarchy could be dominated by either brittle or ductile mechanisms.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.627-650
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• 2013

This paper deals with application of a non-linear continuum model for reinforced concrete affected by alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR) to analysis of some nuclear structures. The macroscopic behaviour of the material affected by AAR is described by incorporating a homogenization/averaging procedure. The formulation addresses the main stages of the deformation process, i.e., a homogeneous deformation mode as well as that involving localized deformation, associated with formation of macrocracks. The formulation is applied to examine the mechanical behaviour of some reinforced concrete structures in nuclear power facilities located in Quebec (Canada). First, a containment structure is analyzed subjected to 45 years of continuing AAR. Later, an inelastic analysis is carried out for the spent fuel pool taking into account the interaction with the adjacent jointed rock mass foundation. In the latter case, the structure is said to be subjected to continuing AAR that is followed by a seismic event.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.81-84
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• 2002

Activation energy value is different according to cement, admixture and water-cement ratio also the relation of age-temperature is as non-linear as activation energy value is large. So to make accurate explanation for the effect of temperature on concrete strength development property, it is necessary to investigation for activation energy value. This study compares activation energy value recommended by Freiesleben and ASTM with activation energy value obtained by consequence of mortar examination according to ASTM C 1074-93. As the result of this study, activation energy value obtained by the study is 37.19KJ/mol, and in case of activation energy value obtained by the study explain temperature's influence about concrete strength development more accurate than activation energy value recommend by Freiesleben and ASTM.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.711-725
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the behavior and the strength of SRG (Steel Reinforced Grout) externally strengthened Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams by using a nonlinear numerical analysis. The numerical simulation was carried out by using a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model. An interface element with a suitable damage model was used to model the connection between concrete surface and SRG reinforcing layer. The reliability of the finite element 3D-model was checked using experimental data obtained on a set of three RC beams. The parameters taken into consideration were the external configuration, with or without U-end anchorages, the concrete strength, the amount of internal tensile steel reinforcement. Conclusions were made concerning the strength and the ductility of the strengthened beams by varying the parameters and on the effectiveness of the SRG reinforcing system applied with two types of external strengthening configuration.