• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.401-404
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• 2004

In recent years, the use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to repair or strengthen existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures is increasing In order to evaluate the shear strengths of RC structures strengthened by FRP composites, it is needed to understand the shear failure modes of these structures. This paper presents a rational equation to distinguish the shear fail modes of RC structures strengthened by FRP composites using the compatibility aided truss models.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.171-177
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• 2005

A comprehensive framework for numerical simulation of time-dependent performance change of reinforced concrete (RC) structures subjected to chloride attack is presented in this paper. The system is composed of simplified computational models for transport of moisture and chloride ions in concrete pore structure and crack, corrosion of reinforcement in concrete and mechanical behavior of RC member with reinforcement corrosion. Service-life of RC structures under various conditions is calculated.

• Journal of the Korea institute for structural maintenance and inspection
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 2002

Severe cracks on Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures caused by structural displacement can be often one of the main reasons for the degradation of tensile and flexural rigidities of RC structures and for the deterioration of durability and serviceability of RC structures through accelerated steel corrosion. These combined factors adversely affect the performance of RC concrete, leading to shortened life time of RC structures. In consideration of these problems, we conducted 3 point bending experiments by employing three different types of concrete specimens: fiber-net reinforced concrete (FNRC), polypropylene-fiber reinforced concrete (PFRC), and plain concrete (PC). FNRC is well known for its strong corrosion resistance, light self-weight, and excellent tensile strength, while PFRC is known to be effective in crack control. FNRC was found to have the best first and final crack resistances followed by PFRC and PC, as evidenced by the highest initial crack load and the smallest final crack width, respectively. The FNRC specimens with various tensile strength of fiber net exhibited greater ultimate strengths than those for PFRC and PC. Furthermore, the crack widths of FNRC specimens were smaller than those calculated by the crack-width estimation equation of the KCI and ACI code. Therefore, we conclude that fiber net reinforcement is effective not only on crack control, but also on loading share.

• Interaction and multiscale mechanics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.69-89
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• 2009

Reinforced and prestressed concrete (RC and PC) thin walls are crucial to the safety and serviceability of structures subjected to shear. The shear strengths of elements in walls depend strongly on the softening of concrete struts in the principal compression direction due to the principal tension in the perpendicular direction. The past three decades have seen a rapid development of knowledge in shear of reinforced concrete structures. Various rational models have been proposed that are based on the smeared-crack concept and can satisfy Navier's three principles of mechanics of materials (i.e., stress equilibrium, strain compatibility and constitutive laws). The Cyclic Softened Membrane Model (CSMM) is one such rational model developed at the University of Houston, which is being efficiently used to predict the behavior of RC/PC structures critical in shear. CSMM for RC has already been implemented into finite element framework of OpenSees (Fenves 2005) to come up with a finite element program called Simulation of Reinforced Concrete Structures (SRCS) (Zhong 2005, Mo et al. 2008). CSMM for PC is being currently implemented into SRCS to make the program applicable to reinforced as well as prestressed concrete. The generalized program is called Simulation of Concrete Structures (SCS). In this paper, the CSMM for RC/PC in material scale is first introduced. Basically, the constitutive relationships of the materials, including uniaxial constitutive relationship of concrete, uniaxial constitutive relationships of reinforcements embedded in concrete and constitutive relationship of concrete in shear, are determined by testing RC/PC full-scale panels in a Universal Panel Tester available at the University of Houston. The formulation in element scale is then derived, including equilibrium and compatibility equations, relationship between biaxial strains and uniaxial strains, material stiffness matrix and RC plane stress element. Finally the formulated results with RC/PC plane stress elements are implemented in structure scale into a finite element program based on the framework of OpenSees to predict the structural behavior of RC/PC thin-walled structures subjected to earthquake-type loading. The accuracy of the multiscale modeling technique is validated by comparing the simulated responses of RC shear walls subjected to reversed cyclic loading and shake table excitations with test data. The response of a post tensioned precast column under reversed cyclic loads has also been simulated to check the accuracy of SCS which is currently under development. This multiscale modeling technique greatly improves the simulation capability of RC thin-walled structures available to researchers and engineers.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.1435-1452
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• 2015

The performance of masonry infilled frames during the past earthquakes shows that the infill panels play a major role as earthquake-resistant elements. Experimental observations regarding the influence of infill panels on increasing stiffness and strength of reinforced concrete structures reveal that such panels can be used in order to strengthen reinforced concrete frames. The present study examines the influence of infill panels on seismic behavior of RC frame structures. For this purpose, several low- and mid-rise RC frames (two-, four-, seven-, and ten story) were numerically investigated. Reinforced masonry infill panels were then placed within the frames and the models were subjected to several nonlinear incremental static and dynamic analyses. In order to determine the acceptance criteria and modeling parameters for frames as well as reinforced masonry panels, the Iranian Guideline for Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Masonry Buildings (Issue No. 376), the Iranian Guideline for Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Structures (Issue No. 360) and FEMA Guidelines (FEMA 273 and 356) were used. The results of analyses showed that the use of reinforced masonry infill panels in RC frame structures can have beneficial effects on structural performance. It was confirmed that the use of masonry infill panels results in an increment in strength and stiffness of the framed buildings, followed by a reduction in displacement demand for the structural systems.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.5
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• pp.419-437
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• 2023

