• International Journal of Safety
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.26-28
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• 2012

In this thesis, fracture tests were carried out in order to investigate the flexural strength behavior of FRC(fiber reinforced concrete) structures. FRC beams were used in the tests, the initial crack load and the ultimate load of the beams were observed under the static loading. According to the results, the ultimate loads increase with the fiber content, and these tendency is clear in the specimens with large fiber aspect ratio. From the results of the regression analysis, practical formulae for predicting the flexural strength of FRC were suggested.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.141-148
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• 2019

In this study, a well-established model and a new simplified version of it, that help avoid collapses in reinforced concrete structures during strong earthquakes, are presented and discussed. Using this model, the initial formation of plastic hinges and the final concentration of the damages only in beams are accurately assured. The model also assures that the columns and the beam-column joints can remain intact. This model can be applied for the design of modern R/C structures, as well as for the design of strengthening schemes of old R/C structures by the use of reinforced concrete jackets. The model can also predict the form of earthquake damages in old structures but also earthquake damages in the modern structures.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제48권5호
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• pp.681-695
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• 2013

Performance-based seismic design allows a structure to develop inelastic response during earthquakes. This modern seismic design requires more clearly defined levels of inelastic response. The ultimate deformation of a structure without total collapse (target displacement) is used to obtain the inelastic deformation capacity (inelastic performance). The inelastic performance of a structure indicates its performance under excitation. In this study, a new energy-based method to obtain the target displacement for reinforced concrete frames under cyclic loading is proposed. Concrete structures were analyzed using nonlinear static (pushover) analysis and cyclic loading. Failure of structures under cyclic loading was controlled and the new method was tested to obtain target displacement. In this method, the capacity energy absorption of the structures for both pushover and cyclic analyses were considered to be equal. The results were compared with FEMA-356, which confirmed the accuracy of the proposed method.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.37-60
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• 2008

Structural health monitoring of existing infrastructure is currently an important field of research, where elaborate experimental programs and advanced analytical methods are used in identifying the current state of health of critical and important structures. The paper outlines two methods of system identification of beam-like reinforced concrete structures representing bridges, through static measurements, in a distributed damage scenario. The first one is similar to the stiffness method, re-cast and the second one to flexibility method. A least square error (LSE) based solution method is used for the estimation of flexural rigidities and damages of simply supported, cantilever and propped cantilever beam from the measured deformation values. The performance of both methods in the presence of measurement errors is demonstrated. An experiment on an un-symmetrically damaged simply supported reinforced concrete beam is used to validate the developed method. A method for damage prognosis is demonstrated using a generalized, indeterminate, propped cantilever beam.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.761-786
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• 2016

This paper proposes an automated procedure for optimum seismic design of reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures. This procedure combines a smart pre-processing using a Tree Classification Method (TCM) and a nonlinear optimization technique. First, the TCM automatically creates sections database and assigns sections to structural members. Subsequently, a real valued model of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed in solving the optimization problem. Numerical examples on design optimization of three low- to high-rise RC frame structures under earthquake loads are presented with and without considering strong column-weak beam (SCWB) constraint. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the TCMin seismic design optimization of the structures.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.329-338
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• 2022

This work addresses the optimization controller design problem combining the AI evolution bat (EB) optimization algorithm with a fuzzy controller in the practical application of a reinforced concrete frame structure. This article explores the use of an intelligent EB strategy to reduce the dynamic response of Lead Rubber Bearing (LRB) composite reinforced concrete frame structures. Recently developed control units for plant structures, such as hybrid systems and semi-active systems, have inherently non-linear properties. Therefore, it is necessary to develop non-linear control methods. Based on the relaxation method, the nonlinear structural system can be stabilized by properly adjusting the parameters. Therefore, the behavior of a closed-loop system can be accurately predicted by determining the behavior of a closed-loop system. The performance and durability of the proposed control method are demonstrated by numerical simulations. The simulation results show that the proposed method is a viable and feasible control strategy for seismically tuned composite reinforced concrete frame structures.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.115-122
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• 2008

