• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.221-241
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• 2022

Perfobond rib connectors are widely used in composite structures to achieve the composite action between the steel and the concrete, and empirical expressions for their strength and secant stiffness have been obtained by numerical simulations or push-out tests. Since perfobond connections are generally in an elastic state in the service process and the structural analysis are always based on the elastic properties of the members, the secant stiffness is not applicable for the normal structural analysis. However, the tangent stiffness of perfobond connections has not been introduced in previous studies. Moreover, the perfobond connections are bearing tension and shear force simultaneously when the composite beams subjected to torque or local loads, but the current studies fail to arrive at the elastic stiffness considering the combined effects. To resolve these discrepancies, this paper investigates the initial elastic stiffness of perfobond connections under combined forces. The calculation method for the elastic stiffness of perfobond connections is analyzed, and the contributions of the perfobond rib, the perforating rebar and the concrete dowel are investigated. A finite element method was verified with a high value of correlation for the test results. Afterwards, parametric studies are carried out using the reliable finite element analysis to explore the trends of several factors. Empirical equations for predicting the initial elastic stiffness of perfobond connections are proposed by the numerical regression of the data extracted by parametric studies. The equations agree well with finite element analysis and test results, which indicates that the proposed empirical equations reflect a high accuracy for predicting the initial elastic stiffness of perfobond connections.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.483-496
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• 2010

This work deals with the determination of crack openings in 2D reinforced concrete structures using the Finite Element Method with a smeared rotating crack model or an embedded crack model. In the smeared crack model, the strong discontinuity associated with the crack is spread throughout the finite element. As is well known, the continuity of the displacement field assumed for these models is incompatible with the actual discontinuity. However, this type of model has been used extensively due to the relative computational simplicity it provides by treating cracks in a continuum framework, as well as the reportedly good predictions of reinforced concrete members' structural behavior. On the other hand, by enriching the displacement field within each finite element crossed by the crack path, the embedded crack model is able to describe the effects of actual discontinuities (cracks). This paper presents a comparative study of the abilities of these 2D models in predicting the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete structures. Structural responses are compared with experimental results from the literature, including crack patterns, crack openings and rebar stresses predicted by both models.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.69 no.3
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• pp.269-281
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• 2019

This work addresses a three-dimensional nonlinear structural analysis of the constructive phases of a cable-stayed segmental concrete bridge using The Finite Element Method through ANSYS, version 14.5. New subroutines have been added to ANSYS via its UPF customization tool to implement viscoelastoplastic constitutive equations with cracking capability to model concrete's structural behavior. This numerical implementation allowed the use of three-dimensional twenty-node quadratic elements (SOLID186) with the Element-Embedded Rebar model option (REINF264), conducting to a fast and efficient solution. These advantages are of fundamental importance when large structures, such as bridges, are modeled, since an increasing number of finite elements is demanded. After validating the subroutines, the bridge located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and known as "Ponte do Saber" (Bridge of Knowledge, in Portuguese), has been numerically modeled, simulating each of the constructive phases of the bridge. Additionally, the data obtained numerically is compared with the field data collected from monitoring conducted during the construction of the bridge, showing good agreement.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.4504-4517
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• 2023

After a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) in the prestressed concrete containment vessels (PCCVs) of nuclear power plants, the coupling of temperature and pressure can significantly affect the mechanical properties of the PCCVs. However, there is no consensus on how this coupling affects the failure mechanism of PCCVs. In this paper, a simplified finite element modeling method is proposed to study the effect of temperature and pressure coupling on PCCVs. The experiment results of a 1:4 scale PCCV model tested at Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) are compared with the results obtained from the proposed modeling approach. Seven working conditions are set up by varying the internal and external temperatures to investigate the failure mechanism of the PCCV model under the coupling effect of temperature and pressure. The results of this paper demonstrate that the finite element model established by the simplified finite element method proposed in this paper is highly consistent with the experimental results. Furthermore, the stress-displacement curve of the PCCV during loading can be divided into four stages, each of which corresponds to the damage to the concrete, steel liner, steel rebar, and prestressing tendon. Finally, the failure mechanism of the PCCV is significantly affected by temperature.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.249-257
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to contribute to the field application cost effectively and reasonably by developing the functional piles that make up for the defects of PHC piles. CFP (Concrete Filled Pretensioned Spun High Strength Concrete Pile with Ring type Composite shear connectors) piles developed in this study increases the compressive stress through enlarged cross section by rearranging composite shear connectors and filling the hollow part of PHC pile with concrete. And it improved shear and bending performance placing the rebar (H13-8ea) within the PHC pile and the hollow part of PHC pile of rebar (H19-8ea). In addition, the composite shear connectors were placed for the composite behavior between PHC pile and filled concrete. Placing Rebars (H13-8ea) of PHC pile into composite shear connector holes are sleeve-type mechanical coupling method that filling the concrete to the gap of the two members. Nonlinear finite element analyzes were performed to verify the performance of shear and bending moments and it deduced the spacing of the composite shear connectors. Through a various interpretation of CFP piles, it's proved that the CFP pile can increase the shear and bending stiffness of the PHC pile effectively. Therefore, this can be utilized usefully on the construction sites.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.78 no.5
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• pp.599-610
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• 2021