The use of reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls (SW) as an efficient lateral load-carrying system has gained recent attention. However, creating openings in RC shear walls is unavoidable due to architectural requirements. This reduces the walls' strength and stiffness, resulting in the development of wall piers. In this study, the cyclic behavior of RC shear walls with openings, reinforced with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets in various patterns, was numerically investigated. Finite element analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS software was employed. Additionally, the retrofitting of sub-standard buildings (5, 10, and 15-story structures) designed based on the old and new versions of the Iranian Code of Practice for Seismic-Resistant Structures was evaluated. Nonlinear static analyses, specifically pushover analyses, were conducted on the structures. The best pattern of CFRP wrapping was determined and utilized for retrofitting the sub-standard structures. Various structural parameters, such as load-carrying capacity, ductility, stress contours, and tension damage contours, were compared to assess the efficiency of the retrofit solution. The results indicated that the load-carrying capacity of the sub-standard structures was lower than that of standard ones by 57%, 69%, and 67% for 5, 10, and 15-story buildings, respectively. However, the retrofit solution utilizing CFRP showed promising results, enhancing the capacity by 10-25%. The retrofitted structures demonstrated increased yield strength, ultimate strength, and ductility through CFRP wrapping and effectively prevented wall slipping.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.443-455
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• 2009

The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement in concrete structures has been on the rise due to its advantages over conventional steel reinforcement such as corrosion. Reinforcing steel corrosion has been the primary cause of deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, resulting in tremendous annual repair costs. One application of FRP reinforcement to be further explored is its use in RC frames. Nonetheless, due to FRP's inherently elastic behavior, FRP-reinforced (FRP-RC) members exhibit low ductility and energy dissipation as well as different damage mechanisms. Furthermore, current design standards for FRP-RC structures do not address seismic design in which the beam-column joint is a key issue. During an earthquake, the safety of beam-column joints is essential to the whole structure integrity. Thus, research is needed to gain better understanding of the behavior of FRP-RC structures and their damage mechanisms under seismic loading. In this study, two full-scale beam-column joint specimens reinforced with steel and GFRP configurations were tested under quasi-static loading. The control steel-reinforced specimen was detailed according to current design code provisions. The GFRP-RC specimen was detailed in a similar scheme. The damage in the two specimens is characterized to compare their performance under simulated seismic loading.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.3 no.5
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• pp.313-334
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• 2006

A novel formulation aiming to achieve optimal design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures is presented here. Optimal sizing and reinforcing for beam and column members in multi-bay and multistory RC structures incorporates optimal stiffness correlation among all structural members and results in cost savings over typical-practice design solutions. A Nonlinear Programming algorithm searches for a minimum cost solution that satisfies ACI 2005 code requirements for axial and flexural loads. Material and labor costs for forming and placing concrete and steel are incorporated as a function of member size using RS Means 2005 cost data. Successful implementation demonstrates the abilities and performance of MATLAB's (The Mathworks, Inc.) Sequential Quadratic Programming algorithm for the design optimization of RC structures. A number of examples are presented that demonstrate the ability of this formulation to achieve optimal designs.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.241-252
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• 2023

Corrosion of rebar is one of the major deteriorating mechanisms that affect the durability of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The increase in CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere leads to early carbonation and deterioration due to corrosion in RC structures. In the present study, an attempt has been made to modify the existing carbonation depth prediction empirical model. The modified empirical model is verified from the carbonation data collected from selected RC structures of CSIR-SERC campus, Chennai and carbonation data available from the reported literature on in-situ RC structures. Attempt also made to study the carbonation depth in the laboratory specimens using oxygen permeability index (OPI) test. The carbonation depth measured from RC structures and laboratory specimens are compared with estimated carbonation depth obtained from OPI test data. The modified empirical model shows good correlation with measured carbonation depth from the identified RC structures and the reported RC structures from the literature. The carbonation depth estimated from OPI values for both in-situ and laboratory specimens show lesser percentage of error compared to measured carbonation depth. From the present investigation it can be said that the OPI test is the suitable test method for both new and existing RC structures and laboratory RC specimens.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.691-704
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• 2014

Reinforced concrete (RC) shear walls are commonly used for building structures to resist seismic loading. While the RC shear walls can have a high load-carrying capacity, they tend to fail in a brittle mode under shear, accompanied by forming large diagonal cracks and bond splitting between concrete and steel reinforcement. Improving seismic performance of shear walls has remained a challenge for researchers all over the world. Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC), featuring incredible ductility under tension, can be a promising material to replace concrete in shear walls with improved performance. Currently, the application of ECC to large structures is limited due to the lack of the proper constitutive models especially under shear. In this paper, a new Cyclic Softening Membrane Model for reinforced ECC is proposed. The model was built upon the Cyclic Softening Membrane Model for reinforced concrete by (Hsu and Mo 2010). The model was then implemented in the OpenSees program to perform analysis on several cases of shear walls under seismic loading. The seismic response of reinforced ECC compared with RC shear walls under monotonic and cyclic loading, their difference in pinching effect and energy dissipation capacity were studied. The modeling results revealed that reinforced ECC shear walls can have superior seismic performance to traditional RC shear walls.