• Computers and Concrete
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.163-173
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• 2024

Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP) have a proven strength enhancement capability when installed into Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams. The brittle failure of traditional FRP strengthening systems has attracted researchers to develop novel materials with improved strength and ductility properties. One such material is that known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study presents a numerical investigation of the flexural behavior of reinforced concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP systems. This material is distinguished by its large rupture strain, leading to an improvement in the ductility of the strengthened structural members compared to conventional FRPs. A three-dimensional (3-D) finite element (FE) model is developed in this study to predict the load-deflection response of a series of experimentally tested beams published in the literature. The numerical model incorporates constitutive material laws and bond-slip behavior between concrete and the strengthening system. Moreover, the validated model was applied in a parametric study to inspect the effect of concrete compressive strength, PET-FRP sheet length, and reinforcing steel bar diameter on the overall performance of concrete beams externally strengthened with PET-FRP.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.587-613
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• 2013

A 3-node 3D co-rotational beam element using vectorial rotational variables is employed to consider the geometric nonlinearity in 3D space. To account for shape versatility and reinforced concrete cross-sections, fibre model has been derived and conducted. Numerical integration over the cross-section is performed, considering both normal and shear stresses. In addition, the derivations associated with material nonlinearity are given in terms of elasto-plastic incremental stress-strain relationship for both steel and concrete. Steel reinforcement is treated as elasto-plastic material with Von Mises yield criterion. Compressive concrete behaviour is described by Modified Kent and Park model, while tensile stiffening effect is taken into account as well. Through several numerical examples, it is shown that the proposed 3D co-rotational beam element with fibre model can be used to simulate steel and reinforced concrete framed structures with satisfactory accuracy and efficiency.

• 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.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.443-498
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• 2013

A detailed finite element modeling is presented for the simulation of the nonlinear behavior of reinforced concrete structures which manages to predict the nonlinear behavior of four different experimental setups with computational efficiency, robustness and accuracy. The proposed modeling method uses 8-node hexahedral isoparametric elements for the discretization of concrete. Steel rebars may have any orientation inside the solid concrete elements allowing the simulation of longitudinal as well as transverse reinforcement. Concrete cracking is treated with the smeared crack approach, while steel reinforcement is modeled with the natural beam-column flexibility-based element that takes into consideration shear and bending stiffness. The performance of the proposed modeling is demonstrated by comparing the numerical predictions with existing experimental and numerical results in the literature as well as with those of a commercial code. The results show that the proposed refined simulation predicts accurately the nonlinear inelastic behavior of reinforced concrete structures achieving numerical robustness and computational efficiency.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.177-195
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• 2018

Reinforced concrete buildings in a seismically active area can be designed as DCM (medium ductility) or DCH (high ductility) class according to the regulations of Eurocode 8. In this paper, two RC buildings, one with a wall structural system and the other with a frame system, previously designed for DCM and DCH ductility, were analysed by using incremental dynamic analysis in order to study differences in the behaviour of structures between these ductility classes, especially the failure mechanism and ultimate collapse acceleration. Despite the fact that a higher behaviour factor of DCH structures influences lower seismic resistance, in comparison to DCM structures, a strict application of the design and detailing rules of Eurocode 8 in analysed examples caused that the seismic resistance of both frames does not significantly differ. The conclusions were derived for two buildings and do not necessarily apply to other RC structures. Further analysis could make a valuable contribution to the analysis of the behaviour of such buildings and decide between two ductility classes in everyday building design.

• Advances in concrete construction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.153-167
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• 2022

The interaction between blast load and structures, as well as the interaction among structural members may well affect the structural response and damages. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse more realistic reinforced concrete structures in order to gain an extensive knowledge on the possible structural response under blast load effect. Among all the civilian structures, columns are considered to be the most vulnerable to terrorist threat and hence detailed investigation in the dynamic response of these structures is essential. Therefore, current research examines the effect of blast loads on the reinforced concrete columns via development of Pressure- Impulse (P-I) diagrams. In the finite element analysis, the level of damage on each of the aforementioned RC column will be assessed and the response of the RC columns when subjected to explosive loads will also be identified. Numerical models carried out using LS-DYNA were compared with experimental results. It was shown that the model yields a reliable prediction of damage on all RC columns. Validation study is conducted based on the experimental test to investigate the accuracy of finite element models to represent the behaviour of the models. The blast load application in the current research is determined based on the Lagrangian approach. To develop the designated P-I curves, damage assessment criteria are used based on the residual capacity of column. Intensive investigations are implemented to assess the effect of column dimension, concrete and steel properties and reinforcement ratio on the P-I diagram of RC columns. The produced P-I models can be applied by designers to predict the damage of new columns and to assess existing columns subjected to different blast load conditions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2016.05a
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• pp.177-178
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• 2016

The main structure of the building has been used reinforced concrete construction method in Korea. In recent years, it is necessary to demolition of buildings into urban redevelopment. But yet the demolition method is not being developed perfect. It is necessary to develop future deconstruction for safety and environment method. In this study, we surveyed the demolition method has been used in domestic construction. How the combination of these demolition method should be needed. Demolition method combinations were classified as low-rise, high-rise, middle. It suggested method to combine the demolition process of reinforced concrete structure with seven.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.313-333
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• 2012

Reinforced concrete (RC) framed buildings dissipate the seismic energy through yielding of the reinforcing bars. This yielding jeopardizes the serviceability of these buildings as it results in residual lateral deformations. Superelastic Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) can recover inelastic strains by stress removal. Since SMA is a costly material, this paper defines the required locations of SMA bars in a typical RC frame to optimize its seismic performance in terms of damage scheme and seismic residual deformations. The intensities of five earthquakes causing failure to a typical RC six-storey building are defined and used to evaluate seven SMA design alternatives.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2023

Reinforced concrete (RC) moment frames are used as lateral seismic load resisting systems in mid- and high-rise buildings in different regions of the world. Based on the seismic design provisions and construction details presented in design codes, RC frames with different levels of ductility (ordinary, intermediate, and special) can be designed and constructed. In Iran, there are RC buildings with various uses which have been constructed based on different editions of design codes. The seismic performance of RC structures (particularly moment frames) in real seismic events is of great importance. In this paper, the observations made on damaged RC moment frames after the destructive Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.3 are reported. Different levels of damage from the development of cracks in the structural and non-structural elements to the total collapse of buildings were observed. Furthermore, undesirable failure modes which are not expected in ductile seismic-resistant buildings were frequently observed in the damaged buildings. The RC moment frames built based on the previous editions of the design codes showed partial or total collapse in this seismic event. The extensive destruction of RC moment frames compared with the other structural systems (such as braced steel frames and confined masonry buildings) was attributed not only to the deficiencies in the construction practice of these buildings but also to the design procedure. In addition, the failure and collapse of masonry infills in RC moment frames were frequent modes of failure in this seismic event. In this paper, the main reasons related to design practice which led to extensive damage in the RC moment frames and their collapse are addressed.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.599-607
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• 2020

This paper deals with the experimental investigation on the behavior of RCS beam-column exterior joints. Two full-scale specimens of joints between reinforced concrete columns and steel beams are tested under cyclic loading. The objective of the test is to study the effect of steel fiber reinforced concrete (SFRC) on the seismic behavior of RCS joints. The load bearing capacity, story drift capacity, ductility, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation of specimens are evaluated. The experimental results point out that the FRC joint is increased 20% of load carrying capacity and 30% of energy dissipation capacity in comparison with the RC joint. Besides, the FRC joint shown lower damage and better ductility than RC joint.