• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-122
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• 2010

Corrosion of prestressing tendons and wire fractures in grouted post-tensioned prestressed concrete bridges have been considered as a serious safety problem. In bridge evaluation the condition of prestressing tendons should be inspected, and if corroded tendons are found, the loss of tendon area should be included when we calculate the ultimate strength. In the previous study, it was evaluated that continuous acoustic monitoring techniques could be considered as a reliable non-destructive method for detecting wire fractures of fully grouted post-tensioned prestressing tendons. In the present study, an experimental test was performed for detecting wire fractures of post-tensioned prestressing tendons which are prestressed lower than current design level. A 10 m prestressed concrete beam was fabricated, which included two tendons prestressed 66 percentage and 40 percentage of tensile strength, respectively. The corrosion of two tendons was induced by an accelerated corrosion equipment and the test beam was monitored by using seven acoustic sensors and a continuous acoustic monitoring system. From each prestressing tendon, two acoustic signals of wire fractures were successfully detected and source locations were estimated within 20 mm error. Based on the test results, it is considered that continuous acoustic monitoring techniques can be applied to detect low-prestressed wire fracture in fully grouted post-tensioned prestressed concrete beams.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.943-957
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• 2014

When subjected to fatigue loading, the main failure mode of partially prestressed concrete (PPC) structure is the fatigue fracture of tensile reinforcement. Therefore, monitoring and evaluation of the steel stresses/strains in the structure are essential issues for structural design and healthy assessment. The current study experimentally investigates the possibility of using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors to measure the steel strains in PPC beams in the process of fatigue loading. Six full-scale post-tensioned PPC beams were exposed to fatigue loading. Within the beams, the FBG and resistance strain gauge (RSG) sensors were independently bonded onto the surface of tensile reinforcements. A good agreement was found between the recorded results from the two different sensors. Moreover, FBG sensors show relatively good resistance to fatigue loading compared with RSG sensors, indicating that FBG sensors possess the capability for long-term health monitoring of the tensile reinforcement in PPC structures. Apart from the above findings, it can also be found that during the fatigue loading, there is stress redistribution between prestressed and non-prestressed reinforcements, and the residual strain emerges in the non-prestressed reinforcement. This phenomenon can bring about an increase of the steel stress in the non-prestressed reinforcement.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.379-391
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• 2024

The ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) mixed with hybrid fibers has excellent mechanical properties and durability, and the hybrid fibers have a certain impact on the bearing capacity, deformation capacity, and crack propagation of beams. Many scholars have conducted a series of studies on the bending performance of prestressed UHPC beams, but there are few studies on prestressed UHPC beams mixed with hybrid fibers. In this study, five bonded post-tensioned partially prestressed UHPC beams mixed with steel fibers and macro-polyolefin fibers were poured and subjected to four-points symmetric loading bending tests. The effects of different prestressing degrees and prestressing levels on the load-deflection curves, crack propagation, failure modes and ultimate bearing capacity of beams were discussed. The results showed that flexural failure occurred in the prestressed UHPC beams with hybrid fibers, and the integrity of specimens was good. When the prestressing degree was the same, the higher the prestressing level, the better the crack resistance capacity of UHPC beams; When the prestressing level was 90%, increasing the prestressing degree was beneficial to improve the crack resistance and ultimate bearing capacity of UHPC beams. When the prestressing degree increased from 0.41 to 0.59, the cracking load and ultimate load increased by 66.0% and 41.4%, respectively, but the ductility decreased by 61.2%. Based on the plane section assumption and considering the bridging effect of short fibers, the cracking moment and ultimate bearing moment were calculated, with good agreement between the test and calculated values.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.627-641
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• 2024

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study to investigate the behavior of the precast segmental concrete beams (PSCBs) utilizing high-strength concrete (HSC) connected in the zone of the maximum bending moment using steel extended endplate connections (EECs). The experimental study consisted of five beams as follows: The first beam was the control beam for comparison, which was an unconnected one-piece beam made of HSC. The other four other beams consisted of two identical pieces of precast concrete. An important point to be noted is that at the end of each piece, a steel plate was used with a thickness of 10 mm. Moreover, this steel plate was welded to the lower and upper reinforcing bars of the beam. Furthermore, the steel plate was made to connect the two pieces using the technique of EECs. Several variables were taken in these four beams, whether from the shape of the connection or enhancing the behavior of the connection using the post-tensioning technique. EECs without stiffeners were used for some of the tested beams. The behavior of these connections was improved using stiffeners and shear bolts. To get accurate results, a comparison was made between the behaviors of the five beams. Another important point to be noted is that Abaqus and SAP2000 programs were used to investigate the behavior of PSCBs and to ensure the accuracy of the modeling process which showed a good agreement with the experimental results. Additionally, the simplified modeling using SAP2000 was able to model the nonlinear behavior of PSCBs connected using steel EECs. It was found that the steel pre-tensioned bolted EECs, reinforced with steel stiffeners and shear anchors, could be used to connect the precast HSC segmental beams via the internal pre-stressing technique.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.843-854
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• 2013