Early detection of small concrete crack or reinforcement corrosion is necessary for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Global vibration based methods are advantageous over local methods because of simple equipment installation and cost efficiency. Among vibration based techniques, FRF based methods are preferred over modal based methods. In this study, a new coupled method using frequency response function (FRF) and proper orthogonal modes (POM) is proposed by using the dynamic characteristic of a damaged beam. For the numerical simulation, wave finite element (WFE), coupled with traditional finite element (FE) method is used for effectively incorporating the damage related information and faster computation. As reported in literature, hybrid combination of wave function based wave finite element method and shape function based finite element method can addresses the mid frequency modelling difficulty as it utilises the advantages of both the methods. It also reduces the dynamic matrix dimension. The algorithms are implemented on a three-dimensional reinforced concrete beam. Damage is modelled and studied for two scenarios, i.e., crack in concrete and rebar corrosion. Single and multiple damage locations with different damage length are also considered. The proposed methodology is found to be very sensitive to both single- and multiple- damage while being computationally efficient at the same time. It is observed that the detection of damage due to corrosion is more challenging than that of concrete crack. The similarity index obtained from the damage parameters shows that it can be a very effective indicator for appropriately indicating initiation of damage in concrete structure in the form of spread corrosion or invisible crack.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.393-398
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• 2000

To use concrete box culverts effectively, precast goods are manufactured at a factory, then linked and anchored with prestressing tendon at a field. However, the corrosion of rebar and prestressing tendon in the box culverts utilizing portland cement concrete is issued when the cracks occur at a underground water level. It has been reported that reported that expansive concrete, compared with portland cement concrete, has many structural advantages such as increasing capacity of watertight, controling initial crack and improving durability due to its property of expansion. During flexure test with RC beam made from expansive concrete, in the case of a constant section of concrete element, the lower steel ratio is, and in the case of a constant steel ratio, the more incremental the section of concrete element, the more incremental the amount of chemical prestress by expansive concrete is. At the segment of the box culverts using expansive concrete, the numbers of crack and its gap is reduced, and ultimate load and initial crack load is much larger than the segment at which expansive concrete is nor used. Also lay-out of tendon with a curvature generate upward force so that deflection is reduced. Through the whole procedure, it could be confirmed that performance precast box culvert by means of using expansive concrete is improved.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.369-384
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• 2005

The main objectives of this paper are to demonstrate the feasibility of using newly developed smart GFRP reinforcements to effectively monitor reinforced concrete beams subjected to flexural and creep loads, and to develop non-linear numerical models to predict the behavior of these beams. The smart glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) rebars are fabricated using a modified pultrusion process, which allows the simultaneous embeddement of Fabry-Perot fiber-optic sensors within them. Two beams are subjected to static and repeated loads (until failure), and a third one is under long-term investigation for assessment of its creep behavior. The accuracy and reliability of the strain readings from the embedded sensors are verified by comparison with corresponding readings from surface attached electrical strain gages. Nonlinear finite element modeling of the smart concrete beams is subsequently performed. These models are shown to be effective in predicting various parameters of interest such as crack patterns, failure loads, strains and stresses. The strain values computed by these numerical models agree well with corresponding readings from the embedded fiber-optic sensors.

• Multiscale and Multiphysics Mechanics
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.143-156
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• 2016

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures require advanced analysis techniques for better estimation of their seismic responses, especially in the case of exhibiting complex three-dimensional coupling of torsional and flexural behaviors. This study focuses on validating a numerical approach for evaluating the seismic response of a three-dimensional unsymmetrical RC structure through the participation in the SMART 2013 international benchmark program. The benchmark program provides material properties, detailed drawings of the RC structure, and input ground motions for the seismic response evaluation. In this study, nonlinear constitutive models of concrete and rebar were formed and local tests were conducted to verify the constitutive models in finite element analysis. Elastic calibration of the finite element model of the SMART 2013 RC structure was performed by comparing numerical and experimental results in modal and linear time history analyses. Using the calibrated model, nonlinear earthquake analysis and seismic fragility analysis were performed to estimate the behavior and vulnerability of the RC structure with various ground motions.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.201-211
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• 2011

Many reinforced concrete structures have been constructed at the offshore in Korea and those are exposed in environments for long period. Due to that, the reinforcement of the structure faces possibility of corrosion by the salt damage. Such corrosions are effects on the bond performance between concrete and reinforcing bar as well as the performance of the structure. In this study, the performance of RC structure has been investigated when the reinforcing bars are totally bonded and unbonded in the structure. Through the experimental tests and finite element analyses of beam-column joint with bond and unbonded reinforcing bar, the energy dissipation capacity, strength, and crack distribution are compared and discussed.