• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.867-882
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• 2022

Predicting the compressive strength of concrete (CSoC) is of high significance in civil engineering. The CSoC is a highly dependent and non-linear parameter that requires powerful models for its simulation. In this work, two novel optimization techniques, namely evaporation rate-based water cycle algorithm (ER-WCA) and equilibrium optimizer (EO) are employed for optimally finding the parameters of a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural processor. The efficiency of these techniques is examined by comparing the results of the ensembles to a conventionally trained MLP. It was observed that the ER-WCA and EO optimizers can enhance the training accuracy of the MLP by 11.18 and 3.12% (in terms of reducing the root mean square error), respectively. Also, the correlation of the testing results climbed from 78.80% to 82.59 and 80.71%. From there, it can be deduced that both ER-WCA-MLP and EO-MLP can be promising alternatives to the traditional approaches. Moreover, although the ER-WCA enjoys a larger accuracy, the EO was more efficient in terms of complexity, and consequently, time-effectiveness.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.64 no.2
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• pp.155-171
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• 2017

This paper presents a proposed method for producing reinforced composite concrete columns reinforced with various types of metallic and non metallic mesh reinforcement. The experimental program includes casting and testing of twelve square columns having the dimensions of $100mm{\times}100mm{\times}1000mm$ under concentric compression loadings. The test samples comprise all designation specimens to make comparative study between conventionally reinforced concrete column and concrete columns reinforced with welded steel mesh, expanded steel mesh, fiber glass mesh and tensar mesh. The main variables are the type of innovative reinforcing materials, metallic or non metallic, the number of layers and volume fraction of reinforcement. The main objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of employing the new innovative materials in reinforcing the composite concrete columns. The results of an experimental investigation to examine the effectiveness of these produced columns are reported and discussed including strength, deformation, cracking, and ductility properties. Non-linear finite element analysis; (NLFEA) was carried out to simulate the behavior of the reinforced concrete composite columns. The numerical model could agree the behavior level of the test results. ANSYS-10.0 Software. Also, parametric study is presented to look at the variables that can mainly affect the mechanical behaviors of the model such as the change of column dimensions. The results proved that new reinforced concrete columns can be developed with high strength, crack resistance, and high ductility properties using the innovative composite materials.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.214-222
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• 1973

The linear sequence method is expanded in such a way that it may be applied to the boundary problem with non terminal state condition and its possibility under the existence of a corresponding costate vector P(t) is found. For an application a couple of the concrete physical models are illustrated and examined the effect of the sequence.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.157-167
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• 1999

Among several non-destructive testing methods, ultrasonic pulse velocity method and rebound index method have been widely used for the evaluation of concrete strength. However, such methods might not provide accurate estimated results since factors influencing the relationship between strength and either ultrasonic pulse velocity or rebound index are not considered. In this paper, the evaluation method of concrete strength using rod-wave velocity measured by impact-resonance method is proposed. A basic equation is obtained by the linear regression of velocity vs, strength data at specific age and then, aging factor is employed in the equation to consider the difference of the increasing rate between wave velocity and strength. Strengths predicted by the proposed equation agree well with test results. Furthermore, the combined method of rod-wave velocity and rebound index is proposed.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.685-698
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• 2001

In this paper, a general method for the automatic search for Strut-and-Tie (S&T) models representative of possible resistant mechanisms in reinforced concrete elements is proposed. The representativeness criterion here adopted is inspired to the principle of minimum strain energy and requires the consistency of the model with a reference stress field. In particular, a highly indeterminate pin-jointed framework of a given layout is generated within the assigned geometry of the concrete element and an optimum truss is found by the minimisation of a suitable objective function. Such a function allows us to search the optimum truss according to a reference stress field deduced through a F.E.A. and assumed as representative of the given continuum. The theoretical principles and the mathematical formulation of the method are firstly explained; the search for a S&T model suitable for the design of a deep beam shows the method capability in handling the reference stress path. Finally, since the analysis may consider the structure as linear-elastic or cracked and non-linear in both the component materials, it is shown how the proposed procedure allows us to verify the possibilities of activation of the design model, oriented to the serviceability condition and deduced in the linear elastic field, by following the evolution of the resistant mechanisms in the cracked non-linear field up to the structural failure.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.395-405
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• 2018