This paper presents experimental research work for the evaluation of ultimate flexural behaviors of prestressed concrete beams with a corroded tendon. In order to evaluate the effects of loss of prestress or loss of tendon area on the ultimate flexural strength of prestressed concrete beams, static load tests are conducted using five prestressed concrete beams. After exposing prestressing tendons in two test beams using 25mm drill bit, the exposed tendons were corroded using an accelerating corrosion equipment to simulate loss of tendon area. During the tests, steel strains, concrete strains and displacements at the center of test beams were measured, and acoustic emission measurements were conducted to detect wire fractures. Based on the test results, evaluation method for predicting flexural strength of prestressed concrete beams with corroded tendons is investigated. In addition, evaluation methods for predicting the existence of corroded tendons in post-tensioned prestressed concrete beams at service loads are discussed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.627-645
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• 2014

Using OpenSees as a framework, constitutive models of reinforced, prestressed and prestressed steel fiber concrete found by the panel tests have been implemented into a finite element program called Simulation of Concrete Structures (SCS) to predict the seismic behavior of shear-critical reinforced and prestressed concrete structures. The developed finite element program was validated by tests on prestressed steel fiber concrete beams under monotonic loading, post tensioned precast concrete column under reversed cyclic loading, framed shear walls under reversed cyclic loading or shaking table excitations, and a seven-story wall building under shake table excitations. The comparison of analytical results with test outcomes indicates good agreement.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.371-381
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• 2019

A hybrid prestressed segmental concrete (HPSC) girder utilizing low carbon materials was developed in this paper. This paper introduces the hybrid prestressing concept of pre-tensioning the center segment and assembling all segments by post-tensioning, as well as the development process of the low carbon HPSC girder. First, an optimized mix proportion of 60 MPa high strength concrete containing high volume blast furnace slag was developed, then its mechanical properties and durability characteristics were evaluated. Second, the mechanical properties of 2,400 MPa high strength prestressing strands and the transfer length characteristics in pre-tensioned prestressed concrete beams were evaluated. Third, using those low carbon materials and the hybrid prestressing concept, the HPSC girders were manufactured, and their structural performance was evaluated. A 30-m long HPSC girder for highway bridges and a 35-m long HPSC girder for railway bridges were designed, manufactured, and structurally confirmed as having sufficient strength and safety. Finally, five 35-m long HPSC girders were successfully applied to an actual railway bridge for the first time.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.13 no.3 s.55
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• pp.181-187
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• 2009

This paper is to investigate about a new technique (Bow system) which is to develop the disadvantages of the external post-tensioned method. The purpose of this paper is to analyze about the prestress loss when the loads apply along the long term and to improve the capacity of the members strengthened by Bow system. The variables in the test program are the span/depth ratio, the amount of tendon area. And the test was carried out to confirm the long term behaviour. It is shown that can apply the current code in the design, and have no the structural problems about the prestress loss.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.319-328
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• 2010

Bonded tendons have been used in reactor buildings at some operating nuclear power plants in Korea. Assessing prestress force on these bonded tendons has become an important pending problem in efforts to assure continued operation beyond their design life. The System Identification (SI) technique was thus developed to improve upon the existing indirect assessment technique for bonded tendons. As a first step, this study analyzed the sensitivity of the key parameters to prestress force, and then determined the optimal parameters for the SI technique. A total of six scaled post-tensioned concrete beams with bonded tendons were manufactured. In order to investigate the correlation of the natural frequency and the displacement to prestress force, an impact test, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) sine sweep test, and a bending test using an optical fiber sensor and compact displacement transducer were carried out. These tests found that both the natural frequency and the displacement show a good correlation with prestress force and that both parameters are available for the SI technique to predict prestress force. However, displacements by the optical fiber sensor and compact displacement transducer were shown to be more sensitive than the natural frequency to prestress force. Such displacements are more useful than the natural frequency as an input parameter for the SI technique.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.613-625
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• 2016

The joints of the new prefabricated concrete assemble beam-column joints are put together by the hybrid joints of inserting steel under post-tensioned and non-prestressed force and both beams and columns adopt prefabricated components. The low cyclic loading test has been performed on seven test specimens of beam-column joints. Based on the experimental result, the rotation capacity of the joints is studied and the $M-{\theta}$ relation curve is obtained. According to Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures and based on the initial rotational stiffness, the joints are divided into three types; by equivalent bending-resistant stiffness to the precast beam, the equivalent modulus of elasticity $E_e$ is elicited with the superposition method; the beam length is figured out that satisfies the rigid joints and after meeting the requirements of application and safety, the new prefabricated concrete assemble beam-column joints can be regarded as the rigid joints; the design formula adopted by the standard of concrete joint classification is theoretically derived, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the new prefabricated concrete structure.