• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2010

This paper presents a prestress-loss monitoring technique for prestressed concrete (PSC) girder structures that uses a vibration-based system identification method. First, the theoretical backgrounds of the prestress-loss monitoring technique and the system identification technique are presented. Second, vibration tests are performed on a lab-scaled PSC girder for which the modal parameter was measured for several prestress-force cases. A numerical modal analysis is performed by using an initial finite element (FE) model from the geometric, material, and boundary conditions of the lab-scaled PSC girder. Third, a vibration-based system identification is performed to update the FE model by identifying structural parameters since the natural frequency of the FE model became identical to the experimental results. Finally, the feasibility of the prestress-loss monitoring technique is evaluated for the PSC girder model by using the experimentally measured natural frequency and numerically identified natural frequency for several prestress-force cases.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.343-356
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• 2016

As the common cast-in-place construction works fails to meet the enormous construction demand under rapid economic growth, the development of prefabricated structure instead becomes increasingly promising in China. For the prefabricated structure, its load carrying connection joint play a key role in maintaining the structural integrity. Therefore, a novel end plate bolt connecting joint between fully prefabricated pre-stressed concrete beam and high-strength reinforcement-confined concrete column was proposed. Under action of low cycle repeated horizontal loadings, comparative tests are conducted on 6 prefabricated pre-stressed intermediate joint specimens and 1 cast-in-place joint specimen to obtain the specimen failure modes, hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, ductility factor, stiffness degradation and energy dissipation capacity and other seismic indicators, and the seismic characteristics of the new-type prefabricated beam-column connecting joint are determined. The test results show that all the specimens for end plate bolt connecting joint between fully prefabricated pre-stressed concrete beam and high-strength reinforcement-confined concrete column have realized the design objectives of strong column weak beam. The hysteretic curves for specimens are good, indicating desirable ductility and energy dissipation capacity and seismic performances, and the research results provide theoretical basis and technical support for the promotion and application of prefabricated assembly frames in the earthquake zone.

• 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.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.18 no.4 s.70
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• pp.335-345
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• 2005

This paper concentrates on the nonlinear analysis of prestressed concrete (PSC) containment structures. Unlike a commercialized program which adopts the perfect bond assumption between concrete and tendon in the analysis of PSC structures, a numerical algorithm to consider the slip effect, simultaneously with the use of commercialized programs such as DIANA and ABAQUS, is introduced in this paper For bonded tendons, the apparent yield stress of an embedded tendon is determined from the bond slip relationship. And for unbonded tendons, Correction for the strength and stiffness of unbonded internal tendons is achieved on the basis of an iteration scheme derived from the slip behavior of tendon along the entire length. Finally, the developed algorithm is applied to two PSC containment structures of PWR and CANDU to verify its efficiency and applicability in simulating the structural behavior of large complex structures, and the obtained result shows that both containment structures represent the ultimate pressure capacity larger than about 3 times of the design pressure.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.241-253
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• 2016

Depending on the researcher, the effect of prestressing on the natural frequency of a PSC (prestressed concrete) structure appear to have been interpreted differently. Most laboratory tests on PSC beams available showed that the natural frequency is increased appreciably by prestressing. On the other hand, some other references based on field experience argued that the dynamic response of a PSC structure does not change regardless of the prestressing applied. Therefore, the deduced conclusions are inconsistent. Because an experiment with and without prestressing is a difficult task on a full size PSC bridge, the change in natural frequency of a PSC bridge due to prestressing may not be examined through field measurements. The study examined analytically the effects of prestressing on the natural frequency of PSC bridges. A finite element program for an undamped dynamic motion of a beam-tendon system was developed with additional geometric stiffness. The analytical results confirm that a key parameter in changing the natural frequency due to prestressing is the relative ratio of prestressing to the total weight of the structure rather than the prestressing itself.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.145-148
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• 2008

Recently, most of the international design code for concrete structures are trying to develope performance-based design specification with the limit state concept. To accomplish this object, it is necessary to define required performance and to measure the performance level of structure. The reliability index is one of the most attractive indexes to express the level of performance. In this paper, prestressed concrete beam is designed following member resistance factor and material resistance factor format and the reliability indexes are obtained and compared for different sets of resistance factors. Compatible sets of safety factors could be calibrated for given level of target reliability index applying the similar method presented in this paper.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.77 no.6
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• pp.705-720
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• 2021

Reinforced concrete (RC) columns are the primary type of vertical support used in building structures that sustain vertical loads. However, their strength may be insufficient due to fire, earthquake or volatile environments. The load demand may be increased due to new functional usages of the structure. The deformability of concrete columns can be greatly reduced under high axial load conditions. In response, a novel steel encasement that distinguishes from the traditional steel jacketing that is assembled by welding or bolt is developed. This novel strengthening method features easy installation and quick strengthening because direct fastening is used to connect the four steel plates surrounding the column. This new connection method is usually used to quickly and stably connect two steel components by driving high strength fastener into the steel components. The connections together with the steel plates behave like transverse reinforcement, which can provide passive confinement to the concrete. The confined column along with the steel plates resist the axial load. By this way, the axial load capacity and deformability of the column can be enhanced. Eight columns are tested to examine the reliability and effectiveness of the proposed method. The effects of the vertical spacing between adjacent connections, thickness of the steel plate and number of fasteners in each connection are studied to identify the critical parameters which affect the load bearing performance and deformation behavior. Lastly, a theoretical model is proposed for predicting the axial load capacity of the strengthened RC columns.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.1A
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• pp.147-154
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to critically evaluate the structural performance of an innovative new shear resistance connecting structure of precast member. Joints such as shear resistance connecting structure require special attention when designing and constructing precast segmental structures. An experimental and analytical study was conducted to quantify performance measures and examine one aspect of detailing for developed shear resistance connecting structure. A computer program, named RCAHEST (Reinforced Concrete Analysis in Higher Evaluation System Technology), for the analysis of reinforced concrete structures was used. A joint element is used to predict the inelastic behavior of the joints between segmental members. Future work by the authors will do a model test of precast segmental prestressed concrete bridge columns with this shear resistance connecting structure, and examined both the structural behavior and seismic performance.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.387-400
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• 1999

Damage detection in civil engineering structures using the change in dynamic system parameters has gained a lot of scientific interest during the last decade. By repeating a dynamic test on a structure after a certain time of use, the change in modal parameters can be used to quantify and qualify damages. To be able to use the modal parameters confidentially for damage evaluation, the effect of other parameters such as excitation type, ambient conditions,... should be considered. In this paper, the influence of excitation type on the dynamic system parameters of a highway prestressed concrete bridge is investigated. The bridge, B13, lies between the villages Vilvoorde and Melsbroek and crosses the highway E19 between Brussels and Antwerpen in Belgium. A drop weight and ambient vibration are used to excite the bridge and the response at selected points is recorded. A finite element model is constructed to support and verify the dynamic measurements. It is found that the difference between the natural frequencies measured using impact weight and ambient vibration is in general less than 1%.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2009.04a
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• pp.425-428
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• 2009

This paper presents a sensitivity-based finite element (FE)-model update procedure for prestressed concrete (PSC) girder bridge model using vibration test results. Firstly, the stiffness parameters of the structure such as flexural rigidity of concrete and flexural rigidity of tendon are chosen as updating parameters. Next, the numerical frequencies of first two bending modes are calculated using a three-dimensional FE model which is established for the PSC girder. Then, the corresponding experimental frequencies which are obtained from forced vibration tests are selected. In order to perform the model update, the eigensensitivity-based method is employed. Finally, the effect of prestress-loss on the stiffness parameters is evaluated.