In this paper, the performance of post-installed adhesive bonded anchor embedded in concrete is assessed using numerical simulations. This study aims at studying the influence of parameters on the performance of a chemically bonded anchorage system. Non-linear finite element modelling and simulations are carried out by properly using the material properties and phenomenon. Materials parameters such as characteristic length, fracture energy, damage criteria, tension retention and crack width of concrete and interface characteristics are carefully assigned so as to obtain a most realistic behaviour of the chemical anchor system. The peak strength of two different anchor systems obtained from present numerical studies is validated against experimental results. Furthermore, validated numerical models are used to study the load transferring mechanism and damage progression characteristics of various anchors systems where strength of concrete, strength of epoxy, and geometry and disposition of anchors are the parameters. The process of development of strain in concrete adjacent to the anchor and energy dissipated during the course of damage progression are analysed. Results show that the performance of the considered anchorage system is, though a combined effect of material and geometric parameters, but a clear distinction could be made on the parameters to achieve a desired performance based on strength, slip, strain development or dissipated energy. Inspite the increase in anchor capacity with increase in concrete strength, it brings some undesirable performance as well. Furthermore, the pullout capacity of the chemical anchor system increases with a decrease in disparity among the strength of concrete and epoxy.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.82 no.1
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• pp.121-131
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• 2022

The main goal of this study is to prepare a program for analyzing High Strength Steel Fibrous Reinforced Concrete (HSSFRC) slabs and predict the response and strength of the slab instead of preparing a prototype and testing it in the laboratory. For this purpose, new equations are proposed to represent the material properties of High Strength Steel Fibrous Reinforced Concrete. The proposed equations obtained from performing regression analysis on many experimental results using statistical programs. The finite element method is adopted for non-linear analysis of the slabs. The eight-node "Serendipity element" (3 DoF) is chosen to represent the concrete. The layered approach is adopted for concrete elements and the steel reinforcement is represented by a smeared layer. The compression properties of the concrete are modeled by a work hardening plasticity approach and the yield condition is determined depending on the first two stress invariants. A tensile strength criterion is adopted in order to estimate the cracks propagation. many experimental results for testing slabs are compared with the numerical results of the present study and a good agreement is achieved regarding load-deflection curves and crack pattern. The response of the load deflection curve is slightly stiff at the beginning because the creep effect is not considered in this study and for assuming perfect bond between the steel reinforcement and the concrete, however, a great agreement is achieved between the ultimate load from the present study and experimental results. For the models of the tension stiffening and cracked shear modulus, the value of Bg and Bt (Where Bg and Bt are the curvature factor for the cracked shear modulus and tension stiffening models respectively) equal to 0.005 give good results compared with experimental result.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.335-338
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• 2003

Flexural test and parametric study by FEM analysis on 6.0m long reinforced concrete beams strengthened by GFRP are reported in these tests. The selected variables are strengthened plate length, plate thickness. The effects of these variables are discussed. The results generally indicate that the flexural strength of strengthened beams is increased. The results of FEM analysis show that the more strengthening GFRP is the more stress of GFRP is decrease when failure mode is peeling failure.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.68 no.6
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• pp.747-760
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• 2018

In the present study, a methodology for developing fragilities of arch concrete dams to assess their performance against seismic hazards is introduced. Firstly, the probability risk and fragility curves are presented, followed by implementation and representation of the way this method is used. Amirkabir arch concrete dam was subjected to non-linear dynamic analyses. A modified three dimensional rotating smeared crack model was used to take the nonlinear behavior of mass concrete into account. The proposed model considers major characteristics of mass concrete. These characteristics are pre-softening behavior, softening initiation criteria, fracture energy conservation, suitable damping mechanism and strain rate effect. In the present analysis, complete fluid-structure interaction is included to account for appropriate fluid compressibility and absorptive reservoir boundary conditions. In this study, the Amirkabir arch concrete dam is subjected to a set of 8 three-component earthquakes each scaled to 10 increasing intensity levels. Using proposed nonlinear smeared crack model, nonlinear analysis is performed where the structure is subjected to a large set of scaled and un-scaled ground motions and the maximum responses are extracted for each one and plotted. Based on the results, fragility curves were plotted according to various and possible damages indexes. Discrete damage probabilities were calculated using statistical methods for each considered performance level and incremental nonlinear analysis. Then, fragility curves were constructed based on the lognormal distribution assumption. Two damage indexes were introduced and compared to one another. The results indicate that the dam has a proper stability under earthquake conditions at MCE level. Moreover, displacement damages index is more conservative and impractical in the fragility analysis than tensional damage index.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2022

Cracks are common defects in concrete structures. Thus far, crack inspection has been manually performed using the contact inspection method. This manpower-dependent method inevitably increases the cost and work hours. Various non-contact studies have been conducted to overcome such difficulties. However, previous studies have focused on developing a methodology for non-contact inspection or local quantitative detection of crack width or length on concrete surfaces. However, crack depth can affect the safety of concrete structures. In particular, although macrocrack depth is structurally fatal, it is difficult to find it with the existing method. Therefore, an experimental investigation based on non-contact infrared thermography and multivariate machine learning was performed in this study to estimate the hidden macrocrack depth. To consider practical applications for inspection, an experiment was conducted that considered the simulated piloting of an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with infrared thermography equipment. The crack depths (10-60 mm) were comparatively evaluated using linear regression, gradient boosting, and random forest (AI regression methods).