• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.227-245
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• 2013

The term "constructability" in regard to cast-in-place concrete construction refers mainly to the ease of reinforcing steel placement. Bar congestion complicates steel placement, hinders concrete placement and as a result leads to improper consolidation of concrete around bars affecting the integrity of the structure. In this paper, a multi-objective approach, based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is developed for optimal design of reinforced concrete cantilever retaining walls, considering minimization of the economic cost and reinforcing bar congestion as the objective functions. The structural model to be optimized involves 35 design variables, which define the geometry, the type of concrete grades, and the reinforcement used. The seismic response of the retaining walls is investigated using the well-known Mononobe-Okabe analysis method to define the dynamic lateral earth pressure. The results obtained from numerical application of the proposed framework demonstrate its capabilities in solving the present multi-objective optimization problem.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.297-317
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• 2016

Current codes recommend large amounts of shear reinforcement for reinforced concrete beam-column joints that causes significant bar congestion. Increase in congestion of shear reinforcement in joint core (connection zone), leads to increase accomplishment problems. The congestion may also lead to diameter limitations on the beam bars relative to the joint dimensions. Using double headed studs instead of conventional closed hoops in reinforced concrete beam-column joints reduces congestion and ensures easier assembly of the reinforcing cage. The purpose of this research is evaluating the efficiency of the proposed reinforcement. In this way, 10 groups of exterior beam-column joints are modeled. Each group includes 7 specimens by different reinforcing details in their joint core. All specimens are modeled by using of ABAQUS and analyzed subjected to cyclic loading. After verification of analytical modeling with an experimental specimen, 3D nonlinear specimens are modeled and analyzed. Then, the effect of amount and arrangement of headed studs on ductility, performance, ultimate strength and energy absorption has been studied. Based on the results, all joints reinforced with double headed studs represent better performance compared with the joints without shear transverse reinforcement in joints core. The behavior of the former is close to joints reinforced with closed hoops and cross ties according to the seismic design codes. By adjusting the arrangement of double-headed studs, the decrease in ductility, performance, ultimate moment resistant and energy absorption reduce to 2.61%, 0.90%, 0.90% and 1.66% respectively compared with the joints reinforced by closed hoops on the average. Since the use of headed studs reduces accomplishment problems, these amounts are negligible. Therefore, use of double-headed studs has proved to be a viable option for reinforcing exterior beam-column joints.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Building Construction Conference
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• 2012.11a
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• pp.203-204
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• 2012

One of the advantages using High-Strength steel reinforcement in construction is the economic effect due to the decreasing of its quantity. Also, another good effect is the increases of workability by reason of reducing the congestion. This study explain plan of experiment after analysing of ACI 318, 349, 359 to develop 550MPa re-bar design criteria applicable to flexural members of nuclear power plants.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.611-620
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• 2016

In the construction of nuclear power plants, only 420 MPa reinforcing bars are allowed and, therefore, so many large-diameter bars are placed, which results in steel congestion. Consequently, re-bar works are difficult and the quality of RC structures may be deteriorated. To solve the steel congestion, 550 MPa bars are necessary. Among many items for verifying structural performance of reinforced concrete with 550 MPa bars, the 43 mm hooked bars are examined in this study. All specimens failed by side-face blowout and the side cover explosively spalled at maximum loads. The bar force was initially transferred to the concrete primarily by bond along a straight portion. At the one third of maximum load, the bond reached a peak capacity and began to decline, while the hook bearing component rose rapidly. At failure, most load was resisted by the hook bearing. For confined specimens with hoops, the average value of test-to-prediction ratios by KCI code is 1.45. The modification factor of confining reinforcement which was not allowed for larger than 35 mm bars can be applied to 43 mm hooked bars. For specimens with 70 MPa concrete, the average value of test-to-prediction ratios by KCI code is 1.0 which is less than the values of the other specimens. The effects of concrete compressive strength should be reduced. An equation to predict anchorage capacity of hooked bars was developed from regression analysis including the effects of compressive strength of concrete, embedment length, side cover thickness, and transverse reinforcement index.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.717-726
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• 2007

If conventional reinforcements are used for high-strength concrete (HSC) structures, a large amount of the reinforcement must be required to compensate for the brittleness of HSC and make the best use of HSC. This raises some structural problems such as steel congestion and an increase in self-weight. Therefore, alternative reinforcing materials and methods for HSC structures are needed. In this study, four full-scale beam specimens constructed with HSC (100 MPa) were tested to investigate the effect of the different shear reinforcements on the shear behavior. These four specimens were reinforced for shear stirrups with normal and high strength steels, headed bars, and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars, respectively. In addition, steel fibers were added to the HSC in the two of the specimens to observe their beneficial effects. The use of high strength steels resulted in the improvement of the shear capacity since the shear resistance provided by the shear reinforcements and the bond strength were increased. The specimen reinforced with headed bars also showed a superior performance to the conventional steel reinforced specimen due to the considerably high anchorage strength of headed bar. CFRP bars used in this research, however, seemed to be inadequate for shear reinforcement because of the inferior bond capacity. The presence of the steel fibers in concrete led to remarkable improvement in the ductility of the specimens as well as in the overall cracks control capability.