Ductility is important in the design of reinforced concrete structures. In seismic design of reinforced concrete members, it is necessary to allow for relatively large ductility so that the seismic energy is absorbed to avoid shear failure or significant degradation of strength even after yielding of reinforcing steels in the concrete member occurs. Therefore, prediction of the ductility should be as accurate as possible. The principal aim of this paper is to present the basic data for the ductility evaluation of reinforced high-strength concrete beams. Accordingly, 23 flexural tests were conducted on full-scale structural concrete beam specimens having concrete compressive strength of 40, 60, and 70MPa. The test results were then reviewed in terms of flexural capacity and ductility. The effect of concrete compressive strength, web reinforcement ratio, tension steel ratio, and shear span to beam depth ratio on ductility were investigated experimentally.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.756-765
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• 2015

Background: Fibers have been used in cement mixture to improve its toughness, ductility, and tensile strength, and to enhance the cracking and deformation characteristics of concrete structural members. The addition of fibers into conventional reinforced concrete can enhance the structural and functional performances of safety-related concrete structures in nuclear power plants. Methods: The effects of steel and polyamide fibers on the shear resisting capacity of a prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) were investigated in this study. For a comparative evaluation between the shear performances of structural walls constructed with conventional concrete, steel fiber reinforced concrete, and polyamide fiber reinforced concrete, cyclic tests for wall specimens were conducted and hysteretic models were derived. Results: The shear resisting capacity of a PCCV constructed with fiber reinforced concrete can be improved considerably. When steel fiber reinforced concrete contains hooked steel fibers in a volume fraction of 1.0%, the maximum lateral displacement of a PCCV can be improved by > 50%, in comparison with that of a conventional PCCV. When polyamide fiber reinforced concrete contains polyamide fibers in a volume fraction of 1.5%, the maximum lateral displacement of a PCCV can be enhanced by ~40%. In particular, the energy dissipation capacity in a fiber reinforced PCCV can be enhanced by > 200%. Conclusion: The addition of fibers into conventional concrete increases the ductility and energy dissipation of wall structures significantly. Fibers can be effectively used to improve the structural performance of a PCCV subjected to strong ground motions. Steel fibers are more effective in enhancing the shear performance of a PCCV than polyamide fibers.

• Computers and Concrete
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.253-270
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• 2013

The aim of the present paper is to show the application of optimization strategies for the cost of beams in reinforced concrete buildings and to propose pre-sizing parameters. In order for these goals to be met, an optimization software program was developed. The program combines the analysis of structures by the grid model, reinforced concrete sizing, and the simulated annealing optimization heuristic. Sizing is compliant with the NBR 6118 (2007) Brazilian standard, according to which flexural, shearing, torsion, and web reinforcements and serviceability limit states (deflection and crack width limitation) are checked. Besides the dimensions of the situations mentioned above, the influence the cost of each material (steel, concrete and formwork) has on the overall cost of structures was also determined.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• 제8권3호
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• pp.165-172
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• 2019

Progressive collapse is one of the factors which if not predicted at the time of structure plan; its occurrence will lead to catastrophic damages. Through having a glance over important structures chronicles in the world, we will notice that the reason of their collapse is a minor damage in structure caused by an accident like a terrorist attack, smashing a vehicle, fire, gas explosion, construction flaws and its expanding. Progressive collapse includes expanding rudimentary rupture from one part to another which leads to total collapse of a structure or a major part it. This study examines the progressive collapse of a 5-story concrete building with three column eliminating scenarios, including the removal of the corner, side and middle columns with the ABAQUS software. Then the beams and the bottom of the concrete slab were reinforced by (reinforcement of carbon fiber reinforced polymer) FRP and then the structure was re-analyzed. The results of the analysis show that the reinforcement of carbon fiber reinforced polymer sheets is one of the effective ways to rehabilitate and reduce the progressive collapse in concrete structures.